derge

Is there any minimum time that you need to be out of the country before crossing the border back into Thailand?

I could be more thankful to the advice and learnings that I have gotten from this site. It helped immensely with getting past an initial visa application rejection to get my wife here to Australia and the best ways to move forward. Many good people that take some time out to help others. Thanks to all.

I've been travelling through Thailand for many years now and I've also made many recommendations to many of my friends as to different destinations that you can see for different reasons alldepending on what are are loking to get out of your trip.

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Here is some information on the three places that I have just sent to my brother. As the guys previously have asked though the more information that you can provide to us all the more accurate the information biven back would be for your needs. For example what is your budget? What's the duration of your holiday to be? Do you like to move around a lot to take in as many places as you can or like to relax in one or two areas? Are you male/female and are you travelling alone, with a pertner or a group of same sex or mixed sex group?

As for language I have found going to any country it's always good to try and know some of the language of that area even if not a great deal people usually appreciate that you are making an effort in trying to know the basic niceities. Other than that I was always able to get around with limited skills in the Thai language and I have visited some very off the beaten track places.

Hope it helps.

Long live the king. I hope they enjoy their time in Hua Hin. It's a wonderful palace where they should be able to get some good relaxation.

Haven't they heard of air conditioning?

It's sad to see two you men Australian or not behaving this way with no respect for the people around them. Even more unfortunate is that it apperas to be Australians that are in the headlines for this over other nationalities. Being Australian myself it very disappointing every tome I read these aritcles.

Not the best situation to be in.

I have to agree with winstoc that maybe just keeping an eye on the situation and supplying food where you can for the time being and perhaps finding out more information on the situation where you can as I could only imagine what a family would be going through if they had their child taken from them.

I've had two experiences with Thai hospitals.

Back in 2003 my then GF cut her face open on a rock when swimming at Samui. The hospital there was fantastic. Treatment was immediate and they transported her to and fro from our hotel over the next few days for follow up treatment. I cannot remember the cost but the professionalism as well as the level of care far exceeded anything I have ever experienced here in Australia.

The second time I broke my ankle due to a scooter accident. The treatment and professionalism there was outstanding again. On the downside here they only believed it to be a sprained ankle as it wasn't picked up on in the x-ray and when I returned home to Australia my gp freaked as I had been getting around on it for 3 weeks without a cast. I was sent over to the hospital straight away and scans picked up the fracture. This was followed by a 4 week extended holiday due to the fracture which wasn't all that bad lol.

Couldn't fault the health system at all.

It's obvious to all that smoking is dangerous to everyone and smokers can harm others through their addiction but to get between a person and their addiction can be just as dangerous at times

I can happily say that I met my wife of two years through a Thai dating site. She had some corny lines in her text but we met when I was on a holiday there after talking from time to time over a year through the site. She's the best thing that ever happened to me. She's an industrial engineer who supports herself and has never asked anything of me other than the Sin Sod when we were married and her family then built a house for us on the family property.

There are definitely genuine women out there as there are everywhere in the world they're just few and far between so you just need to look properly.

I can tell you all now that there is no way I will be driving out during Songkran again. Went from BKK out to the in-laws and Chaiyaphum for the long weekend and it has to of been one of the stupidest things I've ever done. The roads are normally crazy enough but they all surely come out of the woodwork for Songkran.

I have bought many things and had them sent to Thailand and a few times the seller did not give the option to send them to Thailand although when I contacted them they were happy to post there anyway for me.

Hi all,

My wife and I are looking to use and agent in Bangkok for our partner visa application. This will be our second application and are wanting to ensure that there will be no grounds for refusal. There is one agnet in Bangkok that is registered on the www.mara.gov.au website. Her name is Ms Pip Panasbodi and I am just hoping to confirm that people have found her professional and approached everything in the right way so that I know I am getting the most for my money.

Her Mara profile is here https://www.mara.gov.au/agent/ARDetails.aspx?ud=3694&FolderID=394

Some great suggetions with a few laughs thrown in as well. I bought an aboriginal painting for her which I thught was Oz as well as something she wouldn't be able to get there obviously.

She is a farming lady who owns a number of properties in Chaiyaphum as well as is the deputy school principal.

Love the sound of some opal jewelry for keeping up my sleeve for her birthday or some other occassion.

Cheers to all

I'm coming over for another trip to see my my wife and head out to the famil property and see the rest of the family.

My wife asked me to pick a gift for my mother-in-law from Australia before I head over and I'm stumped as to what to get. Anyone have some good suggestions?

This looks great. Should look even better when I get to see it late 2013.

Last time I stayed on Koh Chang was last Year - around about August - went with a mate. I stayed at Paddy Palm, on the main road - it's fronted by an Irish pub. Great room, new, very clean. Nice staff - Swimming pool, and good breakfast - good bread. Eat 'til you're stuffed - in on the price. Cost, if I remember right was about 450(ish) per night - I remember it was cheaper if we stayed for a week, and they gave the rate without asking for a discount. I would stay there again for sure, and recommend it to anyone.

I stayed here about one year ago also and found it to be great value and would recommend it as well. For a standard room now though they are a little of 1000/night

I know that there are elephants there that you can hire but I don't have any way to contact the guy I met there last year sorry.

I do have a travel agent there that assisted me with many things there that might you be able to contact and he could point you in the right direction.

I'll send you a PM with the contact details

Thanks to all for giving the extra information that I wish I had found some time ago. If only I had come across this forum way back then lol.

I think that the people involved in this forum has some great knowledge and advice that can be gained by people like myself as it would have been much more beneficial to have know in the prior through other peoples learnings than to have to learn for ones self.

At least there is always light at the end of the tunnel and persistance and time will be on our side.

Cheers to all and I hope that other can learn from what is in these posts.

With the photos ... try and think that the Immigration Dept is looking for.

Social integration ... a true relationship, evidenced over an extended period of time.

*Taken Kings Birthday Dec '12.

So, when the opportunity, I submit maybe 8 - 12 photos in total with the month/year, the occasion and the people in the photo.

The concept of 'Holiday Snaps' is of little interest, I presume, to the Dept'

Also have one in front of the Farm House with all the Family for use another time.

But, like most things here ... we all have different opinions ... maybe some folk think 40 pages of photos are the way to go (as someone did with their UK Visa application ... )

Best of luck to the OP for a successful application soon and thanks for sharing your experiences and decision notice.

* Have family's permission for displaying the photo.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me and I do agree that more time spent together would have made a big difference with the outcome and if there are poeple out there that were in a siutation similar to us where time together due to other obligations would be hard to manage then some detailed explanations with your submission to mitigate this and statements from work or people that can support your circumstances.

Great advise with the photos too about choosing what the picture says rather than just bulk of the couple in question on holidays together without other friends or family in them.

Yes a trip to oz is almost mandatory imho i did this with my wife and when she came to oz we got married

as we had a son together , so had all pics everything in place when filing application put in everything you can

even if you think not applicable as it very well may be.

then wait and wait do not hassle them let it take its course the time will go quick i no hard but in the end its worth it !

I agree completely that a visit is almost mandatory and I wish that our circumstances had allowed it.

Now that we are in this situation my wife is still going to find it very hard to be able to take some decent amount of time off work for a good visit but it is definately a must do.

I also agree that add absolutely everything into your application wether it is deemed worthwhile or not as there is nothing worse than a knock back believe me.

Glad everythin went smooth for you and you wife

Nevermind. I just found the information which states that the average is taking 531 Calendar days which is almost 18 months. This being the case it would be quicker to just resubmit a fresh application. Found this information here

http://www.mrt-rrt.gov.au/Processing-times/Processing-times/default.aspx

With regard to your post derge#11.

You could take the matter to the Migration Review Tribunal. This is what the Australian migration agent will most probably advise.

You will have 90 days from the date on the refusal letter from DIAC to apply to the MRT. There are costs involved.

Hi mate,

I believe that that is what we will do. I am seeing the immigration lawyer more to assist with preparing everything to ensure we get it right this time.

Not sure if it has changed or not but you now have 70 days from the day of notice to file a dispute claim with the Migration Review Tribunal with the cost associtaed being about $1,500

Allow for mailing times, 7 days within Australia and 21 days if overseas. Total 91 days and include Sat, Sun and all public holidays. Make sure your application is received by the MRT within the timeframe and have an Australia Post tracking number on mail delivery.

Thanks for the advice. very much appreciated. You wouldn't happen to know that allowed time frames on how long a dispute might take? Would we be waiting another 5 months or so?

With regard to your post derge#11.

You could take the matter to the Migration Review Tribunal. This is what the Australian migration agent will most probably advise.

You will have 90 days from the date on the refusal letter from DIAC to apply to the MRT. There are costs involved.

Hi mate,

I believe that that is what we will do. I am seeing the immigration lawyer more to assist with preparing everything to ensure we get it right this time.

Not sure if it has changed or not but you now have 70 days from the day of notice to file a dispute claim with the Migration Review Tribunal with the cost associtaed being about $1,500

Firstly derge ... sadness that your application, on this occasion has not been successful.

But a credit to you that you show your strength and have come back to us with the negative reply and we can all learn something from your experience ...

I'm struggling a little with their reasons as to why they declined your wife/gf.

Any chance you can scan the refusal letter here? Remove all your collective personal details though.

If you can remove your details, but can scan the letter ... if you like, PM me with the scan ... I'll fix it up and post it on your behalf.

Keep us posted.

David48

Hi Dave,

I have passed on the letter. It would be great to hear your thoughts