Lolothai

Hi everyone, Few days ago my neighbor apparently hanged himself. He was 39 year old and was living with his girlfriend, it seems that he lost his job and broke up with his girlfriend. He dumped her stuff in the garbage and was supposed to fly back to his country the next day. His girlfriend came to check the house for some reason and found him dead. The day they tam boon she asked everyone if she could get his insurance life as he sent her a message saying he made it for her. I find it a bit suspicious. He was young and as per my wife handsome, not much reason to end his life but don't know the person and the whole story. I don't find it in the news so it's possible that it happens more often than we think. My conclusion is that quite often you better make sure to don't have more value dead than alive. I suppose that in some cases marriage, buying land and house without having more to give is strongly not advised. Life insurance is again on another level as you clearly get value in death, a good way to motivate the greedy ones. In both case it's tragic and if he indeed took his own life I wish I could have met him, discuss and convince him that there is still a lot of hope.

I agree with most of your points but "You see we heterosexuals do not suffer from that mental malady that thinks that others care about our sexual habits." Here it's a bit hypocritical, until recent time we were not bothered from being heterosexual, homosexual however probably suffered socially from their sexual preference. They had to fight for their right to be gay. In general most people do care about others sexual habit. I still feel that now even they are accepted some of them want more than this. (removed)

How did you get the conclusion that he was talking about LGBT sexpats retirees? Is LGBT not about sexual identity and gender identity? The example given is interesting, like if a country focused on industry then they will probably lose on tourism but I don't think targeting the supposed 7% LGBT would be a problem for the rest 93% of the population. Maybe Thailand doesn't have same sex marriage yet but they seem less divided on the LGBT question.

I worked in Qatar, there is few ugly maid stories but it's still a very popular job, especially for Filipinos, they can really get a good salary, my sister and her husband who has Qatari nationality were paying decently their maid and other house workers (still nothing compare to how rich they are), they had free housing too. The maid in question came through an agency, today she is working in Canada and have a successful career, this job gave her the financial boost she needed to realize her dream, very courageous and dedicated woman. So for your friend, it's totally possible to get a very well paid maid job there but it can also end up being a terrible story, I don't know how often it happens though, some were abused and beaten up. They have a lot of money but they also have a lot of power, many of them don't see much reason to respect poor people. You did well to warn your friend but it's not completely impossible that the offer is genuine.

I don't see where he is blaming the victim, they are still victim, they didn't get what they were promised. But to say they didn't know it was a brothel, you have to be or very gullible or quite pretentious, they are not that stupid, unless there is few Thais living under a rock, they share a lot about life and business. Prostitution is illegal, officially, so they are not going to say that they were going there for this, they have to keep face also. Doesn't change the fact that these scammers have to be stopped. It still a nightmare, sex worker or not, to be held in a room and forced to have sex many times a day for free or nearly nothing and in disgusting condition. Well take the sex out of the equation and imagine being force to work for much less than promised. It happens a lot in Qatar, they hold their passport (by law) and give back when the contract is done or when they wish, they don't always pay what was promised. When people are hungry, they don't even need to be greedy, but many are taking the risk because it could change their life for the better.

I could be wrong maybe they were really not aware that it would be this kind of job but it's quite well known even for "normal" massage types. Anyway in both cases it's unfortunate for them.

As sex worker even more, they can get 1000 to 3000 for short time (1h) however here I think they would get peanuts or the very minimum. Here in Thailand depending the brothel they can take near half of what they get. For example if the "massage" is 1600 per hour then the lady get 800-1000, they can get many massages per day depending how attractive they are. Some are making 300 000 per month if they are working like a factory, and this is without counting the sponsors sending money from abroad for "love", they can accumulate several of them, even at 10 000 - 20 000 per sponsors it add up quickly. Just few calls, few minutes a day, a bit of web cam and one sponsor is secure and if they get the jack pot, one sponsor can send more than 50 000. I don't think these ladies were in this category though, they would not bother moving to India.

they probably knew that it was more than massage, they can't say this here, however they get tricked as they didn't get the money promised, instead to be sex workers they were slaves. 100 000 bahts per month for sex workers isn't that much and they could even have friend making this amount in India, the problem here is that they got scammed.

I went on Monday afternoon, I was the only one needed a visa for Laos. I got charged 60 bahts per person to exit, my wife and me but not our 2 kids, I had to withdraw kips just for this, I was aware of it as some mentioned it on this forum. Indeed if I have to go on a Monday and there is a queue it worth the extra 500 bahts to use E-Visa, also to don't lose a full precious passport page. Next I will prepare dollars and keep some kips for the T money.

Thanks, I can't remember if they took it, I gave a bit more than required (KR2 included), not a good move apparently as it can raise questions in some instance. I even gave a letter from the owner to certify that I was renting his house, they didn't take this but they keep the letter from my wife explaining that I'm the one taking care of the family. Still it went smoothly.

here https://laoevisa.gov.la/fee-calculator eVisa seems to be 50$ for everyone.

Well we probably have a different way to define a favor, I believe here they are just taking advantage, it's well known that the border is between Thailand and Laos and that the bahts is the second currency in Savannakhet not the dollar. The officer even had a sticker with the price in bahts, not in Yen, euro or any other currencies. I think I even remember coming there with dollars and they preferred bahts, it was at the time the real exchange rate, and it was between 1000 and 1300 bahts. If it was ever a favor before, it's not anymore. By the way the officer didn't even ask me dollars, he directly showed me the sticker with the Thai bahts price.

That's great to know, I will probably do an extension based on marriage and with proof of salary. Thank you for the information

Well you started by saying the officer was doing me a favor, if you don't want to be off topic then you don't need to add this. It's certainly not a favor and you probably know it. Anyway the purpose is to let a small tip for others, if you don't want to get rip of 500 bahts, for those who don't have much money and care, then take US dollars with you.

for example in the UK reason to increase immigration fee is: "the government claimed that the increase would be used to ‘fund the pay rise for doctors’ as well as other public sector pay increases." So why do you think that here it has nothing to do with roads and schools?

By the way do you have an idea where this money goes?

Given what I saw, taxes have probably nothing to do with Laos roads or schools as well. Would not hurt them if it had something to do with it.

Talking about equation 40 dollars is 1400 bahts but indeed it's up to them to make it fair or not.

Also this money will certainly be use to maintain the roads and schools in Savannakhet, so that's for the good cause.

I completely understand that the hard working officer need compensation for exchanging bahts to dollars later on, it's not like they are using bahts currency everywhere in Savannakhet.

Not depending of Nationality? Anyway I guess for French it's probably 40$ (1400) but not 50$ (1750). I think I checked the exchange rate when I asked the officer and it was in the range of 1300, I asked why, he looked pissed so I didn't insist, still, to avoid losing 500 bahts I will exchange few dollars for the next time.

ok I got my visa, non-O immigrant, multiple entry. What a relief, can I do an extension based on my income? do I have to wait this visa to expired to do it? Also I was not aware before to come that if you don't have dollar to come to Laos they make you pay 1800 bahts for the Laos visa instead of 1050 bahts (30 dollars). You also have to pay to leave Laos, we paid 60 bahts per adult.

I dropped my application for non O marriage today, indeed everyone is saying to avoid Monday and Thursday. I found Tuesday to be quite busy already, can't imagine when it's busier. Is there good chance to get the visa once they accepted the application? Do they usually denied before accepting the 5000 bahts?

My wife and kids will be there, I will probably ask as father of a Thai national, does the birthday certificate has to be updated from less than 6 months as well? The Thai bank passport is the bank book? how recent it has to be updated? 2 days would be ok?

Hi everyone, I'm going to Savannakhet next Monday or Tuesday if I can as I heard it's better to avoid Monday. here the requirement from Savannakhet Thai embassy: Visa application form [Download] which is completely filled out and signed by the applicant Original and a copy of passport or travel document (must not expire within 180 days and contain at least two complete empty visa pages) Two (2) photos of the applicant (3.5 x 4.5 cm, taken within 6 months) Original and a copy of marriage certificate (for spouse/parent) or birth certificate (for child). A copy of Thai identification card (for spouse/parent) A copy of passport (for spouse/parent) A copy of Thai House registration Visa Fee: 2,000 Baht (Single Entry) - Regarding number 6, my wife lost her passport but she has her ID card, is that a problem? - My Visa extension end on 29 August, can I pass the border on Tuesday 29 morning? - Do I need to show 20 000 bahts on my Thai bank? at the border immigration or at the consulate, if yes how? just the book bank? - I have a letter from the owner to prove where I'm living, electricity bill from my house and also from my wife house, I will bring the tabien ban of my wife in case, will even take few pictures of us in the house I rent. Anything else I should be aware of? - Does the marriage certificate has to be updated? less than 6 months