Bartman

Best to do your research on the web. He are some good sites.

In Thailand: http://www.invadeit.co.th/

In UK: http://www.aria.co.uk/ http://www.microdirect.co.uk/

A couple of things to consider: If you want a Thai keyboard get a laptop here. If you buy 1 in the UK make sure the warranty covers you if you intend bringing it back to Thailand or Aus. Also consider the level of support you may or may not receive in Thailand on your warranty, best to buy a brand popular in Thailand like Acer or better HP. Have not had much experience with different brands/support in Thailand only that the support from Dell is crap in Thailand.

Also try to get one with Windows included in the price, not so easy here in Thailand

Have you tried this service...

http://ocrthai.com/

Don't save any data in the location of data you want to recover. If the drive has simply been formated the data is still there, but if you place new data in the same location then the old data is gone forever. Best not to use the laptop until the old data is recovered...

Does the Media Player have a cooling fan installed? Could just be this making noise.

I have a playtime with a cooling fan. Makes noise if the unit in Hoizontal but not if its vertical.

What brand is the HardDisc?

I susspect it is the player thats the problem.

Yes there are. Google: "Jamie Oliver torrents"

Sound like our Windows installation is corrupt. If you have the original Windows install CD's they you can try "repairing your windows installation", this option should come up if you boot the windows CD.

Failing that, back up all the data/documents on you Hard Drive and reinstall windows again

Hello all,

I hope someone is able to help with a Thai font problem I have.

I have just installed Genuine Windows 7 Professional on a desktop PC and installed a Genuine copy of Microsoft Office XP 2003 Small Business SP3. Office appears to function normally and both Win 7 and Office are registered and have received Windows updates. A Thai keyboard has been installed and all the fonts work normally in all applications except in Office Word. Excel and Outlook are ok. The problem appears only when typing some characters (those on the y,h and n keys, symbols that appear above the Thai fonts) the font appears as boxes as if it is a Unicode problem. Please see attachment....

The problem also appears in Windows 7 Ultimate (RC) with Office Word 2003

It is OK with Windows 7 with Office 2007 (Pirate copy), Windows XP with Office 2003 and Windows XP with Office 2007.

I have done the following:

1. Checked windows update for any missing updates

2. Changed to different Thai keyboard settings

3. Changed Unicode setting, location settings and display language to Thai

4. Installed extra Thai fonts

Hope someone can help.

Thanks!

Yeh, good bartman, do post the reply. This will be my situation a year from now i guess........

Your right, it is a fantastic drive and nature to ranong. The burmasituation now i guess it wont be possible...?

If you go to penang its not to bad either. Highway all the way. And i can also recommend a nice hotel in sadao, south Thailand.

I drove there with my wife, left samui 8 o clock ferry, and we took it nice and easy, alot of stops, and still we arrived 4:30 in the afternoon. Had time for shower, a nap, and a nice dinner in the evening. Wake up early and go myself to the border (5 minuites from the hotel) and took a taxi to embassy where eddy met me since i called him and said i want it back the same day. With eddys fantastic help i was back in sedao 7 in the evening. And all i did in the day was sittin in the restaurant speeking with others on a visarun!! Nice evening and sedao again (lots of great restaurants and everything very cheap for a samui-expat, hahaha) and a slow drive home the next day to join the 5 0 clock ferry.

Now when we (also my wife) found sadao this nice we might even do this when the border trip comes up. Take it as a holiday. The diesel for my car cost me 1500 baht and the whole trip (ex. visa) was about 7000. And there is always variation-options to maybe take one night in nakhom si thammarat or something the next time.

I stayed in a hotel called "oliver hotel" in sadao. Very nice hotel and easy to find. I think it was 700/night. If you drive to the border any motorbike taxi guide you there for 40 baht.....

Transcript of my communication with Visa Agent in Penang...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: Can you please tell me what documents are required for renewal of "non immigrant O Visa"

A: 1. original married certificate

2. wife ID (copy)

3. house documents (own or rent)

4. Thailand bank account book

Submission time : 9am - 12noon

Collection time : 2pm - 4pm (next working day)

Q: What does the Thai Bank Book need to Show? Income or 400,000 Baht?

A: As for the bank book there is no certain sum of money needed to be shown.

This is just a supportive document

Q: Does my Thai wife need to come?

A: No

Q: Please understand this is not my first O visa.

A: With these documents that you have, no matter for the first time or not we are able to

arrange for 1 year visa with multiple entries.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the above questions where answered by a visa agent in Penang. I will not be doing this renewal for another 3 months so hope the rules do not change.

If money is earned in Thailand it will require tax receipts for 3 months or annual filing. For income from outside Thailand Embassy letter and perhaps other requirements.

They turned me down earlier this Year at Pattaya as I could only show 4 month of paid taxes. They wanted a full Year ....

Sunny

Hello Sunny,

Are you on an O visa?

It is my understanding that you con not work in Thailand on an O visa?

Is this not true??

Quick question for all of the posters that have been asked to provide happy couple photos: Do you have Thai children?

As I understand it, photos have always been a requirement for childless couples (albeit not often enforced), but waived for those who've had children.

Hey guys

I have a question about this non-

O married to thai one year visa. I'm a canadian guy ,46, in chiang mai , just legally registered with my thai wife at the local Ampher here. I entered the country on a tourist visa, now expired. I want to apply for the one year(multiple entry?) visa based on status as married to a thai. It is a first time application. Do you know or know anyone who knows what docs I we will need to be successful? I have a bank account, and a house in my wife's name.And where should we do it? Penang? Another consulate? The immigration dept. in Bkk?

All details appreciated

Jim

Hey. I just got it. In the begining of this post i tell already what you need:

Marriage lincence

copy of wifes id card (signed)

two passport photos

your passport.

Thats it. Atleast if you use an agent. I myself used an agent called eddy chia (www.banananewguesthoese.com) and he was very good.

Others on the forum recomend other agents which is probably fine to.

This voisa is easy to get and does not require any money at all. No money in the bank. No monthly income. This i know for a fact since i got it 1 month ago in penang and what i stated above is all i showed. FOR SURE.

Hello mattias33,

Thanks for the Interesting information. your weblink does not work it should be www.banananewguesthouse.com.

I am in a very similar situation.

Live in samui, married to Thai. My first visa was a "non-imigrant B'' and when that expired i got a "non-immigrant O". After the first 90 days of this "O" visa I went to the immigration office in Nathon (Samui) as I had been told that I did not have to leave the every 90 days. But the immigration office told me that I could only get my 90 day stamp there if I could show an income from outside Thailand (as on an O visa work is not permitted). In the end it was easier just to leave and re-enter the country (usually Burma). So I have always had to leave and re-enter the country every 90 days..... Now about to do my last 90 day stamp in Burma 1 day before the visa expires then I will need to renew my O visa and the whole process starts again....I originally obtained my O visa in Australia (home country) as that was the requirement then and it cost me about 6000 Baht and had to show 400,000 baht in Thai bank account.

I now read that you say it was free it Penang. Do you mean that you did not have to show money or income to the immigration office? and how much was the visa including agent fees..???

Thanks

Nick

If anyone has accurate/different information of how to renew an O visa it would be greatly appreciated...

Yep. Never (so far) showed any money.

Visa fee was 550 ringit (5500 baht) and the agent fee was 60 ringit. I was in a sticky situation since my wife was waiting in a hotel in sedao, i arrived late (10 in the morning maly time) so i had to pay another 40 ringit to make sure the agent got it back the same evening. But hes normal fee was 60 ringit. (dont have a clue where the extramoney went, brags or simply the fact that he had to wait around longer in ambassy??)

(there is a slight possibillity i turned the figures 60, 40 around but the whole fee in my case was 100 ringit).

The agent was very proffesional and you can either stay in his guest house overnight, arrive late evening and hand in all your papers, he go up in the morning and go to the embassy himself and come back in the afternoon. You dont have to bother. Or as in my case wait in his restaurant and he have a travelagent next door that drive minivans back to the border for 200 baht. Eddy himself organize it all while you enjoy your holiday!!

As for the immigration thing, i never done it and it is becoming clearer that i wloud have to do border-runs i guess.........

If the will be the case its not to bad either. Julias border van is ok and a quick thing. By the way, how did you go too burma, and why? Is it cheaper or faster or did you just siply enjoy the nice roads with the good view?? (fantastic between choumpon and ranong).

And, thanks for editing my spelling on the website, my fingers are still to big for the laptop even though im getting there slowly, hahaha.

Thanks Mattias,

I have emailed the Banana Guest House to ask if when renewing my O visa what documents are required as I think it will be a bit different to getting the first O visa. Will post there reply here...

I have always gone to Burma via Ranong as I drive and have found it very easy and a pleasant view. I also combine it with a drive to BKK to visit friends and family..

Nick

Quick question for all of the posters that have been asked to provide happy couple photos: Do you have Thai children?

As I understand it, photos have always been a requirement for childless couples (albeit not often enforced), but waived for those who've had children.

Hey guys

I have a question about this non-

O married to thai one year visa. I'm a canadian guy ,46, in chiang mai , just legally registered with my thai wife at the local Ampher here. I entered the country on a tourist visa, now expired. I want to apply for the one year(multiple entry?) visa based on status as married to a thai. It is a first time application. Do you know or know anyone who knows what docs I we will need to be successful? I have a bank account, and a house in my wife's name.And where should we do it? Penang? Another consulate? The immigration dept. in Bkk?

All details appreciated

Jim

Hey. I just got it. In the begining of this post i tell already what you need:

Marriage lincence

copy of wifes id card (signed)

two passport photos

your passport.

Thats it. Atleast if you use an agent. I myself used an agent called eddy chia (www.banananewguesthoese.com) and he was very good.

Others on the forum recomend other agents which is probably fine to.

This voisa is easy to get and does not require any money at all. No money in the bank. No monthly income. This i know for a fact since i got it 1 month ago in penang and what i stated above is all i showed. FOR SURE.

Hello mattias33,

Thanks for the Interesting information. your weblink does not work it should be www.banananewguesthouse.com.

I am in a very similar situation.

Live in samui, married to Thai. My first visa was a "non-imigrant B'' and when that expired i got a "non-immigrant O". After the first 90 days of this "O" visa I went to the immigration office in Nathon (Samui) as I had been told that I did not have to leave the every 90 days. But the immigration office told me that I could only get my 90 day stamp there if I could show an income from outside Thailand (as on an O visa work is not permitted). In the end it was easier just to leave and re-enter the country (usually Burma). So I have always had to leave and re-enter the country every 90 days..... Now about to do my last 90 day stamp in Burma 1 day before the visa expires then I will need to renew my O visa and the whole process starts again....I originally obtained my O visa in Australia (home country) as that was the requirement then and it cost me about 6000 Baht and had to show 400,000 baht in Thai bank account.

I now read that you say it was free it Penang. Do you mean that you did not have to show money or income to the immigration office? and how much was the visa including agent fees..???

Thanks

Nick

If anyone has accurate/different information of how to renew an O visa it would be greatly appreciated...

Hello All,

Does anyone know if it is still possible to do a visa run into Burma via Ranong?

Need to do another 1 before 8th this month.

Thanks

in advance..

Perhaps I am stating the obvious but if you are transferring fund from US, AUS or EU etc. you always get a better rate if you send the money in your home countries currency and then let them convert it here. Normally about a 5-7% better rate. Even better rate if you bring cash into the country when you fly here....

It all depends on which website you look at for conversion rates as to what they value a particular currency at...

Sad to here so many people with bad results. My experience was the complete opposite. Glad I didn't read these posts before I when for the visa for my girlfriend or I would have been worried.

My back ground: Australian, living in Thailand (11 months) on non-Imigrant B visa. About to return to Aus as my 1 year Visa is up. Will take my now wife to visit family and apply for a Non-imigrant O visa. Found the Thai embassy in Australia to be very easy going.

We applied for the Aus Visa before we where married. (3 weeks ago).

What I provided:

Copy of my passport

Supporting letter explaining our history together. (had no other supporting docs except stamps in my passport from the 3 years that I have been traveling to visit her, so provided copies of these.)

Copy of my bank statement from Aus

And a completed copy of the aplication form that I downloaded from the Aus Embassy website.

I completed this including supplying 2 addresses and relatives that we will be staying witha and explained that I will cover all expenses.

What she provided:

Passport

Id card (copy)

House registration (copy)

Rental agreement for shop she runs (copy in Thai)

We only requested a 2-3 week stay in Aus and she was granted a 1 year multientry 90 day visa. Same as I got to come to Thailand, and only took the Aus embassy 5 working days.

I think the key is to explain in the letter as many reasons why you will be returning to Thailand. I provided very little evidence and only stated in my letter that we have a home here (rented) a car, a motorbike. There main concern is that she will remain in Aus illegaly.

Best of luck...