johnatong

The best strategy for staying "long term" is to acquire an appropriate visa.

If you only qualify for tourist visas then you should apply for a Thai Elite visa http://www.thailandelite.com/tpc_news_view.php?id=6

Tourist visas are not intended to facilitate long term stays.

I've been playing with the online calculator (below) and what's really interesting is just how quickly the premiums fall if you increase the excess by a modest amount - some of the companies allow this. So the algorithm obviously shows that the willingness to take a big excess means the company faces a low risk, so a (say) 200,000 Baht excess has to mean coverage for peanuts, if a broker can find the right firm.

http://www.pacificprime.com/compare-quotes/

Are you a 30 year old male ?

Try playing the game with more realistic age.

Figure health care costs in Bht millions if you want realistic cover in Thailand.

If you can afford Bht millions in deductibles why bother with insurance ?

Have you checked the skin to see if there is any rash, prickly heat or the like? Or a hemorrhoid? (which cycling would aggravate) (Use a mirror if necessary).

Doesn't sound to me like prostate issue.

...maybe perineal abscess aggravated by the cycling.

OP, you might have a look here: http:// just go to neighbouring country/perianal-abscess-natural-treatment/

Why the link to Quackery ?

I managed to buy them on the Darkside last month. She pulled a big jar out and a small scoop and asked how many I wanted. Took 20, 5 baht each no questions asked.

How do you know you were sold Tramadol ?

It is a medication not normally sold by the "scoopful"

The OP has already been advised that OA is only available in his own country, hence my advice is clearly about obtaining an non o (based on retirement) ...Clear as mud and EASY process.

Can the visa be "easily" obtained from ie. Savannakhet, KL or Singapore ?

If you do not know then refrain from saying " just go to neighbouring country" because your "advice" could result in expense and a wasted journey

Will you recompense those who take your "advice" and fail to obtain their visa ?

You would think that after 8 years you would know some of the correct terminology and procedures, (fines/blocked/renew visa), yet you seem totally clueless.

<deleted> give the guy a break ive been here 16 years admittedly for a great proportion of that time on WP so accountants did everything, i just signed photocopies of S***t

NOW quite shamelessly i just get someone/ company to renew my visa or extension of stay each year i pay them i have really no idea what happens but i get my yearly visa along with multiple re entry permits and that's it.

no fuss no paperwork needed ,,, and i suspect i am not alone

Are you not aware that it is you that is responsible for knowing and understanding exactly what is in your passport ?

It is really no surprise that some end in trouble and then wonder why ..................

One might assume op is over 50 as he was looking at possible OA. OP just go to neighbouring country and obtain a non o (based on retirement). The requirements are in many threads. Easy process.

You have FAILED to mention

1. Those places which will not issue a visa based on being 50 +

2. The financial requirements which MUST be met before such a visa will be issued to someone aged 50+

It is NOT an "easy" process.

You can go to Savannakhet, and apply for a non immigrant O and pick it up the next day. It will be for 3 months, in the third month you can apply for an extension.

That might not be true if the "O" is being sought for "retirement"

You apparently have an extension of stay based upon retirement you obtained at immigration not a visa.

You cannot change the reason for your extension to one based upon marriage until your current one expires. The only thing you can do now is leave the country and apply for a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage at a nearby embassy or consulate. Then you could apply for a work permit. And then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa apply for an extension based upon marriage.

What if I arrive on a tourist visa and soon after get one based on marriage? Does that change the effort/hoops needed to be jumped through if I want to teach in Thailand?

Arriving on a TV does not reduce the "effort" or the number of "hoops" required to obtain a visa/extension of stay based on marriage.

There are of course other "hoops" associated with teaching in Thailand, simple things like obtaining a Thai teaching licence etc.

Your "O" visa expired long ago so it cannot be fixed.

It sounds as though what you actually had was an extension of stay.

You will now have to obtain new "O" visa and start the process of applying for an "extension of stay" (It is NOT a visa) from the beginning.

As said an O/A visa can only be applied for/issued in your home country.

if you are over 50 or married to a Thai etc, it is possible to obtain an "O" visa. The requirements depend on the basis of the application

Visa extension can only be obtained from immigration offices in Thailand.

"Public health officials in Chiang Mai and Buriram are warning people as the onset of the rainy season sees a further spike in hemorrhagic fever cases caused by mosquitos."

Just in case the hemorrhagic fever doesn't do you in, the chemical spraying, without evacuating the premises, will.

A lot the spraying is just for show. Why spray in a public area during the day when it is crowded, when spraying at night, when it is virtually abandoned, would be just as effective and not subject humans to the poisonous fog?

But, then again, how could the chemical spray be that dangerous when all that's needed is a 15 Baht cloth mask to protect the person who is exposed to it all day?

What is this 'poisonous' and 'dangerous' chemical you claim is being sprayed?

The report is flawed in that it does not make clear that this is haemorrhagic DENGUE fever !

Watch them get a pardon after 6 months.

Usually it is best to remain quiet and be thought of as a "fool" than to speak out and remove all doubt ..................

So on a US passport, I would be able to go overland to Laos and receive a 30 day tourist visa, yes? That should be enough, I hope.

My plan would be go to Vientiane, get a 30 day Tourist visa. Get my paperwork completed. Return to Viantiane with 15 days remaining on the tourist visa, and then obtain a non-Immigrant F visa. Does this sound correct, or am I missing something, because I will be cutting things close.

There are no 30 day tourist visas !

You can get a 30 day visa exempt entry (It is NOT a "visa" ) which can be extended by 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 Bht

Not sure why you would want to return to Vientiane with 15 days of the 30 day entry remaining ------------there is no requirement for that and the 15 days would be "lost" as soon as you exit the country --------

Someone please tell me how I can remain in Thailand legally until my visa paperwork is finished. The paperwork will not be completed until after my extension of stay expires

You will have to leave the country and return using a visa exempt entry or a tourist visa which can easily be obtained from Vientiane or Penang.

Your Dr.is wise in seeking possible causes of your pain---------- If prostatitis and other common causes are excluded you could have a condition known as "Levator Ani Syndrome"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21607003

You might want to try other forms of exercise and give the cycle riding a rest for a month or two.

Penang consulate has always had a limit of 3 visas and then no chance of a repeat. Just saying, if it helps the OP out.

3 in a row? What if I have three and then come back 5 years later will it be refused?

It is normally only serial back to back requests that are refused. In your scenario a visa would likely be issued.

Kwasaki

You are adding to the confusion and misunderstanding ! Your original "O" visa was not stamped with a one year extension but if by some strange chance it was can you scan and post an image of this over-stamped visa ?

Forgive the typo and not making it clearer.

A page in my passport was stamped by Maesot Immigration with a 1 year extension immigration ink rubber stamp in the colour blue next to a page in my passport on which the 60 day non 'O' visa sticker was put on a page in my passport.

The 60 day non 'O' visa sticker on the page in my passport was also stamped with a immigration ink rubber stamp " used " in the colour red.

A 60 day NON "O" visa ? ----------------are you sure about that ?

Your friend if a citizen of Pakistan can only obtain a visa from the Thai embassy in Islamabad

http://www.thaiembassy.org/islamabad/

http://www.thaiembassy.org/islamabad/contents/files/services-20160324-002216-287188.pdf

Thanks!, yes that is where I think he got the info about needing a Police report....

He's read the info there, but and this is where it becomes an issue..... will the qualified Thai Schools allow him in to study?

This is why I was not sure whether to ask here or in the education forum!

Your friend must apply to a school and pay the schools fee. In return the school will provide the documentation need to support a visa application.

Thanks again, yes this is why I checked out one of the schools as mentioned and it was they who said no students from Indian subcontinent!

I just don't want to see him get shafted with a phony school after paying money! The one he checked out was AAA Thai, which I cannot find any info on.... after looking through the Education section last night...

I will check out more!

That school you name has an easily found website ...................

Should be easy for the volunteers to set up a "reverse sting" operation.-----------

No chance - BiB in control no matter the evidence ...

A quiet word with the Army (who are currently 'overseeing' police operations) would help !

Should be easy for the volunteers to set up a "reverse sting" operation.-----------

Kwasaki

You are adding to the confusion and misunderstanding ! Your original "O" visa was not stamped with a one year extension but if by some strange chance it was can you scan and post an image of this over-stamped visa ?

Your friend if a citizen of Pakistan can only obtain a visa from the Thai embassy in Islamabad

http://www.thaiembassy.org/islamabad/

http://www.thaiembassy.org/islamabad/contents/files/services-20160324-002216-287188.pdf

Thanks!, yes that is where I think he got the info about needing a Police report....

He's read the info there, but and this is where it becomes an issue..... will the qualified Thai Schools allow him in to study?

This is why I was not sure whether to ask here or in the education forum!

Your friend must apply to a school and pay the schools fee. In return the school will provide the documentation need to support a visa application.

Your friend if a citizen of Pakistan can only obtain a visa from the Thai embassy in Islamabad

http://www.thaiembassy.org/islamabad/

http://www.thaiembassy.org/islamabad/contents/files/services-20160324-002216-287188.pdf