oxymoron

I married three years ago and told my prospective wife (previously married, 1 child) that I would not pay the dowry and would not spring for a big village wedding. I would take care of her in other ways.

She is now sporting ten baht in gold and we have just finished our house up-country on nearly two rai. House cost 2.2 mil.

I did sponsor the tamboon for the new house so the villagers will learn what a catch she made.

Dangerous time for you - house just finished - I hope you don't have life insurance!

Yep Neeranam he violated your 5 year rule.

No worries. Wife spoke to them yesterday. She will sort it. No rush. Runs out April.

he mate,

did they say you could do it in Sydney at the Thai consulate there, or is it necessary to go to Canberra? I know my cousin who lives in Melbourne hand to go up to Canberra recently to get hers done as the consulate in Melbourne didn't have the equipment.

Sydney has got its own camera for epassports.

All of the above just typical Thai inefficiency and lack of ability to think beyond the robotic programme.

I just got the latest Australian electronic passport, the process is still the same for the customer as has been for the last 30 years 'polaroid photos at the Post Office etc etc'. All the electronic jiggery pokery must be done using scanners or other techniques at the passport issue department. 7 days later received by registered mail new Passport with Holiograph picture and centre page a smart card chip. But TIA

Thanks for the link, david96.

I'm married (TW) with a 7y/o son (Oz citizen).

If I'm reading the info. on that link correctly:

I could have an income of up to A$ 6,000 p/a or assets of up to A$ 357,500 and receive the full AP.

I could earn less than A$ 60,000 p/a or have assets less than A$ 960,500 and receive part AP.

I would need to return to Oz and become a resident.

My wife would probably need to sell our family house, and the house her family live in here in Thailand, for us to prove residency in Oz.

While it is good to know that the 'safety net' is there if things go tits-up here, the above does not sound attractive, especially when you consider the cost of living in Oz compared to that of Thailand.

If you own a property in Australia that is non income earning and you live there it is not part of your assets as far as a pension is concerned. If you were to rent it out it would become an income producing asset. I would get the opinion of a chartered accountant in Australia regarding any Thai property that your wife owns, they would give you the correct advice.

The first point is not exactly right, 'The property you own and in which you reside is not assessable for either the income or assets test.

Do not bother with Accountants in Australia when it comes to Centrelink they do not know shiiite from clay. The only authorative person is the Centrelink Case Officer.

Be prepared to fill in a book as big as Tolstoy's War and Peace and divulge every aspect of your life if you want a Health Card or OAP.

All assets Real "as defined by the law of Torts" and cash anywhere in the world must be declared, if you do not want to commit fraud when you sign Centrelink Documents.

Sorry, their website says it is closed .

Looks like someone is going to have to swing by.

Nobody needs to swing by.

It says the Queen victoria website is closed. Website. Get it!!!

I and Austhaied have both told you within the last 2 days that it is open. What does that suggest? (winker).

No need to get stroppy when you have been here (online) since 2004 with over 7000 posts as UG has you may have the priviledge of using the third person when referring to "oneself"

I didn't mean online banking actually. Lets say that I want to buy something from amazon.com or if I need to pay my hosting and I would like to pay this using my debit card, which Thai bank offers a debit card which allows for me to purchase things online.

Do not really know, it is called a Visa Account we use it at the ATM and often pay a Restruant bill or some thing around Chiangmai. As it does not have access to credit I was always been suprised that it is a VISA card as to me it was more like EFTPOS that we used in Australia.

Now I note Australian Banks are offering the same product, as it allows people with poor credit ratings to buy stuff on line using the EFTPOS principles.

Check your card to see if it has VISA or Mastercard on it. If so give it a try, only thing that can happen is the online site 'says invalid card' Otherwise check Bank of Ayudhya out we use the Sankamphaeng Branch, very very helpful staff.

I have a bank account with SCB with a ATM Visa Debit card but I cant seem to use it to pay anything online. I had a ATM visa debit card from a European bank in the past which I could use to buy things online. Does anyone know of a Thai bank whose regular bank card you can use to pay things with on the internet?

I have one with Bank of Ayudhya and can pay my True Account and a couple of others only. I have noticed 'online banking' in LOS is no where as sophisticated as in Australia, partcularly in the flexibility of paying accounts online.

try tawan court

www.tawancourt.com

Great little Spot 6months ago 600 Baht a night. 2 min Walk to Pornping Hotel for a Disco or pay 130 Baht for breakfast ticket for one of the best 'Buffet" breakfast in Chiangmai.

Phone Tawan Court 053 284213

You should have called the “Tourist Police” immediately and refused to talk or move until they arrived.

And while you are waiting for them??????????????????????????????

Been there done that.

Can anyone tell me how I can get in touch with the sponsor/advertiser who advertises "Chiang Mai Furnished Apartments.....coming January 2008"?

January has come but apparently not yet the sponsor. When they are up and running the link will become live and you can click on the advert. It will take you to the sponsors site.

CB

A little cruel CB, did you have a heavy New Year?

Does the "Banner Ad" not refer to the Hon. MB's expanding empire at Tuskers?

I read slightly different requirements for retirement in Thailand on thaivisa, the Chiang Mai Mail, and from the immigration information office near the CM airport. I want to make sure I fulfill all the requirements correctly to retire in April of 2008 when I turn fifty.

I am a US citizen. I arrived with a one-year Multiple "B" visa on July 8th, 2007. I will get my 2nd three month stamp next week in Mai Sai. I plan to go to the states in March and return in early April. Is this one-year visa valid for my retirement request in April or is there anything I should be applying for on my visit to the states?

The other question involves the money requirements. I would rather deposit 65,000 for three months prior to April retirement then deposit 800,000. Do I make a 65K transfer from a US bank in early Jan/Feb/March 2008 to a Thai bank to show immigration later? Does the US Consulate want to see these deposits or do I just swear to it in person at the consulate? Who wants to see what?

Also, is there any reason NOT to apply for the retirement visa? I'm not married nor plan to married soon.

Thanks!

If you are going to the USA in Mar2008 and turn 50 in April 2008 why not be "Really Really smart" and get a 12Month Multiple entry O-A visa there in the USA.

Then you can come back to Thailand and stay with few hassles/problems from the Thai Immigration for nearly two years. No need to prove funds, no border runs every 90days, ( just a visit to Thai Immigration to confirm where you are living) go and come from Thailand as much as you like, after 11months and around 10 days go for a holiday to Singapore or KL come back to Thailand and you get a 12 month admittance stamp ( ie you have now gained 22-23 months in Thailand out of your investment in the O-A visa you get in the USA this April 2008. Now in around June/July 2009 when you get back from Singapore etc and get you entry stamp to February....ish 2010 go to Chiangmai Immigration pay around 3800 Baht and get multi entry/exit Thailand visa's and you are free to come and go during 2009/2010.

If like me the cost of an airfare to the USA or Australia is no real problem you can use this methodology for as long as you like.

Benefits, legal, at this time very acceptable to Thai Immigration, you do not have to tell the Thais anything about you/your finances or your wealth only WHERE YOU are staying every 90 days. You do not have to have any money or anything of value in Thailand, you do not have to do expensive border runs every 90 days and you are FREE to come and go as you please.

You seem very undecided as to what you should buy , and as I pointed out previously , if you buy now ,

in a couple of weeks it becomes last years model .

This isn't quite correct. The model year on the registration will be desegnated when the vehicle is registered... IE- you get white plates to replace red plates.

We just bought Ms. Bino a new VIOS, and the salesman offered to wait until after the new year to register the car for this reason.

What absolute RUBBISH. Try selling the car the Tabien Rot date means nothing to the cars value. The only thing that counts is the date on the VEHICLES COMPLIANCE plate and its VIN. Thai car salesmen have been pulling the above Bllship con for years.

The following choices have been put to her today which she just laughed at:

1. our daughter comes first: If you want to leave put the house in the daughter's name sign truck to me and give me Gloria I will take care :

2. I live elsewhere and see my daughter once a month

3. I find another location and a maid and take Gloria.

I have been living a lie, I am not being cared for or looked after at all.

I make beds I do laundry I have to cook for my self and help with my daughter yet I am told I do nothing

MacB sorry to hear about whats happening to you. But unfortunately you brought it on yourself. You are TOOOOO good. There will be lots of good advice given because many of us who have read you posts over the past months knows this.

Forget about what you have said above, at times like this is is difficult for a man to negotiate with any woman and you have NO Chance with a Thai.

Just pack your bag Go Away for 2 or 3 months your child will be OK the grandparents extended family will see to that, let her sweat without you or money and wait for her to chase you up, on your terms. I had to do this 16 years ago and now we have been together 20 years and all is great. I can only speak for Thai and Indo Chinese women as I have a TW and my Thai stepson the Chinese in both cases you must be "the man" otherwise they will eat you up and spit you out.

Greetings,

I think I'm going insane - I was told by an anonymous voice on the phone to go to TT&T and pay them 86 Baht for a Cat Telecom international call I made or my phone would be cut off - I have been to TT&T, TOT and the Post Office and none of them will accept my 86 Baht and none of them can tell me where the CAT Telecom offices are where I might be able to unload my 86 Baht and keep my phone connected.

We sublet and the utilities are in another person's name so I have no paperwork at all - just the invoice number etc: - in short; can somebody please tell me where CAT Telecom are ? - they have a website but it seems to be out of commission and my other Googling has turned up nothing concrete regarding their whereabouts.

Thanks in Advance,

Phil - (resrea).

Phil hate to say this, BUT TIT. You are wasting your time going to CAT HO or any where else without any "paperwork". They need to see the statement/invoice to accept payment. Get a copy of the bill and then go to any Post Office and you will have no problem the processing fee is 10 Baht. Be assured they will disconnect you if not paid and then if you are quick and lucky you can be reconnected for a fee.

Nong Khai is such a pain in the backside every time I extend my Non O. My missus asked why and they say it's because Bangkok give them hassle if application and documents not just-so. Fair enough. I guess they're just covering their backs rather than going out of their way to make things difficult.

Documentation required Oct this year at Nong Khai for extension based on marriage:

Copy all pages of passport.

Copy departure card.

Copy all pages of bank book.

A NEW embassy stamped letter confirming income from overseas AND employment start-date. This despite a special trip to check if original letter was ok to re-use (YES was the answer. Queue application day and OH NO! NEED NEW LETTER)

Letter from bank stating amounts transferred-in over last 6 months plus current balance (MUST match balance in bank book - so gotta do this letter and update bank book at same time else have to do all again)

Copy wifes ID.

Copy wifes family book.

Copy marriage cert.

Copy childs' birth cert.

2 Applications plus 2 photos (2"x3") and 2 copies of the all of the above were required.

Hope this helps someone out. I'll be prepared for this a bit better next time. I dare say the rules/requirements will be different next year though:)

IJ I really admire you guys. To be prepared to tell someone all this just to get a visa to stay in LOS. I will not tell the Oz Gov 10 percent of this to get a Health Card. BTW the TW has the 3 Rai of land Two Story House I bought for her, we support her family and half the village in loans etc and after 2 years living the so called dream ,doing the mandatory 90 day visa runs, are now back in Oz, and she has it all for sale cos she says "we do not need the Thai b_llshit"

what's he concerned with? Does he have a grudge against tourists? It's too bad that he has to take to this in a personal matter. A smart man in position would continue issuing visas because it puts money in his pocket.

Hardly. He's a salaried government worker. He would probably prefer less people at his consulate...less work, same pay.

I believe that was meant in the figurative sense... that it is putting money in Thailand's pocket and not the literal sense that it is putting money into a solitary official's pocket.

It's debatable, but do you really think that a government employee in Penang has such altruistic throughts. I don't.

Do government employees anywhere think of the greater good? Not too many.

He's a young guy educated in the UK. My agent in Penang told me he reads the Thaivisa forum and wasn't too happy to read about people bragging about getting 4 or 5 TV's back to back from his consulate.

You guys are not too bright are you???? It has been posted the Thai Consul is an avid reader of TV yet you delight in slagging he and his Thai associates.

Would have been about half that price in the city but as long as you're happy

with the service, thats the main thing.

Thanks to Joel

http://www.chiangraiprovince.com/guide/eng/30.htm

The hospitals of Chiang Rai are:

1.Kasaemset-Suburin, a fine new hospital between Big C and SiYak MaeGon (where Pahonyothin meets the highway)

2.Overbrook, the century old Christian hospital, 17 Singhaklai Rd., Tel 711366, 715830-4.

3. Chiangrai Ratchanukroa (Prachurukhro, "Ro-ban Thai"), the public one, on Sathanpayaban Rd, 711300. Crowded, but with some excellent staff and the best emergency services.

4. Khai Mengrai Maharat, the military hospital.

There are also over two dozen clinics, mostly in the Tanalai business area, near the Ha-yaek, on Pahonyothin and along SanKhong Noi Road. Pharmacies and drug stores, with both Chinese and modern Western-style medicines, can be found all over, and food shops sometimes carry simple remedies. Natural medicines preferred by many, come from local forests and are sold at fresh food markets. The live decorative plants complex on Pratu ChiangMai Rd, with the Princess Mother's foundation for natural medicine, has a health-food store there, called Ran Gat Mai. Another natural medicine store, across the street from the bus station, offers a free guide, in English, to Thai natural medicines.

Small towns often have clinics, with limited hours, and advice is often dispensed at drug stores.

Maybe half prices for deliveries as well???

Only for Twins, Triplets 33 percent discount............

Hi

Been looking at a C 230 komp now, dont know yet, dealer want to give 1.000.000 for the fortuner

Tie him down, before he changes his mind.

that might be Steve. but i am a German. in Germany we use water to have showers, washing laundry, flushing toilets, extinguish fires, water the garden and for various other purposes but... we don't drink it.

Until it has been converted to Tasty Beer

Oh, I just got an email from some guy in Mexico whose only comment about Thailand was that the girls are so good looking. And both my buddies in Texas would really like to find an Asian girl with old fashioned, obedient lifestyle.

PB tell them to forget about Thailand then. After 20 years with my Thai wife and her family I can assure you this is pure myth. The monument at Phuket of the Thai ladies with the big knives defending the place when the guys were not up to it is a better representation of Thai womanhood.

Sound advice from Thailiban there. I've no experience with tight connections at Sawannapum but I would not consider 1 hour 15 sufficient time for domestic to international at any airport. First class or not they will not miss their ATC slot for anybody lower than monarchy.

Returned home to Perth Oz in Jan 07 CNX-BKK- PER. Trust me you need more than Ihr 15min between flights. I am 65+ and you needed a cut lunch and a waterbag to get from where the CNX flight lets you down and where you board the Perth flight and that was Thai Airways all the way.

Would it better to have root canal work and crown fitted in UK or Thailand ?

And why ?

Wiley Coyote

Had a root canal and crown done last October at Dental 4U near Thaipae Gate (spelling???).

Doctor Warut great guy very gentle and professional 15000 Baht all up with cheapest crown phone 053874149.

Happy with result also since back in Oz my dentist (we went to Uni together toooo long ago) says its a great job and he would have charged $AUD1500.

Also Warut wants 60000Baht per "implanted tooth" my Oz mate says $AUD6500-7500 in Oz.

If he does not have a Thai passport, he needs a visa. If he has a Thai birth cetificate, he should apply for a Thai passport. You will need both passports, marriage certificate, Thai ID card, son's birth certificate.

Thanks for the info Khun Mackayae.

But he already has a Indian Passport. Should i be surrendering this before I apply for Thai passport as India does not have the dual nationality rule with respect to Thailand.

Mr Pomraksao,

I feel you are getting confused,

A) As your son is travelling on an Indian Passport he will need a visa while in Thailand.

As he has this passport now he is eligible for a 15 day Visa On Arrival at Thailand ( Refer http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=act)

C) If your wife goes immediately to a Thai Immigration Offfice with your son, his Indian Passport, and his Thai Birth Certificate and fills in a Form (TM7 I think ) and pays 1900Baht your son will get a 12 month visa because he was born in Thailand. ( My wife does this as she is an Australian Citizen and I will not allow her to hold a Thai Passport)

D) Now you have 12 months to decide which country you wish to have your son tied to in "Passport Terms"

Thanks for all the replies so far.

She thinks that by me posting on TV I don't trust her judgement as her brother has made a lot of money doing just this sort of thing.

Rock and a hard place is an expression that comes to mind !!!

TP

Yes she's right my TW knows that after 20 years if its to do with business in Los I still do not trust her judgement.

Of course her brother has made lots of money, promoting land deals like this.

Rock and Hard place ??? If she wants to invest in deals like this let her use her own money that she has worked hard for and paid tax on etc etc

Hi

I will in Bankok next few days and I plan to buy a used car in Bankok and bring it to Chiang-mai.

Well I made several phone call to dealers and they can't understand what I explain to them.

Here's my situation:

I'm holding long stay visa.

Of course I have International license.

What else document that I need?

Some told me that I need proof of residence from immigration and some say I don't need it...

If I need it would I just use my friend's address in Bankok?

And change it in CM?

I plan to bring it to Chiang-mai.

Shold I re-register the car in CM?

Thank you in advance

Why do not you contact our TV sponsor for this thread Ex-Pat Motors, Andy is the man when it comes to these matters and can probably source any second hand car you want.

As said , you are limited to 90 days at a time. Befor the 90 days are up you have to leave Thailand, turn around and come back again. Even if you only stay outside for 1 minute.

Follow the good advise given and you will be ok. Just remember the 90 day rule next time.

You should check your Visa to see if it is an "O" as everybody is assuming or an "O-A"

My friend from the great USof A had an O-A and we argued long and loud about if he was subject to the 90 day border run as I had to do on my "O" from the Land of Oz. He was right and I was wrong.

If you do have an "O-A" ask Lopburi wot 2 do