rapom

Really depends on language, some folks near the embassies charge exorbitant or extor. prices when you want it to be stamped with the state seal. Something like 4 to 5000 baht. No wonder the embassies have "no idea" where these folks are.

Not the answer to the question he asked.

Cheat sheet for O-A (Multiple)

Los Angeles and Chicago both require that documentation be notarized ( police report, medical report, and income proof)

New York Consulate and Washington D.C. Embassy do not require notarization of documents

If you want to use the Consulates you must live within their geographical areas, even when doing it by mail. Any US resident can use the Embassy in Washington DC

I spend 8 months in Thailand and 4 months back in the US every year, and I have found the O-A Visa the best since the only thing I have to do is my 90 day reports and get a new visa every two years by timing it correctly

I have to disagree with one statement. My US residence is in Missouri, in the Chicago Consulate zone Twice I have gotten a 90 day visa from Los Angeles, once in person and the other time by mail. I used the Chicago consulate on one trip. They require financial proof before issuing a visa, LA did not. In LA, if you apply in person, you pick up the visa, the next day. In Chicago it takes one additional day.

Check out this website www.everbuying.com. Large selection of copters and other electronics. Have purchased 2 Chinese cell phones S4 and S5 clones from them. Both phones very good quality and exactly as advertised.

Buying a new helmet can be difficult. Finding the right helmet even more so. A good internet site to compare brands and prices is www.compacc.com. They are located in Rock Hill, S.Carolina. They have dozens of brands available with customer reviews and I found the best service and price.($150 less than dealer) I purchased my current helmet from them, a HTC Rpha-Max modular. It had all the fixtures, I wanted in a helmet. Highly rated impact protection, low noise at highway speeds, good ventilation, very little wind buffering, light weight, internal flip down sun-visor, modular design and removable liner and padding for cleaning. My previous helmet was a Bell Revolver, nice helmet but very noisy. Had to wear earplugs with it. Prior to making my final decision, I went to my m/c dealer showroom and tried on several different helmets that I liked. Comparing how easy it was putting on and taking off, the fit, clarity of face-shield, and peripheral vision. My choice of a modular helmet over an open-face or shorty was a no-brainer: <protection>. Modular over full face: I wear glasses and it is easier putting on and taking off. Ability to raise, to allow extra air flow in slow or stopped traffic and to be able to have quick drink or snack without removing helmet. My advice is before you buy, do some internet research, then go to a retail store to see what you like, try them on for correct size and fit. Then buy the one you like best. My ride in the US is a 2011 Suzuki GSX 1250FA sport-touring. Wish I could bring it to Thailand.

Plenty of work....harvesting Rice

Not true, no one wants to pay the minimum 300 Baht per day since the price of rice is held down to about 10 Baht per Kilo. As a consequence day workers are out of work. Unless the government lifts the price ceiling this will continue.

I would like to see a few Farangs work out in the fields for 9-10 hours under an unrelating sun for 300 Baht a day. I would also like to see them harvesting at least 50 kilos of rice. Remember it isn't just the rice cutting that costs you have to add in all the other inputs. Raising the seedlings. cost of seed rice, fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, threshing etc etc etc

It might be more realistic to have a target of 100 kilos per day or 10 kilos an hour.

Anyone with large enough fields is going for mechanisation. This happened a couple of generations ago in the west. Rural employment fell drastically as a result from about 40% in 1880 to about 1% now. At some time Thailand will see a similar shift.

Is the minimum wage of 300 baht per day enforced. Wife's sister and about 20 neighbors, work in rice field for 200 baht a day plus meal. Work from about 8 am till 4:30 pm. I buy our rice from a local mill. As of 2 days ago, price for 45 kilo was 850 baht, same price in September. Last April, price was 1000 baht. We live about 10 km south of Surin.

I returned to Thailand, earlier this month. I was to stay in Bangkok for 4 days, for embassy and immigration business, then travel by bus from MoChit to Surin. I always stay at same hotel, near On Nut BTS. Usually, I take airport train to end of the line, transfer to BTS, to On Nut station and walk to hotel. This time I had extra luggage and decided to take airport taxi to hotel. Got into taxi and gave driver a google map, showing location of hotel, with name and address. Taxi driver was gentlemen in his early 60's, who was driving a new Toyota. We had the usual taxi ride conversation.I committed on how clean the taxi was and he told me brand new and cost 1 million. He was very proud of his taxi. He asked how long I was staying in Bangkok and I said 4 days, then I was taking bus to Surin, He handed me a printed sheet and said I could take new air conditioned taxi to Surin. The sheet had destinations to most of the larger cities in Thailand,with the cost. Price to Surin was 3000 baht. At the bottom of sheet was all day rental price, of 1500 baht. Fare from airport to hotel was metered at just over 200 baht, gave him 300. Very pleasant driver. While in Bangkok had several taxi trips to US embassy and Thai immigration, usually from nearest BTS station. Always was metered taxi. No problems. When I checked out of hotel, I had taxi take me to MoChit bus terminal. Driver asked me if I wanted to go by highway. I told him whatever was best way and that I had over 1 hour, before bus departure. I have taken taxi several times from MoChit to this hotel. Metered fare was always about 270 baht. This was first time taking taxi to MoChit. The driver went down numerous narrow 2 lane streets, onto a multi-lane highway, a couple more 2 lane streets, another highway and we were at MoChit. Fare was 179 baht. The time driving was probably, less than 5 minutes longer. I gave the driver 300 baht. My thinking was that if he had wanted to make a higher fare, he would not have taken, the shortest route. I would have to say, that my first and last taxi drivers in Bangkok were honest men. This is my experience.

Which one's the drug Lord? Blue silk shirt, or checked cotton shirt?

The one in handcuffs.

Yes I already did those calculations, estimate him to be mid to late 80's. I lived there (Japan) for 20 years and ran night clubs, so I can conclusively say he is not a Yakuza. He lives in a low rent apt., not a hovel, and comes out only after 5pm to go to the supermarket for dinner, other than that he is a total recluse.

Oz

You did the calculations figured him to be in his late 80s and a WWII war criminal.... at 10 years of age..... wow, they did pump them out young back then

Maybe you should re-calculate your first post formula. I think you are 10 years off. 86 not 96

Wives father catches frogs to eat. Some as big or bigger than your hand. We called them bullfrogs in USA. Others are small, little bigger than chicken egg. These we called toad frogs and didn't eat. FIL goes out at night when it rains, wears a headlamp and uses a hand fish net. Has a feast the next day.

I opened accounts at Krung Thai on 30 day entry stamp. Kasikorn and Bangkok Bank on 60 day tourist visa, Walked in, put money on counter, told them I wanted to open an account. No big deal.

Paying 10,000 to each officer who doesn't accept a bribe, would be cheaper than having to pay citizens, who have evidence of officers that accept bribes.

Opened account at Krung Thai, last December on 30 day stamp. Opened accounts at Kasikorn and Bangkok Bank last month, on tourist visa. All banks in Surin. Went to each bank, put passport and money on counter and asked to open account. Signed paperwork and walked out with passbook. No hassle.

Why does a post about free sim cards offered by a bank, turn into a bitching post, about not being able to open a bank account. If you have not been able to open an account, you haven't tried hard enough. I opened my first account at Krungthai last December on 30 day stamp. Came back in July, opened accounts at Kasakorn and Bangkok Bank on 90 day tourist visa. All banks in Surin.

I have opened accounts at 3 different banks. Krung Thai in Dec 2013, on 30 day tourist stamp, Kasikorn 3 weeks ago and Bangkok Bank today on 90 day visa. Each bank required a Thai national as reference. Had fiancés brother in law for first account, wife for last two. Each bank is in Surin. Some people are going to ask "why 3 banks? Here's why! In Surin, Krung Thai seems to have better ATM access with no fees. Kasikorn I will use for online bill pay. Bangkok Bank for international transfers from US, lower fees, plus they had lowest debit card fee. Of the three, Bangkok Bank had the fastest service. Better English speaking staff and separate foreign exchange counter.

Most Anti-virus programs are important, but I also have an anti-malware program on my phone and tablet. I bought I new phone downloaded Malwarebytes for free. Scanned all factory installed aps on phone and found 2 apps with malware attached. I now scan all downloads and new aps before opening.

I am in Surin at this time. I want to get marriage visa. What do I need to take with me to get visa in Savannakhet.

What an idiot getting caught twice in 2 weeks for the same offences in the same location. Enjoy your extended stay in the Hilton.

What's with the cops turning up with a search warrant and they don't even know the address.

"Not sure which apartment he lived in, they asked a Thai woman who was going into the building who she was going to visit. By lucky coincidence she said she was going to visit Coutelas"

Surely they would have checked all the intel prior to going there and surely his details and address are recorded on the database from his previous arrest. What's with taking civilians on a police raid the bloody morons, the guy the are going to arrest has a history of firearms and you ask a civilian if they want to tag along.

Read the news article again. You will read that the first arrest was the one, in which police followed the woman to his apartment. That arrest is where they found the gun.

I am recently married to a Thai lady, living in Surin. On my last visit to Thailand In February, I stayed 60 days on a 90 day visa. I am now, back in the US trying to sell my home and property. I am returning at the end of July and staying another 60 days. Then back to US to prepare my home for winter, if it doesn't sell. I want to return in early November and stay to April of next year. Back to the US to have my taxes filed and return to Thailand to live. Can I apply for a Non O visa in Thailand, when I come back in July. I meet all of the income requirements. If I can, do I have to go to Bangkok or can this be done in Surin.