charliebadenhop

Hi Folks,

Leaving for Laos today and just wanting to be certain I am not forgetting anything.

Is this all I will need to get a Non-O in Vientiane?

presentation of my Thai bank book, recently updated, and copy of bank book name page and last entry page; showing the requisite 800k baht or more in funds on deposit. An application form (which I get at the Embassy); (3) 4cm X 6cm photos, fee of US$80?, and copy of passport face page.

Anything else?

Also, is this all I will need to bring with me for my Non-O?

presentation of my Thai bank book, recently updated, and copy of bank book name page and last entry page; showing the requisite 800k baht or more in funds on deposit. An application form (which I get at the Embassy); (3) 4cm X 6cm photos, fee of US$80?, and copy of passport face page.

Anything else?

I have a note from a long time ago where someone said that Tuesdays and Thursdays were bad days to go to the Thai Embassy in Vientiane. Any truth to that?

Thanks Joe!

As always!

Anyone been to Vientiane lately?

What I remember is- Make your application one day, and then no choice but to come back the next day, and I think I had to go back no earlier than about noon or so.

Anyone have specifics?

Also I am thinking it took about two hours from Vientiane to get back to Udon Thani.

Yes?

Ok, thanks. B400 a kilo should be doable.

That is about B50 per "quarter pounder" without a bun, etc.

:-)

So is there also a Thai Embassy in Hanoi?

And if so, does it have a good rep?

Is Hanoi interesting to visit?

cb

For some reason flights to Penang for the dates I am wanting are pretty expensive.

Is Ho Chi Minh also a fine place to go for getting a non-O?

Ahh, beef in the frozen section of Makro! That I will be willing to try.

Any idea of how the prices relate to Tops?

I think Tops beef is quite fine, and I don't have the background to point out "small points" as to what is best.

Double knucklehead here...

As confusion reigns...

If he is on an ED visa, then he likely cannot switch to a Non-O without leaving the country, no?

The way things were stated was unclear to me.

And still, can someone please explain this?

go to penang with a current million baht in the bank you can get a 1 year multiple non o without ever setting foot in the consulate.

How to accomplish this without setting foot in the consulate?

Ok, wow, thanks....

So seems like Cambodia is NOT a good idea for a Non-O.

Thanks so much.

And... just for my own clarity... this less than great situation in Cambodia is totally about the people working in the Thai Embassy there, yes? Nothing to do with "Cambodia"?

How do I get a 1 year multiple entry without even entering the consulate?

If in PP if it was well ventilated and or air conditioned and the two hour wait does not mean a lot of other hassles, I could always bring my laptop.

Or is PP a pain in general?

Ok, thanks!

Is there good quality minced hamburger meat in Makro?

Their meat section always smells bad to me, so I have never really looked.

And is it definitely cheaper than say a place like Tops, or Big C?

Joe, thanks as always.

I am going to go to Cambodia in a week or two to get a Non-O and I was just going to show my bank book with B1 mil, and a letter from my bank saying the money has come from overseas. Will that be good enough or do I need to put the money into a fixed deposit account?

The SanFran placed mentioned is in a lot outside yes?

Had a wonderful burger there a few weeks ago, but not sure if they are still there.

I had one horrible service experience at Hungry Wolf, but their food is pretty good.

Wow, I am guessing that Belgium beer on tap must be really expensive no?

What is the name of the place near Doi Chang?

This is double knucklehead speaking!!

Doesn't the Non-OA require seasoning, while the Non-O does not?

Or am I completely off here, as I often am?!

Well I am kind of afraid to say this, but....

For the first time, I think I understand!!

And yes, hadn't thought about it, but I guess I would have to move to another area if I wanted to use the office in that area.

I thought maybe Bangkok handled all comers.

As always Ubonjoe, thanks for your knowledge and your kindness.

cb

Ok, so I win the "Double Knucklehead" title!!

I thought that time and time again on this forum I read someone saying, "I am on an Ed visa... blah blah blah" and they were corrected by someone saying "You are on an ED extension!"

Oh well.

So then, am I understanding that some offices might do a change from a Non-ED to a Non-O?

If so...

Does anyone know of such an office?

I would love to not have to leave the country!

Ubonjoe

You wrote

I would guess that you entered on a non-ed visa

And this is exactly where my confusion starts.

Is there such a thing as a "non-ed visa"?

I thought not. Do you know of any other way to go as far as an ED extension goes, other than a Non-Imm O and then ED as the reason for extension?

And even as I write this I think there is still a piece that I don't understand, because I didn't have to prove anything when I got my visa in Vientiane, except show the proper docs from my school.

And I have looked and looked at all the stamps on my passport and I can't find any clarity there.

"Reports are that one now has to leave the country..."

Does this mean that perhaps some locations still allow one to change the reason for extension, while most places don't?

Since you know so much, I would have thought that if there was a rule change you would have known.

(And I mean this truly and respectfully!)

Life would be a lot easier if I did not have to leave the country to change!

I must be a DOUBLE knucklehead, but...

Why in the world does even the site of the Thai Embassy state there is a Non-Immigrant Visa ED, when as far as I can understand from the learned people here, the "ED" part is ONLY an extension?!?!

I am just finishing up and Ed visa. Does that mean I am here on a Non-Imm O visa with an ED extension?

And in order to get a new Non-Imm O I which I will EXTEND via retirement, I need to leave the country yes?

Yours truly,

Double Knucklehead

What is the blood alcohol limit here.

I have thought for a while now that owning a good yet inexpensive breathalyzer would be good.

Anyone know of a good online site selling these?

As this last post has a lot of mis-information in my mind, I thought I would respond...

1. There is no martial art for dealing with attacker or attackers, and if there really was don't you think the attackers would know it already.

Hard for me to make sense out of the above.

Does not EVERY martial art have a way of dealing with attack?

I think it is highly unlikely that anyone will ever get attacked by anyone with serious martial arts training.

People who attack other people are rarely going to have the temperament to learn how to counteract a DEFENSIVE move.

2. any one trying to convince you that "self defence " applications are gonna work are living in a dream world themselves.

Well, this statement goes against the experience of scores of people the world over.

​Well executed self defense moves are highly effective.

The main reasons being that an attacker will usually be quite surprised by what is done, and that most attackers have little to no serious martial arts experience.

3. for any disbelievers take your martial arts and jump in a cage, octagon, vale tudo etc, ok you get restricted on eye gouge and groin gouge and some won't even let you attack knees or the spine, but you'll find that even in a place where almost anything goes your martial arts will barely help.

Here you are confusing self defense with various fighting sports.

​There is little to no comparison.

4. someone trying to teach your child or an adult that self defence will work is dishonest, and deluded at best.

Gee... what more can I say.

5. another example, if you see a bouncer outside a club start a fight with them and try your self defense moves there

//

Again, major confusion.

You do not START a fight and then use self defense skills.

You use self defense when someone attacks you.

Most self defense is not going to help you all that much if someone wants to box with you, or use karate etc. on you, but I have never heard of a case where someone was attacked by a person who had high level martial arts skills.

You use self defense skills (for the most part) when you are up close and personal with someone, and their eyes, throat, groin, etc. are within reach.

QED