Tod Daniels

While slightly off topic. ..

A lot of misinformation on here comes from a variety of ways and I believe none of it is ever meant intentionally .

It happens because posters confuse the terminology, words like 'visa' with words like 'extension of stay', the words 'visa-on-arrival' with the words 'visa-exempt', etc. Some people don't say whether their visa what-ever-the-type is a single or multiple entry. Many people dont say where they're intending to go thai consulate wise to get their visa, so no on really knows what advice to hand out seeing as the consulates are small kingdoms in and of themselves .

I'm NOT pointing fingers (especially seeing as the remaining 3 fingers would be pointed back at me, lol ). Im just pointing out how bad or spurious information makes its way into the various threads.

AND NOW BACK ON TOPIC:

As far as the O/P's post.

First realize the visa you hold, evidently a year long Multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type-whatever Visa is good for stays in country of up to 90 days at a time (you got that info correct in your post), then you run for the border, exit and re-enter getting another 90 days.

What you got wrong was, upon your return when you say your visa will have only two months validity on it, you would still get a 'permission to stay until' stamp dated out for another 90 days. Each entry is good for a 90 day stay.

In theory, you could enter on your old visa, getting a 90 day permission to stay stamp upon entry, even though your old visa will expire before that date. As I said, each entry on that kind of visa gets a 90 day stamp automatically.

Now when the original visa (not the permission to stay stamp!) is close to expiring, you could run for the border, say the day before it expires, and get yet ANOTHER 90 day permission to stay stamp. That'd give you about 5 months in country on your old visa. Of course then youd need another visa or apply for an extension of stay, but still its 5 months instead of the 2 you originally thought it would be .

Remember with that type of visa if it's utilized correctly gets you nearly 15 months of stay inside the kingdom doing border runs every 90 day.

However, if 5 more months here aren't enough, then yes, I concur; get another multi-entry non-immigrant type-o visa from where ever you get them, and start over.

Like other posters have said, the consulate will just put a cancelled stamp on the old one, stamp a new one into your passport and you'll be good to go for another 15 months.

Sorry, another long post...

Realizing the above mentioned books are reference materials ONLY; I believe it's highly unlikely you're gonna either learn to speak thai from 'em or sit down and read 'em cover to cover. I will agree that, "Thai, An Essential Grammar" by David Smyth, and "Thai Reference Grammar; The Structure Of Spoken Thai", by James Higbie & Snea Thinsan are both incredible books to have.

(I also concur the transcription in the Higbie book is a little squirrelly, errr different from most, but once you figure it out, you're okay, in fact I use that one more than most).

Both of the books I have are dog-eared from use, and I refer to them often because they both offer good examples of the usage of a word or phrase in different contexts and this helps me out quite a lot.

Now as far as learning to speak thai, which is certainly a 'horse of a different color' from either thai sentence structure or learning to read ; I believe you'd be further ahead to get Benjawan Becker’s books; Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. If you get any of them, get the ones WITH the C/D's too!! The other ones are worthless unless you have a thai around who has the patience to go thru them with you. (It is my experience that few if any thai significant others have that depth of patience with their partners horrific mangling of the thai language early on) .

Go thru the first book again and again until you have it all down. Then get the next one. Even after book one and certainly during book two (intermediate) you could benefit from getting her "Speak Like a Thai" series of C/D's, as well as her new thai-engrish, engrish-thai p/c dictionary with audible pronunciation and a variety of ways to display thai words in english.

And before anyone asks; NO, I have no affiliation with the reigning 'queen of thai language for foreigners'; Benjawan Poomsan Becker or her publishing company. Although truth be told, she's probably done more to expose foreigners to the thai language than any other thai national I know of. ..

In regards to the rest of your post with your example sentences; a BIG stumbling block for foreigners is that we (as in ALL foreigners learning thai ) have major ‘mother language interference’ when we start learning. We feel the need to translate every english word into its corresponding thai word, maybe try a thai sentence order and spit that conglomeration of words out. Sadly, mostly for the thais we're tryin' to speak to; it all too often comes out as pure gibberish.

Just two of your examples; (And although I hate to disagree with the poster known as “LazyYogi” as I am by no wild stretch of the imagination a thai language pundit; I believe some of those sentence constructs are a little off). .

In any query, I'd look at the question word you're asking FIRST rather than the specific word 'for' and its usage in a sentence.

You also hafta realize that thais use the word (อย่างไร) 'yaang-rai' 'how' or 'in what way' many more times in their sentence constructs than we do in engrish; often in places where with engrish we'd always use (อะไร) 'a-rai' 'what'.

The sentence you use; "What is this for?" could be translated into something roughly like (forgive my hideous transliteration); 'nee tham yaang-rai'? The thai word 'for' either 'sam-rap' (สำหรับ) or 'pheuua' (เพื่อ) is not even in the sentence. In this case they use their word for 'do' (ทำ) 'tham' instead. Although I have had thais understand me when I have said; 'nee pheuua arai' (this for what?). Also note there is no word for 'is' in either sentence as it is implied using the words 'do', 'how' in the first sentence and 'for', 'what' in the second.

Another sentence you mention is "how long have you been here for?" Almost any run-of-the-mill thai would ask it "yuu thee mueang-thai nan ruu yang". It would translate directly to any level of native thai speaker as "how long have you lived in thailand?

Note that there is no word for “you” as the subject is understood to be whoever is being addressed and therefore left out. Also note this is more a colloquial question, and you could say “khun yuu thee mueang-thai nan thao-rai” although to me it sounds as fakey and/or overly formal-ish as LazyYogi's version. FWIW: in the MANY hundreds of times I’ve been asked by thais in every socio-economic niche of society; how long I’ve been here, not once has someone ever used the word aa-sai (อาศัย) instead they just use 'yuu' (อยู่).

Although you didn’t mention it, I thought this might be of interest too. I had a lively discussion with some foreign thai language students today over coffee about the thai usage of what I call ‘–ing’ words. In thai either (อยู่) ‘yuu’(added after) or (กำลัง) ‘gamlang’ (added before) a verb to denote an activity currently under way.

I mentioned that I have heard thais ‘yuu-ing' far more than I hear them ‘gamlang-ing’. This leads me to the conclusion, when it doubt it’s better to ‘yuu’ than gamlang’. Although I have found it is acceptable to ‘gamlang-verb-yuu’ if an activity has started in the past, is currently still under way and may continue for an indeterminate time in the future, lol.. Sorry, it was a lot funnier when we talked about it. Lost a lot on the written page.

I hope you can make heads or tails outta my engrish spelling for thai words ; really sorry about that. I don’t write karaoke thai with the cutesy symbols and all. . ...

And before someone thinks I'm pissin' on anyone's parade, I am relating ONLY my personal experiences in learning and conversing in this oh-so difficult language. If it works for you stick with it.

Dunno if you use Bangkok Immigrations out at Changwattana or not, BUT you could try to print this form; take it to your local Immigrations office and see if they’ll stamp it. I think it’s the same document in the pinned topic at the top of this sub-forum about visa info.

Before Bangkok Immigrations moved from Suan Plu to Changwattana I routinely took acquaintances there and received the residence letter for people who wanted a thai driver’s license.

They (Suan Plu) used to charge 100 baht and then would EMS you the verification form about a week later. At that time the proverbial bar was quite low and I got residence certificates for people who were 'living' at a hotel using the hotel addy.

I haven’t done it out at Changwattana so don’t know if they do them on the spot, still mail ‘em out or even offer the service anymore.

Even if you hafta go to your local Amphur, it’d be far cheaper than your embassy (at least if your from the US which recently raised the prices on notarized documentation ).

Good luck. ..

Residence Certificate.doc

This may also be of interest as far as self testing. ..

I recently stumbled across a series of books at B2S Bookstores put out by Hi-Ed Publishing. They offer books on a wide variety of subjects, but the one's I happened across were titled;

คู่มือเตรียมสอบ-หลักภาษาไทยการใช้ภาษาไทย

In my horrific back translation I think it’s something like;

"A pair of hands to prepare to test"

"Principles of the thai language, usage of the thai language."

The books are offered from ป.๑ all the way up to ม.๖. After visiting 3 different locations of B2S, I was able to find ป.๑-๒-๔-๕, but not ๓ or ๖ . Unlike Asia Books which will transfer books to another location, evidently I was unable to convey this request sufficiently or it is a service NOT offered by B2S. ..

Now seeing as they're books for thais to prepare to test out in the thai language they're obviously written only in thai. Although with that being said, I think that ANYONE who wants to undertake reading thai can't go wrong with these books as long as you have a compentent thai to help you thru them.

Be that as it may, I found them of very high value (especially as the most expensive one was only 95 baht!). I was able to test out on quite a lot of chapters in books one, two (and to a lesser extent book four). Although I freely admit I failed abysmally in regards to recognizing วรรณยุกต์ (tone) of thai words which I hadn't previously committed to memory. A great shortcoming, I know...

I especially liked a couple chapters, which really made my understanding of some things gel better in my head. Chapters of note were; อักษรควบ (consonant clusters), พยางค์ (syllables), ทัณฑฆาตและตัวการันต์ (words that use garan), คำที่มี ฤ ฤา (words with those letters), คำที่มี รร (ร หัน) (words with a double r), คำที่ใช้ "บรร" และ "บัน" (words that use 'ban'). I even found the chapter about คำราชาศัพท์และคำสุภาพ (words of royal usage and polite usage) interesting in an anecdotal way, especially the polite words for pig, water monitor, buffalo, cow, dog, etc .

The sample tests after each chapter are quite good, the different topics in each chapter are well explained, and the examples given are totally understandable. There is an answer key in the back for every test they offer. The books mostly use multiple choice, so to really test out on writing thai you'd hafta find another resource.

Really I can't say a single bad thing about these books. I know that they've helped me expand my meager grasp of the thai language. I may even be able to finally wrap my head around the toning rules using the explanation in the ป.๑-๒ books, and if so, that'd be a major plus (mostly for me)... ..

I don't know if they'd be good prep-books for the “new version” of thai proficiency testing the government offers or not, as I've never sat it. However in reading responses from people who sat the old ป.๖ test versus the newer “where are you in relation to whoever sits the test the same day as you” version they give now, I think they might be of some value.

Apologies if this was too long to slog thru, sorry about that. ..

Sorry this is long(ish); I hope it's of at least marginal value to you;

While I’ve never attempted any poetry, I can say translating thai songs into something resembling the rhythm, meter and especially rhyme in engrish is a tough frickin' slog.

I've got 30 or 40 thai rock songs from bands like; Sek Loso, Bird Thongchai, Big Ass, Body Slam, Potato, Micro, translated into something resembling coherent engrish. Some even follow the rhythm and to a lesser extent the meter, but no way shape or form the rhyme. (Then again few thai songs I've heard ever rhyme except during a repetitive chorus)

I’ve also tried (and failed dismally ) to translate several 'moronically simple' KISS songs into thai while trying to preserve the meter and verse structure.

Given the premise that most thai rock songs are all lyrically simplistic, (this is not a slam to thai rockers in any way ) as most rock songs in english are exactly the same; still trying to get them into engrish or from engrish to thai is sometimes fraught with peril.

Once you understand some basic thai language concepts;

*Subjects are left out if understood via context.

*Songs like poetry often use flowery words, phrases not spoken or heard in everyday speech.

*That personal pronouns in song and poetry morph into the more intimate เธอ, ฉัน and even the slightly impolite แก (when referring to competing lover stuck in the obligatory 'love triangle').

*As well as a few other things which I have noticed, it still is a tough row to hoe.

It is my opinion you'll need far more than a basic understanding of thai in regards to; vocabulary, thai sentence structure, and also a pretty good knowledge of 'felt' or 'emotive' thai words and/or phrases.

Good luck, if you can do it so a thai could understand it, my hat's off to you.

P/S; I've had enough trouble translating even simple American idioms, into thai and getting any worthwhile 'bang-4-the-baht' with the thai guys I hang out with. Even though the thai language has many, many idiomatic expressions and proverbs which can translate roughly into the corresponding American ones; the deal breaker often is wide disparity in common reference points; culturally, environmentally, and geographically. This can and often does throw a wrench in the gears of mutual understandability.

An example; In the US we have an old expression which goes; “All cats are grey in the dark.”. Meaning when you put out the lights even an ugly woman isn’t too bad to be with. I went over and over this in both thai and engrish with the guys I sit with (all who have a good understanding of english); first explaining the analogy of using cats instead of women, then how our perception of colors change in the dark, and finally the use of colors instead of bodily appearance. Now granted at the time we were in this lively discussion perhaps we'd imbibed a little too much of either Blend 285 or SangSom, but. .. Finally one guy shouted out in thai; นารีงามสรรพเมื่อดับเทียน (and immediately the light bulb went off for everyone there!) Now, I’d never heard and didn’t know the phrase. I had them write it down and then looked it up on thai-language dot com; only to find Glenn uses the cat’s idiom for the meaning of this thai phrase too!! He translates it as “all women are beautiful when you put out the candle”. Go figure, same meaning, different reference points ..

BTW: Here’s a link from thai-language dot com to some common Thai Proverbs and their engrish equivalents;

http://www.thai-language.com/id/589868

and

Thai Idiomatic Expressions;

http://www.thai-language.com/id/590027/

Maybe some of them are what you’re looking for when conversing with your significant thai other. ..

Seeing as I live on the GROUND floor in a small apartment complex; with the ‘flash’ rainstorm we had in Bangkok this afternoon and while I was posting this just now, BOTH my bathrooms and my kitchen flooded with about 2 inches of water, in about 10 minutes time!!

Thankfully, they are 4 inches BELOW the rest of my apartment or it’d have been bad (mostly for me! ).

It is like the flood on Lower Sukhumvit about 3 years ago, where I was wading thru 15+ inches of water in my apartment and had everything stacked on the counters, including my two cats from the US (who have since died, so no worries in regards to them ).

It makes me sad, that for 2 or 3 months outta the year, people up-country are DYING for water (not the people per se, but their crops) and then in another 30 days they’re inundated by it.

What made me so very sad was the pic in the paper “which shall not be named” showing an OLD thai man holding a b/s wooden raft/boat with the casket of his wife in it, which he couldn’t take to the temple and cremate because of the flood waters. That really made it hit home as to just how bad some thai people have it.

Hmmm. no smart catchments or ways to keep water when there’s too much for when there’s not enough, and on the occasion when there is TOOO much water, no way to drain it off in a timely fashion so no one is swamped out? Sheesh...

The mind wobbles . .. It really does. .. (at least mine does. ..)

whats the big deal about getting <SNIP>

Sadly, you are missing the POINT of the O/P's post entirely ..

Did you even read the O/P's topic before you so blithely replied?

He was NOT asking ANY of the things you mentioned in your OFF TOPIC post.

That is why a person should read the O/P's post FIRST, and then reply, AFTER .

Last time I checked (which I do from time to time ) a Non Immigrant Type-WHATEVER visa will give you only a 90 day stay in the glorious "Land 'O Thais" at a time. After that you must 'run 4 the border', as we say in America, (and which is the tag line of all the Taco Bell commercials ). ..

Catch a small clue there as your 'pundit’ status concerning thai visas is about to be downgraded to, errrr, ummm, about a minus five . I do like your posting name though, as it says it ALL, new-bie .. .

FWIW: I have secured yearly extensions of stay for people who lived in and used the address of the frickin' Nana Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi Four , fur christ's sake! So your "I was denied because I had no permanent address in thailand" whining, rings kinda hollow, (at least to me) . ..

And before you even ask; NO I have no affiliation with this forum other than posting accurate visa info about thailand.

I too cannot use the search function; either from the top right on the main forum page or from the main search page without getting this error message;

Internet Explored cannot open the Internet site

(It gives the normal http stuff for t/v, then says) php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1.

Operation aborted

FWIW: I also run XP Pro, sometimes I get that one of my search words was too short, (even if none of the words are too short), but after I retype the search it will give me that message. ..

FWIW: I accompanied an 'acquaintance' a few weeks ago out to Changwattana to secure another year's extension of stay based on retirement. This person had also procrastinated; to the point where he was on overstay for 5 days .

I thought things either wouldn't fly or it would be fraught with peril. At the extension area, the immigrations officer started processing the paperwork, that was until she noticed the guy was on overstay . She kept all the paperwork but sent us over to the overstay area to settle up the fine first. Once that was settled, when we came back to the extension of stay area, we didn't even hafta cue as she waved us right in and issued another year's extension of stay without any fuss in under 10 minutes.

The main point is you need all your “ducks in a row and quacking in time” document-wise to secure your extension first time outta the gate as you are in a time sensitive situation (My previously related experience may or may not appease your sense of urgency ). You don't wanna hafta spend a day running around to get another document because you didn't have it.

I honestly doubt you'll have a problem, as I've accompanied other acquaintances who've been close to their last day, the one I just mentioned who'd actually overstayed by 5 days, (and one who I will not mention who had a horrifically long overstay ), still they all secured extensions of stays.

And not to disagree with the poster known as "Jingthing" (which I imagine means something like "the real thing" or "the real deal" ), but I've never got a lecture from an official at Changwattana in my many, many trips out there for various and sundry things .

As far as my dealings with thai bureaucracy; the immigrations staff at Changwattana seem pretty easy going in a professionally aloof sort of way.

Embassy may set there own requirements but there is no official MFA figure other than the normal 20k for any non immigrant visa issue.

Yes lop, thanx for the correction.

I confused the requirements for an extension of stay in country based on marriage to a thai national and the requirements needed for a non-O which is acquired outside the country but also based on marriage to a thai.

I realized afterwards they are not the same animals.

Again, sorry I mis-remembered.

I know of several acquaintances who received a 90 day Single Entry Type-B visa in Vientiane without incident. One applicant only had a letter of invitation for employment from a thai company, yet was without the work permit applied for receipt you get from the Labor Office here. Still they gave him a single entry type-B.

I also know several who received 90 day Single Entry Type-O visas for a variety of reasons, marriage to a thai national being a reason in some cases, from Vientiane as well.

While I could be wrong (but don't think so..) I honestly believe youre highly unlikely to garner either a One Year Multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type-B based on employment or a One Year Multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type-O based on marriage to a thai national from the thai consulate in Vientiane. Most likely, with proper documentation in your possession for either, youd get a Single entry without incident.

I think the sure bet for the year long multi-entry based on marriage is currently KL. All reports on here regarding multi-entry non-Os based on marriage reflect that they (the thai embassy/consulate in KL) have the proverbial bar set quite low as far as the letter of the law requirements (100K baht in a thai account versus the officially' stated amount of 400K). Some other places dont have such a broad interpretation of the visa regs.

A search of this sub-forum using "KL, Malaysia, and marriage visa" in the search field should yield some good recent results for you as far as documentation required, etc. In fact, I just noticed there's a current thread running now with 19 or so responses.

Good Luck, hopefully more learned and astute posters than I will weigh in on this.

With the proper documentation provided by your school (letter of tuition paid, document from the Ministry of Education allowing you to secure a visa for study, etc) you're unlikely to have ANY problem at either location securing a 90 day Single Entry Non-Immigrant Type-ED visa.

Although you don't mention what it is you're exactly intending to study; for arguments sake, lets pick that it's the study of the thai language at a private language school located somewhere in thailand.

Now you could just as easily be studying; diving, buddhism, muay-thai, cooking thai food, or any of the plethora of educational undertakings here in thailand which are used by foreigners to secure an ED visa. In fact, you might even be enrolled in a 'real university' undertaking higher education. However it is my experience that MOST inquiries (7 out of 10) concerning a Type-ED visa are related to studying the thai language.

As to the cost, the travel time, or why people from one location go somewhere over somewhere else, I couldn't speculate as I'm in Bangkok, and most people go to Lao PDR for their ED visa. Other more learned posters than I must weigh in on the pro's and/or con's of any particular thai consulate or embassy in neighboring countries and the various modes of transport used to go there.

Like I said earlier, with the correct documentation, you're highly unlikely to have a problem with either place you mentioned. I know of many currently enrolled students who secured their initial visa at both of those locations without incident.

Oh, is that what it said? I couldn't get that pop-up display to work when I clicked on it, so I didn't know .

You in all likelihood are correct; other schools may off a higher level of language study at a much lower price point and via a more time intensive weekly attendance regimen than the private advanced lessons offered by Thai Language Solutions.

It is my experience, most of the inquiries about private thai language schools on this (and other) forums are in regards to a student wanting to meet the Ministry of Educations posted minimum requirements of the 4 hours a week and/or 16 hours a month type of thai study. This being necessary to secure their initial ED visa and the subsequent 90 day extensions of stay based on continuing study of thai for a year. I am also seeing many more private thai language schools offering this type of 'study thai for a year' format when pitching their programs to foreigners, than I did in the past.

FWIW: I wish I had the dedication (and financial wherewithal ) to undertake studying the thai language for 15-20 hours a week. (Although I probably do that here at home on my own. ..)

The retirement visa depends on your bank balance i.e. 800 K THB. and that figure must have been in your bank A/c 3 months prior to the annual retirement visa renewal, on your first retirement visa application that figure is 2 months.

The presence of your better half, and her documents play no role at all regarding the retirement visa,

I believe the above quoted information (which was posted TWICE) and of interest in an anecdotal way is incorrect in regards to the O/P's original post.

(Hint to the poster known as 'personchester'; try refreshing the webpage after posting if you don't see your post display. )

He did NOT use the savings account method requiring 800K in a thai bank BUT instead used the income verification letter issued buy the US Embassy in Chiang Mai. That letter is a stand alone document which is duly notarized by the US Embassy, and states the person has sufficient funds from OUTSIDE the country to cover the income requirements set by thai immigrations. This document in most instances, requires NO additional supporting documentation AT ALL. (Warning ; your mileage MAY vary, check with your local thai immigrations offices to see if any further support documentation is required when using this method of income verification!!)

FWIW; I've lugged more acquaintances out to Changwattana than I care to count and secured them their yearly extension of stay using this type of documentation by people who were from UK, the USA, and even from several EU countries too.

I do concur; the presence of a significant thai other in this situation played zero role in either the issuing of the extension of stay or it's expedience . The O/P was applying for a yearly extension of stay based on retirement not on marriage to a thai national. There is no requirement that you are accompanied by a thai national for that type of extension.

Good Info to know.

Maybe some other posters will weigh in on the benefits of using the Thai Consulate in Cardiff with their experiences as well. Knowledge is power and the more people are aware of ‘user-friendly’ thai consulates the better prepared they’ll be if/when they need a visa.

And I am only commenting on my personal experience when using that company. That your experience runs contrary to mine doesnt negate either of our experiences. Theyre just horses of a different color.

The first time I went there weren't enough people going to warrant a big tour bus, so we used 2 mini-vans (although the second time there were and we had a NICE tour bus!).

There were between 18 and 20 people, and ALL of us, got out on the thai side of friendship bridge, walked thru the gates sans passports, and waited on the other side of the gate while the chaperone went inside the office with our passports to get us stamped out of thailand (the ONLY people who had to accompany her were people who had over-stay fines to pay).

We then boarded the bus which lugs you across the 'friendship bridge' to the Lao side.

On the Lao side, we were hustled thru the gates to some waiting mini-vans, again sans passports, while the chaperone took the stack inside Lao Immigrations. She returned about 15 minutes later with them all containing the Lao Visa and the entry stamp, and not a single person in our group even had to speak to a Lao Immigrations officer.

So not only did we not see a thai immigrations officer on the thai side of things leaving we also didnt see a laotian immigrations officer on the Lao side either entering or leaving although when re-entering thailand with our new visas we needed to queue and get our new thai entry stamp in person.

The company the O/P is inquiring about has run their Vientiane service for a couple years now at least, maybe longer. As I said earlier, the "wheels seem well greased" to get things done in an expedient manner (read into it what you will), but it runs really SMOOTH.

It runs far smoother than the 'gaggle', 'herd', 'murder', 'flock' (use the group classifier of your choice) of foreign do-it-yourself visa-runners I saw milling around the window where you apply for your Lao Visa who seemed to not have the slightest clue about what to do.

Its much the same the day after youve turned in your application at the Thai Consulate in Vientiane when you go to get your passport. You dont even go in the consulate compound, but wait in the mini-van and the chaperone goes and gets the whole stack. She then hands em out, making you check that you got what you applied for BEFORE the van leaves the consulate for the return trip to Nong Khai.

Now could a person do it themselves? Of course, it only takes rudimentary research skills to figure it out, after all we're not sequencing the human genome.

However, with that being said; I've yet to hear of a single complaint concerning how Philip runs his company in regards to foreigners getting double entry tourist visas in Vientiane.

I think I toured TLA a LONG time ago, because when I checked their website I saw that theyre right in the Phaya Thai Plaza Building next to the Phaya Thai BTS station. I just tried to call em to see if I could go scope out the school, but no on answered the phone. Then again with this weekend being a holiday due to the end of (I think) buddhist lent, probably most schools are closed.

Although Ive never attended Piammitr (เปี่ยมมิตร); I did scope it out, and its a good school with good text books, knowledgeable teachers, as well as providing good bang-4-the-baht in terms of what you get thai language wise.

Ive got TLAs number saved in my phone and will try em again after the holiday's over to see if I cant go refresh my memory as far as whom they are, what they offer, etc.

After a while, given all the thai language schools Ive toured, unless they use whacky methodology, or really stand out in terms of their curriculum offered, etc, they tend to all blur together.

While this is not on topic to the O/Ps original question;

I will concur with the poster known as Colabamumbai that Thai Language Solutions (especially their branch in the Fico Tower on Asok near Sukhumvit) is a pretty darned good school. It would also appear they have a second branch in the exact same building as TLA does just a floor lower. Perhaps if you go scope out TLA, you could stop into Thai Language Solutions too.

What ever you do, DONT fork over a SINGLE satangs worth of thai money BEFORE you sit a free lesson, talk to currently enrolled students, or seek advice on this or other forums regarding a particular school. The last thing you want to do is pay for a years tuition at a thai language school, and then find out their teaching methodology doesnt mesh with the way you learn things. ..

FWIW: I've sent more people than I can even count to that company when they needed a double entry tourist visa for thailand. Philip, is the name of the guy who owns that company, and he runs a pretty darned good outfit. IMHO it is far superior to some other 'un-named' companies .

When I went their busses left from Phra Khanong (Soi 71) on Sunday nite. We were at the gates to the Nong Khai border crossing by 5:30AM. The chaperone handles getting your Lao Visa, and all your paperwork is filled out BEFORE you even board the bus in Bangkok to leave.

You also don't queue at either the thai side, stamping out, or the Laotian side getting the visa and stamping in, that's all done by the chaperone who goes directly into the offices to get the stamps etc.

It's an all in type of visa run, Lao visa, thai visa, transportation to/from Lao, all transportation inside Lao, hotel, and a couple of meals (buffet in a guest house on the river in NongKhai on the return leg) too. I've never ever had a problem with either using them or sending people to them for their visas and he runs a pretty well-oiled machine in regards to getting thai visas.

I personally used them twice in the past; once for a single entry Non-Immigrant Type-ED visa, and another time for a single entry Non-Immigrant Type-O based on retirement. Both times I went, the buses were chock-a-block with women from the Philippines (mostly nannies who were getting their tourist visas). I think there were only 5 or 6 other foreigners getting their double entry tourist visas or other visa types based on their documentation.

I can't comment on the part about one year non-o visa, as I've never used them for that.

I hafta add one more word to the ขี้ thread (even though that is NOT the title)!!

This is one that Ive heard all too many times, but heard again tonite;

ขี้หึง overly jealous, to the extent you dont even let your b/f-g/f go piss alone for fear they will call someone else on their mobile.

Sorry Im just throwing these words out to get some response on this thread which is BTW dead already. ..

Depending upon the nature of and where is the school, the local labor officials may already be quite aware of the schools employment practices and -- for whatever reason or reasons -- could basically not care less...

Though sometimes, I am loathe to side with the poster known as "jazzbo" just as I am sure ‘they’ are not too thrilled to have me on their side of the proverbial fence (sometimes they, he she, it gives spot on advice); so in this instance I must wholeheartedly concur.

There are more schools which profess to teach engrish to thai people than you could shake a frickin' stick at. Last time I checked (which I do from time to time) those schools employ foreigners without a work permit or a proper visa as engrish teachers.

It is far more the norm, than the exception, to the rule (especially so, if they are already known to the thai police in that area). .. ...

If I were your 'friend', (which I am NOT), I would do two things; either CHANGE your mobile phone number, and/or MOVE to another apartment.

"Cut and Run" is the Engrish Idiom. ..

I concur, 90 day reporting can be done in person, by mail, or by 'proxy' (letting someone else take in the completed paperwork and your passport for you).

Having turned in a pile 'o passports last week, several of which were late by more than the 7 day grace period they offer on 90 day reporting; it is my experience, that even if it's late, Immigrations, at least at Changwattana, doesn't do anything but collect the 2000baht minimum fine. I just tuck the money inside whoever's passport I've got to turn in which is over 7 days late, and never had a problem reporting for them. I couldn't comment about Immigrations in Jomtien/Pattaya, but imagine it’s probably the same as they run close to the rules like Changwattana does.

I also agree you gotta go in person to get your yearly extension of stay, and it even states that on the bottom of form you fill out.

FWIW: Last week I couldn't even purchase a re-entry permit for an acquaintance. I neglected to see that the form also says "application must be made in person", and even as many times as I’ve gone to Changwattana, they wouldn't budge on it.

While this doesn’t really address the O/P’s topic, I see enough people have weighed in on it that I won’t even attempt to further muddy the water.

Still, readers may find the following of interest (then again maybe not)

Sometimes in Northeastern Dialect you're just as likely to hear the word; บักสีดา when the thais talk about a white foreigners instead of the Central Dialect word; ฝรั่ง.

For those who make no effort to study the Thai language and just use a dictionary.

<SNIP>

If used in a sentence before an animal capable of producing pooh = shit

If used before a verb, it is a modifier and turns the verb into a negative human trait.

<SNIP>

Pair = lose therefore khee pair = loser

I hope this explanation clears it up for everyone.

Just as an aside (and not to be overly pendantic );

For those who also don't write thai words in thai script it can make for a tough row to hoe pronunciation wise as well.

An example of the word "to lose"; which you write as "pair" and can be pronounced a myriad of ways depending on where you actually come from and what accent you happen to speak engrish with. However seeing as the thai word has NO thai character representing an "r" sound in it, I find your engrish a little tough to work out. The actual thai word is spelled like this; แพ้. Then again if it works for you, stick with it. Who am I to piss on your parade?

Be that as it may, I totally agree with your explanation of the word ขี้ as far as meaning; excrement, dung, feces, or a waste product, AND when being used with a descriptive term morphs it into a negative personality trait.

Some of the more common usages in reference to it emphasizing a negative personality trait are;

ขี้บ่น complainer

ขี้โม้ boastful

ขี้เหนียว stingy, parsimonious

ขี้โมโห easily riled, or given to fits of unreasonable anger

ขี้ยา drug addict

ขี้เมา drunkard

ขี้แพ้ loser

ขี้คุก jailbird

ขี้ขโมย thieving

ขี้โกง cheater

ขี้กลัว scaredy-cat, too timid.

Don't forget that can also be used in front of nouns to give the meaning (waste from) like in ขี้บุหรี่; cigarette ash, ขี้มูก; snot, ขี้ตา; eye secretion. It's also used in the word for beeswax ขี้ผึ้ง.

Strange as it may seem, I have also heard it used to describe the ingrained thai cultural phenomena called เกรงใจ in a negative light. In an instance of, when a person is so overly sensitive to everyone else’s feelings that they are unable to actually make a decision, as in ขี้เกรงใจ. Often seen in an office setting when a project stalls out due to the project coordinator being overly sensitive to stepping on any toes to get something done, and therefore nothing actually ever gets done.

And lets NOT forget the ever popular yet mildly contemptuous curse; ไอ้ขี้แพ้! (Loser!).

Still I find ขี้ a very useful word. I often tell the thais that in some ways it’s analogous to the engrish word 'fuc_k', also a multi-usage descriptive word.

In fact, here is an insightful You Tube video, which George the ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน of T/V linked to a while ago on another sub-forum, and which I will provide again for your viewing pleasure;

One usage in there is priceless; "Why don't you go outside and play hide and go fuc_k yourself?"

Previous posters are correct about the re-entry permit being required AFTER you get the ‘second’ year on your visa (when you're stamped back in after Oct 2011).

While you currently hold a Non-Immigrant Type O-A Visa (often referred to as a "long-stay" visa due to the year entry you get each time you enter thailand), the visa will expire in Oct 2011, and with it the multiple re-entry endorsement.

Yes exiting and re-entering just before that date will garner you another 365 day 'permitted to stay until' stamp, BUT should you exit during that following year (after Oct 2011 and until Oct 2012) WITHOUT purchasing an re-entry permit (1000baht for a single or 3800baht for a multiple) your permission to stay would be canceled upon your exiting the country.

Still, that's easily a year down the road, and as things go, I wouldn't sweat the small stuff at this point.

It sounds like you've got your ducks pretty much in a row, and all quacking in time as well.

I have been on medication this week for what the Thais refer to as,

ตาคุณหญิง

try translating that literally into English, it doesnt work.

OFF TOPIC. ..

Are you sure you're not being treated for this: ตากุ้งยิง ?? Which is like a stye in your eye, BUT not to be confused with ตาแดง which is pink eye. The first phrase I mentioned turns up more Google hits than "princess eye" does.

You got it,

The day you re-entered thailand restarted your 90 day reporting clock, and again has NOTHING to do with when your next 90 day extension of stay comes up, but EVERYTHING to do with 'have you been in thailand longer than 90 calendar days".

Look at the date you were stamped BACK into thailand and count 90 days. You've got a week either side of that date to do your 90 day reporting. If you're late you will usually garner a 2000baht fine, but it can be as high as the posted fine of 5000baht if you're pissy with them.

Good luck. ..