johnbutt

A tennis friend, who is also a government official in Surin, telephoned a friend of his who works at the passport office in Korat.

A single parent needs a document of sole custody.
Apparently this can be obtained by the single parent and child going to the Amphur with the Poo Yai Ban (or another government official) and one other witness who lives locally.

That is our first step.

I don't think there will be any need to go to court, 7by7, as , in our case, there is literally no father....just a long-accepted and anonymous sperm cell.

Thanks guys.

Obtaining a sole custody document for his mum is, I have been told, a matter of taking the Poo Yai Ban and witnesses to the amphur to vouchsafe that she has brought him up alone. Is that how you understand it?

Once the passport is organised we can start to look at the Schengen visa and travelling with grandparents aspects.

I am starting to think about next year's visit to Portugal. My wife and I need to go to complete a few admin tasks and are thinking (not for the first time) about taking our grandson with us, without his mother.

Whilst we both have valid resident cards for Portugal and can come and go as we please, the grandson will clearly need a visa and additional documentation authorising him to travel with us rather than his parent.

I was wondering if anyone on the forum has experience that might help prepare us for what may well be a daunting administrative task. Clearly, Portugal will have its own particular requirements but experience from any other European country might help us prepare before we make the journey to the Portuguese Consulate in Bangkok to find out more.

Planning to visit Vietnam for a week over Songkran.

From what I have seen with an internet search today, UK passport holders can enter Vietnam without visa until June 2016 and providing their stay is less than 15 days.

Can anyone confirm this and give recent experience?

Thanks in advance.

You just need to provide detail of your income/pension (from any source) to the British Embassy and they will issue a letter.

Detail in the link

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-obtain-a-pensionincome-letter-for-thai-immigration

Many thanks. I had not realised that pension income from any source could be covered by the British Embassy.

Is the fact that the evidence supplied is going to be in Portuguese an issue?

I doubt it.

However, because the letter is valid for 6 months you can apply early, then in the unlikely event of there being a problem you will have time to seek a solution.

Thanks, good information.

You just need to provide detail of your income/pension (from any source) to the British Embassy and they will issue a letter.

Detail in the link

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-obtain-a-pensionincome-letter-for-thai-immigration

Many thanks. I had not realised that pension income from any source could be covered by the British Embassy.

Is the fact that the evidence supplied is going to be in Portuguese an issue?

Thanks for that, Eclipse. You mean that, because I am British, I will need documentaion about my Portuguese pension from the British Embassy?

If that is so, OK, less of a problem than I thought.

I am British but lived and worked in Portugal for almost 25 years until retirement 3 years ago. I am in receipt of a Portuguese pension.

Currently I extend my visa based on retirement and show 800,000 in the bank etc.

I would like to change next time to a combination of pension income plus money in the bank.

Are there any other Portuguese pension holders out there doing this? I would like to know how to get the necessary documentation from, presumably, the Portuguese Consulate in BKK.

Any advice gratefully received.

<<<<Portuguese language removed>>>>

I did this flight at the end of February and the cabin staff did indeed put down the window blinds and put out the lights to encourage us to sleep once they had fed us.

Search for pill splitter over. I found one today on the shelf in a pharmacy right here in Surin....about the 5th one I tried.

Thanks anyway for your input guys.

My cholesterol reduction medication brought from Europe will be running out in the next few weeks.

I can get the same brand (Crestor) here in Surin but only, so I am told by the pharmacies, in 10mg per pill....I am prescribed 5mg. Any of you guys managed to buy a pill splitter here in Thailand, or even better in the Surin area? Or can you recommend a good on-line supplier of such items, preferably within Thailand?

I have tried a few pharmacies in Surin and those that understand what I am asking for say..."only in Bangkok".

Wife says I should use a kitchen knife but I would rather go for an accurate purpose-made device if I can get one.

I signed up on the 22nd October but my name doesn't appear on the head count lists!

Now I'm not taking this too personally......but should I turn up or not?

JohnB

I plan to be there, probably alone.

Thanks John C

Sorry but...being a novice.....what's a yellow housebook, how do I get it, where and what documents will be needed?

Thanks in anticipation.

Thanks Lopburi3 for that clear list.

Just one supplementary......no.3.what kind of evidence of address is acceptable.

Everything is in my wife's name. Will her house book plus our wedding certificate suffice?

What other suggestions.

Many thanks for ylour time and patience.

JohnB

Thank you for the answers so far guys, which clear up the business about misinformation from Hull pretty conclusively.

Could I now prevail on one of you to give me a definitive list of precisely what documentation will be needed at the first extension of a 90 day non-immigrant O visa on grounds of retirement, using the 800k in the bank alternative. Many thanks in advance.

Thanks for the clear and definitive information guys.

Most helpful.

I will be retiring in Thailand this Autumn. Following advice from this forum I was under the impression that I need to arrive with a non-immigrant O visa (90 days) and then apply for a one year extension during the last 30 days.

I also thought the only documentation I would need, in addition to the relevant completed form, was a letter from the bank confirming at least 800,000 in place for 2 months and bank book showing the same balance.

An aquaintance also retiring later this year has been in touch with Hull UK to start getting his documentation together and been informed that for the first extension application he will need a clear police report and a doctor's letter stating he has no contagious diseases.

Has something changed? Have any Brits out there on TV been through this process recently? Any up to date advice very gratefully received.

JohnB

--I have seen boxes of rooibus tea at the Villa Market at Suk Soi 2 in the basement of the Ploenchit Center ... I'm not sure if the same product is stocked at Villa's other locations. See the accompanying photo:

I saw the same boxes/brand of rooibus tea on the shelf today at the Villa market on Sukhumvit Soi 11 as well, fyi.

Thanks mate, tha's even closer.

Re the answers above:

--There are all kinds and varieties of different Tops markets in BKK and Thailand, and what they do and don't stock varies considerably by location. I've never noticed rooibus tea at my local Tops stores around BKK... Where exactly did the poster above find it at Tops?

--I have seen boxes of rooibus tea at the Villa Market at Suk Soi 2 in the basement of the Ploenchit Center ... I'm not sure if the same product is stocked at Villa's other locations. See the accompanying photo:

]

Thanks for this info. Just arived in Thailand for a month's holiday with two boxes of tetley Rooibos in my suitcase. When I return to BKK I will check out Ploenchit Centre...stock up for future visits if possible.

I bought it at Tops. Healtheries Rooibos / Red Bush Tea. According to the barcode it's a product of New Zealand.

Rooibos tea is South African, and comes from a bush which grows in the Karoo, it may be packed in NZ...

Also availible from www.vjoteahouse.com in Thailand

Thanks, does this place do mail order? It's not clear from the website.

Thanks mate but where and what is Tops......?

Does anyone know if rooibos tea can be bought in Bangkok, preferably in tea bag form? Thanks

Mam and I built a house in her village three years ago. All went smoothly.

Now we are buying a new-build tonw house in Surin. Deposit paid in August and contract to complete the puchase when we are next there at Christmas.

We have everything costed but are unsure if there are any government taxes payable at the time of the transfer of the chanot to Mam's name.

We don't want to be faced with unexpected bills. Any info greatly appreciated.

John B

about the same odds that he heard about it from the brother of a friend of a friend who is "well connnected" and started the conversation off with...

"You may not believe this, but it's true. I just heard that..."

I am a member of another and much more friendly forum as well as this one.

Why do you guys make a newcomer with a genuine concern feel so small and stupid?

Now I know why I prefer my other forum.

Bye.

johnbutt