gunghang

I accidentally used my wife's maiden name when buying a ticket a few years ago. She caught the mistake.

1)  Call airline.  A distressed woman said "so sorry, you must refund the ticket."

2) Went to the airport the day before our flight and found someone who said it was possible to use the ticket.

3) We were cautioned that Chinese immigration might not let her in and that we should have a letter from employer stating that [maiden name] and [married name] were the same person and that the employer wanted her in China.

4) The school wrote the letter and sent a scan. I printed it.

5) Went to airport to fly and check-in refused to accept the ticket.

6)  I name dropped the person who said "it's possible" the day before.

7)  Staff phone photoed the letter from the school for Chinese immigration and sent it to the powers that be.

8) Staff had me sign a release of liability in case my wife was refused entry into China or not allowed to board our connecting domestic flight in China. I was presumed to have USD 1,000 for airfare to her next destination, be it in Thailand or China.

9) She cleared Chinese immigration quickly. I had my passport copied, etc.

10) My wife had the bright idea of showing the airline and airport security her expired passport that had her maiden name instead of her current passport with her married name. This worked.

And that was the climax to what had already become a convoluted journey.

I don't know.  At least you only have two places to check.

16 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

You lost all rights to request any consideration when you assaulted this woman.

Even if the assailant has lost his rights, his family has not. Dragging them into this seems like a cowardly thing to do.

16 hours ago, cyberfarang said:

I believe the guy, every word of it. Those girls were trouble makers, out for trouble and they found it. Good riddance.

I believe that it's significant that the assailant didn't deny wrong doing, and really significant that he invited people to watch the video, and possibly significant Thai defamation laws may play a role in making the video a little tricky to find.

While I don't believe in death by blunt force trauma, I've know some really obnoxious people (on the internet we call them trolls) who deserved to bitch slapped/have their tongues cut out/banished to live in a cave.

There's something fishy about this story and today ain't Friday.

I did the Swampy - Changi two step on JetStar in April 2015. Both the airline and immigration were a little surprised when I turned up to depart less than an hour after I'd arrived, but there was no problem. I was stuck for hours waiting for my cheap flight out. It was fun watching airport security cordon off sections of the waiting areas to receive incoming passengers. Bangkok immigration was also surprised to see me back on the same day. I think that the officer could see that I have a Thai wife and was curious as to why I didn't get a new O visa in Singapore. (I expected to leave for China in a few weeks.) He gave me 30 days.

When I didn't leave for China in a few weeks, I flew to Penang for a new O. I don't recall if I did a digital thumbprint or filled out a card.

I crossed at Sungai Golok in 2014. Thai immigration was polite and reminded me that I couldn't return on my existing O visa. Malaysian immigration took my digital thumbprint and there was no arrival/departure card.

In a couple of months, I'll fly to KL and back the same day for my first border bounce on my ME O visa. It's about 1,000 baht each way. It might actually be cheaper than a land crossing with Cambodia or Lao, and I think the airfare is cheaper than Mae Sot and just a little more than Ranong.  It's certainly the most convenient. I've splurged on emergency exit (legroom) seats and the business lounge, so it will also be the most comfortable.

I just bought Air Asia tickets for a RT to KL. I'll never leave the airport. The airfare is about two thousand baht. I expect to arrive back home twelve hours after I walk out the door for the airport. Quick, cheap, and convenient, though not overly adventurous.

The only question is: Will DMK airport link be open by the end of October?

Ranong sounds like a great idea for when I have a few days and the wife wants to get out.

I forgot to write my new visa number down on my arrival card and I got 30, not 90, days.

Immigration fixed it.

I almost look happy here.

S'ket is nicer than Poipet and a lot of other places.  That didn't stop me from worrying about everything that could have gone wrong.  As it was, other than getting 30 days instead of 90 days and having to correct that, things mostly went well.  Even the weather cooperated. No rain the entire trip.

Not uncommon on a visa run.

This is what I saw:

The Aura Residence, which had my reservation for Avalon Residence.

The Aura Cafe was to the left of Aura Residence.

An unmarked empty looking building was to the right of Aura Residence. There was a banner in front that said room for rent.

Farther to the right was the coffee shop with Avalon in its name. The menu was in the room in Aura Residence.

We asked the driver for Avalon, we came to Aura. He said it's the same. Our reservations for Avalon were on the computer here at Aura. Our receipt says Avalon B & B Vientiane and the Coffee @ Avalon restaurant is next door. It's near the bus station, where Google Maps shows Avalon Residence.

Anyway, if there are two separate hotels, Avalon and Aura, in S'khet, and if I'm at Aura, I'm curious as to where Avalon is.

I'm in the Avalon (aka Aura) Residence now.

Yesterday, I went to the consulate at 8 and was first in line when it opened an hour later.

I presented my passport and application and marriage cert. and KR form, plus copies of the application, KR, marriage cert., passport title page, Lao visa and entry stamp, wife's ID and house book, and 5000 baht. The original marriage cert and KR, and my departure card, were returned to me.

Aura has a nice little coffee shop with local and western food. There is also a more stylish place at twice the price. The set breakfasts are nice. It's walking distance from the bus station and a convenience store.

We had flown Air Asia from DMK to Nakhon Panom, which I suspect is the basis for Crutch's "Nakhon Nowhere." The Air Asia van took less than two hours to reach the bridge at Mukdahan.

I had a Lao visa from Bangkok and this seemed to surprise immigration on both sides.

The shuttle bus waited on the Lao side and went past the consulate en route to the bus station.

Rather than allow a large factor and risk a long wait in the sun &/or rain for the return bus to an airport, we'll spend an extra night in Mukdahan.  Nok Air picks up at Ploy Palace so we'll stay there.

We'll fly Nok out of Ubon.

On 7/5/2018 at 1:49 PM, thatmanagain said:

• My original passport.
• Photocopy of my passport photo page and my Lao entry stamp (the guys across the road will run off copies for 2,000 kip, so about 8 baht). I didn't need to sign these.
• Sight of original marriage certificate - they just glanced at this, didn't even take it out of the plastic cover, didn't take it off me. I also took a Kor Ror 2 original, but they didn't even look at that.
• Photocopy of marriage paperwork (Kor Ror 2), signed by wife. This may not be necessary, but they did take it.
• Photocopy of wife's ID card, signed by wife.
• Photocopy of wife's housebook (tabian bahn), signed by wife.
• Photocopy of wife's name change certificate (she took my surname), signed by wife.
• Completed application form (again, the guys over the road can print one for you, or they're available on site).
• Two 3x4cm passport photos of myself.
• Application fee (5,000 THB cash).

This is the first I've heard of either the Kor Ror 2 or the name change certificate or the entry stamp copy.

I can copy the Lao entry stamp the day before.  Nice to know.

We'll carry all documentation, not just the name change and Kor Ror 2, in case there are other surprises.  I don't want to make a second trip.

I got my Lao visa at the embassy in Bangkok.  It wasn't cheap at 1,600 baht, but, I waited less than ten minutes and it was done.  One less line to wait in at the border.

There is another way. I just remembered that years ago the Khon Kaen Lao consulate issued a visa while I waited.

Fly Nok Air or Air Asia to Khon Kaen. 

Pick up the Lao visa from the consulate there and avoid surcharges at the border and trips to the embassy in Bangkok.

Take a bus to Mukdahan bus station - not much longer than Ubon-Mukdahan.

I haven't been able to find a website for either Khon Kaen or Bangkok consular services and cannot download a visa application form.

20 minutes ago, DJ54 said:

• Curious and you may have said but I missed it. Why do you think you’ll be denied. 

Some land border crossings aren't exactly warm and fuzzy with people  walking across twice in less than one hour.

Now I know to avoid one and have 20K to show at another.  Or, better still, cross elsewhere. 

23 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Or you could fly to Mae Sot to do the crossing to Myanmar. It will be 500 baht or $10 US for a border pass. I have seen reports that the crossing is within walking distance of the airport.

I was there 21 years ago. I had flown to Tak. I returned via P'lok and the sprinter to Bangkok.

An airport in Mae Sot is very interesting news, as is a $10 border pass.  Thank you so much!

(And the bridge does indeed appear to be walking distance from the airport.) 

I'll travel in very early November. I'll try to fly one way and take the train & bus the other way and report back.

Another very long thread!

Pardon what may be a stupid question, but:

Do non-im O multiple entry visa holders ever have trouble with step out step in border runs in the south? 

Since one can fly Bangkok-Hat Yai RT for the cost of a Lao/Khmer visa, and there is no visa for Malaysia, a land crossing is very attractive. But I hear horror stories about Sungai Kolok, Pedang Besar, and especially Sadao.

As previously noted, there are a lot of pages in this thread.

I'm looking at a one-year non-im marriage O w/out 400K first thing next August.

I'm thinking of using  Air Asia & Nok Air.

Air Asia stops at the Indochina Market.  Nok Air stops at the Ploy Palace Hotel.

I think I read here that Nok Air also stops at the bridge.

Also, I recall reading that the shuttle bus runs from Mukdahan station to Savan station.

So, my plan at the moment is get my Lao visa in Bangkok to avoid "service charges" at the border.

Air Asia to Mukdahan and then go from Indochina Market to either the bus station or to the bridge, whichever is appropriate; OR, Nok Air to Mukdahan and the bridge.

I like the idea of leaving from a bus station to a bus station because rides right at the border have a quaint habit of being overpriced.  Air Asia to Indochina Market and from there the Mukdahan bus station is my first choice.

Two nights at a hotel in Savan which is close to the consulate and closer to the bus station.

Savan bus station to Mukdahan bus station.

Rather than hurry, spend a night at Ploy Palace.

Pick up by Nok Air at the hotel. No hurrying and no waiting in the sun or the rain.

Before I buy tickets, do I have my facts straight?  Any suggestions on a better way to do it?

My wife has no formal education. We've been married for 13 years.

I'll soon be 65 and my hip is often in pain.

My Thai wife is a huge help. 

I was once hospitalized in Khon Kaen.  No complaints.

I'll apply for MediCare, but I don't know if it will pay bills incurred in other countries.

I don't feel "too old" and expect to remain once I move back.

8 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

 

You could obtain a Non Imm O multi entry Visa in Savannakhet Lao (valid 1 year) without any police clearance or proof of funds based on marriage.

You would have to leave and re-enter Thailand every 90 days, or you can extend each 90 day permission to stay by 60 days at local Immigration for 1,900 baht.

This sounds ideal.  I tried this in Georgetown a few years ago but they wanted proof of funds. I'm happy to hear about Savannakhet.

I have just learned that police clearances are now required for O visas in Lao.

Is this true everywhere?  Specifically:

1) Stopping in Hong Kong en route to Bangkok for an O visa would be a waste of time because I don't have a police clearance?

2) Changing a 30 days on arrival visa to an O at CW would require paying 1,500 baht (?) for an expedited police clearance + 2,000 baht (?) + other fees?

3) Related, my pension is about half what is required to extend an O. Is a mix of pension and bank balance (20K per month + 200K bank balance) now possible?

4) Is online teaching for a company outside of Thailand a legal source of income that can be used along with a pension to extend an O marriage visa?

On 4/2/2018 at 8:47 AM, Thanyaburi Mac said:

First off, where do you live?  Here in Thailand?  Renting?

 

Quite often the interviewing ConOff will be looking at the situation in Thailand of the boyfriend/husband and his status here.  The assumption being that if it looks like he'll return to Thailand after the U.S. visa, the wife/GF will also return.

 

Masc

Right now, we still live in China.

We own our condo in Bangkok, and it's in both our names.

It's a bit of a Catch -22.  We plan to sell it and move to the provinces and use some of the proceeds to pay for the trip. But owning the condo helps rebut the presumption of immigration.

15 years ago my wife was not only denied a visa, but we were literally pushed out the door and told to apply for a fiance visa or student visa. The consular officer conceded that these options were BS.

I've been on non-im visas since then, we've been married for 13 years, and both Korea and China have recognized our marriage.  It seems like it's time to try again.

We don't have a child, and that seems to be something the embassy looks for.  Also, my wife is uneducated and does not work.

We would like to visit my sister in California.

Does anybody have insights as to what the US embassy is looking for when issuing a tourist visa to a Thai spouse?

Trolls, please stay away.  I'm in no mood for you.

23 hours ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

Try marrying Nong Natt if you are not a German elderly millionaire.

I've seen a couple of her videos.  She's not in the same league of some JAV stars. I also have gotten the idea that she's very very vain.