siamaloha

I stand corrected. My experience with the airlines was when I did not have a visa, and they required a return ticket.

I think you'll find that even once you obtain a valid Tourist Visa, it's the airline that will enforce the R/T ticket rule when you check in for your flight to LOS. The airlines don't want to be caught having to pay for your return should something happen. A ticket for onward travel from LOS might suffice.

Bangkok Bank gave me a Visa Classic CC, but not before I had to "lock" 100,000THB in my savings account for a 50,000THB credit line. I have retirement O Visa. btw my new replacement Visa Electron card DOES have a 3-digit security code on the back, something the previous Be1st card lacked (which is why I applied for the CC in the first place.) I haven't yet tried to use the Be1st for online purchase/booking.

i stayed at Oakwood City Residence on Narathiwas Soi 24 for a month in 2006. Convenient location, reasonable rent, friendly staff, very clean and nicely appointed. I used Oakwood because it was the only serviced apartment which would accept my 5 small dogs! It was thoroughly enjoyable to come home, cook dinner (and not have to clean up) after a day out searching for a long-term rental. Khun Nana was my sales agent there, and she was a joy to work with. http://www.oakwood.com/corporate-apartment...kok/prop38.html

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My 3 AKC Champion-bred Papillons: Gianni, Doobee, Lele. I also have a Smooth Coat Chihuahua Dog (not pictured)

Also a pair of Red Factor Canaries (both the male and female sing their hearts out!) and a Siamese Fighting Fish (Beta)

If anyone knows of a Champion show-quality Papillon at stud in LOS please PM me

Put them in the oven or on the grill after you bring them home from Villa Supermarket Sukhumvit 33... The best I've ever had!

I didn't need a police report last month when I applied at Suan Phlu.

Since I was there anyway, I wanted to get my O extended for the year. To do that, however, I needed Original Medical Certificate (which I had just handed in on the 3rd Floor.) Sooooo... back to the hospital for another Original (and Bt500!) AND back to the Bank for another Original Bank Certification Letter. Also new copies of my bankbook pages, and copies of Passport picture page AND copy of Visa/Departure card page. AND a photo. When I had everything together again, I didn't have to wait until my number was called... the smiling Thai clerk recognized me and waved me right over to her desk! That made me forget about the hassle of running around to get what I needed because I was unprepared.

Be sure to bring enough cash for the Visa, the Extension, and the multi-entry deal if you're going that route.

I have the same problem, but only this morning. Yesterday was fine. I'm on True ADSL. I accessed my yahoo mail fine though, by typing www.th.yahoo.com Go figure.

I want to ask true if their internet service is available in my area (thaveewattana).

On their phone number nothing happens "All our ???? are engaged" or something like that since 2 weeks. To contact them per email does not result in any feedback. If you click on online-order the link also does not work.

If I go to the next shop which is far away I have to wait arround 1 hour to speak with someone who has no idea what I speak about (the staff there is direct from the zoo I think).

Has anyone a sales phone number or even better an emailadress (which get answered in not longer than 3 month).

I used to live at Tawee Wattana, so I know the service is available. I went to the True Shop 5th Floor Central Rama3. They have an English speaking sales rep who is very helpful. Just take a number and then go wait at the last counter on the right. They helped me even before my number was called, obviously because I was the only farang there.

I had to "lock" 50kBht in my Bangkok Bank savings account in order to get a real Visa CC with a 50k limit. I have a non-i O (retirement) visa. BTW, I spent lots of time on the phone with a "supervisor" in the credit card dept at BB just to determine whether they issued a Visa CC to someone with my circumstances. (They did.) Don't even bother talking to an underling. However, when I went to my branch office, they told me "not without a work permit." I stood my ground, and then the clerk filled out the application for me (it's in Thai.) It should arrive by Friday in the mail. I hope so... my "be-1st" electron Visa Card is useless on the internet or with airlines as it has no 3 digit security code on the back.

Just an update....Got the wifi hooked up to my mac with True with no problems. Spent 10 minutes on the phone with their customer service and she walked me through how to set up the router (online). After this was done, I have been surfing wirelessly with no problems whatsoever.

I was told that the free (1Bht) True router wouldn't work with my Powerbook G4, so I shopped and shopped for the NetGear 108 Mbs Super Wireless G834GT router/modem. Finally found it at Pantip 4th Flr for 2500Bht. Darn it... are you saying the True Freebie worked for you?

Now if only True lived up to their 1000 download speed! I just checked it at TV and it was only 437 Ba!

I have a real double entry 60-day Tourist Visa from the Thai Consulate in Zurich. I want to convert to Non-O (retirement) and would like to avoid travelling to Penang. Do I need to show 800k THB bank balance if I go to Immigration at Suan Phlu? And I assume I'll need all kinds of other documentation, right?

56yo American living here over a year. I was under the impression that I could get non-o on my holiday in Switzerland last month, but Thai Consulate in Zurich informed me that they could do that only if I were a Swiss resident. Oooops. Hence, the Tourist 60.

Ask Immigration for an extension to cover the 3 days until your flight to Switzerland.

Then apply for Non-O visa (single entry) in Switzerland, stating retirement as you reason.

It should be very simple. but it may be a good idea to have your bank book to show, just in case they ask.

Once you arrive in Thailand you will get a 3 month stamp.

Near the end of the 3 months, apply for a one year extension based on retirement showing the 800K in the bank. You should have no problems.

Once that is through there will be no need for visa runs.

If you do exit Thailand, make sure to get a re-entry permit to keep your

retirement visa current.

Thanks astral... that's exactly what I'll do. I had not considered a tourist extension before, thinking I would try to take care of everything before I left for Switzerland, but this makes much more sense.

56yo US citizen here living in BKK for 11 months and tired of monthly Visa runs because of wasted time mostly. Should I pay Sunbelt 7200THB for company sponsored non-B? or just fly to Penang with my 800k bank certification for non-O? I am flying to Switzerland 3 days after my current tourist 30 expires... any experience with Bern or Zurich Consular? I want to keep things as siimple as possible, and am I correct in my research that with O I don't have to leave TH every 90 days, just report? (but I do have to leave with B.) Any help is appreciated.