MisterStretch

You would be wrong, in assuming you can open a bank account - even with your wife's help - legally in Thailand.

According to government regs, you MUST have a valid working or resident visa in which to open such an account.

I work outside of Thailand...can't work for peanuts and support my family.

And as a working professional...making a 400,000 THB savings, while trying to take care of one's family is not every worker's possibility. eh?

Thanks for your contribution...but again, I am not any more informed, after it.

TTT69, I'm mystified as to how you think that...for a working stiff

Non-O Spousal...400,000 in the Thai bank (if you don't have a Thai visa, can't open an account) for 3 months, minimum

Or 40,000 in a combined account (only works if you already have a Thai visa...again...)

Non Imm B...have to have a company sponsor.

You see, TT69, not all of us are sexpats, expecting our pensions to be enough for us to play the visa game. Some of us are actually working professionals whom the Thai government seems to lunk into the same group as sexpats.

I can't make enough money in Thailand to support my family in the best way it should be; first class tuition, private school, mortgatge, car, etc. Don't know your situation.

Because Thailand <deleted> farang that are responsible...I can't be on my housebook, I can't own property, I can't do shit except pay money to the government...

I have this choice, working outside of the Land of Suck Me...a visa that let's me see my family more often...you think you have a better solution for me?

Please share it...but your "Non O" "Non ImmB" argument falls outside my toilet. It isn't factual.

If you actually have something constructive to add...I'd be happy t

Thanks, Jaywalker and Maestro, that is what I needed to know.

I have read or skimmed through now, almost 12 pages of carping, suppositions, opinions and quasi-mathematical formulae.

What I haven't seen, yet, is whether this visa is available.

Anyone know? I recently checked the KL embassy website, and true to form, it is as uninformative as it has been for the last twelve years I have been around.

I am married to a Thai national. I don't have enough in the bank for a spousal visa, because I send a majority of my salary home to support my wife, two kids in private school, mortgage, etc. I am a working stiff.

I work in Malaysia. My current contract ends in 21 days. If I have a new one here...it won't start until January. If my "other" job becomes a reality, it won't start until February.

I have popped into the Land of Smiles on several weekends and when Malaysian schools have been on holidays.

When I cross a border...it doesn't seem to matter that I am carrying a Malaysian government ID, a resident card from Malaysia...they want to count my entries, or they want to count my "days in country" because they think expats that come and go alot, MUST be working in Thailand. I wouldn't work in Thailand now for a plugged nickel, wages are still way too low.

Last year I was actually declined entry because I had exceeded the "4-entry rule" which was for back to back runners. It was my wedding anniversary...but the troglydites at Pedang Besar immigration didn't care.

None of my entries were 'back to back', most of them were for weekends...2 days a time...but the zombies in Pedang Besar could only count to 4, without knowing more.

So...a 6 month, multi-entry visa, even if 5,000 baht, would be a boon to someone like me. A double entry won't cut it.

So...does anyone know if this visa is official yet? Ubon Joe...you seem to be the guru...so what can you tell us?

Carping doesn't do anything but fill web pages...and by and large isn't helpful.

Math.

Simple math.

772 billion baht moving from one Thai person's wallet to another Thai person's wallet.

Net gain for country? Zero.

"Despite the police investigation, no one has been brought to justice for these murders"

Investigation? Investigation?

Investigating who has the most money and "power" is more likely. Human rights and land rights be damned.

This is Thailand. Human rights mean nothing compared to the power of profit.

I completely missed that it was Valentine's Day.

The wife came for a week-long visit, to where I work in Malaysia, went back today for a funeral.

But I gave her a nice gift this morning, before she left, anyway...

My home base is Hat Yai, and I work in northern Malaysia.

From Hat Yai, going to either Padang Besar or Dan Nok is as safe as safe can be. Driving in Malaysia is easy, smile at the roadblocks and be waved through.

I will no longer travel through Yala or Narathiwat, nor Pattani, though I know people who do.

There's nothing dangerous south of Phuket, as long as you don't visit the "lower three",

I also can't use condoms available here.

Not to brag, it's just life.

I actually have friends that buy for me, when they visit the US...but now you can order them online, via several avenues.

My best friend always enjoyed buying "Magnum"...thinking he'd impress the girl at the check out counter.

The last time, though, she weighed about 350 lbs...and gave him a wink. The new America.

He can use condoms here...pisses him off.

Your problem in Thailand...you're Indian.

Your initial employer might have been enlightened, but from hanging with my wife (who I consider a normally enlightened, educated woman accustomed to dealing and working with foreigners) I find that Thais have a very dim view of Indians.

It doesn't have anything to do with you...just that they hate that their religion, Buddhism, comes from India and they want it as their own.

My suggestion would be to move on to KL or Singapore, where your talents could be appreciated.

Thailand is an insular society, sometimes. Not as bad as other Asian nations, but still....

Yes, you are over reacting, simply because there are so many solutions to solve your problems.

Most of them are here on this thread.

Screens, those little electronic things when plugged in keep the mossies away.

You are probably suffering from mossies in your drains, too.

A splash of bleach (Haiter) in your shower drain, kitchen drain and sink, and downstairs bathroom drain and sink will take care of that.

I sympathize. I live next to a klong in Hat Yai...and the mossies drive me mad sometimes...but it's a result of shitty fitting screens and open doors that allow them in.

Next time I am home (I work in Malaysia, live in The Hat), I'm bringing one of those electric zappers to put in the downstairs entryway/garage.

BEST Pizza in Nakhon Si Thammarat or Hat Yai

Please.. please.. suggestions... Cheers.. happy new years.

To be honest, the best pizza in Hat Yai, is the Pizza Company.

Don't know where you call home, but I've lived in New York, Boston, Chicago and the West Coast...and this place does the best pizzas.

Sides suck...but the pizzas are devine.

UNHCR isn't going to do crap.

The Rohingyas are being expelled from Burma as they are considered an "invasionary" culture, regardless of how long the natives have lived there.

Thailand should just allow them to move on to where they want...which is Malaysia and a country that supports and allows their religion.

How difficult is this? Only stupid idiots would stop that...let them go to Malaysia. It's a country of idiots.

They could always use a few more.

And why do you think it's dangerous?

One of the things I find maddening about Thailand is they have no idea what a round-about is for and treat it as an intersection, which creates delays that aren't necessary.

But this u-turn isn't all that bad.

Think like a Thai.

What is this <deleted>. How can they put Hatyai and environmentally friendly in the same sentence??

Not sure what you know about the city...seemingly little. The green lung spaces in Hat Yai have not been targeted for development. Hat Yai has one of the largest "city parks" of any city in Thailand, regardless of size.

"Green" spaces, even those in between lanes of a boulevard, have been planted with flowering trees and plants.

With the constant pollution, too many vehicles, destroyed nature, non-existent walkways and bicycle routes, noise pollution, and the amount of rubbish found all over the town, Hatyai can only compete in the most terrible towns competition.

Again, what city do you imagine? There are walkways abundant in the city. What do you want...a "walking city without cars". I would love that, but in more than a decade in the town, I've never had a problem walking anywhere. Except at night, near Lee Gardens when the food vendors set up, where, oh where, can you not walk?

Bicycle routes? My god, man, where do you think you live? Washington, D.C.? Where can you find dedicated bike routes? Or Thais that would need dedicated bicycle routes? You live in Thailand, for God's sake!

Noise pollution? You dislike the city-sponsored aerobics exercises? Not much other "noise pollution" going on. I've heard worse on a "shoe street" in Brasil, for god's sake.

Rubbish? Where do you live? Our rubbish picked up tow or three times a week. There are always those that will "toss their trash in the weeds" but in Hay Yai, that is far less than in almost every town I've visited in the south. What rubbish do you suffer from?

It's funny to see the slopes of some of the surrounding hills how the nature is gradually disappearing, yet they are proud of it????

You think the slopes are disappearing? You obviously haven''t lived in a burgeoning culture, city or country. The rate that "slopes" are disappearing in the area surrounding Hat Yai (there are no slopes within the city, mind you) is miniscule in comparison to what is happening south of the country, in Malaysia.

You are one of those, obviously, that want the "doors shut after you enter". I know people like this. Have seen thousands of them who moved to Florida in the USA and shouted, after they arrived, "No more!" Because they wanted to keep "The Florida" the initially encountered.

In ten years in the city, I've seen development that I decry, because I hate to see green exchanged for buildings, but by and large, the development around the city of Hat Yai has been minimal. You need to get a pair...and realize that your "perfect" city doesn't exist in Thailand...and I am sure as hell it doesn't exist in your home country.

Don't like Hat Yai? Leave or don't come visit. As others have said in this thread....you're not needed, welcomed or missed.

I don't know about Surat, but I know it can be done in Songkhla. Both my step-kids and wife get their passports there.

Political realists are laughing their asses off.

No matter which way you look at it.

This is Yellow.

Can't win by election...take control by force.

Most Thais don't understand that the average American doesn't give a shit what happens here.

They are blinded by the fact that their universe is Thailand.

The rest of the universe knows that Thailand is merely a pimple.

The only problem I have here is the definition of "human trafficking".

If the girls, in question, were cooerced, sold or forced, that's trafficking.

If the girls, voluntary entered into their 'profession', it's not trafficking, just prostitution and they are not always the same.

Regardless of your views on The Game, a woman who enters it voluntarily isn't trafficked.

She might be pitied, as she hasn't an option, that she sees, but she hasn't been sold, traded or forced. If it's voluntary it's not trafficking.

What a suggestion!

Do you know what a civil war is?

it has nothing to do with civilization!

Really?

Generally civil war is when one segment of society violently disagrees with the civilzation that the other segment wants to live by.

If they are successful it will be the last nail in the Thailand tourist coffin.

Martial law...no one wants to come.

Scams, scams, scams...oh, a taxi driver was fined. But scams keep tourists away.

Murders on Koh Tao, killings elsewhere, all handled amateurishly. Tourists stay away.

Fun, besides sun...now going to be eliminated. Tourists will stay away.

So much for tourism.

Prostitution has been in this country for centuries, beginning with the working girls that went from village to village to service the farmers. History is history.

Now, Thailand is going to be 'puritanical'?

I remember, about a decade ago, that a social study found that 1 in 4 women in Thailand were involved in prostitution in some form; though not all forms were defined.

Now, imagine the venues shut down, the girls without ANY income, whether you agree or not, and a greater social storm will be created than by giving a wink and a nod to places that, at least, are run 'honestly' and with the 'welfare' of the girls involved taken care of.

Prayuth thinks he can rebuild tourism for families here? In this economy?

Must be smoking something...that is illegal.

The junta hates "bad words about them". So immature.

They have supplanted democracy, twice, in the last few years...because it didn't agree with them or their sponsors.

They are now trying to force a medieval sense of morality and austerity that has never existed in the history of the kingdom.

The General should run for Pope...he seems to feel himself infallible.