Mosha

Went into Ranong Immigration Yesterday (30/9/07). Now the place was lightly staffed so the regular officer was off. The lady who dealt with me said I was better off not going in on a weekend, and that I could go in 7 days either side of the due date without any problems. Does that sound right?

Heck they drive motor bikes with taking any notice of what is in front of them, and you worry about 'em on foot.

Not sure if this is everywhere in Thailand, but down here in Ranong When you insure your car the insurance company also get you your tax disc as part of the transaction.

I did see a Discovery episode about rubber. 2 things stuck out.

1 It only grows well within 15 deg of the equator.

2 The world can't grow enough of the stuff. It's known as Malaysia's white gold.

When and if you do plant it it be prepared for a 7 or 8 year wait. I think current root stock prices are adout 10 Baht each, though I may be wrong.

ever notice the girls outside are beautiful ,go inside and they look like dogs .......

In western countries, we call that "bait and switch".

Or your Mrs. goes out with you and decides to wait outside while you finish your last song. She get's arrested.

Notice they say that she'd only get arrested if she wears something 'provocative'. What is provocative though? I see women in Europe wearing less while going shopping than some of the women wear here in GoGo bars. In other countries, 'provocative' could be anything that is a bit less than a burka.

not so appealing if the girls are wearing raincoats and wellies is it ...

It is if you're into 'watersports'.

I thought we wre talking about Thai Karaoke bars not Irish

One of the last thing Thaksin did was come to some sort of agreement with Myanmar/Burma. The Burmese workers are now supposed to have a special type of passport, also make sure she is registered to work for you. I'm not sure how it works for a farang in this respect. However for the Thais having an immigrant worker without the paperwork is something like a 50,000 Baht fine if caught I believe.

This is mostly about motorbikes but could apply to cars and others. A couple of local, I can only describe as idiots, think it's cool to have red lenses on their motorbike headlamps. My question is aren't there regulations/laws in this matter?

People will always find money for fags and booze. (Fags as in the UK meaning). I remember the post budget interviews with "members of the public", and what do you think of the budget? Response, it's the kids who will suffer . Meaning our cig addiction comes first.

My wife plays cards with policemen when we visit family in Pakphanang in Nakhon Sri Thammerat. Admittedly just the low ranking guys. However when she lived in Bangkok, the local mafia lady was the mia noi of the police boss in the area. She actually used his policemen to collect outstanding debts.

I finally got my 1 year extension. The English writing does not specify the visa type. It just states I can stay until 18 Jul 2008. My first reportin date is 30th sept, which is 90 days after my application. Also a stapled document which just reminds me of the pitfalls for not following the rules. It is however I belive the family visa, as my wife has to pay 500 Baht tax per month to prove the 40000 Baht/month income. Given how they messed me about, I wish I had gone fore the retirement visa now.

another day , same question

anybody seen a copy of the draft yet ??

My wife got her booklet yesterday. It's so far unread, and I reckon it will remain unread. She'll wait for the local Mu Ban meeting, and for someone to tell what to vote for. Then when it all goes pear shaped blame someone else. God forbid reading the book will interupt her daily Len Phai sessons.

This might be worth noting. I post it here as it's part of my ongoing saga. If you need a letter of confirmation from your embassy, and ask them to post it instead of collecting it. Make sure the tossers post it. After my friday the 13th visit, I didn't used to be supersticious. I was told the letter would be posted monday, wednesday and no letter. I have just got off the phone, and the letter is still in the embassy. Fortunately a nice Thai lady , Jim, was on the ball, and faxed a copy to immigration and a promise to send it to me via EMS. What are they doing with my taxes?

Hecky thump, if my ex finds out I'm only 11 1/2 hours away by road instead of 11 1/2 hours by air.

If your visa stamp says employment prohibited, I would take that at face value. I appreciate the need to keep busy side of things. I'm not sure how they would view a just helping a friend out as a regular favour etc.., however as you wil see on another topic. Agerman national has just been deported for working without a valid wp.

Back to the yo-yo. 18:20 thursday. The immigration lady calls, "You have to go to your embassey and get proof of your pension." "I gave you that proof via an e-mail from my ex employers this morning". "Big boss (sic) want you to go to embassey, him (sic) want more proof." Hmm bus leaves Ranong about 20:00, both companies. Run round house like a headless chicken, pack bag, find ancient pay slips to prove from last year. Dash into Ranong, by now 7:15, first bus full run onto 2 nd office got last seat. Explain to guy behind desk, you can collect monday am. Asked him to post which costs an extra 100 Baht on top of 2400 ish. Back home after nightmare bus trip home. Broke down after leaving the Southern Bus terminal 90 mins before. Sat in stationary bus for over 2 hours oh joy.

Can't fit another visa run in either as the last run should have been done before the 5th.

Will do. I've to go back on the 2nd August now, at least it gives us time to go down to NST for a couple of family occaisions.

I feel like a bloody yoyo. They appear to be accepting the money in the bank and monthly company pension option,(After the compny confirmed my pension.) My wife does not have to pay tax, which is a relief. She didn't want to be the only Thai in La-Un not on the government payroll paying tax . I do not now have to go to BKK, so it is the extension based on caring for SWMBO. Me 'ed's throbbing 'n' I haven't touched a drop yet.

Had a quick chat with an American guy living in Chumphon, he'd only come down to have his address confirmed to renew his driving licence. The same lady that dealt with me was mucking him about royally it seemed, he'd been waiting an hour when I waltzed in. The poor sod was there when I left. I'm sure that bit only took me 10 mins last year.

Sorry Maestro I thought I'd said, but it was another thread . I'm in Ranong and using the local immigration office. ie Ranong.

No, they sent the docs last week then called us yesterday. I definately have to go up to Bangkok. I have no other officer I can speak with it's only a small place, and the extensions is her dept. The retirees case was my prefered option, it was just to avoid this trip that I went with the wife option.

Are you over age 50 by any chance? It sounds as if they are making up rules for retirement extension of stay rather than family. The first post with 400k in bank and 20k income (from you) would fit retirement. The new 650k and 40k family income perhaps makes sense if you have about 15k of the family income amount and they are still trying for the retirement option.

But if you are under age 50 have no clue. What immigration office are you using and have you asked another officer to confirm requirements?

Yes I think they are applying those rules. I'm 51 now. (I was 51 last year on one of my visa runs, but I was 50 again for the next one 90 days later ). My wife got her zeroes mixed up this morning, and said something about hok seng har muan. (Forgive my literal spelling) I have read the retirement topic here and I pee all over the requirements with the combined money in the bank and company pension. I am now waiting an email from my old employers confirming my pension. I was initially trying to avoid going up to Bangkok, I hate cities country boy born and bred. I have to go see the immigration lady when the proof has been emailed, so I will ask her then.

Ok so visa extension. I asked for the extension based on caring for a Thai spouse because I didn't wish to travel to Bangkok. Which I believe is the rule for the retiree's application for an extension. So now I am being told by local immigration to go to Bangkok, will I be able to change my basis for application to the retirees case? Given that I have had to email my old employers to provide proof to immigration, of a monthly pension being sent to Thailand.

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Case

7.21 In the case of a retiree: Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 1 year at a time.

Basis for Consideration

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM); and

(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over; and

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than Baht 800,000 as shown in bank account transactions for the past 3 months; or

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

in the above regulation, it seems very specific that case 4 specifies the 3 month period, but case 5 specifies "on the date of filing the application", not for the 3 mopnths previous

I seem to remember these fogures being for a single person. I'm sure I read at TV last year that the figures for someone married to a Thai was less. Or again is that no longer the case?

Been in this morning. She's now saying a combined income of 40k/month plus 650k in the bank.

1 party member is a tut. So 2 party members is tut, tut. Aparty meeting then tut tut tut....