lekatai

Beer Lao is available at "Le Katai" bar/restaurant in Soi Lengkee.It's not actually a French Restaurant,as the previous poster said it's just got a French sounding name.There used to be a wholesaler who sold Beer Lao behind Carrefour,in the same soi as KPK foods,but it's not there any more.I understand that it has moved to somewhere in Thepprasit road,but I don't know the exact address.I will try and find out the details and post them here later.I also understand that there is some problem with supplies at present,with no Lao light being available for a couple of weeks

Since i posted,obviously i have now spoken to her,and she has told me why,the refusal point won't be a problem to rectify,would have been better if i knew in advance that it was needed,and i presume the visa would have been granted.

Let's try again.

Thanks for all the helpful info.

PST.

When you re-apply,make sure you apply for a "Family visit" visa.On the front page of the application form you tick a box to indicate which type you are applying for.I am not sure of the exact wording of the definition,but if "you have been living together as a married couple,or in a relationship akin to marriage,for a period of at least two years in the three years immediately preceding the application date" you are regarded as "family" for the purposes of the application by your girlfriend,if she is travelling to the UK either to visit you,or with you.The great advantage of this type of visa is that if it is refused,there IS a right of appeal.You have to be able to prove the relationship,and of course,cover whatever the reason for refusal originally was as well. Good luck

I have merged you 2 topics.There was no need to make another topic to give more information.

You can get a visa on arrival in Vietnam or get a visa from the the embassy in Bangkok.

See this topic for info: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Vietnam-Visa-Info-t146860.html

You CANNOT get a visa on arrival in Vietnam! You must have the visa before you go,which can be obtained from an Embassy or Consulate either in person,or by an agent.The only thing you can get on arrival is a pre-booked visa,which is arranged over the internet.You have to show the visa letter to the airline before boarding or you won't be allowed to fly.A poster on the linked thread explains how to do it,so I won't repeat it here.I've got Vietnam visas many times at the Bangkok Embassy,it's very easy,the only thing is,you can't get a same day service,but have to go back the next day at 3-4 pm to collect the passport. 2500B, the completed form,and a photo is all you need,and I've never had to wait more than a few minutes,they aren't very busy there.

I have just come back from PP,as the other posters have said,there are plenty of ATM's there that dispense USD,most hotels ,bars and restaurants (Western ones anyway) are priced in USD,and you normally only get and use Riel as change,if the price is not an exact number of dollars.I stayed in the Angkor International in Street 148,(it's on the corner of 148 and Street 15) which,by a lucky coincidence,is in the same street as DV8(great name for a bar) I had a few beers in DV8,a nice little bar with some good looking and friendly hostesses. The ANZ bank with ATM is a short distance from DV8 on the river bank,so it's quite a convenient central location.Aircon room with fridge,TV and bathtub in the Angkor was 14USD.There are lots of hotels and bars in the central area,try looking on <Khmer440.com> for specifics,it's a good Cambodian forum.The beaches in Sihanoukville are much better than Pattaya, Sihanoukville is quite spread out,but it's easy enough to get around.I haven't stayed there for a couple of years,but I always used to stay in the Central area at the "Small Hotel" run by Henryk Then it was about 12USD,I don't suppose it's much more now.

I needed my full birth cert to register a childs birth,and ordered it online at the website mentioned above.I paid with a credit/debit card, and it took about two weeks to arrive(to a UK address and I then had it posted to me by a friend)Easy

Living in Pattaya,you can use a local travel agent to get it for you,takes about 5 days and about 3500B,or you can do what I did,and go to Bangkok and get it yourself.It's very easy,one page to fill out,one passport size photo,and 2500B.The embassy is in Wireless road opposite the American Embassy.The staff are very helpful,I tried to get my passport and visa back the same day,but was told "cannot".I went back the next day after 3pm and the passport and visa was there.It depends if you can go or want to go to Bangkok and stay overnight.It's certainly worth getting it and coming to Vietnam,I am sitting in a bar in Saigon now,drinking Saigon red beer at 13000VND a (big) bottle (about 25THB) Good luck

My last 90 day report was due on November 4th. Forgot all about it till december and at the moment am budgeting tightly for many things so i don't want to go and fork out 2000 baht for it right now.

I am hoping to ride it out for the time being and deal with it down the line.

i wonder though, if I just don't do it again will they ever notice? I've been here for 8 years and I didn't start doing it till the third year in, and then i only got a 2000 baht fine.

Well,I'm not sure I should admit to this,but one time last year I forgot to go and report.When I realised,I was about three weeks late,and I was flying to Vietnam in a weeks time,so I just left it and hoped for the best.No one said anything at the airport,I just got the usual exit stamp.No-one said anything when I came back either,and when I renewed my extension (retirement) again nothing was said.I have since done the 90 day report twice,so I assume(hope) that it wasn't noticed.You might be lucky!!I think that if you leave Thailand and return,you might get away with it,if you go in to report next time without having left,then they will probably notice

As has been previously stated,you can reapply immediately,ensuring you fully cover the initial reasons for refusal.If you have lived with your girlfriend in "a relationship akin to husband and wife for a period of more than two years in the three years immediately preceding the date of application",(I think this quote from the UK Immigration Regulations is correct)then you should ensure that you apply for a "Family visit" visa,not just a "tourist" visa.This is because this category of visa carries a right of appeal if refused,whereas a simple "tourist" visa does not.This is what happened to me and my girlfriend of three years,on the second application under the category of "Family visit" she was granted the visa.But you must prove the length of the relationship.Hope this helps

Is there any real difference in the O "A" , and "extension based on retirement" visas?.When I first moved to Thailand I had an O "A" which I obtained at the RTE in London,with all the documents needed.This lasted for two years,as I made sure I left and re-entered Thailand just before the end of the first year,and was stamped in for another year.After that I just obtained the "extension based on retirement" stamps.What I really mean is, that in practice,is there any difference in these visas,i.e is one or the other better in any respect,because it seems to me that it's a lot easier to convert a tourist visa into a non imm "O" and then extend it on the basis of retirement,and not have to go to all the trouble and expense that I had to to get the original visa in London.

Thank you litebeer,sorry for the error,you are of course right,it is now a yearly extension based on retirement.Are there any additional financial requirements to satisfy,so is my 800,000B annual income or money in a Thai account sufficient,or do they need to show money as well?Also am I correct in assuming that their visas will run concurrently with mine,i.e they will need renewing on the same date as mine does?Thanks

I am a UK citizen currently living in Thailand with a Non Imm O "A" visa,originally obtained at the RTE in London,and extended here (now 4 times)on the basis of retirement.My girlfriend is Vietnamese,and has lived here with me for 2 years on a combination of Tourist visas,and currently an ED visa.We are going to Vietnam next month and hopefully we will get married there, also she is expecting our child in February.In a few months they will both return here to live in Thailand.I understand that she will be able to get a Non Imm O visa as my wife on the back of my O "A" .and the child can also have a visa as my dependent.Should I apply for the visas in HCMC before they return here,or can they come here on a 30 day stamp,and then apply for the visas here in Thailand.?The child will (I think) be included on the mothers Vietnamese passport,there is a page in the passport to do this.I know that a child needs its own passport to go to the UK,but can it be included on the mothers passport to enter Thailand.?If they are granted a Non Imm visa,do they have to leave Thailand every 90 days,or can they,like me,report to Immigration every 90 days?Also I presume I will need papers to show that we are married and the childs birth certificate. Does anyone know if I will need any other paperwork,and do the documents need to be translated into Thai.I would be grateful for any information from anyone in a similar situation.Thanks in advance

I went to the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok last week to get another tourist visa.I have had three 30 day visas before from the same embassy.I asked this time,if there was any way I could get a longer term multiple entry visa.I have asked previously, and been told No.This time the clerk asked me if I had a letter of introduction from a company or anyone in Vietnam.I said no, but I wanted to go there several times to visit my (Vietnamese) girlfriend and family as we were going to get married in Vietnam. She thought about it for a minute,then said, OK you can have a six month multiple entry visa.It cost 7500B,and I picked it up the next day.I don't know if this is a one off,or if they have relaxed the rules lately but I've always found them to be polite and helpful there.

Well I can tell you from my own personal experience last week that the money does NOT have to be in the account for 3 months prior to the renewal.I renewed my retirement visa for the third time at Jomtien.I have a combination of income,(certified by letter from Barry Kenyon),and money in a Thai savings account.Although there was some money in the account for many months,I transfered 100,000B in to the account three weeks before renewal,to bring it up to the required amount.This was clear from the passbook,which they wanted to see,and they also required a photocopy of this.No mention was made of the fact that I had recently transfered the money in.Incidentally,the original letter certifying income,which I obtained from the British Embassy in BKK three years ago,was not acceptable,they said it was out of date,which is why I had to get a new one from Barry.Hope this helps

Gday,

if I am on an oz passport and I cross the border into cambodia from either Thailand or Vietnam can I get the Business visa at the border?

OR: should I apply for the business visa in 'backpacker ville' (Koh san road) in BKK before I head off?

thanks

tim

When you go to the border,and fill out the application forms for the visa,you simply write "business" instead of "tourist" in the box asking which type of visa you want.There is no supporting documentation required.The visa is a single entry valid for a month.You then apply for an extension for a period of 6 or 12 months in Phnom Penh.I used an agent to do this,it cost a few dollars more,but saved a lot of hassle.I can't remember the exact cost,I think for 6 months it was about 180USD and 280USD for 12 months,the initial one month visa is 25USD instead of 20USD for the tourist visa.The 6 or 12 month business visa is multiple entry

If I were you I would not go to Phnom Penh,as the Thai consulate there are notoriously difficult.A friend of mine went there a year ago to get his ED visa.Although he had all the correct paperwork,it took him three or four days,and he said they were rude, unhelpful and obstructive.In addition,once they had reluctantly given him the visa,they stamped his passport"Not allowed to apply in Phnom Penh again"In contrast,I went to the Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam,a couple of months ago,with my (Vietnamese) girlfriend to get her ED visa.There was one form to fill in,and they needed the two forms that the school had given her,two photographs and the fee (which was 60 USD).It took about five minutes,they were,as always,friendly and helpful,and told us to come back at three o'clock the next day and collect the passport.We did,and it was ready as promised.It may be more straight forward as she was applying in her home country,but it's worth considering.You need a visa for Vietnam before you go,you can't get one on arrival,but it's very easy to get one,either in person at the embassy in BKK,or use an agent.Air Asia have cheap flights to HCMC as well.Good luck

Thailand and Vietnam have reciprocal no-visa arrangements in that Thais don't need a visa to visit Vietnam and vice versa. I am sure that working may be a different issue though, requiring some sort of paper trail.

However, the only countries that waived the need for passports that I recall were the US/Canada and US/Mexico but even that has changed now.

Since Thailand and Vietnam do not share a border, how she got here is irrelevant conjecture but I think she needs to get a Vietnam passport first and then address whatever Thai immigration requires for her to either stay in Thailand or return to Vietnam since any new passport will not have an entry stamp.

My girlfriend is Vietnamese,and has been in Thailand with me now for over a year,with trips back to Vietnam to get new visas every so often.It is true that Vietnamese do not need a pre arranged visa to come here to Thailand,as,like many other nationalities they can get the 30 day stamp on arrival,however there are no special arrangements to stay longer,and if she wishes to stay longer then she must get a tourist visa.This is easily obtained at the Thai Consulate in HCMC,when I was there with my girlfriend,they were very helpful and efficient.I think the cost was 25USD,but it might have gone up to 30USD now.She had to get a Vietnamese passport to come here,which I believe costs around 100USD.I did give her some paperwork to take to the Thai Consulate there when she went back for a holiday,asking them if she could have a 12 month Non Immigrant "O" visa,but they wouldn't do it,I don't know why,as I wasn't with her.She has had 4 Tourist visas now(although not back to back),as she always stays there for a few weeks,and there hasn't (so far) had a problem getting a tourist visa.I think it would be extremely difficult to get a work permit for a Vietnamese person here,unless they possessed some skill that was lacking here,(maybe cooking Vietnamese food?)As far as getting here without a passport,she probably crossed from Vietnam into Cambodia in the South,where the border controls are very porous,and then into Thailand at Had Lek near Trat. We lived on the Thai / Cambodia there,and it was very easy to do.

I have some feedback which might be of use.I am a UK citizen and live in Thailand on a non immigrant O "A" visa.My girlfriend is Vietnamese,and stays here with me.She goes back to Vietnam every few months to visit her family,and when she gets there,goes to the Thai Consulate in HCMC to get a new tourist visa to return here to Thailand.She is there now and has just obtained another one(the 4th one) The visas haven't been back to back,as she usually stays in Vietnam for a few weeks every time she goes there.I always give her a letter guaranteeing her support in Thailand and providing my visa details.I went there last year with her when she got her first visa,and the staff there were very friendly and helpful.There were no other customers there on two of the three occasions we went there,and one other customer on the third visit.I got the impression they were not at all busy.This time I gave her a letter to give to the Thai Consulate asking for a double entry tourist visa,as we are hopefully going to the UK in a few weeks,and enclosed the air tickets to prove this. However they would not give her a double entry tourist visa,I don't know why,as I wasn't there with her.If I can find out more information when she comes back I will add it to this post.

I went to Immigration at Jomtien yesterday to renew my retirement visa for the third time.My original retirement visa was obtained in the UK at the Thai Embassy in London,(NOT here in Thailand by changing a non immigrant to a retirement visa).The day before,I had gone to my bank here (Krung Thai)to obtain the standard letter confirming the bank balance,and to get the pass book updated.I had transfered enough money to cover the visa requirements from my UK bank account into the Thai account just over three months before the visa renewal date.However,when the pass book was updated,it didn't show that,all it showed was the balance dated that day,with no indication of how long the money had been in the account. Eventually the bank was persuaded to give me the inter bank transfer record,showing the date the money arrived from the UK,and also a bank statement showing the same thing.When I went to renew the visa,I gave them all these documents,but they weren't interested in the dates, only the balance that day,so it seems that on renewal,the three month period is not applicable

In reply to two of the earlier posters,firstly in reply to "markg" I can confirm that the fine for not reporting is in fact 2000THB,as I got caught this month.I forgot to go to Jomtien,and was three weeks late in reporting I went down there and explained what had happened.The immigration officer didn't seem that concerned, and even filled out the form for me,stapled the form into the front of the passport and smiled as he relieved me of the 2000THB They didn't put any sort of stamp in my passport,although I suppose the fact that I was late will be on their computer.Also,to reply to "Steveflor"last year I flew to Phnom Penh,I was one day over the 90 days,and they didn't say anything at passport control.I am due to renew my retirement visa in July, so maybe they will spot this then.I hope not

As far as I know Shifty is still there,at the bar,which is rather unimaginatively called "Shiftys" Turn right out of the Fishermans Den,walk to the end of the road (past the" Small Hotel"),and turn right again,Shifty's is about 100m on the other side of the road(on the corner).Micks bar is called 'G'day Mate"

I have re-read my last post,and I think I need to clarify a couple of things.When I said "I got the impression they do not issue a lot of visas there" what I MEANT was that they aren't busy,NOT that they refuse a lot of people.Sorry that it wasn't phrased clearly. The embassy were very helpful and polite,and not in the least obstructive.They did not put a stamp in the passport to the effect of "Don't apply here again" like you get in Phnom Penh.My girlfriend did need to show a return ticket to Vietnam,although I presume if she had a ticket out of Thailand to some other destination that would have been OK as well.I also needed to show my airticket, passport and visa for Thailand,and sign a letter as guarantor that I would be responsible for any costs incurred by her,and guarantee that she would abide by the conditions of her visa.I wasn't with her when she got her second T/V and haven't seen the passport yet,but I asked her if she had any problems getting it,and she said No

I was in HCMC(Saigon) last October with my Vietnamese girlfriend,and we went to the Thai embassy there to get her a 60 day T/V in order for her to come here with me(I have a retirement visa here in Thailand)The embassy was not very busy ,we went there three times,the first time to enquire,the second time to hand in the passport and forms,and the last time to collect the passport and visa.Twice there was one other person there,and one time we were the only people there.The lady behind the desk was very friendly and helpful. My girlfriend is now back there in Vietnam (for their New Year),having done one 30 day border run in the meantime to Cambodia,and as far as I know she has obtained another 60 day T/V from the Thai embassy, without any problems,although I haven't seen her passport yet to see if there are any stamps to say she cannot apply again.I got the impression that they do not issue a lot of visas there,and are unlikely to be as obstructive as the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh.I will be there again in May to hopefully obtain an "ED" visa for her.I will update this thread if there is any new information

Here's some "lateral-Thinking" to stick into your "Vortex" and smoke it . . . . . .

How about you "lose" your passport; then obtain a new one and between these two (2) passports you now have, you can 'flip-flop' the 90 day cycles ? ?

Just kidding, but it should work a charm, huh ?!?

AFAIK most European Countries, including UK, are quite prepared, under certain circumstances, to issue someone with two (maybe three) legit passports. This started many years ago when certain Countries refused entry to visitors if their passports contained stamps from other Countries eg. Israel/Iraq or S. Africa/Tanzania. The European governments took the view that these conflicts were not of their making and should not hinder their nationals in doing business, so if a person could put up a case that he may have a need to travel to any two such Countries, then they would happily solve his problem by issuing a second valid passport. Once obtained each passport can be re-newed as normal provided you declare on the renewal application, in the space provided in the case of a UK passport application, the number of your other passport. Sooooo - a route worth investigating ~ with two passports you could alternate every 90 days.

It is possible to get two UK passports,for exactly the reasons outlined above,but for obvious reasons,it is not easy to do it,you must show good cause,and back it up with some evidence of why you need two passports.I did have two,because I made frequent trips to Bosnia,and my original passport hed many visas for Serbia in it.That would have caused major problems at the borders,so I was issued with a second passport,but I had to provide documentation to prove it was necessary,and the passport agency checked to make sure the information was correct.I very much doubt that the avoidance of Thai immigration rules would be viewed as sufficient reason to hold two passports.The second thing to consider is that all passports are scanned,and I presume the details are fed into a computer,which might very well show that you held two passports.I would not like to be standing at the border trying to explain why I was flouting immigration laws to the Thai police.The only way I can see it might work,and this won't apply to many people,is if you held dual nationality,and hence passports from two different countries.

As for the suggestion that you "lose" your passport and obtain a second one by deception,I cannot even begin to imagine how many laws you would be breaking,and don't forget if you do report a passport lost or stolen,it is cancelled on the UK computer system,and when scanned,immediately shows up as stolen/lost.I don't know if the list of lost/stolen passports is handed to other countries, but given the current world situation,I should think it is quite likely.NOT a good idea

I have two queries,I would be grateful for any help.

1)I am due to go to Vietnam(HCM City) and meet up with my Vietnamese girlfriend,can I fly there and get a visa on arrival,with no prior approval,or do I need to get a pre-approved one,there seems to be a lot of conflicting advice on various forums,and I have been told the rules have recently changed,so if anyone has been there recently I would be interested to hear about it

2)My girlfriend will have a Vietnamese passport,does she need to obtain a visa to come to Thailand, or can she just get a 30day entry stamp on arrival at BKK.Also does she then have to do the visa run every 30 days,or is there some new arrangement for people from other Asean countries.If she attends college here to learn Thai and English,as is the plan,is there a student visa available to her?

Some background:I have a retirement visa and live in Thailand(2 years now),I am originally from the UK,I met and lived with my girlfriend in Cambodia,she had to return to Vietnam to get a passport, as she has never had one before. Thanks in advance