NONG CHOK

I learnt a long time ago, to play all these websites that provide these internet services at their own game. Every time I need to renew a program I look for a similar program doing the same job. They call the initial download an introductory offer. So just keep on changing programs on renewal and remain on the introductory offers. May I add I fluked a VPN by the name of FAST VPN. It works perfectly US$ 12 per annum. Even ZENMATE is worth a try.

Ok Andrew I take your point but you may've misunderstood me. We all agree all these immigration " initiatives " are to stop these really bad farangs but if we have a residential address and a visa we've been accepted as good living farangs. My point is all sorts of Thai trash goes south to the tourist resort areas with absolutely no where to live and no way of staying legal. Sort this trash out then look for the bad farangs.

If they want to cut crime in tourists areas why don't have a special card for Thais who have no registered address in those areas. I know via my wife that many Thai males move down to Pattaya with no where to stay, very little money and have no intentions of working.

I would certainly keep my UK license if I were you. I forgot to renew my Australian license online, so unless I return to OZ I cant renew it. Even if I returned to the OZ after a 3 years I would the treated the same as a person who's applying for a license for the first time. Also whilst your in Thailand you maybe asked for your passport number and UK license details when you're opening accounts etc online.

In my Thai family one never went beyond primary school, now she holds a university degree. Thanks to getting into bed with a rich Chinese daddy. The other one was forced to change primary school 4-5 times, not wanting to learn and being disruptive to the other students. He then went to secondary and struggled every year and now he holds a degree too. I went to school for 15 years to be a plumber. In Thailand I would probably be a doctor of science or something similar.

May I add certain websites such as government and banks etc don't work properly when using a VPN.

You beat me to it Peter, everyone should be using a VPN given the intrusion of our privacy especially hackers.

Maybe so but I've been living in Thailand for the past 22 years. In that time I've left Thailand once 8 years ago.

Going by their continual 90 days online renewal updates I'd be very surprised if their data bases work.

Surely there would be a deal between the agent and the immigration office considering the nice little earner they're sharing. Then again, TIT.

I've found over the years that renewing a drivers license in Pattaya can be a real hassle. Most times it's ok but it appears it's up to the official doing the testing on the day. The last time the official had real attitude towards farangs. Even though my condo in Pattaya is my registered address can I renew my license at an office in Bangkok which is a short distance from the home which I own. I know that this same office does re registration of vehicles without seeking any residential address.

I suggest the bib's should check every one of them while they're in a group. I'm sure the outcome would be interesting. Alcohol and drug testing even ID's etc would reveal some very interesting characters who've so far slipped under the police radar.

Thank you so much for your most intelligent reply. Are the posters all experts, I'll leave that up to you. I asked a very simple question, has this topic been ratified by the Pattaya IO. In short, YES or No.

Once again, has this been confirmed by the Pattaya IO or is it rumors amongst farangs in bars and forums.

Hi there, I'm not really that fussed about this issue but I own 2 properties in Thailand. A house in Bangkok and a condo in Pattaya. I lived in the condo for several years but I never changed my residential address when I moved to Bangkok and kept my Pattaya condo for regular holidays. Even though I've been legally married to a Thai for the past 20 years. I've always applied for retirement visas using the same agent for at least 8 years. As far as I know I've never had any home visits over that period.

Anyway with all the rumors and innuendo has the home visit thing been actually confirmed in Pattaya where it affects us first hand.

"Visa Officer manager" meaning the shop in Soi Buakhow I pay to do my retirement visa

By the way I'll be in Pattaya next week to do my 90 day report. So I'll be asking my visa office manager what his take on this is.

Is this for first time visa applicants or every subsequent visa? I've been in Thailand for 22 years and I live more often in my Bangkok house than I do in my Pattaya condo, which is my residential address registered with the Pattaya Immigration office.

Would these same home visits apply to holders of retirement visas done through an agent.

I need to be very careful playing snakes & ladders with my wifes' grand son.

Are you suggesting that the Asian hub of democracy is tainted.

Talking from 1st hand experience, when the Thaksins were in power I was getting a very good exchange rate for my money. Further more my wife has 4 brothers who are all rice farmers in Korat. They were getting really good money for their rice but that all went pear shaped when the current mob took over. As I stated previously, I'm not interested in Thai politics but I believe everyone should be given a fair go. The current mob have destroyed the real Thais who work the land, making life so much more cosey for the Thai Chinese minority.

I've been living in Thailand for the past 22 years and I learned early not to give a rats a**e about Thai politics. There's one thing thou that gets me is how can the Thaksin family be convicted when they both done a runner. If they were convicted the Thai way of democracy, what were their sentences.

I've been married to a Thai lady for the past 22 years Kenny and I totally agree with everything you said. Recently I let it be known to her indoors and her mature aged daughters that the party is over. It went over like a lead balloon. My wife asked me how would I get on living by myself. I replied, that I've been doing that for the past 7-8 years. I then asked her the same question, of course no answer. Just the old Isaan hissy fit. Cheers.