aussiebob

the spouse visa application certainly asks for details of the accommodation you will be providing for your tilac when she arrives.

However i will have to leave it to more knowledgable members to answer your predicament.

Bob

fishhooks,

from memory we had approx. 9 weeks from when they "deemed" that we received them. I hope that helps. bob

Jetstar

BKK-MELB 9500

By the wqy heres the phone numbers -that may help a bit

0-4381-2011

mobile 08-12695329

Cheers

Dr. Wised Sounthrarthornpipat

Rakfun Clinic

177 Tesabaan St

Amphur Muang

Kalasin

Located just in behind / beside the main market

I hope my wifes translation of his business card is satisfactory.

I had a root canal and crown done last year which involved 6 visits and was most satisfied with the service along with a Mormon missionary who had made his way over from Roi Et for the same treatment.

aussiedoug,

you are getting slightly confused with terminologies. The "resident reentry permit" you are referring to comes into play 5 years after the granting of the second stage permanent residency ( if you have not taken out citizenship before then.)

September 2008. Jetstar Melb-Bangkok. Staying 5 weeks. When checking in Jetstar attendant on checking my E-ticketnoticed the length of stay and asked if I had a visa. I assured her I would be exiting to Laos before the 30 days and she was quite satisfied. No problem.

My wife (thai) and I caught the international bus from Khon Kaen september 2008.I had to show visa before I could buy ticket for myself. Wife only had to produce her passport. Went through separate queue's at immigration before getting back on the bus to vientienne. There were quite afew Lao and Thai on the bus as well as farang.

No bank should be taking out the transfer fees that they are but it seems to me that you are blaming this problem on the yanks when it is clear that your own countrymen have offered you excellent advise on how to transfer but you are bent on blaming others. Wake up and smell the roses.

Stick to the question gotlost, 'Any other pensioners out there with a similar experience'

If you want to start a thread on American banks be prepared to be inundated with people who will not have a good word to say about them. Having lived in the US for five years I am qualified to comment. My own countrymen's advise came after I asked the question, I thank them for it. Your sarcasm came before I had time to read their advice.

Let me repeat this again NO BANK SHOULD BE TAKING OUT THESE ADSORBENT FEES PERIOD so stop your whining listen to your own countryman and find a better way to transfer funds.

Hey GOTLOST, if you haven't got anything constructive to add to ANY thread , why don,t you GET LOST

On 10 Feb. received the elusive acknowledgment card (the one that i did not submit) telling me the application had been received on 10 Jan.

Visa granted 26 March (valid for 5 years) without any further correspondence. YAHOO

Aussiebob

Rang DIAC this afternoon and spoke to a lass that was much more helpful.

She confirmed the receipt of application and listed the contents of the envelope. She claims the ackowledgement card was not listed among the contents.

HMmmm My wife and I triple checked all the contents against the check list before sealoing the envelope.

I expect these sort of things when dealing with any sort of officialdom but I suppose I can't really complain too much as I have had dream run with DIAC up until now.

Bob

Oh, I nearly forgot.

He reassuringly told me not to worry as my wife visa would remain valid until a decision was made even if it took 9 months.

I told him I was aware of this PROVIDING they had actually received the application. He then told me that if I wanted to be sure they had received it I should contact OzPost.

Bob

Hello David,

Yes. Sent by registered mail so have a record.

The envelope is supplied by DIAC addressed "Second Stage Processing" etc, so they would know exactly what is in it without opening it.

However you wouldn't think it would be too hard to open and send back the acknowledgement card. They could then reseal the envelope until they are ready to deal with the contents if they are worried about mixing up any paperwork.

Of course it is always possible that the card has been posted and misplaced by OzPost.

This however seems unlikely in light of their disclosure of "a backlog of unopened mail over the Xmas, new year period"

The person I spoke to didn't even ask my wifes name to do a check.

Bob

Chiliwasabi,

Don't hold your breath. I lodged my wifes papers 4 weeks ago and haven't even received the acknowledgement card yet. Enquiries with DIAC elicit the response that they have a backlog of UNOPENED mail from the xmas new year period. So they can't even tell me if they have received the application'

In the meantime of course the tme limit has expired.

Bob

My dentist told me that if the nerve is dead I would need a root canal , but if the nerve is alive I can get a crown. However if I get a crown and then later discover I should have got a root canal then they will have to drill through the enamel crown. Apparently not an easy job. Indeed if it is moern technology you need then K.K.U may be the place for you. Bob

I was planning on getting crown work done in Kalasin when in Thailand in August. What clinics did you try so I know where not to go.

My wife says long waiting time at K.K.University as it's a teaching facility.

Anyone have any recommendations

Staying in Somdet

Regards Bob

Cheers Fishhooks,

You don,t have to tell me what a stressful time it can be (I can honestly tell you I was pooing my pants)and I sympathise with people going through the process. I apologise for any distress I caused yourself as this was completely unintended.

My heartiest congratulations on your wifes visa success and good luck with your retirement visa (although I am perplexed why you need both)

Cheers Bob

Druckman,

I think you've had your hand on it for too long

Sezzo,

I think congratulations are in order. Why else would they want the passports if not to stick the visas in?

Bob and Lek

Zidaney,

Same as the others. No indication until Leena rang with the good news exactly 4 weeks after interview.

Stay positive. If you are confident you have adeguatly covered all Diac requirments then you have every reason to be optimistic.

Good lucl

Bob

Tourist visas are the secretive ones.(they will not tell you. you have to open the passport to find out.)

With the spouse visa, my wife still had her passport (perhaps she told Leena we were going to Cambodia although i'm not sure even my wife knew at that stage as it was a surprise). Leena rang while we were enroute to Cambodia with the news that we were successful and to arrange a time to bring in passport to have visa affixed.

Bob

Sometimes i think too much importance is placed on "reason to return" when perhaps clearly showing the genuinness of the relationship may be the way to go (yes i am talking tourist visa)

Example: When my wife (we) applied for her tourist visa she was a government emplyee in isaan. The embassy rang her at the office and asked her some questions. They then issued a 12 month multiple entry visa knowing full well she would have to resign her position to come to Oz.

For what it is worth, my wife hand wrote her statement in thai and attached the translated version.(translated by an agency somewhere near the embassy).

No idea if the translation was necessary as the case officer is Thai, but just tried to cover all bases.

My wife also had Leena and was made to feel quite at ease throughout the process.

We all hear all the horror stories but not too much about helpful and efficient embassy staff

I hope she realises her attitude is appreciated.

Bob

Congrats.

After helping so many others for so long I am really happy that your turn has come. Tell Apple we have been following her progress for a long while and give her and the boy a huge welcome to OZ from Bob and Lek.

Medicare : Must wait at least 7 working days (from memory) before going to Medicare.(must allow time for immigration to forward info to Med.) Passport showing appropriate visa all that is required (once again from memory) and card issued about 2 weeks later

Bank: She only needs 1 form of identification (as opposed to our 3) to open account---passport