oxymoron

Though I'v been here for a number of years your quote about diesel at Bt13/14 5 years ago is striking. I've only had transport for about 6 months so I didn't know the prices before that. I do know that the gap between petrol and diesel has closed by over 50% and its now in the late 20's, roughly a 100% increase from the figures you quote back in 2003.

Yes but remember the Thai Government subsidised "dieselene" by around 5 to 7 Baht up until about 3 years ago.

It dosent pay to be a jealous type with a bg as a partner, and i would also advise bg sorts not to take up with violent men with suicidal /murderous tendancies, i cant help agreeing with bendix that bangkok and areas like pattaya do seem to attract these sorts,.

Very sad but from another angle it shows the efficiency of the Thai Immigration for all its computers and data bases etc.

A ratbag belts the hel_l out of a poor Thai taxi driver, does 3 months in the clink, gets deported BUT then gets access by some Visa method to return and kill a poor unfortunate Thai b/g

is the 3 year visa open to anyone or only APEC members ?

Available only to citizens of APEC countries. Worth ten times its weight in gold. I've just applied for mine - NZ$150 for the New Zealand version.

Bendix, just reviewed the Business Mobility site and it appears the APEC card provides many benefits for entry and exit, but I could not see the allowed period of continuous stay (eg stay for x days per visit) as it is in the spirit of doing business one would expect that you would be granted entry for some finite time.

Can you shed any light on the aspects of " for the duration of x days, and what reporting of location in the Kingdom" and duration requirements there are??

Hi John,

Obviously your restaurant makes money as it is, I'd suggest sticking to what you know, in my opinion you'd only be giving yourself huge headaches in trying to start up a farm only to supply your restaurant. It would be near impossible to grow every vegetable you need & livestock requires lots of time & knowledge. As Chownah says, you would be counting on hired hands to do everything for you & you must ask yourself why such people are available in the first place? Experience with the rural Thai workforce has taught me that you really cannot turn your back for a second; to do anything here you have got to be hands on & in your case this isn't possible

I suggest, looking around for new suppliers, cut a deal & try to reduce your purchase costs.

Good advice. While cutting business costs is always a must, enhancing the business you know should be the first objective. So obtaining produce at the right price with a marketing twist eg go "organic" would be my approach. Be like the Thais contract farmers to produce the vegies and meat to your specifications. My wife and her family have property in Maeon ( we live in Oz) and I can assure you you wont find farm land at 40000 per Rai we sold some for the Highlands Golf Club at nearly 20 times that. Contracted organic Chilli's for the Japanese market at 50 Baht a Kg is currently the local rage.

What is the correct English term for a female Troll ?

Is it Troll_op ????

yes Thankyou guys,and to you too Donna,I am after probaly 2 things on this next long stay and that is to get a colonscopy and also a full medical check up if I can,probaly from the same hospital.

I am trying to get it a bit cheaper as I am from Australia which can be expensive for a colonscopy.

I will google the hospital websites,i thought there was only 2 private hospitals in pattaya so thanks for naming a few more.

I cant imagine going to the Thai Public Hospital , Im sure there would be a fee anyway,or you probaly would need a Doctors referral.

In Australia if you are not a perm resident you are required to pay a fee in a Public Hospital and they will only see you for emergencies,not for elective type surgery,i thought this may be the case for a Thai Public Hospital,surely there must be a fee for non Thai citizens.

How can you be from Australia, then make a point about what you can not get medicare unless you are a permanent resident????

If you are not a Temp or Perm resident then you are a TOURIST and so get no help from Medicare, and rightly so. I query this as I am and my TW are Australian Citizens and we recently came back to Australia from Thailand due to our failing health. My wife just has had a Colonscopy and Endoscopy plus Xrays Ultrasounds all for free. I have had similar at no cost but as I want the latest 64 Slice CT Angiogram I will be paying $AUD 600 which is cheaper than I could of got it in Thailand. BTW all this is after 2 years and countless trips to 3 different hospitals in Chiangmai which I paid top Baht for with no real satisfaction.

Thank U sheryl and leisurely. Today, she will be back to bumrungrad hospital for a double check but she still feels pain although she has taken all the pills the doctor prescribed her. Due to my impossibility to go with her, I told her to ask the doctor to write everything on a paper (never mind if in thai... ).

Last time she went, they decided to hospitalize her because she was feeling too much pain. Therefore the total bill was 7.000 but actually I am not able to tell how much the doctor fee was and that's what I want to find out.

If the doctor can speak and write english, it helps a lot. Most of the misunderstanding is due to the lack of speaking the same language especially about technical words.

When I will have the doctor's paper, I will be able to post more things.

PS: sheryl, I am not really good at forums. How can I PM you ?

4 Wat it is worth

The Doctors at the Major Hospitals almost all write good english and many are happy to email you/your representative. When my TW was in Thailand caring for her terminally ill mother during which see got sick herself, the doctors at Mc Cormick and Maharaj emailed me even sending lab results which I had double checked here in Oz

a question maybe somebody has looked into.

when marrying in thailand with no intention of returning to home country (australia), by registering that marriage at the embassy, does one leave their assets in that country vulnerable in the case of divorce, mainly in my case, and many other aussies, the superannuation funds. any advice would be appreciated.

The Australian Embassy is "AUSTRALIA" albiet outposted so the marriage in my opinion would be subject to Australian Law ie "Family Law" and any assets would be potentially at risk. Keep your lady happy by registering the marriage locally at the Amphur, Thai Family law is more reasonable, each persons assets before the marriage remain theirs only those created throughout the union are split on divorce as I understand it.

What good is that insurance actually ??

Just thinking as if I have a crash me or my insurance company has to pay.. If someone else crashes into me the other person is supposed to pay.. 3rd parties etc..

I am trying to work out when that insurance pays out ??

Same benefit as in Oz and most other Western Countries it is Compulsory Third Party Insurance commonly called CTP Insurance. Not everybody has First Class Insurance or as some call it Comprehensive Insurance so this covers any third party. Say the drunk who steps off the kerb in front of you, or the others in another uninsured car that has an accident

As said the birth certificate can not be changed but it can be amended if a mistake has been made. Talk with officials first and if they unable/unwilling to help seek a lawyer.

Not only Thailand. The Birth Certificate is immutable. However a birth certificate is not really important, my Thai stepsons have not had any need of their Birth Certificate for the last 20 years as their name was changed by Deed Poll to my name with english christian names when they were around 5. In my case all that was needed was their Thai biological father to provide a letter of consent. So now all the important life documentation ie passports, educational history, Oz Citizenship etc is in the names they have used for the last 20 years and even when they married they have never required a Birth Certificate. Consider this route if you talk to a lawyer then all you will need is you brothers consent.

Hi to everybody on the site

Here is our current situation myself and my thai wife have been living in the UK for 15 months now and feel it is time now to bring my wife's 12 year old daughter to the UK to join us.

I have read as many threads as I could relating to this matter and the advice given, has really been invaluable and I thank the posters for this.

There are a couple of points regarding the settlement visa application for spouses daughter that I need clarifying.

1. Can we jointly sponsor the child ?

2. What would be the best evidence to produce to the embassy to prove the child has lived with my wife's parents and my wife has retained parental control ?

3. Will the child's visa run concurrently with my spouses remaining visa if so will I have to pay £1500 for both of them to be renewed in November 2007 when my wife applies for ILR ?

Just to add my wife would like the child accompanied from thailand to the UK by a relative who would apply for a holiday visa to come here for a few weeks has anybody else on the site had a similar experience did it work out or is it a risky strategy ?

Since coming to the site I have realised I have so many more questions but your assistance in this matter will be greatly appreciated

Do not want to rain on your parade and I have read all the following invaluable comments from our TV friends, BUT all your questions relate to getting your stepdaughter INTO the UK.

From personal experience your real problem will be getting the girl OUT of Thailand if she does not already have a Thai Passport and letters of consent from her biological father and grand parents particularly on the fathers side.

A question, bit off topic but I don't want to start a new thread just for the sake of a yes or no answer.

For about 12 years I had a bank account (savings) with Thai Farmers bank. I left LoS almost exactly three years ago leaving the account with about 75 Baht in it.

My question is; Is it still there? The account not the 75 Baht (I'm not that hard up). Will I be able to reactivate it on my return or will I have to open a new account?

Bet you got nothing and have to start again. HAHA. I had one for 18 years not used for about 5 years with 2500Baht Balance. Went in last year with passbook to put more money in and ACCOUNT DID NOT EXIST.

Seems all funny things happened with the name change. The rule of Thailand only have invested what you can afford to lose applies to Bank Accounts too in LOSThai

What VISA do you have currently and where did you obtain it or is it a 30 day VOA ?

Its a non immigrant O visa from the UK

Thanks for replies folks, looks like a joint account maybe the way to go as I dont fancy having to travel 750km just to get a letter to confirm that the funds are there

Have a look at the Bank of Ayudhya website. You may be able to open an account by down loading the forms for there visa account and then mail them in. I have two accounts with them they are very very helpful. If you do not find an online application facility ( I use on line with them to manage my accounts) email them through the "contact us" facility and explain your problem, I am confident they will help.

About 18 months ago there was a Kiwi rep for a NZ Company handing out flyers all over Chiang Mai,

They were recruiting for the hospitality industry in NZ, the qualification requirements were pretty daunting,IE Thai Food Chef,10 years in a cooking position with at least 4 years as chef in a 4-5 star establishment, and for all that the remuneration was 10-20k baht per month.

The biggest problem for a rural Thai is THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Thats why most of my relatives went to Arab or Asian countries to work, where it was acceptable for one of them who spoke passable english to head up the team.

Having lived 14 yrs in Asia, the first 7 in the Philippines and the last 7 in Thailand, i now find myself wondering if there is a better alternative to Thailand, preferably a neighboring country, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malasia??

this is not the same Thailand that i once knew and altho there have been some infrastructure improvements [or attempts], the powers have removed or are removing the FUN things that brought me here from the Philippines, where there is lotsa fun, but too much chaos, corruption and polution.

Needs.....

1] Easy immigration requirements for retirees

2] less corruption

3] decent infrastructure

4] less polution

5] friendly [some english speaking] locals

6] fast internet

7] friendly, beautiful, available women

8] good [affordable] medical facilities

9] rights to purchase real estate, business

or, do i just have 'the 7 yr itch' and just wanna change??

Thailand will be a hard act to follow, but i'm just wondering if the best days here are over. I could never return to the west, both for financial reasons and [real/perceived?] freedom.

Are there others out there in 'thaivisaland' thinking the same or is there an alternative to LOS???

The closest place to get all your "needs" is here...... Asia is not an option for any of those needs..

AGREED although not sure about the Immigration situation being easy if you are not from Oz and if you did not own your own home you would be on the poverty line at 60000 Baht per month.

Rent on a flat is around $AUD200 per week ie 5400 Baht

Yes, my thai wife has bought 3 condos and at least 6 pieces of land since we got married, as well as an airplane and 2 cars. As the farang spouse, I have to sign a paper that I will make no claim on the land purchase ever as foreigners can't own land. No problem.

With one small CAVEAT. They must not hold citizenship of another country.

On Shore Vs Off Shore rates.... if you are on ground in thailand - the rates TV are providing are quite correct.

http://www.bot.or.th/Bothomepage/databank/.../exchange_e.asp

Thank you britmaveric, your a genius.

For a week now I have been trying to figure out why the TV exchange rate table did not correlate with my data from Ayudhya, Siam Commercial and Bangkok Bank. I thought I knew the answer but you provided the proof with your link above, the TV table lists the Average Selling rates, which is not much help to those wanting to exchange $AUD or $US etc for Thai Baht, as this is the rate you get when you TAKE THAI BAHT in and want $AUD $US etc ie a transfer out of Thailand.

The AVERAGE SELL RATE (Telex Transfer) column is the one our site should show, as this is the number of Thai Baht you get when you transfer in to Thailand $AUD $US etc as foreign currency and get it converted ONSHORE.

thx again

I had my first visit to Thailand with my partner recently, and had a good time. But on returning back home, something strange happened on the airport while checking in. I am myself Norwegian and my partner is Maltese, but she has been living more than 20 years in Norway. We were booking in on a flight to London for a 2 days stay there before flying back to Norway.

Not holding British passports, the girl at the check in asked if we had tickets out of UK, and I said yes, we have tickets to Norway. "Can I see them, please?", she said. I showed her the tickets. "Is Norway your final destination?" "Yes"

Then to my partner, not holding a Norwegian passport: "Can you prove that you live in Norway?", with the implication that if she could not prove it, they would not let her embark on the plane. As it happened, my partner had her passport renewed recently, and had not got a new stamp from the Norwegian immigration. So now we were in trouble, but fortunately she had a Norwegian banking card with photo, and the girl accepted this as proof.

The reason for all this, as I understood it, was that Thai Airways was afraid that they would have to take her back to Thailand at their expense if she was refused entry to either UK or Norway. ( Anyway, as a Maltese citizen, she is also a British subject, so she could not have been denied entry to UK.)

Now the question is, what would have happened if she had been refused to embark on the plane - was she supposed to remain in Thailand forever? What would happen after 90 days when the visiting visa expired. And if she had been sent back to Thailand from UK without a new visiting visa, then what?

Does this mean that you cannot bye a oneway ticket to any (foreign) destination, but must always have a return ticket all the way back to your place of domicile?

No it simply means you must have a valid passport or visa to enter the place the Thai, or any other airline for that matter, flight terminates.

Although in the case of a visa the airline still takes a risk, as a visa does not guarantee you will be allowed to enter that country. Hence some airlines will require you have a ticket to the place the passport was issued. BTW the thanks for the lesson I did not know that if you were a citizen of Malta. I am guessing where your partners passport was issued, automatically entitled you entry to the UK and I am white and a citizen of Australia. Why would you assume a Thai Booking clerk to have such worldly knowledge???

BANKS THAT PAY NON-RESIDENTS FOR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

Government Housing Bank

Government Savings Bank

Siam Commercial Bank

Thai Military Bank

BANKS THAT DON'T PAY NON-RESIDENTS FOR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

Thai Farmers Bank

Bangkok Bank -- No interest for savings account. Interest for 1,000,000 fixed deposit

http://www.bangkokbank.com/Bangkok+Bank+Th...posit+Rates.htm

Bank of Ayutthaya -- No interest for savings account. Interest for fixed deposit

Everyone please copy this into your post and add to it so we can make a complete list.

Then, if you can go to your non-paying bank and drain nearly all of your funds and tell the bank why, please report with back their response.

If Ayutthaya means the Bank of AYUDHYA this is not correct we have been getting interest on a "passbook savings account" for years. Last payment Dec 06, branch Sankampheang.

Go to the local Amphur with your wifes current ID Card, her Tabien Baan and your Marriage Certificate. 20 minute job.

It has no effect on her access to the health scheme.

P.S. I'm not suggesting anything, honest, but, it has been known for staff at local Amphurs not knowing how to do something until they see a picture of the King

//edit/ps

A question for you to think about.

Why do I/she want my TW to change her surname???

Many women around the world DO NOT change their surname on marriage, and not only in the Western world. In Thailand retaining your Thai Identity has some advantages e.g documentation on education, ownership of land goods and chattels which were owned prior to marriage stay intact and future assets are far safer than having a farang name associated with them.

BTW my TW of 20 years, in Thailand, still uses her maiden name on all documentation.

and I thought Thailand doesnt allow dual citizenship?

Not this old chestnut again. Thailand does allow dual nationality.

Our son's two passports.......

Scouse.

Scouse,

I think you may be drawing a long bow by stating Thailand allows "Dual Nationality". They do allow two passports,which are really only travel documents, because of the rights of a child born in Thailand ( maybe even abroad) of at least one Thai National parent. But if you go deeper then the xenophobia sets in. For example you can not legally own land if you "hold citizenship" of another country.

My wife and stepsons (both 100% Thai) found this out recently in regard to changing family land into their names, for them to be 110% legal they had to give up their Oz citizenship.

A small point but maybe of significance in these turbulent times.

I am curious about #153 if in fact that baby is now a Thai citizen. I know that any baby born in the USA can claim citizenship even if their parents are just tourists.

Do not know about USA but I understand this is not so in Thailand or Australia for that matter unless one parent a least is a Thai National or an Oz Citizen ( since around 1986 I believe in the Oz case)

Do you not think there is a more fundamental issue here!!!!

The family were held culpable for their sons accident and were restrained from leaving Thailand. Does this mean the JETSKI operator hirer did not have suitable "public liability insurance" by a Thai Company. Why were their Danish insurance involved?

As a tourist or for that matter one of us long term stayers, what is your position when you hire something? Being as full as a boot or 'high' excepted.

In a normal environment the "Insurance Lawyers" would have handled the issue and unless the youth was formally charged with a serious criminal offense. From what I have read the issue has been one of adequate compensation more than say law/justice.

Open Saturday but morning only. Cant confirm times but 0900-1200 will be exceedingly close.

Why don't you give them a call???

Chiangmai Immigration

71 Sanambin Road Amphoe Mueang

Changwat Chiang Mai 50200

0-5320-1755-6

F 0-5327-7510

[email protected]

2) The painter’s skill wasn’t up to the job.

I think this is the only thing you did wrong. Had he known what he was doing there wouldn't be any messups with thinner, brush streaks etc.

Ask the next one to take you to a previous work site and show a floor they have done. If they can't, don't hire them. There's a 90-1 ratio of incompent vs competent handymen here.

4) Removing all of the poly finish by machine sanding the floor and starting over. We had another flooring contractor come in and they stated that this is what they would do to fix it. I really don’t like this option since I already paid for this once and I am tired of cleaning the dust up from the sanding machine.

And this is the only sensible option. If the first clueless guy hasn't primed the wood properly the thing may start flaking off in a year. Better to have a competent person redo the whole thing from scratch. And make it clear to them that any cleanup etc is part of their job.

I agree with lingling

If you want a really first class job you have little choice, but to start over again. All floor finish quality is in the preparation ie sanding and filling. This area you need to check carefully yourself. Your choice of "matt" finish (what you call dull) is the best as it will reduce the wavy reflections that you see from most Thai polished floors. Make sure your contractor uses a 20 inch belt floor sander, rather than a rotary one, to reduce this effect.

Also no real tradesman (farang) would apply any poly urethene floor finish with a brush!!!!!!

If you want a good job you use a lambswool pad, or a roller. At least 270mm wide

BTW I have used Berger 5000 in Oz with outstanding results