isaanistical

I have to admit the rabid bias against VFS is mine, not my friends'. They don't know about them (yet). Just that I recall my own dealings with them. But you made me think again: the Thai guy already has an ample file with ImmiAccount online, so would he maybe not be dealing with VFS at all but applying direct online? If so, thanks for prompting me to consider it!

Sorry if my comment was unclear - I meant VFS' connection to a tourist visa they could screw up with 8503 before he gets back into Oz. I have on multiple occasions personally (I'm UK, unfortunately) had good, fair and reasonable dealings with Immi in Oz and the precise opposite from VFS in BKK, hence my own scepticism.

Yes, point noted. They are both competent to apply on their own and would do so. As I said before, I only worry for them regarding the initial visa for him (the blushing groom, as it were) from BKK. If they are/he is at the mercy of the VFS clowns, anything could go wrong.

So it seems to be just a matter of making sure the Thai guy (speaks great English and has been in Oz many times before) gets some sort of entry that doesn't have 8503 on it. But that's a bit of a lottery, isn't it, when applying in BKK? Does it help to use an agent (cf visas and extensions for staying in Thailand)? Thanks for replies - being sent on and discussed.

Thanks, much like what I thought. But if you have to be in Oz to apply for the 820, and as you say the usual 8503 says no further stay, isn't that a bit of a Catch-22? Her husband would need some entry visa that can be extended while the 820 is processing (yourlinks suggest up to 2-3 years). Is there a readily available* visa class that would get him INTO Oz to start the 820 process? *Frankly, my own experience of the %%%%oles at the agency the BKK embassy uses is they haven't any idea of how to help (I'm UK and I have had problems with them trying to stop me getting to Oz!), which is why my friend is worried.

Yes, asking for a friend. She is Aussie citizen, he has only Thai passport; but he has had numerous previous visits and visas to Oz. They want to live in OZ ( obviously!). Seems like a marriage visa (820) is not impossible but expensive and may take up to three years according to the Immigration website: anyone got useful info on that? And is it best to marry in BKK or wait till Sydney to do the legal bit? Get a tourist visa here and then convert once in Oz? Any other ideas? Any constructive advice gratefully received and will be passed on. Cheers

Done a lot of this. Several migrations aog I found MyBackupPro (I have no connections to it) which can back up ALL apps AND their data (settings, messages etc) and then you put the same app on new phone and download everything. Has worked pretty seamlessly for me many times. I think it cost me about B60 for the pro version - not sure if it's still around but I think so. Even between two Samsungs, that alleged Smartswitch is a complete hand-gesture, as is everything Samsung nowadays. My Backup is the only thing I found that will fairly reliably transfer app SETTINGS as they were on the old unit.

Armageddon? I've been there and I think it (NOT being patronising, honest) a very nice little place that wants leaving alone and not being ruined.

I'm sure the brown envelope(s) are more significant than the statue, but... Has he ever tried the Savannakhet to Mukdahan journey? A full day with native bearers and immigration, for Thais too. Absurd to compare it with central Europe. A much quicker and simpler route is to fly to Nakhon Panom and drive the 100km. But there's no money - sorry, kudos - in that, is there?

or a classic test-match radio commentary, West Indies v England: "The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey"

Exactly what I was about to say. There used to be something called the World Meteorological Society or some such conclave of scientists, whose chart had BKK down as the hottest capital in the world, based on its year-round mean temps (rather than outright maximum temp). May or may not be true, but nowadays all we get are the sort of hysterical "news" items like the above, or like any time a typhoon or cyclone forms, usually written by kid reporters who have never experienced anything. It's late April in SE Asia. Why would it not be hot???

so save and send as .doc or .docx or whatever you would have sent in MS. Ditto in the spreadsheet. have not had that problem in all the time with Libre. I've used the powerpoint clone too, no problems with compatibility. As for setting up (mentioned above), what I did was copy an existing file as a template or master or something, and then work from that.

I have used Libre Office (https://libreoffice.org/) for 10 years, used to use Open Office, both ok, both compatible with MS files, both open-source and legally free. Never quite saw the point of microsoft.....

I have just done it and got into "Teams" - I am currently in BKK. Did a test call and that worked, but there is no mention visible of where my Skype credit (approxEUR26) has gone, how much they have already stolen or how I can use it. Why am I not surprised........

Just looked at CALILO, apparently VOIP and virtual numbers. Got as far as pricing when I read: "You are agreeing to receive marketing and sales communications, like promotional emails, messages, and calls, from Calilio. Call rates may apply." Makes Msoft look almost moral................

Skype was fine - that's why Msoft mess with it, it's in their DNA. Best of all was the number rental worldwide. I quite like the "fanytel" option cos of the name, but turns out it's only US/Canada and England numbers, which is no use if you run business in places like Europe. In my case I'm talking only a couple of calls a year, likewise calling from Skype is used only for emergencies, but that's just when you don't want to be fa*ting around trying to buy credits. Seems like Mytello is the way to go for landlines (inc banks) but over several threads on AN, no-one seems to have solved the imponderable of renting a number in most countries. Would love to hear I am wrong!

But most of us couldn't give a 4X.

like throwing sausages up the Dartford Tunnel.....

Hardly any of the 'alternatives' to Skype enable Skype's basic advantage: calls to landlines worldwide. Like many here, I have a sub and rarely use it, but I also have several Skype numbers - with annual sub - that enable me to be "based" in other cities so someone calling me from (eg) Melbourne thinks it's just a local call. Does anyone have any serious ideas for an alternative to these numbers? Would appreciate constructive suggestions.

I have had good results a cople of times when having to use a Samsung service centre (in Indonesia and in Malaysia). Now my S21 fe has succumbed to the dreaded thin vertical lines on the screen, so I thought I would check with local "customer service" (in Paknam) before the next step of a factory reset - or taking a hammer to it. Place is empty save for 3 staff, who make me take a queue ticket before they will talk to me. Not a good look........ I show the phone screen, they immediately go "oh, that. B7,000, you have to go to a mall (?no idea what that meant), and parts take a long time to come." Clearly could not give a ****. A Thai shrug that meant "just go away and leave us alone". This is an issue affecting many thousands of customers globally, who appear to have a problem with Amoled screens around the 2-year mark. Samsung can't be a#sedto find a fix and their local "service " "personnel" are a disgrace. I've been on Samsung for decades but tomorrow, I'm off to find any sub-B7,000 phone (even a Chinese one) that might work. Samsung can stick it in the appropriate orifice.

But this time it's PAO elections at the weekend. As it happens, the air-quality indices are showing greater BKK as worse affected than the rest of the country by the filthy air, so there is some sense in it. What the ###, it's a free week's transport. I'm going to explore all the new lines I've never been on. Khlong Bang Phai here we come!

OFF. Bright orange spray can, get it in Big C, Tops etc, plenty of deet, works for me.

Earlier than that, too. A race had been planned for December 1939, but other things interrupted it. See: https://jaapgrolleman.com/driver-spotlight-the-prince-in-blue/ "Bira also planned to organise a race in his homeland, Thailand, and the inaugural Bangkok Grand Prix was set to be held on the 10th of December 1939, but the war equally destroyed those plans."

Advisor seeks advice.... I sympathise. Given you have plenty of time to arrange something, how about 1. take said partner to IO (although I don't know where your IO is) and go through the problem with the officers. We all know they tend to be strict, but at this early stage of your year, it's go to be worth a try. 2. what about marryng the partner? You may recoil, but it would certainly get you off the hook (400k for marriage jobbie) - and it does seem she owes you big-time right now.

Indeed. Long time since I saw wooden clothes-pegs.......