beerbelly

So that's on Koh Mak then..

What program do you use to get this form to print in the correct layout? When I open it in MS-word, Open office or Google apps, fonts and layout changes and it become about 1,5 pages long.. Same goes for TM7

We're being told that the tax office allows a write-off period for computers of 3 years, but for mobile phones it is (still) 5 years? That seems a bit.. old fashioned?

Work Perrmit Renewal procedure/fees have not changed in the last few years.

Actual money paid to the Goverment is 3,100 THB for a one year WP renewal, the rest you are paying is for the lawyers services.

Up to you if you think it's worth it, requires min 2x trips to Labour plus collating paper work as per attached WP5 renewal form:.

Thanks a lot for the forms! Saves us at least 1 trip to Din Deang.

4500 baht was, to me, definitely worth the time- and travel savings, but at 10500 baht I'm obliged to at least give it a try. (3100 baht government charges not included obviously) As far as I can tell there have only been one or two requirements added over the years, so doubling the professional fees for that is just a bit too much. Thanks again!

I hope you read what you signed, because if there are discrepancies you will be responsible.

We did, but a) it was more than 5 renewals ago, and they made the mrs. / owner of the company sign a dozen or so blank pages so we would not need to come in for every little change. I'm not worried that they might have used those inappropriately, but obviously we do not know what exact details might have been written on them. I also recall that several years before that, the staff at the work permit office advised us to alter education history a bit and since that was done on the spot I have no copies = no recollection what those changes were...

But I'm hopeful that being on back to back renewals for more than 10 years will make the process less stressful than it was the first couple of years. It certainly does make getting visa extensions a lot less painful..

I don't think its the cost of renewal that's gone up, more like the costs of the professional fees that have gone up

Correct: this is about the "professional services" only. The charges from the Thai government are still the same.

Just wondering if the work permit renewal process has changed significantly over the last two years? Two years ago we paid the good people at Sunbelt "just" 3900 baht for handling, last year that suddenly went up to 7500 baht (a special promotion), with a warning that it would be 8500 baht this year, and now that we are here it's even 9500 baht??

There seem to be other firms that advertise with fees < 6000 baht, but it's hard to tell if they are as experienced, although they do give guarantees...

For a total of 10807 baht, it might even be worth doing it ourselves, like we did in the early days. I just wonder what happen if there are discrepancies between the data they have been filing for us for years and what we would bring..

Roughly 50 arrests, mostly for improper documentation / licenses at BKK airport yesterday morning...

However, the "ghost" vans got away with a 1000 baht "fine" and the question which influential person protected them, while the official ones where jailed or released on 40k bail to be taken to court this morning.to receive a 10k fine.

This latest death and injury toll comes on the heels of another terrible van crash just a week ago...

It's just NOT safe out there on the roadways... nor on the speedboats, nor on the jetskis, not on the trains, etc etc.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/663415-van-crash-kills-nine-in-chachoengsao-thailand/

Van crash kills nine in central Thailand

CHACHOENGSAO: -- Nine people were killed when a van crashed into a parked 10-wheel truck early Monday, Thai police said.

Five people were injured in the accident shortly before dawn in Chachoengsao province, 70 kilometres east of Bangkok, Police Lieutenant Pongsak Inpong said.

The van smashed into a truck parked in the emergency lane after attempting to pass a vehicle and swerving too far back to avoid an oncoming car in the opposite lane, Pongsak said.

Source: http://voiceofrussia...-Thailand-3554/

-- THE VOICE OF RUSSIA 2013-08-26

Yes and last week the headline was that officials were to " rein in " vans to prevent accidents etc

I wonder how much " reining in " has been conducted in the week since those fine words were publicised ? I think I can guess.

Next time you can also consider Siam Resorts Fast Track service ( http://www.limousine...mmigration.html ) The online chat service makes it a lot easier to get in touch, although it's on for just 16 hours per day.

You obtain after check-in for flight in the immigration area so believe 30 minutes or less is normal. But only open 06-2400.

Thanks Lop Buri3. We're planning on fast tracking ( http://www.limousine...mmigration.html ) through immigration. Would you happen to know if it's then still possible to get to the reentry permit counter? As I understand it, fast track counters are not in the (same) immigration area?

Airport staff of the immigration fast track service confirmed that it's not possible to combine fast track and reentry permit application at the airport, as the fast track lanes completely bypass the immigration area.

You obtain after check-in for flight in the immigration area so believe 30 minutes or less is normal. But only open 06-2400.

Thanks Lop Buri3. We're planning on fast tracking ( http://www.limousine.in.th/fast-track-immigration.html ) through immigration. Would you happen to know if it's then still possible to get to the reentry permit counter? As I understand it, fast track counters are not in the (same) immigration area?

Thanks. So probably a couple of hours wait then?

Anyone know what kind of waiting time there is for getting the reentry permit at the airport?

Has anyone recently used the "e-mail your TM8 ahead" option for the application of a re-entry permit? I just did and got a "recipient's mailbox is full, message returned to sender", which I assume is not a good sign. Other than joining the queue at the airport, which is currently the easiest / quickest way and location to a re-entry permit?

http://www.limousine.in.th/ offer very nice priced fast track Immigration services and an excellent limousine service.

What most people really appreciate is the fact that they can reach the company through online chat 18 hours per day and that they have an airport hostess that will guide you to the car and driver, so that you do not need to follow the driver to the parking. They just pull up right in front of door number 3 and off you go.

here now, empty roads but no parking. 12 people in queue before us at non-0. Tollway was fine, other than some parked cars at exit

edit: note that all photo shops are closed!

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but was wondering if anyone has actually taken the speedboat from Ko Chang or the other islands to the Cambodian border? Cheers.

The Ao Thai Express service has seized their service to Haat Lek after trying it for a couple of months last year. Private boats are more along the 1X.XXX rate. I'd go with the minibus by land option, if I where you.

we always enjoy the Rachavadee Beach Resort (http://www.rachavadeebeachresort.com) Very nice bungalows right on the beach and an exceptionally private beach with hammocks under the coconut trees.

If you prefer more Thai style: the White Beach Resort just a bit further down has very nice bungalows and excellent food and, of course, a large karaoke room with a seaview.

Enjoy your trip!

Siriwhite speedboats / Laem Sok CP group speedboat tickets can now be booked via http://www.kohkoodboat.com

Departures at 09:00 and 13:00 with a free shuttle service to Trat city. Tickets from Laem Sok to Koh Kood are 600 baht / pers or 300 baht for kids under 10.

cheers,

BB

Siam Beach Resort. Pool / Sea View villa stand on the beach @ 2700 baht / night. Less comfortable but with an great seaview are the 1000 baht / night Hillside bungalow. http://www.siambeachresort.in.th

about 15 km's. Should be about 60-80 baht in the SongTeaw

perhaps not totally on topic, but didn't any of you guys had to show tax documents at either Labor office or immo?

Had forgotten about this post. In case anyone wonders:

Went to the police station next door to immigration in Soi Suan Plu and explained to a very love lady in brown that I lost the card. She did not seem to know the document, but that didn't stop her from making a report about it and asking for a 20 baht fee before handing over our copy... Went over to immigration where another friendly and helpful women at a special counter (no queue) looked up the original number (I do believe she used computer somewhere in the back) and wrote that on another, old model, TM card, stamped it and gave it back.

I was done within 30 minutes or so.

PS: Found the original TM card just last week and it turns out that she was right about the number.

If your work permit is in the same province. You can have two or three places of work with different employers. It does not matter what type of business they do. They will use the same work permit.

However, if one of these employers qualifies for the ONE Stop center, then you can cancel the work permit. You can apply at the One Stop Center for that employer and then have the other companies piggyback off your work permit and extension of stay. This BOI Company could be making dog biscuits and you are a teacher at the local University at night. It is allowed. We have seen some instances however the first employer needs to write a letter, they are ok with you having a second job.

If you have a work permit in one province and want to work in another province at the same time, you will have two work permits.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Just wondering: which Work permit will the Visa follow?

I suppose we will have to present all documents for both companies (in this case: first in BKK, new in another province) for yearly visa ext. at Soi Suan Plu then?

Would this also be the safest way to change employers? In case the 2nd company application fails, we would still have the first? When we asked this question in Din Deang, they said we will have to cancel the first before we can apply for a second in another province, but I though that sounded a bit dubious?

But how about the working hours and salary? 50k minimum x 2 jobs = 100 k minimum? I don't think it is written in the WP, but 2 x 40 hours = 80 hours? Doubtful, but would we then have to change the first work permit to reflect less salary and possibly working hours and if so, what happens if the second WP fails in regards to the visa?

Anything to worry about in regards to taxes?

any info will be appreciated!

BB

In Sep 2005 I lost my card when my passport was stolen immediately after coming back from a biz trip to Sri Lanka.

I had to go to Suan Phlu, where they had a computer record of the card number from flight arrivals for the day I had most recently arrived.

So they took a new card, crossed out the number and hand-wrote the number from the computer above the space on the card and stapled it into my new passport.

I thought that would be the end of it but three weeks ago I flew to Luang Prabang - my first time to leave Thailand since Sep 05 - and when they searched the immigration computers at passport check at Chiang Mai International, the handwritten number keyed to an arrival on the same day, same flight from Sep 05, with someone else's name, photo and passport number. It was an Indian national named Mohammed something and Thai immigration was very suspicious. Immigration at CM airport had no access to Suan Phlu (it was nighttime) and I was detained for awhile till I was able to convince them that it was an error.

If I were to go through a lost card again I would ask for a direct printout from the computer as a backup. Had I done that I believe it would have shown that both myself and this Mohammed were on the same flight and the office at Suan Phlu wrote down the wrong number.

Following the trip to Luang Prabang I now have a fresh card with a new number.

Thanks for the tip! On my next trip out, I'll make certain to bring a copy of the police report if they manually adjust my new TM.6.

JC

According to the person that answered the phone at Suan Plu, we'll have to stop by a police station (any police station will do) and get them to make a report about the loss of a TM.6 card. "No need to rush, just have it done before the next visa extension", is what we were told.

Glad we got an extra TM. 6 form on our way in. Can't imagine how long it would have been before the local boys in brown would have been able to understand "Lost Arrival card in passport" without seeing the actual form.