Na Fan

Hello We've been struggling to find a water delivery service (for corporate or private) that delivers still and sparkling water in glass bottles. Can anyone recommend one, please? Chonburi province (or I suppose Bangkok may also deliver here). Fan

How do you go about finding a RELIABLE housekeeper? We've been through over a dozen. They either don't know how to clean (or pretend not to, to just get paid doing nothing), don't show up at all even on the first day, or randomly don't show up because it happens to rain that day, or they suddenly decide working in the market is better, etc etc etc. Think of a random reason why - we've heard it. It's becoming utterly annoying and frustrating. We offered 500THB / cleaning day, which usually comes down to about 3-4 hours or work, twice per week. There isn't that much, as the wife is doing stuff too, and so am I. But we need someone to close the gaps when the kids keep us busy. Wife thinks that's more than fair - and I tend to agree with her? Any recommendations?

Yeah, thanks!

There seems to be much better information on that part out there, than on visas. Still, takes YEARS to do that.

How do you "bypass PR"?

All of the above is correct, yes! I'm just looking to stay here with my family (in Chonburi) and without the constant hassle of spending what amounts to close to 2 weeks full-time per year to run around like crazy collecting documents, taking photos, etc etc, if I can avoid that. (Yes I am aware of PR and the cost turns me off).

Even though that's exactly what it says there? << 2. O Spouse Visa Conditions - The O Spouse is valid for a single entry 90 days or multiple entries 1 year from the date of issuance. - The extension of stay is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer. >>

Yes I am confused. And that's after being here for 10 years and doing yearly extensions. Says something about the processes here, I suppose. What if we don't do marriage but just to support the dependents (kids)? I don't see any financial requirements here: https://sydney.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-visa-type-o

Thanks for the response! So what you're saying is essentially that everything will still be the same if you have a non-O with an income condition attached, and the same circus will still be in play. So what's the easiest way then? Non-O for dependents (wife and I have 2 kids here) according to here sounds hassle-free: https://sydney.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-visa-type-o ? Is that less of a hassle and still allows you to get a work permit?

So how come, that in the last 10 years the ministry of labor has shown no interest whatsoever, but immigration persisted every year with photo shoots, visits, and piles and piles of paper validating my work situation over and over and over again? What you're saying doesn't match reality for me. It has always been the immigration office that validated the work situation. That's my main question, if this stupid charade and theater is finally going away when you're on a non-O.

Interesting. First hit on google apparently got it the wrong way round: https://visaguide.world/asia/thailand-visa/non-immigrant/marriage/ I quote: "Proof of your Thai spouse’s financial status." But appreciate the clarification! Anything on the rest of it all? So who checks the work permit requirements then, if immigration doesn't ?

This is mostly about process. There's a few things that are unclear to me that I hope to get a better understanding of. I've been here on a non-B for 10 years now, with the regular silliness that is the yearly extensions, photo shoots and more photo shoots and piles and more piles of paper that nobody cares about. So far, the process has always been to renew the work permit, that happened a few weeks before the extension and was quick and painless, and then afterwards do the visa with all the copious amounts of work that entails. Now, if we change to a non-O based on marriage, I can see a few things: - You will only need 2 Thai staff instead of 4 to sponsor your work permit. BUT: - Since the visa is NOT business related, who then checks that? So far, the labor department never has. It has always been immigration when doing the non-B extension, coming for the yearly visit. - Are the 2 processes then completely detached from each other? - I will naturally have to keep working since I am the only earner of the household, and thus will require a work permit to continue staying here. - The non-O marriage visa requirements state that the SPOUSE must have 40k per month in income or 400k in the bank. My wife has neither, she is a stay-at-home mom and the savings she has access to, are in a shared account. That seems unreasonable to me. What's with that? Is it impossible to get a non-o marriage visa and be the sole earner? Or is this just another means to get some tea money to "bend the rules"? - Anything else you can tell me about the switch? We're in Chonburi, in case that matters. Any feedback is appreciated! Fan

and then do it again when there is a different teller. and then do it again, at a different branch. and then call their hotline and ask. And if by some miracle those three answers are all the same, then you can be 50% confident that they might be correct.

Yes I am surprised nobody gives a damn. Or maybe people always cook at home? We just don't have the time and energy for that.

Right, eating food fresh out of the pan is obviously better than delivery - but that's beside the point of this post ????

It feels almost overwhelming if you look at the hundreds and hundreds of restaurants on Grab, Foodpanda, LineMAN and whatever else there is. It's almost too much. We've fallen flat so many times trying "something new" and ended up with completely inedible garbage being delivered that I thought I'd share the good ones we have found, and perhaps others can do the same. Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with any of the places mentioned - I am simply a customer and appreciate what they're doing. Note: this isn't a debate about whether you prefer grab over foodpanda. It's about restaurants. - Casa Pascal Delivery (self-hosted) For me, that's the best there is here in Pattaya. Their menu is great, has lots of variety and the quality is always top notch. It's not the cheapest - but you literally get what you pay for: excellent quality. As an example, the Roast Chicken (always freshly made to order - never once did we get a dry, stale, old chicken that was heated up in the microwave, like virtually every other place has done that we have ever ordered a roast chicken from) is the best I've had in many years. Their salads are also great, and the lobsters are sublime (order them cold, shell-off with their homemade Thai seafood dip sauce - perfection!). - Folks & Flour (LineMAN) The best bread bakery in town. We've tried many. Here we've never gotten a stale bread. Always crispy, often still warm. Packaged properly in a paper bag like it should be. Most places that sell bread in plastic wraps just have no idea what they're doing - that's a sure-fire way to turn your crispy bread into a lumpy chewy mess. Their walnut and lowgi loafs are amazing. Whole family loves it. - La Bocca (Grab) Great Italian all around (except the steaks, those aren't great). But their pasta, salads and pizzas are really great. - Shakariki (Grab) THE sushi place in Pattaya. The only place I know of here, that sells real tuna cuts (Otoro, Chutoro). Their Japanese dishes are also really good (try the Japanese Pork Stew! or the Miso Ramen). But the sushi is top notch. Always fresh, never smelly. - Everest Indian Restaurant (Grab) Great indian food. Lots of variety, amazing lamb dishes. But spicy - be careful if you can't handle that - but they let you chose with every dish how spicy you want it. Which ones do you love and want us to try?

My passport is due to expire in October and my visa end of March. Now I was told that they will only give me a visa until October - not for a full year like normal if I renew with a passport that is about to expire later this year. I have previously transferred a visa from one passport to another - why would this now suddenly be a problem? Very confused here.

We've driven all around Sattahip and there was Navy personnel everywhere and they said that everything was locked down. The tiny open beach we did find had very dirty water (ugly thick foam all around). I'll look for Nang Ram beach, thank you! That's exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for. Don't mind at all if it's a bit out of the way.

The beaches around Pattaya, Jomtien, Na Jomtien, Bang Saray, if they happen to not be polluted that day, always have very rough sea. Way too rough for our 3 yr old to have a comfy little splash. Is there any place around here that has decent beach waters? It's been a while since I've been over to Ko Si Chang, and right now I think Koh Larn should also not be flooded by Chinese? Any recommendations for clean and calm waters? Fan

If I can afford it, yes. What's your definition of "expensive; though relatively inexpensive" ?

Thank you - that's very helpful. Particularly the rough idea of the additional cost of anesthesia. Do you recall the name of the hospital in Sri Racha?

Yeah Bangkok, Chonburi. Thanks those are new to me. I have no experience with IV sedation, but from what I've read your sensors are still active and your whitness what's happening. Not an option. I'm trying to avoid wasting time to drive around for hours for an appointment only for them to tell me "we can't help you" or quoting a price that's 10x what I can afford to pay. I think any professional hospital would be able to make a quote, given an xray and the simple instructions to remove all existing bridges and remaining teeth and make dentures under full anesthesia?

Yes BH are in the list of those I contacted, thanks.

Obviously. Perhaps a million times in the nightmares I have from the trauma I went through as a child due to some sick f*** that called himself a dentist. Not happening.

Yes thanks @Sheryl - I'm aware that it's likely mostly hospitals that can do this. I have addressed a dozen or so of the ones nearby, but I was looking for specific recommendations and / or experiences. So far the only one that responded is Bumrungrad, but I fear their quote will be way out of my price range.