Scottish Thailander

OOPS! Not 24hrs....see next post (mods can delete this one, and/or correct the last one with the info below, as I can't see how to, sorry. :D )

Hi all..

first of all im new to the forum but i have used it on a number of occassions..especially when sorting out that visa issue (shortened to 15 days for overland guys) and it was very helpful!

anyway my girlfriend and I sent boxes back home from BK. Mine got through fine but hers went to the destination..was delivered incorrectly and is now back in thailand. The tracking online says its in the Bangkok HQ postcentre.

My questions is:

does anyone know contact details for the thai post agency

an email address (that isnt full)

we cant seem to contact the thai postal company at all. Which is a shame considering the guys there were so helpful when we were sending the boxes off..

anyway thanks in advance if anyone can help!

You could try here as it is BKK's main post office...

General Post Office (GPO) Charoen Krung

Communication - Mail & Package Services

1156 Charoen Krung Road, Bangkok, Thailand 10500

Phone: 02-233-1050

Open 24 hours, some English spoken. 1156 Charoen Krung Road, Bangkok. Phone 02-233-1050.

The top man on the Post Restante desk (just inside the main door and to your left) speaks good English and is very friendly and helpful.

Hope this helps.

That was not too clear. What I meant was being taught Thai language IN Thai by a Thai lecturer in the Thai side of the university, NOT a course set up for English speakers. Then you would definately learn a lot, and for a lot less money.

If you think your Thai is already pretty good, have you considered studying for a BA in Thai language. It would be a fraction of the price, and a much better piece of paper to frame and hang on your wall.

Welcome Scott. Hope your stay is a long and happy one.

It also depends when you pay.

You can pay in advance (up to two weeks I think) but, if you pay late there is a 20bt per day fine that gets added, eg. 30 days late = 30 * 20bt = 600bt to be added to your actual tax amount.

Yes, I did forget to renew on time and did not know there was a fine. They politely informed me so now I do, and so do you.

I was shopping with the Mrs. in Kae Rai Tesco Lotus 90mins before they found the device there and 60 mins before the bomb across the road went of at the Kae Rai police box. Too close for comfort! Guess we'll be staying in tonight to be safe; anyway, all the fireworks displays here appear to be cancelled anyway!

Have a Happy New Year All!

Nice thought lopburi3 and thanks for the condolences.

I have another option to buy some time.... A one time local (ha ha) border run to get a 30 day tourist on arrival visa and then a trip to get a letter saying i am studying for the 30 hours a week or more for the next year or more with them from the uni and back to Suan Plu for a bt1900 1 year Non-O ED visa.

1 year no hassles! Renewable yearly too! Just (ha ha) gotta commit 26-30 hours a week. Not great but do-able and just about the best available option for me. Might not suit all, I admit.

Thanks.

Maestro,

Update for you......

Despite the actual visa being the same the issue date has no meaning.

The only date Suan Phlu are interested in is the extension date.

If the visa has been given a 1-year extension prior to 1st October 2006 then it is considered grandfathered and you can go by the old renewal rules (400k in the bank, etc).

If it was issued but not given a 1-year extension prior to that date then the new rules apply (40k+ monthly income, etc) for an extension to be granted.

I do not qualify as my visa, although approved prior to the date and issued to me, had not yet been extended as the 3 months was not up and it was not due for one. If they had told me I would have payed the money and extended it for a year the day they issued it if that had been allowed but as no-one said anything (and as I thought I was ok I had not checked on here) so the visa expires on monday and I can not extend it as I have not got a 40k+ authorised income. Guess it's a run to Poi Pet tomorrow for a 30-day tourist and then ...... ?????

Hope not too many others fell in the same crack.

Thanks for the advice.

maestro

Applied for and granted, a change of visa status from tourist visa to a non-O visa, i.e. submitted form TM.86 and paid a fee of THB 2,000.

Yes, late checking but thought I had no problem as possibly wrongly assumed that Suan Phlu would have mentioned at the time of applying if this was a waste of time so close to the cut off date they knew about but I didn't. TIT.

Thanks for the comments. Will go in tomorrow and see what happens.

Help!

I may have missed the boat but I am not sure.

I applied in Suan Phlu for a NON-O based on Married to a Thai in early August with all the paperwork required (400k in bank, copies of marriage certs, etc.) and paid the fees. I then waited the required month for it to be approved and it was on the 16th August (2006).

The "admitted 16 Aug 2006 Until 13 Nov 2006" permission to stay stamp was also issued in my passport on the page following the visa stamp.

That means I have 2 more working days to get an extension!!!

HOWEVER.....

I have been given two stories....

1) I did not EXTEND my visa prior to 1st October and therefore I am no longer able to use the bank balance etc to get the extension to a years stay. I have not got a joint 40k income and therefore will not be eligible to extend my non-o.

2) As I applied and was issued a NON-O Visa prior to 1st October I/it has been grandfathered and I should be eligible to use the 400k bank balance etc as submitted 3 months ago to get an extension to 1 year and continue to do so in the future.

Can someone clarify this for me please? WHICH IS TRUE ?

Thanks.