FreddieMercury

Spent two years living in Phuket. Not once have I felt any racism. As the saying goes: "If you go through the day and think you've met more than three <deleted>... Maybe the <deleted> is you."

There's a huge storm cell off the coast of Phuket at the moment but it's going away from us. No rain this evening - just the light show and the odd boom.

I'm back in Thailand again. Came in last time on a TR from Manila for two months. Then I left to do some work projects for ten weeks. Arrived a few days ago on waiver. The IO asked a few general questions about how long I wanted to stay etc. Stamped my passport. We wai'ed each other and off I went. I suppose it depends on the IO. Just to add: I'm not up to anything I shouldn't be. I literally just stay in my rented villa and read books by the pool and maybe once or twice a week head out for dinner and shopping around town. Boring perhaps, but that's me.

Ahhhhhh I remember the JET program and Japan in the 1990s. A target-rich environment 🤣

I’ve been in and out on tourist visas for over a year now with anywhere from 4-10 weeks away each time between visits. My last visa was issued in Manila and I stayed for just two months, now I’ve been out for 10 weeks. I’m returning next week and hope to use my visa waiver this time. I’ll let you know how it goes. (Anyone know an agent in Phuket who can arrange a Non-O without the 800k?) 😎

Thank you for explaining.

I was told that I was not allowed an ED visa because I am 50 and was told you get a retirement visa instead.

How is this cheaper? Don't I have to lodge 800K into a bank account and go through all of the hoop jumping to open one? Genuinely interesting in hearing more about this option. Maybe I have it all wrong.

"That is how we are percieved in Thailand. Because it is the reality. " You could easily flip that around.

Your responsibility to your son outweighs any duty of care to your wife. She may have the ability to escalate and become violent to the point of significant danger to you or your child. Everyone's definition of berserk is different so the risk assessment here is up to you. If you have money available, remove yourself and your son from the environment. Get a lawyer involved and ask for a barring order if possible. Once a judge has signed off on that, the police are bound to execute that order if required. By all means if you think the relationship is worth saving, do it later on down the road, but as @bignok says, go with your gut on that one. I for one am sorry that you and your son have to go through this. It's an awful situation to be in. Good luck to you.

I did three visa waivers, each with a 30 day extension. Then I was politely told to get a visa from the embassy if I wanted to come back. So I did that and am currently here for 60 days and I will extend for another 30 after that. So all in all I’ve been here since last July. I’m leaving for a couple of months after that and my next entry will be a Non-O. Probably! I’m here for tourism. Not working illegally etc. I just really like Thailand. While the embassy did ask for a lot of details, they did understand my situation and the reasons for my ins and outs on waivers and how I have so much free time between work sessions.

Her hands are bigger than his ????

Maybe they're bodybuilders.

He had a cracking birthday though! Can't imagine why he was so down. https://www.facebook.com/kailund.mccluskey

I guess it was a bad week.

This. My doctor recommended a tablet for motion sickness called Dizinil. He said it was regularly used as a sleep aid. However...I'd make sure with a doctor that it did not have any side effects when combined with whatever medication your dear wife is on. In addition, a friend of mine when on a long-haul flight, takes two paracetamol with a glass of red wine, and he's out for hours.

I see. With mine, I was out for at least 3-4 weeks at a time as per Ubon Joe's recommendation. I can see the dangers of in and out in a matter of days. He warned me about that.

I came in on a third visa exempt and was told "Next time, you get visa in passport." So I went to Manila and got a 60 day tourist visa with the plan to change it to a Non-O, but that's still in the works. The Thai embassy in Manila is apparently difficult to get a tourist visa from (they wanted tons of information and financial backup from me, so maybe Vietnam is a better choice. That being said, it's really down the IO on the day. Bangkok seems to be notorious for getting sent back. Chiang Mai might be a better option.

Ok - so after all the messing around with the previous IO, I am back in Thailand with a TR for 60 days. I would like to stay for one year or more (I'm over 50) but do not have the 800K required. And I still don't have a Thai bank account. I've got 65k plus going into my overseas account monthly though. (I'm a freelancer so this comes from various sources.) My embassy does have the facility to provide an income letter. So... while I'm tempted to use a 'no money' agent - the one in Phuket seems to have reviews for and against - if I was to do this on my own, I would need: A Thai bank account with a TR and a certificate of residence. Bank statements from overseas verified by my embassy. A TM 86 with all the photos and copies etc Does this sound about right?

Arrived yesterday. No issues. Will let you know how my Non O goes when I get the agent to reply.

They asked for a lot of additional paperwork. It was kind of them to tell me by email on the day that it was approved. Otherwise it would have been a pensive weekend.

I have a return flight already booked. I'll remember the TM86. Thank you.

That seems fair. I’ve just turned 50 so I guess I’ll have to do the non-O next time.

Ok so I got my passport back this afternoon with a tourist visa in it. However, there are two Thai handwritten notes on it. The first says: has a history of traveling in and out of Thailand. (Surely the IO would know that anyway?) I’ve been coming and going since 1997. The other says: Will apply for ‘retirement’ visa at 50 years old. (Both lines translated by Thai friend.) The plot thickens.

Yes I only paid them around 1200 baht so TR it is, I'd say.