lekatai

Right,to settle this once and for all.I have just checked my internet banking statement.I used a Nationwide Visa Debit card in the Bank of Ayudha ATM,on the 29th of this month.I took out 10,000B,which is what the statement says.It says 10,000B NOT 10150B. The exchange rate was 54.914.In the past,when I have had to use other banks ATM's the withdrawal is shown as the amount taken out PLUS 150B.So,Bank of Ayudha does not charge the 150B Thal banking system fee,at least if you use a UK Nationwide Visa Debt card.And the exchange rate they give is exactly the same (3 decimal points the same) as GSB,because last month I withdrew money from both banks ATM's a few minutes apart to check the rates.

I have just used my UK Visa Debit card(Nationwide) in the Bank of Ayudha ATM.No mention was made of any fee.The only problem is that for some reason the ATM does not give a receipt,nor give the opportunity to request one.So until the internet banking record shows up on my account I can't be 100% sure the fee wasn't charged.But this is what the machine has always done before,and the fee has never been applied.As soon as I can verify this I'll post it

Lekatai, so you were/are able to use your Nationwide (British) Visa debit card in the Government Savings Bank ATMs without any problem or fee?? Can you confirm that???

There is a GSB ATM in Carrefour,on Pattaya Klang.It's on the 1st floor just before the tills of Carrefour.That was fee free yesterday for my Nationwide Visa Debit card,and the last time I tried Bank of Ayudha two days ago that was fee free as well.The only annoying thing about Bank of Ayudha,is that it doesn't issue a receipt for the transaction,nor is there the opportunity to request one.

Yes that's correct.In the past I have had problems using this card in GSB ATM"s,most notably the one in Tukcom.Usually it would say "Communication error" or "Contact issuing bank" and not give out any money.I'd never noticed the ATM in Carrefour before, so I thought I'd try it,and got the money first time,no problem.Receipt says fee=0 amount withdrawn=10,000,and later checking with on line Nationwide confirmed it.Exchange rate was the same as a similarly timed Bank of Ayudha withdrawal,from memory I think it was 55.6THB/GBP

There is a GSB ATM in Carrefour,on Pattaya Klang.It's on the 1st floor just before the tills of Carrefour.That was fee free yesterday for my Nationwide Visa Debit card,and the last time I tried Bank of Ayudha two days ago that was fee free as well.The only annoying thing about Bank of Ayudha,is that it doesn't issue a receipt for the transaction,nor is there the opportunity to request one.

I was there in HCMC last month.My wife is Vietnamese,but we live in Thailand where I have a 1 year Non Imm O with the extension based on retirement. I asked them if she could have a 1 year Non Imm O and they couldn't/wouldn't do it.I have asked there before as well ,about a year ago (before we were married),and the answer was No then as well.In the past we have got several Tourist visas there,but never more than single entry,again they couldn't/wouldn't issue double entry ones.This time they did issue a 90 day single entry Non Imm O and explained that she could extend it for 12 months as my dependent,once in Thailand.As another poster has said,they are not busy there,and friendly and helpful,but obviously they have strict limits on which visas they can/will issue,and they will not issue 1 year Non Imm O visas.

i was told that there was a shop called nice things on 3rd road near xcite disco,it sells dvds with brit tv on ,i cant find it so ,does anyone know where it is ?,any help appreciated .

closed down, but i believe Paul is still in the same place, selling some power saving equipment. Its located opposite Buffalo bar, about 3-4 shops down from the soi off 2nd rd.

thanks for that,no wonder i couldnt find it

Yes it's still there,but it's called "Energy House" now,it's next to the site entrance to the new development

Update!

Last year if my memory serves me well, I was able to re-new my retirement visa and get the multiple entry stamp all in the same day. It can't be because they're busy as I was the only one needing assitance at counter# 8 at the time. I guess this is the new procedure?

Will report again Monday

No this has been the case for at least two years,I've renewed mine several times now,and always had to go back the next day to pick up my passport and get the re-entry stamp.I don't really know why,because the first day,all the stamps are put in your passport,so I can't see why they don't do the re-entry stamp at the same time.The only thing I can think of is that overnight your details are checked to make sure there is no reason to refuse the extension.I did mine three weeks ago,and to get the re-entry permit only took a few minutes.You will need another photocopy of your passport details page and the new extension page,the completed form and one photo,and 3800B

Does anyone know if a citizen (such as from the USA) can get a tourist visa upon arrival at the airport in Vietnam? I was able to do this 3 years ago; now when I "google" it, I get confusing information. Since my flight is only days away, I am starting to panic that I may have to go to BKK and get the visa.

No you cannot get a visa on arrival in Vietnam.There are two ways to get it,either from the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok, or what is called a pre-approved visa(described in the above post).If you go to the Vietnamese Embassy in Wireless Road in Bangkok,you can get the visa in 24 hours.I have tried to get a same day service before,and they have always refused. It's simple to do it,just go there,fill out the application form,you need one passport photo, I think from memory the fee is 2400THB for next day service,and you can pick it up after 3 or 4 PM the next day.I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes,and the Embassy staff are quite helpful.

Can anybody give a ball park price on the typical hotel style safe, smallish with key pad

The smallest ones cost us 1300THB,(but we bought 10 at a time),the next size up were 1900THB.The smallest ones are the normal hotel room size,All were bought at the Indian run place in Pattaya Klang,mentioned by previous posters

In reply to your query about a rejection stamp,the answer is yes,there is a stamp put in the passport,However it consists of a very small(1cm by 3cm) stamp which simply says UK BANGKOK,and then handwritten in it,the date of application and above it,a number(which is presumably the application number) and the type of visa,and then a horizontal line drawn through it.There is nothing written there about the application being rejected.BUT,when I went to the UK with my girlfriend last year(having had two VV applications previously refused) the Immigration officer noticed these two stamps,asked us why previous visas had been refused,and we had to wait for fifteen minutes while she went off and checked,presumably to see why there had been previous refusals,and the visa we had was OK

Sorry-reason for edit,duplicate post.

Both the GSB ATM at the GSB bank in Pattaya 2nd Road,and the UOB one opposite,are fee free.I used both yesterday,no fee,and the rate was 54.56/GBP for both.The GSB ATM in Tukcom,the day before,seemed to accept the transaction,but didn't give out any money,even though the screen said "Take money".It eventually returned my card(Nationwide Visa debit) and on looking at my account on-line today,the money was debited,but immediately re-credited

Why would anyone want to plan a holiday in Israel. What is your next plan Beirut or maybe Kabul? What do you expect a happy time?

Stupid post.

How is ot Thai related?

Well I wasn't going to post again,but I suppose I'll have to.No it isn't a stupid post.There are all sorts of reasons why someone would want to go to Israel.I went there three times.And I am not anti Israeli at all,otherwise I wouldn't have gone there three times.And it wasn't a "tired old anti-Israeli rant"from me.I was merely saying that,now being the owner of a hotel here,that the amount of aggravation that I(and more importantly,other customers) have had from (young) Israeli visitors exceeds the benefit of them staying here.Very unfortunate,but that's what has happened.As an aside,when I was in Vientiane,there were many hotels there that were much less subtle,in that there was a big notice on the door that said "No Israelis".I don't post here very often,and I don't often agree with "Jingthing",but there's always a first time

When you land at the airport,after clearing Customs and Immigration,as you head out from arrivals,there are a row of booths offering taxi/hotel booking services.I have used the booth on the right hand end,I can't remember the name,but it's on the extreme right.Book a taxi there,it depends on where you are going,but it's 8 or 9 USD,or you can pay in VND if you have any.The advantage is that the price is fixed,and you get a proper taxi.The receptionist then escorts you to the taxi.If you go outside on your own you will be approached by touts,who will quote a lot more,and quite often you'll end up in some battered old private car with a driver who doesn't have a clue.As for hotels,I have always stayed in District 1 which is in the centre of Saigon.There are literally hundreds of small/medium sized hotels here,around Ly Tu Trong Street,and the market,and over by the so-called "backpacker "area.I have stayed in the "Giant Dragon"(30 USD) and Hai Long 1 and 2 (20-25 USD) Most hotels there are in the range 15 USD to 35 USD They will have lifts,and the rooms will have TV ,A/C,hot water shower or often bathtub,and be reasonably comfortable.Most have wi-fi or internet access.Some of the hotels are a little run down,but clean and cheap.If you want to pay more,then you will get better facilities.I did look at one called the "Saigon Royal" which was 45 USD,big,well appointed rooms,with a circular(I think revolving) bar and restaurant on the roof,with great views,but I haven't actually stayed there.It's best if you tell the driver a particular hotel,and insist you have a reservation there,or he will take you to somewhere he gets commission,which may not be any good or centrally located.If you google the hotels I have mentioned, there are plenty of references to them.Have a good trip

Erm problem is it takes about six odd hours from PP to Sihanoukville and then another 6 odd hours from there to the border, then add another 4 hours approx to get to Pattaya. In my experience most of the Sihanoukville->Koh Kong buses leave between 7-10 in the morning in order to connect onwards in Thailand. So your going to have to ask around, there isn't really a bus service like the one in Thailand which leaves to most destinations every hour on the hour, in Cambodia it's mainly a bunch of different bus companies plying the same routes and often leaving around the same time of day. So you might be able to go from PP to Koh kong, but either way your going through Sihanoukville because that's how the roads run as far as I'm aware.

No that's not correct.The main road runs from PP to Sihanoukville,but roughly half way along it,the road branches off to Koh Kong.So you can go from PP direct to Koh Kong,you don't have to go to Sihanoukville.Now that the road is surfaced,and the bridges built,it is about a 4 hour trip.There are different ways to do it,as you say,service buses,mainly in the morning,shared minibuses,or taxis,depending on the level of comfort required,and the cost.It might be possible to do PP to Pattaya in a day,but it would be a long and arduous trip,I'd do PP to Koh Kong in one day,stay in KK,then next day go to the border,and get a minibus to Trat,and a service bus to Pattaya,I think the A/C express bus is at 1 pm from Trat.In reply to "borovik" the bullet boats run from Sihanoukville to KK but I believe only every other day now,and they are less reliable and more expensive than the road trip

I am in a similar position to the OP,but there are a few differences which maybe someone with similar experience can clear up.I will soon be going to Vietnam to bring back my (Vietnamese) wife and our new baby.We got married in Vietnam last month,and the baby was born there.Both will have Vietnamese passports.I live here(Pattaya) on a 12 month Non Imm "O" extension based on retirement,which needs to be renewed again in early July.What I was planning on doing is to get them both single entry Tourist Visas in HCMC,and when we get here,(and after I have renewed my visa),change both of their Tourist Visas to Non Imm "O" and then get those visas a 12 month extension as dependants of mine,together with multiple exit/re-entry stamps.Any documents relating to the marriage and birth of the baby will be in Vietnamese,with Vietnamese Government certified translations into English. What I don't know is a) will their visas run concurrently with mine,or be valid from 12 months from the date they are issued.b)Do I need to get the marriage certificate and babys birth certificate translated into Thai?,if so can I have that done here in Pattaya c) would there be any advantage in getting them Non Imm "O" visas in HCMC if they will issue them. d) is the procedure and cost the same for the baby as well as my wife.? If anyone has any information to cover these points I would be grateful.Thanks

If you had read some of my other posts,it would be clear to you that I run a hotel/bar/restaurant here in Pattaya.I have nothing to do with any sort of visa business,nor do I want to,and wouldn't dream of offering services or asking for any sort of fee.If I post something here it is to either ask a question,or to reply if I feel I might have something to contribute to a question someone else has asked.I don't post "brief,not relevant,or sometimes inaccurate" replies (Quote from another poster) I have no idea who TVE is,but if he runs some sort of visa advisory service,then he should be posting accurate and relevant information. There are plenty of other posters here who provide sensible,useful advice to people who ask clearly genuine questions,including people who run visa agencies.That's what this board is for,surely?

Well,not to talk politics/religion etc etc,OK.But I have been to Israel on three occasions,including working on a kibbutz(if only for three weeks)and there are places there that are well worth seeing.i.e.Massada,the Dead Sea,Jerusalem,the Wailing wall,Dome of the Rock,etc etc.After all it is (one of the ) cradles of civilization.But I have to say,if it was now,then I probably wouldn't go there,because of all that's going on there.And,regrettably,I have to say,that in my current incarnation as a hotel owner in Pattaya,that my encounters with Israeli tourists have been such that I have had to tell the cashiers that if Israelis want to book a room,then they must tell them that we don't have any rooms available.Draw your own conclusions.

Sounds about right a standard answer.

Well,another extremely helpful answer from "Thai Visa Express" Just about as helpful as you were in the last thread I posted in.The OP has asked a question,why do you feel the need to post this.What is the point?If you can't say anything useful,why do you say anything?If you have anything to say to help him then say it,otherwise don't bother.OK the OP doesn't make everything clear,but at least help him instead of posting some smartass reply.OK :to the OP,the visa is not for you,but your wife.You do not have to prove anything,except that your sponsorship letter is important to assist in your wifes application.I am sure that this is just a meaningless automatically generated letter,which I have have had to deal with before as well,when dealing with the British Embassy in Bangkok.I would suggest that you look at some more helpful threads on this forum,and don't listen to "Thai visa express" who clearly has no interest in actually giving positive help to people.

I've been to Israel three times,although it was a few years ago.The airport security is the tightest I have ever encountered.I travelled twice with a male friend,and once on a package tour with a girlfriend.Basicaly the approach was always the same. Once it was established you were travelling with a companion,the routine was to separate you from them.You are then questioned at length about who you are,what you do,why you are going to Israel,where you are going etc etc.Then,the person or people that questioned you,change over to question your companion,and vice versa.The questioning was thorough,but not intimidating.I am quite sure they do use profiling,once they had asked(and verified) what my job was (Civil Service) they were happy.Everyone is questioned without exception,only the length of this probably varies.The questioning was the same on the return journey,and just as thorough.The interesting thing was that the time I was with my girlfriend,there was a guy on the plane of Middle Eastern appearance.I was speaking to him on the plane as he was sat next to me.Apparently he was given a hard time,and questioned for ages,but obviously passed the test,as he was allowed on the plane.He was on the same flight as us back,and when they questioned him at the Israeli airport before boarding the flight back,from their questions,it was obvious to him that they knew where he had been and what he had done for his entire holiday.It wasn't Ben Gurion airport we went to,I can't remember the name,but it was a military airfield in the Negev,not far from Eilat,so maybe the security was tighter because of that.I would think because of the current situation there the security will be at least as tight.The security guys I dealt with were thorough,and insistent,but not heavy handed or threatening,and if anything I suppose tighter security can only be a better thing.I am certainly glad I went,as you say some of the sites are well worth seeing.

OK as I have said before,it doesn't matter whether the "family member" is already in the UK or is travelling with the applicant. As far as the law is concerned it is exactly the same thing,because obviously the family member could land one step ahead of the applicant and would therefore be in the UK in order for the applicant to visit them.If you study the guidelines,then this is exactly what it says.Why is there a problem with you understanding these rules. It's quite simple. Secondly; also ,IF the two people have lived together for at least two years in the the three years immediately preceding the date of application then they qualify for a "Family visit visa",if they haven't,then they don't.That's it. It's not difficult to understand.In legal parlance it is "De Facto" not "De Jure" If they qualify as unmarried partners then they do,if they don't,then they don't.That's it :period.If they meet the criteria then they are qualified.And of course that's on the balance of probabilities: that's what it says.And what is a "Social visit"? I don't see that on the Visa application forms,which I am looking at now.Also,the obvious advantage of applying for a "Family visit" visa is that is has a right of appeal if refused,whereas a tourist visa does not.Now,I may be being cynical,but the ECO at the British Embassy is much less likely to refuse a visa if he knows there is a right of appeal,than if he knows there is nothing you can do about it,and it's not going to cause him problems.If the ECO refuses a visa,and subsequently the appeal is lost,then you are talking about costs being awarded against the Embassy/Government or whatever,and not only that,but then a legal precedent has been set.

Does anyone know the location of Government Savings Bank ATM's in Pattaya,I looked at their website,but the link to branches is all in Thai,and I don't recall seeing a GSB ATM.If there is one in the Soi Buakhao/Second Road area,that would be handy. Thanks

Its not a family visit simple.

Well,I disagree with you.As I said in my second post,and as "7 by7" has said,it depends on the circumstances of the OP's relationship.If he has lived with his girlfriend for a period exceeding two years in the three years immediately preceding the date of application,then as far as the Immigration rules are concerned,she counts as "family" That's what is simple.It's defined in the guidance to ECO's,to which I gave the URL.Visit My WebsiteOf course he has to prove that fact on the balance of probabilities,and meet all the other requirements.From the OP's latest post,again depending on the length of time he has been with her in the last three years,as long as it is more than two years,then she does qualify for a "Family visit visa"Clearly the additional facts such as having a child together,and joint ownership of assets such as a house ,car and land will support the assertion that they have lived together as a married couple. The only simple thing is the (at least)2 out of 3 years.If this criteria is met then it's a "family visit".In addition,if the child is travelling as well,and has a Danish passport,and therefore does not need a visa,then it may be that the visit would qualify on that basis,(if it happens that the OP and his wife have not spent 2 out of the last three years together),she can be said to be visiting her child.As I said before,the fact that they are travelling together is irrelevant.As far as the amount of money needed,I don't believe there is a fixed amount,but you must satisfy the ECO that you have sufficient funds to support her and the child,without recourse to public funds,so I imagine the amount is what a reasonable person would think sufficient.You must also satisfy them you have appropriate accomodation,and that she will return here when she says she will. Good luck.! (BTW thanks to 7 by 7,I didn't know how to insert the hyperlink before).

All I can go by is my own personal experience,My girlfriend applied last year for a "Family visit" visa on the grounds that she had been with me for the necessary length of time,as defined in the Entry Clearance guidelines.I had lived in Thailand and Cambodia with her (on and off) for 3+ years,while still paying UK taxes and retaining a home in the UK.I was travelling to the UK with her,she wasn't going to the UK to meet me.As I understand it,if you are travelling with the applicant,it is counted as the same as if you were actually in the UK already,and she was coming to see you,which is the logical way to look at it.I am not sure if this will come up as a hyperlink,but the relevant url is <www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ecg/visitandtransit/vistortransitvisa2> which contains the definition I tried to quote in my previous post.I didn't get it exactly right then,so this is the official wording. My girlfriend was granted the visa,and they didn't say she had applied under the wrong category,so it must have been correct. Obviously not all circumstances are the same,and whether a relationship qualifies will depend on the facts of that particular case.Such factors as length of time together,periods apart,joint bank account,children etc will all tend to prove or disprove the status of the relationship.So I would say that as long as the criteria are met,then the OP should apply for a "Family visit" visa,as this carries a right of appeal if refused.

Actually I believe the information given by the previous posters is incorrect.She does not have to be your wife to qualify for the status of "family" I do not have the exact wording of the definition of "family" in front of me,but it runs something like this "Having lived together in a relationship akin to marriage for a period exceeding two years in the three years immediately preceding the application date" So,if you have been together for 5 years,then she would qualify.The advantage of this visa class is that,if refused,there is a right of appeal.