cfrmatt

I think one of the biggest problems at the moment is trying to find somewhere to stay. i for one book to stay in pattaya every new year and have done for the past 12 years..this year everywhere is completely booked up by thai's from Bangkok..lucky for me i have family with a condo but if not i would have had to chose a trip to another country...that's why tourism is down coz you cannot get anywhere to stay

£20.00 to go and catch a live crocodile..sounds a really good idea lol

DO NOT USE KEY VISA THEY ARE THE BIGGEST RIP OFF IN THAILAND....DO IT YOURSELF AND SAVE YOURSELF £700

Based on the past performance for June as detailed Here you should be OK.

However take note of "You can use the information provided by the 'Guide to visa processing times' tool, as a guide to how long it may take to process your application, although the information cannot be used as a guarantee of the processing time for your visa. This is because visa applications are assessed individually and individual circumstances can mean processing times may vary."

Many thanks for your help...just one more question..do you think I should apply for a tourist visa or a family visa???

Hi all I’m looking at applying for a Tourist visa for my mother in law to come and spend a holiday in the uk with me my Thai wife and child....Could anyone please advise me as to the time scale its taking to obtain a tourist visa for the UK..As we are going to apply for the visa around the 1st September and we are returning back to the uk on the 19th September and are hoping that she can travel back with us.

On the 4thMay this year I realised that my wife’s visa ran out that day (Two year settlement), I rang and made a same day appointment at the Liverpool office, I took some bank Statements, ESOL certificate, and around 6 different letters addressed to me and my wife and a cheque for £1100. No interview or anything. After submitting the application form and the papers we had to wait around 2 hours and then we were issued with a indefinite leave to remain visa. It was very easy and the staff were very helpful.

Hi all,

Can somebody please explain to me why it is that the Thai Baht is so strong against the Pound and Dollar..I hear rumours that the reason for this is that Thai investors and bankers keep the Baht high then buy the Pound and Dollar at a low rate then at some point will devalue the Thai Baht and sell it back making lots and lots of money. Is there any truth in this and if so is the Thai Baht likely to be devalued.

I had the same thing happen with my wife, she received a call from the embassy asking the same questions and 4 days later she got her visa.. Good luck buddy.

I fully understand and respect people’s concerns about the lack of training and knowledge some of the Sawang Boriboon volunteers have or don’t have, but I have got to say that the guys I worked with did and where willing to learn, which is more than I can say about some people in the UK. I do understand that more harm than good can be done when first aid is not carried out correctly ie C spine injuries ect. But I have found this lack of knowledge seems to be across the board as regards to pre-hospital care. I came across a road traffic accident where the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital Ambulance was in attendance. They walked the casualty across the road then placed him on a spinal board then placed a collar on him. I could not believe what I was seeing as one of the crew members had the word Paramedic on his shirt which I doubt very much he was. My point being if this practise is being carried out by so called professionals then what chance do the likes of the Sawang Boriboon volunteers have? I feel that more should be done in this area of Pre-Hospital care and if there were not so many restrictions on what you can or cannot do then maybe more people would be willing to help train and donate equipment. My friends mother was on holiday in Pattaya and suffered a heart attack and died two years ago, hence the reason I want to help train these guys because one day that could be me who needs there help. But some help is better than no help and there is the matter of life over limb.

Thank you so much for everyone’s advice on this matter please keep it coming.

When you come to Pattaya ask the tourist police to introduce you to Mick. He is also from England, lives in Pattaya and works as a tourist police volunteer, and he is also a Sawang Boriboon Volunteer. he can give you all the do's and don't s about working as a volunteer. See Howard at the mobile tourist police station at the entrance of walking street, and he can put you in touch with Mick.

Barry

Many thanks Barry for the advice, I will try and make contact with Mick as soon as I get into Pattaya..I will also try and contact him before I come out to Pattaya then I know what equipment I can leave them with..I will try and contact him by email via the tourist police if thats at all possible

Well done for teaching these guys for a while, however I suggest you check the law before you bring over any equipment. The use of defibrilators is only permitted by doctors here in Thailand. Paramedics or Technicians are not permitted to use them. Also as a foreigner you must be careful how much you involve yourself. Basic first aid is fine, but if you assist someone who later dies you could be subject to criminal charges, especially if the family of the deceased realize a foreigner assisted their relative (they may be looking for money).

Just trying to keep it real for you and I am talking from experiences the Tourist Police have had with using a foreign medic. You have to be careful.

Many thanks for the advice looks like I'm going to have to leave the defibrilators at home...Seems mad that only a doctor can use a De-Fib but that Thailand for you I gess??

Guys speaking from experience having worked as a paramedic in Thailand and Pattaya the use of ACLS equipment is permitted if one is working for a hospital. The problem Thailand suffers from as far as pre-hospital emergency care goes is there is no national registry.

Howard is right as far as volunteers go but if you are registered with an international body: AREMT, NREMT, British Paramedic Association or possibly an NHS Trust you might be able to get dispensation to operate this equipment. Now you fall into the work permit issue.

I commend you for your thoughts and actions but there are others who have given a great amount of time sweat and donations to the Sawang Booriboon only to be let down later.

Don't get taken for a ride!!

Thanks again guys I'm learning more by the second....Do you think that I would be covered by my NHS Trust and if I bring my Instructor certificates with me??

Well done for teaching these guys for a while, however I suggest you check the law before you bring over any equipment. The use of defibrilators is only permitted by doctors here in Thailand. Paramedics or Technicians are not permitted to use them. Also as a foreigner you must be careful how much you involve yourself. Basic first aid is fine, but if you assist someone who later dies you could be subject to criminal charges, especially if the family of the deceased realize a foreigner assisted their relative (they may be looking for money).

Just trying to keep it real for you and I am talking from experiences the Tourist Police have had with using a foreign medic. You have to be careful.

Many thanks for the advice looks like I'm going to have to leave the defibrilators at home...Seems mad that only a doctor can use a De-Fib but that Thailand for you I gess??

Would be nice if there were better communications and coordination instead of basically receiving calls by word of mouth and having half a dozen teams racing to the same incident.

Would be great if there was an organisation that made its aim to teach all Thais basic first aid.

Would be nice if Thai's while driving were more aware of emergency service vehicles and allowed the to pass.

I wish drivers in the uk more aware of emergency service vehicles as well, but yes I agree with everthing that you say, sounds like you have done a few shifts...Lets hope the airlines let me bring medical equipment over without charging me the earth.

I am a medic here in the UK, back in January this year I spent time with the Sawang Boriboon volunteers in Pattaya working a number of shifts. I have heard bad stories about these guys, but I have got to say the time spent with the Sawang Boriboon volunteers was a pleasure. I found them very friendly, caring, and committed to their medical role. They have very little equipment and have a basic medical knowledge but yet do a great job. Whilst working with these guys they were willing to learn from my skills and knowledge. Having worked for the ambulance service here in the UK for the past 10 years a lot of our guys could learn a lot from the Sawang Boriboon volunteers as I did. I intend to come back and work with the Sawang Boriboon volunteers again this September but this time bringing some much needed equipment. Some of equipment I intend to bring are two defibrillators, and pulse oximeters. I was so impressed by the Sawang Boriboon volunteers and the way they work and look forward to working and teaching these guys again. With the right skills and equipment these guys will and continue to save lives

Would love to hear your experiences of the Sawang Boriboon volunteers, be it good or bad.

Your Thai wife will need a U.S. visa, start here for that: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/index.html

You and your other UK citizen relatives are most likely eligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. For details, check here:

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/vwp.html

and here: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/vwp3.html

Be SURE to check the passports of all UK citizens that they are fully machine readable:

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/mrp_bio.html

Enjoy

Mac, a Yank retired in Thailand

Many Thanks for your help Mac

Help needed Please, Me and my Thai wife are married and live in the UK.

My wife has indefinite leave to remain and is permanent residence in the UK (No UK Passport Just Visa). We have a two year old child who has a UK passport and we are looking at going to the US for a two week holiday with our child and grandparents (UK) next year...What is needed for my wife to go ie Visa and how to go about obtaining one...Your advice would be very much appreciated.

The yellows where aloud to protest so why should the red not be able to. I am married to a Thai lady living in the uk and my mother in law is 76 years old, she protested in Bangkok wearing a red shirt but she’s not a terrorist or terrorizing law abiding citizens, she simply wants a fair democratic elected Prime minister.

Please don’t judge all Red’s as terrorist, a lot of them just want fairness.

I always heard that whoever delivers the victim to a predetermined hospital receives a commission from said hospital. This is horrible as the victims should be transported to the nearest available hospital. But the baht has an all-powerful pull so for the victims it is a crap shoot.

TheWalkingMan

I am amazed to hear such rubbish as regards to rescue cars receiving commission from hospitals and even stealing from victims they pick up. I am a medic here in the uk and have personally trained and worked with the guys on the rescue cars in Pattaya city. I can assure you that this does not happen. I have seen many times then tourist have been picked up by the rescue cars and tourist have offered money to the guys on the cars and they have always turned it down. They also always offer the choose of which hospital the patient wishes to go to, they also inform the patient that if they do not have medical insurance then they would be better to go to the local government hospital so then they will not end up with a large medical bill. These guys do a great job free of charge. Why is it that so many people think Thai’s are just after money...A lot do have big hearts you know..Keep up the great work guys.

I am looking at obtaining a tourist visa for my mother in Law. Me and my wife have a 11 month old child and my wife has been in the UK since May 08 on a settlement visa.

What I would like to know is what will I have to provide for her to obtain a tourist visa for her to come to the UK for a holiday and visit us, as she is missing her daughter and Grandson.

Many Thanks

cfrmatt

I wish you all the best, I was one of the lucky ones I got my wife’s visa back within 5 days but that was back in April last year. my friend is currently in the same situation as you, he has been waiting 6 weeks now and he is also getting very stressed, but I did hear that the embassy cut back on its staff back in December 08 so maybe that could be a reason for the delay. Best of luck and I’m sure you will be fine.

cfrmatt

Hi All,

My wife is living in the UK on a 2 year settlement visa, we are hoping to go on holiday in the summer, but would like to know are their any other countries which she can travel to without going though all the trouble of applying for a visa,or any where we can go where getting a visa is easy, as she would like to travel somewhere different than England and Thailand.

Many Thanks

cfrmatt

You can go to quite a few places , were in the same boat so we are off to the Dominican on the 26th of this month ,, same price 5 star all inc as Ibiza , but without all the schengen nonsense and having to risk both your passports in the post etc ,,,,,other places off the top me head , Seychelles,,, Maldive Islands ,, Singapore . Malasia,, you cannot NOW go to Switzerland it is in the schengen group now ok ? good luck enjoy

Many Thanks for all your help

Hi All,

My wife is living in the UK on a 2 year settlement visa, we are hoping to go on holiday in the summer, but would like to know are their any other countries which she can travel to without going though all the trouble of applying for a visa,or any where we can go where getting a visa is easy, as she would like to travel somewhere different than England and Thailand.

Many Thanks

cfrmatt

Hi All,

I applied for a settlement visa last April for my wife and got it approved after 5 days of waiting, but my friend has applied for a settlement visa for his wife 4 weeks ago and is still waiting to hear something. Was I just luck that we got the visa after 5 days or is having to wait this long normal?? as you can imagine he’s now getting quite worried.

Regards

cfrmatt

Should be called 1st to go

I have friends ( both oz diggers) with a blue eyed blonde daughter born in BKK and for several years they were hassled on departure by Immigration on departure BKK ( assuming that a Thai kid was being purloined with both parents present and duly checked in. )

really?

It has been a baby boom of late in my circle here, and never a problem. It pays though (I suspect) to travel with the original birth certificate which would be in Thai of the immigration folk to get their rocks off on!

And I would imagine they would have fewer problems when they have a passport for the child showing they came into the country.

I have suggested that he contact his embassy to ask them about it and maybe consult a lawyer to see what they say. Not sure if a lawyer would be able to tell him exactly what would be required to take the child out of Thailand though. Maybe if he finds the right one, but I imagine that other lawyers may tell him different things.

If the child was born in Thailand but has a British passport, all you need to take to the airport is the childs passport and the childs Thai birth certiicate..I checked this myself with the Thai immigration office