Wookie

I spent four days in Da Nang last week and was surprised at how much cheaper everything is in Vietnam compared to Thailand. It was around one third of Thailand prices. Restaurants serve much larger portions of food and the people were genuinely more helpful and polite.

The traffic is also not a problem. We experienced no traffic jams at all. 

40 minutes ago, Guderian said:

I thought the side-effects of the second AZ jab were far worse than the Pfizer booster. In fact, that one didn't bother me at all, not even a sore arm afterwards, whereas the second AZ jab knocked me out completely for a day.

I have had three AZ shots with absolutely no side effects

9 minutes ago, MeHere said:

Just wondering after reading about all this rigamarole and suffering... why not apply for permanent residence if you've been there for over three years? It might be painful for the application, but after it's done, it's pretty much done... and dusted

It can take many years, at least three, costs over 100,000 baht and need to speak Thai. I am not interested in learning any more languages.

4 minutes ago, bbko said:

What questions do they ask of the witness?  Where I live there's 3 huge open fields surrounding me and I never interact with the Thais next door.  My wife said she can call a cousin or aunt to act as a witness, but I'm not sure immigration will accept them as a legit witness.  I was thinking of asking the nearby mom & pop shop to vouch for me (tipping them for their time) but it seems weird to call in someone I vaguely know to act as a witness for my marriage.

They asked the witness personal questions about their job and income, how long they had known us, what are our names etc. They had to bring their Tabien Baans and ID cards with photocopies which they had to countersign

Just now, bbko said:

What questions do they ask of the witness?  Where I live there's 3 huge open fields surrounding me and I never interact with the Thais next door.  My wife said she can call a cousin or aunt to act as a witness, but I'm not sure immigration will accept them as a legit witness.  I was thinking of asking the nearby mom & pop shop to vouch for me (tipping them for their time) but it seems weird to call in someone I vaguely know to act as a witness for my marriage.

The first extension last year they told us we needed two witnesses who live in the same village. This year they said only one. Apparently if you don't know any of the neighbours you should ask the head of the village  to be a witness

2 minutes ago, zoza said:

they are doing their best to iradicate  the ''marrige visa'' 

it took me three weeks last year, and every thing that

could be challenged was challenged.

i even had one demand that was the total opposite of

what another farang sitting next to me ,who had what

they said was correct, but he got denied. the wife gave

them 12k everything was then ok,

So they are not really trying to eradicate it, they just want to make money from it

4 minutes ago, konaboy said:

Integrity Legal today opined that in 2018 about 80,000 Farangs here on retirement. He says BKK Post just reported about 35,000  now?

I guess 45,000 couldn't put up with it any longer

1 minute ago, david555 said:

Smart move ...as in Thailand need plan B ....or even more capital letters  from the alphabet .....????

I only put up with the bureaucratic <deleted> here because I like the weather and the scenery and have a great wife. Otherwise I would be on the first flight out.

5 minutes ago, konaboy said:

I've been working for months to get approval for my extension on retirement out of Buriram Amphur. They sent me back to CW for another stamp. Off to US Embassy to stamp my Pass Port. Have Thai Birth Certificate and Thai PP for my son. Then wanted MORE documents translated! I am going around in circles. Asking for a child extension.

They seem to like making life difficult for us

2 minutes ago, david555 said:

That returning to ret.ext would be gladly welcomed by I.O. as it is less work for them and maybe now 800K for Thai bank to hold ...instead of 400k only short time .

They could see you had ret ext. before...so hence a firm push to that again 

So basically they are lazy

2 minutes ago, recom273 said:

Not trying to have a dig, but after 12 years you should know about blue ink. Its not even a trick, it's standard procedure, just in the same way some UK government forms can only be filled in black. 

Well they accepted black ink for 12 years. What's annoying is the constant changing of the requirements. Seeing other people's posts it is also obvious that each office has different rules

5 minutes ago, userabcd said:

Produce and get them to sign a tax receipt, take some photos of the visit and handing over the money and then invoice/claim it back from immigration department.

I think if I did that my next application would be in jeopardy !

Furthermore, last year we had to take two witnesses. The immigration officer also came to our house a week later and took several photos outside the front gate, outside the front door, in the kitchen, in the lounge and in the bedroom and then wanted petrol money. They are coming to do exactly the same this weekend!