Lopchan

I'm not sure of the organization's name, but there was an expat who suffered a stroke a while back. The organization, flew him back to the states (might have been Canada...can't remember) with a full medical team. It was a free service and they even helped set up his home back there. It was an international organization similar to the one below. If anyone knows of it, maybe they could post a link here to help your friend out.

Praying for his recovery

http://www.angelflight.com

9 stinking baht Vs someone's livelihood. Is it possible that the girl made an honest mistake but due to the belligerent, over the top behaviour of the customer, got her back up at and dug her heels in? Okay, she could have just said 'oh sorry, here you go" but I guess she wasn't used to kee niow farangs who have nothing better to do than turn molehills into mountains.

I think it's safe to say I've now heard it all.

NO, you have not heard it all.

How about this:

The girl is saving up the stamps to buy a university degree.

When she has the degree, she will borrow money from a loanshark to buy a job at Samui immigration.

Next she will charge you 5.000 for a 1.900 extension.

Next you will be whining, and some poster will point out to you that 3.100 baht is not even 10 baht a day.

Cheap Charlie!

Touche....maybe I might start saving stamps to pay for my visa extension and other immigration cost and a few extra to whine and dhine the girls at immigration

9 stinking baht Vs someone's livelihood. Is it possible that the girl made an honest mistake but due to the belligerent, over the top behaviour of the customer, got her back up at and dug her heels in? Okay, she could have just said 'oh sorry, here you go" but I guess she wasn't used to kee niow farangs who have nothing better to do than turn molehills into mountains.

I think it's safe to say I've now heard it all.

Furthermore, if we are now into obeying laws, there is a little matter of international human rights law and not splitting up families. That would be a good law to start obeying.

This is one avenue I'm possibly going to pursue as Thailand is a signatory to the Hague convention and other Child welfare conventions.

I've just left Thailand (Last week) after a fourteen month overstay of a Non B visa. Reason for overstay was my wifes pregnancy which had multiple complications resulting in her being hospitalized and then the birth of our son Eli who was born with complications also. He spent the first 10 days in ICU. Happily both are okay now, although Eli is prone to lung infections (about every two months)due to scarring on his lungs when ill at birth.

Last week I went to swampy and told them I was on overstay, 14 months. I didn't wait for them to find it themselves.The officer was very polite and called his mate over to escort me to the desk to be processed where there was another guy paying the maximum fine.

After a few minutes, I paid the 20K fine and they stamped me out of the country and also placed a conviction and fine amount stamp in my passport.

As I left I asked the immigration officer if I was blacklisted / banned from returning and his answer was a polite "Maybe"

Have flown to Savannakhet to apply for non O visa as supporting wife and Thai child. (waiting for original birth certificate to arrive...copy is not acceptable darn it!)

Once I get the visa, I'll be heading across the bridge to face the immigration officers and it will only be then that I'll know for sure if I'm allowed back in or not.

I'll update in the next day or so as soon as Fedex arrives with my sons birth certificate (6 days...could have put a relative on a bus with it and had it here in 24 hrs )

Here's the kicker.

A friend of mine who was on overstay longer than me, attended the same time as I did. Instead of admitting it, he engaged in light hearted banter about football and Laotian women. The officer was busy laughing along and stamped him out no problems. No fine. No conviction.

He came to Savannakhet also, obtained his visa and returned to Thailand on Friday last week. Luck truly on his side.

Moral of the story....Although honesty is paramount, it doesn't always pay off. So if they don't ask, don't tell.

As I said I will update on my situation as it unfolds