Saradoc1972

Savannakhet is quite small, nothing much there. You can more or less walk and see it all. The Avalon rents out motorcycles 300 Baht, Rooms should be 700 Baht up, although there are two upmarket options like the Dao Savan, but I'd just pass on that swimming pool. Nice view from pool over Mekong into Thailand, but it's not really worth it, and forget the restaurant (or bring KIP, they don't even give change). Nice Restaurant is the Cafe Chez Boune, mid of town, have some French cuisine there. Bit more expensive, but well in range, definite recommendation. Massage parlour right next to it One specialist store for wines, believe it or not.

1 hour ago, LivinLOS said:

 

 

Its 500k for 5 years of visa.. You think 99% of expats live here on 40k a month ?? 

 

No wonder the immigration constantly push against these kind of cases. 

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

 

99% can not shell out for the Elite because it would be financially-unwise choice.  If priced for the market, such a visa-scheme could generate a lot more net-income in fees, not to mention the added spend into the economy from all those using it.

 

I would venture that the vast majority of retirees here do not spend more than 40K Baht/mo.  I have a nice condo with a beautiful view in one of the more expensive places to live in Thailand and often spend less.  If I only had 30K/mo to spend, I could move to a smaller-town, and still live quite decently. 

 

Those surviving on 20K/mo or less are probably "fan-room" folks (or amazingly thrifty), but even they are contributing foreign-capital, so no harm done that I can see.  Ask the vendors and landlords they patronize them whether they want them booted out.

All assumptions correct. I live on definitely more than 40k a months, I could set aside some 400-500 EUR a month, Elite thingy is 12.000 EUR. Save for taking out a loan against my life insurance I could not find that sort of money without making too many sacrifices. It would be "unwise", as saving some money gives you security if something goes very wrong, like you need a new set of teeth. So without touching what I have saved for emergencies I would need to save up 2 years, if nothing happens, by which time I would be 47 and only need 3 years on that special visa thingy because at 50 I can go for a Non-OA. And I might have to put some fund in the bank, just to be on the safe side, they might nudge the 800k barrier upward.

See how that doesn't reasonably work out for most people, even if you have a nice enough income to live on? A downright desirable income for a not-so-much-a-third-world-country-any-more country like Thailand to get out of a foreigner just like that?

That being said, if I were to just make a visa trip to Savannakhet every 3 month, everything as cheap as possible, straight from yellow bus over border to embassy same morning, crash at hotel, pick up visa and back to Mukdahan, yellow bus and crash in Patty, assuming I don't get a heart attack from that or my spine needs to get operated upon, that would be.... 50 motorbike+900 yellow bus+60 bus+1100 visa lao+200 tuktuk+2000 visa thai+800 hotel+200+60+900+50 motorbike... that's 6.400 Baht including the visa, discounting meals and any everyday expenses.

6400x4x5= 128k Baht. Definitely less than the 500k, but more or less infeasible and too boring for my liking. If you take the opportunity to mix your visa runs with some pleasurable sightseeing activities, i.e. do a bit of tourism after all, that might come out the same money, just you got something for it.

Forget this Elite thingy unless you don't need to care about money. In which case please PM me for my account and IBAN numbers.

1 hour ago, performance said:

Savannakhet what are the transport options from Pattaya ?

Yellow Bus from Patty to Mukdahan 4 or 5 times a day, overnight VIP busses 21:00 and 21:30, take some 12 hours with one stop in the middle of nowhere. That's the same company that had that crash that left one dead 4 weeks ago. www.iloveyellowbus.co.th or something, leaves from the back of the bus station on Northern Road near Sukhumvit. Maybe buy ticket a day or two early, seems to be popular. less than 900 Baht one way, bottle of water and some Thai diabetes cakes included.

Rooms in Muang Muk are 450 Baht up, do visit The Good Mook Cafe. They also rent out scooters if you want to have a look round. Two days are plenty, nothing there, never found those waterfalls.

Busses over Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every 60-90 minutes, 60 Baht. Some paperwork at the border, visa are 30 dollar if memory serves. Do bring dollar, it's a wild mix between dollar, Baht and KIP (10.000 Kip are 1 GBP, 1,10 Eur, 1,20 USD). Getting a big stack of Kip from some ATM is advisable, prices are in Kip and exchange rates are unfavourable. You will need to stay for one night in Savannakhet min (try Avalon, it's close to the consulate, reasonably close to bridge, has a late bar) because the consulate accepts your visa application in the morning and processes it until the afternoon next day. Queue of locals moves quickly enough, maybe 15 min, some guy has set up shop over  the road and copies things for you for 10 Baht or something, a bit more if you want him to fill that sheet in for you.

Way back works the same, calculate 90 mins for border-crossing. Same 5 busses back to Patty and Rayong every day, do make an appointment with your physiotherapist or put in a stop in between. Or maybe take the bus to Udon Thani and take the train back to Bangkok.

16 minutes ago, claffey said:

I do fail to understand why some Westerners feel that it is OK to reside in a country for many years on 'tourist visas'. If people want to live with no security in their lives and risk being deported from their 'home' that's up to them. I personally couldn't do it. I'd always be looking over my shoulder. The fact that you need to apply in different consulates highlights the suspicions that immigration have towards such people...

Might be because tourism, chiefly by a possible definition as in "stays in my country, has the means to do so from income from another country" is a boon for every national economy. Especially if you can limit the "reflow" I believe it is called by economists, i.e. money going back to that persons home country for things he buys your country has to import from there  (British/German beer, razors), like Thailand has done with high tariffs up to 40% at customs.

People taking their money out of another national economy and somehow bringing that money into yours is a good thing. It is how our western countries got rich-rich, i.e. by making everyone else who wanted a car or other feats of engineering cough up some surplus money to bring into our national economies. Thailand has found the means to do something similar in tourism. They just try and keep the negative side-effects in check, but otherwise seem to feel OK with people bringing their money.

Lack of security, I would especially be thinking of health insurance here, or having the means of setting up camp again in a western home country, is another topic. One I would hope for everyone to have thought about before venturing out from his home country, but deportation is a very manageable risk in Thailand, even on a chain of tourist visas.

5 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

 

Anyone renting a house long term isnt really a tourist ?? 

Lots of Germans owning or full-time renting Fincas on Mallorca or houses round the Ballaton. We can make up definitions of tourism all day here on the forum, just the Thai government seemingly aren't joining the fray and have refrained from drawing up any definition in their laws. Just working to make a living in Thailand seems ruled out, not so much by a definition of who is a tourist (under 30-y-o can .e.g tour Australia on special tourist visa and lend a hand on farms and the like) but by who can get a permit for doing so.

12 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Its people constantly looking for loopholes that causes all these clampdowns that hurt the legit stayers. 

 

If your not married and under 50 not working here legally.. Buy a Elite visa, do a real course of study, or go. 

 

Planning your life around the continued ability to fly around the region begging for tourist entries to the place you live seems bizarre to me. 

2 minutes ago, sanemax said:

 

    I am here legitimately though .

There are no laws stating that you cannot get consecutive visas, either retirement visas or tourist visas

That is not using "loopholes", that is reading and using the law. If Thailand wanted to restrict staying in Thailand on visa labelled for purposes of tourism, they could do that e.g. by formulating time-caps per year or something, at one point that seems to even have been the case. They have not chosen to do so, so that's the way the Thais want it. What they do not want is people living here doing under-the-table work and taking jobs from the Thais or circumventing the requirements for working here, i.e. hiring some 4 Thais per westerner's job.

That does not rule out the law allows a retiree to live here if self-supporting and under 50, it just means they have a special set of rules when to extend special courtesies to someone meeting that set of additional requirements, like no border-runs, no 90-days checking on the guy at a border. That's all, does not make living here by other arrangements a "loophole" or semi-illegal.

15 minutes ago, claffey said:

And what would you think of people in your own country who lie about their intentions in order to gain entry to your country? You'd want them deported probably. A tourist visa is for a short term visit. It's not intended for people who want to reside there. Lying to immigration is against the law in every country, including Thailand.

That is circular thinking because it all depends on what tourism is, which boils down to the good old "how long is a piece of string?". If a year long vacation in one spot still counts as tourism (to the Thai officials, mind you) with owned property to boot, calling it tourism is not lying. "Residing" is just the opposite of tourism, so quoting that as an excluding factor is circular and a bit unhelpful.

In the end what the Thai officials make of it counts, so please refrain from coming up with your personal definitions of tourism (like longer out than in over a year, fixed abode someplace else). They can see a person's history of entering and staying in in Thailand when faced with an application stating tourism. If it's fine by them, that's it, otherwise from what I've heard they will issue a warning along the lines of "last tourist visa for you here"  or something. Apart from getting a METV which the OP can only do in Australia, a Non-O is cheaper at 2000 Baht than the SETV plus 1900 Baht extension fee for those extra 30 days anyway.

I am in almost exactly the same situation, mid-forties, retired on a disability pension, have been in Patty for over 2 years now. Used to do that on two multi-entry Non-O visa (*not* Non-OA, I am under 50) issued in Essen, but I skipped the trip back to Germany this years and they ceased issuing those as of mid-August. The "O" in that Non-Imm visa stands for "other", and that covers a stay for the purpose of retirement, the "OA" is just "Other, acknowledged".

Anyway, next visa I got myself this late September was a single entry Non-O in Savannakhet, Laos, no probs. Filled in their form and entered under "purpose of visit" the naked truth: "retirement (age 44)" and presented them with the official paper I was on a state pension (bit more complicated than that, but it's definitely not private either) getting a monthly annuity roughly summing up to the Non-OA requirement of 800k Baht per year. I actually had a letter from the German General Honorary Consulate to Pattaya stating I easily beat that requirement with some rental income, but I actually doubt that requirement is valid at all for the Non-O, they just need to be satisfied you can support yourself in Thailand. So maybe half that money should do as per the family O visa.

Oh, and I had the original letter being awarded that pension for life and the next letter where it got raised according to some rental statistics translated to Thai by a certified translator, I suppose that helped. Over Christmas I'll be going to Phnom Penh and see if they are as forthcoming. General feeling seems to be Savannakhet or Penang are easier to deal with.

If he was unwilling to voluntarily leave the country, there was not much anyone could do.

I understand the family thing. Buying the air ticket (which one can assume will be used for the intended purpose) is one thing. Sending cash for the fine and ETD is another. How does the family know what the cash will really be used for? They may already have had bad experiences in that regard in the past. When I have helped an American friend in the past, I communicated directly with the family to reassure them, but it is not easy.

That said, the cheapest and safest option would have been a cheap ticket to the UK, paying the fine on exit. Once on the deportation track, some jail time and an expensive ticket on national carrier becomes inevitable. If the incarceration at IDC ultimately ended up saving money, maybe it could be regarded as an acceptable trade off. The trouble is that, even with the reduced fine, the total cost ends up quite a bit higher.

The BE will receive cash from relatives and ensure it is spent according to the relatives wishes.

How do I know this ?

I have a friend who is a British Hon Consul who has assisted in many of these 'difficult' cases.

That is true. The embassy can be a useful and credible escrow agent, as long as you know to avoid their advice on how to handle departure.

That escrow thingy was exactly the idea, wrote that before. And the chap at the embassy was, as such, top-notch and very professional and helpful. John apparently asked him where he was from in Britain and told me he was dual-nation Thai/Brit and a native speaker of both languages. Not some "cheap local hireling", doesn't sound in the least like it. And phoning up the BE you are being led through a dial-a-tone menu that gets you directly to consular services. Worked for me the first time, can't have been complicated. After that, just mumble "lost passport, on overstay" and you are being directly put through to what is best described as their emergency department.

It's just when you run into someone "advice-resistant" (that expression is a German lawyers' in-joke, should translate well) there is very little anyone at all can do, frustrating as that may be after all the effort. But it wasn't exactly the first encounter I ever had with that sort of thing, far from it. But, in the end, he's alive, he's OK, and he's home. Still a happy ending of sorts.

It's what I would do in a pinch, but here we had several more factors to consider. Chiefly the money and, again connected to that, the relationship with his family, then the passport.

I was initially phoning up the embassy to check out the procedures getting travel papers and try and time the short stay in Bangkok and the eventual departure after just paying those 20k, it was then they came up with a different option that was worth pursuing due to the family business. But in this case, and with a view how he was behaving early this year, still wanting to stay in Thailand, it's a safe bet the embassy, in the end and despite all prior dealings, only got involved after he got involuntary picked up somewhere and landed in detention.

HE'S BACK!!!!

In the UK, that is. None of my doing, but I am betting the farm that contact with the embassy I established did a world of good.

Am presently quizzing him how all of that exactly came to pass. Apparently involved some jail time, but could not be helped, I suppose.

Following British Embassy advice, I am not surprised it involved jail time. The correct procedure, as explained here, was to avoid IDC and leave via the airport. I have never heard of anyone detained at the airport when able to pay the fine and leave. I will also bet the total cost (including full price ticket on British Airways) ended up being higher. Anyway, too late now.

Still waiting for his answer, but I very much doubt the Embassy was in any way involved here, i.e. *before* he went to jail, don't know for how long. Might just have been days.

He had, for the last 5 months or so, set his mind on staying in Thailand because he felt he liked it better than Britain, and a new girlfriend... the sort of thing where you can't really change things with any sort of advice.

HE'S BACK!!!!

In the UK, that is. None of my doing, but I am betting the farm that contact with the embassy I established did a world of good.

Am presently quizzing him how all of that exactly came to pass. Apparently involved some jail time, but could not be helped, I suppose.

Thank you for your input (and whatever made 14 notifications of this turn up in my email-account), I was previously very much sure the maximum fine for an overstay exceeding 40 days

would be 20 k THB, or otherwise it would be 100 days of bed and breakfast, just like you wrote.

However, the Embassy told us otherwise. And I am going to trust in what they say, they have handled this and worse before on a daily basis. Otherwise, why would I have bothered to phone them this week?

The maximum fine for overstay is currently set at Bt 20,000, beside this forum you can confirm that with Immigration if you want.

In any event, they told us they do not need a police report for the passport. If it's fine by them, and they are the people who will furnish John with the emergency papers he needs, that settles the matter.

That is good news, I think that was never reported before.

There will be no charges for a police escort or transport to Bangkok IDC. Which is because we will be going there directly by ourselves and meet a bloke from the Embassy, as per prior appointment. Period.

They will charge for transport to IDC to airport, which and is mandatory. Plus assorted other expenses including decent food. If any chance I recommend you try to spare detention in indecent conditions to someone that is suffering already.

Again, mine is 2nd hand info. I recommend you contact badbanker for solid help.

Maximum fine is definitely 20k, 500 THB a day. No argument about that.

Apparently, immigration and the relevant western Embassies have had enough of it, though, and as everybody involved wants that destitute foreigner out of the country, including immigration,

there is a standing deal not involving courts. Or the fine is literally halved and there are some 1.800 THB other fees. I do not care, it was always going to cost money, it's 11.800 THB, and that is it.

Plus the fees for the emergency papers.

I will have to find out from the embassy myself, I already wrote I don't trust "clients" with anything they relay to me, but apparently there will be no detention involved. "John" explicitly told me, there would be

two nights of accommodation (which I will be paying for) involved, unless we bypassed the booking done by his mom under the auspices by the Embassy..... whatever.

The Embassy told us, we could do it all by our little selves, i.e. get the papers, book he flight, put 20k on the desk of airport immigration, and there still would be no guarantee immigration would let him

board the plane... if it's all going to be more or less the same money, I'd rather do it by the book.

And whoever is out there on this forum, I very much doubt there is somebody who knows the present-day procedures better than someone who very likely does it every day, meaning the Embassy.

I sure did ask when opening the thread, but I've made my mind up here. They were professional enough for that.

So, we'll turn up straight at Bangkok IDC one fine sunny morning, he'll hand himself in, we'll be informing the embassy beforehand, no reporting that passport stolen,

they'll sort things out, John's mum will be buying the ticket directly and they'll relay the flight plan to us, we'll be staying in Bangkok for 2 days, he'll be going on that plane

and that will be it. One of the biggest problems at this stage appears to be where I formerly pledged to pitch in, i.e. transport to Bangkok and accommodation, lacking a passport.

He's presently trying to find the last 300 GBP for the (reduced) fine for immigration and the emergency papers, but it looks like everything is a go.

The full fine is Bt 20,000 that is 360 GBP. Paying that one does no IDC. From reportsA reduced fine by the court could be one half or even less , but then you have to add increased cost of ticket when booked for a fixed date from IDC, cost of police transport (yes they bill for that), etc.

There is at least one member here that knows all then ins and outs of this process very well and even better than the embassy, unfortunately I don't remember his nick now.

In any case filing a police report for a stolen passport while being on overstay does not mean immediate arrest.

Thank you for your input (and whatever made 14 notifications of this turn up in my email-account), I was previously very much sure the maximum fine for an overstay exceeding 40 days

would be 20 k THB, or otherwise it would be 100 days of bed and breakfast, just like you wrote.

However, the Embassy told us otherwise. And I am going to trust in what they say, they have handled this and worse before on a daily basis. Otherwise, why would I have bothered to phone them this week?

In any event, they told us they do not need a police report for the passport. If it's fine by them, and they are the people who will furnish John with the emergency papers he needs, that settles the matter.

While I had figured before I made that call that report would not necessarily result in an arrest, as you wrote, it does not matter now. We are doing it their way, if they are happy, we are. Period.

There will be no charges for a police escort or transport to Bangkok IDC. Which is because we will be going there directly by ourselves and meet a bloke from the Embassy, as per prior appointment.

While you might possibly be right about that, we are not going to find out. And there will be no courts involved.

Once the plane has taken off i'd like to see this thread purged of all the 'bloke in a pub' nonsence & pinned as an example of how the system actually works.

I will probably post a summary of this whole affair on a new thread with all the dos and don'ts, when this little episode is over.

Without any imagined parasites, bipolar depressions, anxiety-attacks, sit-ins in embassies, and everything.

The "bloke in a pub" business has been, to my mind, down to a minimum in this thread, if we forget about the pork worms and people getting "jailed up" in mental wards.

While there has been a side-story to this with me contacting a former healthcare-worker of "John's" to see if anything could be done for him upon returning to the UK,

that is not so much to the point. Life won't be pretty for him for a good couple of weeks, that's for sure. Wouldn't be in most any country.

Will mostly pertain to UK-citizens, but might be a good starting point for anyone finding himself or "a charge" in that sort of situation.

Thank you for the update.

"John" was indeed fortunate that you were able to support/assist.

John will need an emergency travel document in order to fly and enter the UK but I guess that is being taken care of ?

While John is a native speaker, so his English is naturally better than mine, I'll make bloody double-sure of the correct procedures and timing myself with the embassy.

It's a bit of a mindset that grows on you if you have been a lawyer for *any* amount of time and have been dealing with clients or - in this case - "clients" and

their ability to follow instructions. Or not.

The best news so far is that we will *not* have to report that passport stolen to any sort of police and see what they make of him and his overstay to get emergency travel documents.

Unless I hear different from what has been relayed to me by way of indirect speech it will all be a big parcel including emergency papers from the embassy, and a smiling crowd

of people watching "John" quit the country, including the embassy's representative, immigration, myself, and John.

I am herewith taking back anything I might formerly have surmised on the British Embassy not being helpful.

While they certainly still cannot pitch in with any of the money needed to get past immigration or the flight ticket,

talking to them has turned out to be immensely productive.

There apparently is an option going on a "fast track" with immigration, saving a decent amount of money, on the downside the flight will have to

be booked with Virgin, so that ticket will be 28k THB one-way... While it's not foolproof in that they could not protect John from getting holed up if

immigration turned sour, that apparently just does not happen doing it their way.

I've phoned them this afternoon on his behalf, gave him "John's" personal data, phone number, contact data of next of kin, and explained his situation, and they

went phoning him within 10 minutes and explained his options and procedures. Nice helpful chap, no probs, no sneers, no nothing, gave me a direct call-through number...

Was very much a breeze, but I suppose I've had some experience talking on behalf of "clients".

So, we'll turn up straight at Bangkok IDC one fine sunny morning, he'll hand himself in, we'll be informing the embassy beforehand, no reporting that passport stolen,

they'll sort things out, John's mum will be buying the ticket directly and they'll relay the flight plan to us, we'll be staying in Bangkok for 2 days, he'll be going on that plane

and that will be it. One of the biggest problems at this stage appears to be where I formerly pledged to pitch in, i.e. transport to Bangkok and accommodation, lacking a passport.

He's presently trying to find the last 300 GBP for the (reduced) fine for immigration and the emergency papers, but it looks like everything is a go.

Health-wise he's appearing to be holding steady, so I'll be leaving everything to the NHS. And I have continued to impress on him that he is not viable to live anywhere in a country

where there is no social net, wanting as that might seem to be in the UK. Might do better with a view to that if he were to learn some German. ;-))

The last post outlined everything correctly. An embassy is actually extraterritorial, not that it matters at all.

But can we just stop talking about "sit-ins" in Embassies? This is just a big no, and would in no event be helpful.

We are sussing it out the normal way, I am looking into the correct procedures and timing.

He is not "frail" at the moment and does not look it, but he is on the certain road to that state.

The Embassy will contact relatives (no charge) if required and they will also accept money sent from the UK and attempt to ensure it is used for the purpose intended.

Best piece of advice ever. If in doubt, this is going to turn the tides.

Just got back to "John", and while he has not received word from mum as of now, he thinks this escrow-thingy "might sway her". And everyone else.

He did ask me if I could lend him any money back in May and I declined. Self-protection. Putting any money in some sort of escrow would be another story, personally speaking.

And doing so is first-most the responsibility of mum, step-dad, brother, and other family,

I don't want to appear heartless, but I have some sort of upper limit in what I would be willing to invest in an acquaintance, I prefer the "hands-on" approach when doing charity, no money involved, but still.

He now appears to have his mind set on actually going home. Good. Just ... good! I just so hope I am not misreading him.

I had considered him totally devoid of any papers whatsoever, but from what he says he has still got a driving license and a birth-certificate.

The Embassy-part is going to be a breeze with those.

OP - £300 one way flight to the UK next week - £400 overstay fine.

Do your pal a favour, book the flight, drive him to the airport and pay his fine - it's only £700.

That's what good pals do.

http://www.skyscanner.net/transport/flights/bkk/edin/150908/airfares-in-september-2015.html?rtn=0&includeOnePlusStops=true&browsePrice=303&age=0

When he arrives at the airport he can request an ambulance and he will be taken straight to hospital for treatment.

He is more of an acquaintance.

I definitely am willing to drive to Bangkok with him, might even book a room in my name (so the missing passport will not be the problem),

see him through the Embassy business and to the airport. It's like I'm going on a little holiday and sightseeing, and just share a room for 2-3 nights.

And if the last 5 or 7k THB are missing, well, ok.

Once he is in the UK, worries are over. I suppose it will not so much be the ambulance but couch-crashing for the first few nights so he does not

have to go to a homeless shelter, and at some point he will then go to a hospital and get housed by them. He apparently has done it before.

They've got social-workers to see to that.

Making some headway here.

I just made "John" an offer he could not refuse, as in inviting him for dinner to talk things over.

His girlfriend split up with him in February and has so far "not managed" to send him his papers, rental contracts and the like I suppose,

he claims to still have some money in the bank, but can not get it, would not be much anyway. His steady income of 25k THB from

the UK dried up for good as recent as December. Doesn't sound like he's been burning his money.

We talked the procedures through to get him on a plane home, including the need to gather some 1000 GBP for the ticket, emergency passport, short stay in Bagkok to get the latter,

and immigration. He will need to stay out of sight of police, so it'll have to be a taxi to Bangkok, not the bus.

He is on somewhat tense terms with his mum and step-dad, but will phone them up for support, along with his estranged brother and some friends. Tonight.

Should work, we're not talking about a fortune here. If mum is not forthcoming, we might contact his Embassy "for advice", so they may make a

phone-call home and impress the urgency on his folks. I've decided against running up a medical bill in Thailand. Won't do any good.

In October he got scammed out of his passport and someone tried to blackmail him for it. So while it apparently is still valid, it's gone.

So, while John is working on the financial side of things, there still is the nitty-gritty.

He might have to go to Thai police to report his passport as stolen, will that be a problem considering his visa-less state?

There will be a need for timing getting those travel-papers, booking a flight and accommodation.

Has anyone a clue how long it will take him to get the papers from the British Embassy?

I am saying this because I am in contact with forum loads of people who wasted months sometimes years in psychiatry when they just needed anti parasite treatment. The saddest is when it happens to kids,they can't properly express what's going on and end up in psychiatric wards when they are just infected.

Do you want to be that person who took the responsibility to send him to psychiatry?

These places are easier to get in than out

Give your friend some credit and do try to find out what's his infection.

I am personally dealing with a parasite that does have neuro and psy consequences.

If I had not taken things in hands I could have ended like your friend

I know it could go pretty bad if I don't take care but it is possible to manage parasites.

Yes, I want to be that person who sends this chap to a psychiatrist for assessment and treatment. If that turns out to be wrong, nothing bad has happened.

Actually, those places are harder to get IN than OUT, unless you are an emergency, with a waiting list of up to two months.

Getting out is quick and easy, you just tell the doctor you're leaving against medical advice, and unless you have been diagnosed as being a danger to yourself or others, that's it.

The chances of a theoretical infection being overlooked here are pretty slim. It'll be the first thing he tells them, pointing to the dried spot of scab on his forehead where he is

suspecting the next "exit wound" (when it looks like scar tissue with a little indentation where he supposedly dug at it with his fingernail.)

I actually just met him to talk things over, and I dug a bit into his former life in the UK. Has been repeatedly out of work for depressions, always as an outpatient.

Reciting a list of medications I know to see if any of them rang a bell he answered positive on citalopram and lithium. The latter is probably bad news, not necessarily though.

So yes, psychiatry it is. In any event.

If he has "parasite that has made his way to his brain" He does not need psychiatric help.

Parasites can indeed attack the brain and give neurological and psychiatric symptoms if not treated.

Sending him to a psychiatric hospital would be a serious mistake, because psychiatric medicines won't help him and he could be locked up for life when he's just infected and NOT MAD.

Thank you for your input, but this is exactly the type of discussion that will not get us one step further. We don't know squat about these things and we cannot examine him or anything.

While parasites that go into your brain exist, I am refusing to read the slightest bit about this and the symptoms. If you hear a clatter of hooves think horses, not zebras.

Apart from the misconceptions of psychiatry "locking people up".

He has some family back home. Told me his mum finally got her pension and it amounted to the princely sum of 100 GBP a week.

And there's a brother he's not speaking to.

So... I guess I'll have to talk to him about drawing on that. Might work, the problem will be when he does not snap out of the parasite bit and decides to lay down until "they" get him.

I've been through the "psychology bit" with him, like asking if he would feel a failure if he had to return home, if he enjoyed his present life in Thailand,

if he could imagine a life back in the UK (on welfare, obviously). That went well enough.

I suppose I'll have to meet him and do some more talking to see him through.

Unless you are skilled and knowledgeable best stay away from "the psychology bit"!

Do not support or deny the delusion(s) but encourage him to seek medical help. Outpatient consultations are not expensive.

Your friend needs skilled psychiatric assessment/help and appropriate prescribed medication.

You could ask in the Health forum where such help can be obtained.

I am not playing psychologist, but I had to test out whether he even considers "going home" an option. He does, so that's good.

As to not denying the delusions, well, I was rather blunt as I needed to get the psychiatry part into his head. He considers himself "probably too far gone" with

his supposed infection for medical help, After "self-diagnosis", days and weeks on the internet where he determined his sort of parasite was not even

found in Thailand so the doctors about here wouldn't know what to do anyway, having got himself repeatedly on anti-worm medicine of some sort....

You see the dilemma? He told me he would "actually be happy" if it turned out to be psychiatric, sounded doubtful enough though.

The assessment part is going to be hard, with the English even doctors hereabout speak. He is presently talking so rapidly I can only make out some

2/3 of what he is saying, and my own English is not normally the problem.

I've got a buddy a back in Germany who is a physician with a psychiatrist wife, could ask them. It's Wednesday, so they'll have their half day off.

I am thinking neuroleptica myself, but we need to get the going home part on the way.

The delusional state you describe your friend as suffering from is usually treated (in the West) on an outpatient basis.

The problem associated with the delusional state you detail is that many suffers reject/refuse psychiatric help.

Unless this man is a danger to himself or others there is little that can be done.

There will be no "emergency repatriation" unless he agrees and family/friends pay the expenses.

Consider also , depending on the mans demeanor , airlines may refuse him unless medically certified as fit to fly and the airlines may also require that he be accompanied by suitable escort.

I've personally seen a bit of psychiatry, and I think he'd be going to a ward for some 4-6 weeks so they can check on the neuroleptica to work, determine the exact nature

of what he got, and impress the need for treatment on him. Not a closed ward, voluntarily.

He's functional so far and acting normally (speech is very rapid, he appears to be "on edge"), he's not a danger to anyone, unless he's getting himself so worked up he might

consider suicide the better option over getting blind an becoming a vegetable because of "the worms". That could happen if he is left to fend for himself.

If the airline part is the only problem, I'll chuck some Quetiapine into him on the airport and he'll just sleep through his flight.