Tu02

Hello,

I'm not an expert, so were I you I would check the following with Thai Immigration. When you applied for an extension, you filled out Form T.M. 8. From my knowledge and personal experience, if you leave the Kingdom before your next renewal, you should have a re-entry permit. This is obtained by filling out T.M. 9, requesting a single re-entry permit, or multiple re-entry permit., and paying the fee(s) for same. To the best of my knowledge, this re-entry permission is not obtained by registering your address every 90 days. I am afraid that without the re-entry permit, you may forfeit your one year extension when you leave the Kingdom. If so, you would have to begin a new process for a non-immigrant visa. Please check this before departing for U.K.

Tu

I assume the tragedy in Khon Kaen was at the Teaching Hospital for the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, the only University in Isaan with a medical school. I learned long ago that P. Aeroginosa was a common contaminant of fluorescein, a dye used to highlight scratches to the cornea not otherwise visable. Many years ago, fluorescein solution was replaced by impregnated paper strips.

High spending medical tourists, one of the groups targeted by TAT are likely to do serious research before choosing Thailand, OK, not KKU, over Singapore, Malaysia, India for exotic and expensive medical procedures.

I grieve for the poor folks who lost their sight; however, along with airport closures, scams, political instability 'High Spending' tourists are not an appropriate target for TAT at this time. I've been coming to Chiang Mai for 4 -5 months a year for the past 5 years. I could afford to go elsewhere but enjoy Thai food, culture and the challenge of learning to speak, read and write phasaa thai. I also love driving around the back roads in the mountains. However, the continued crazy 'gan meuang' is making me think seriously about going elsewhere for my next adventure in cultural tourism. Tu02

It is my understanding that work permits are not given to tourists, nor people with Non O-A (retirement) Visas.

It is also my understanding that Thai law defines work as any expenditure of physical and/or mental effort, thus making it illegal to volunteer without a work permit. This regulation caused some furore several years ago when tourists were volunteering after the tsunami and the Labor Ministry made a statement, reported widely in the newspapers, that all volunteers needed work permits or they were in breach of Thai law. Obviously, the official was overruled, but the law was no changed.

I hold a retirement visa. At the time of my last extension I chatted with one of the senior Immigration Officers and was told that the reason for this regulation was to prevent abuse by folks volunteering on paper, but using the Work Permit to avoid making Visa runs. I was told that the law still stands and I cannot legally volunteer. However, searching for folks in my situation was not a high priority. I was given the name card of the Officer including home telephone and mobile should I be discovered volunteering.

So like many laws and regulations in any country, enforcement can be discretionary.

I mention this detail as an affirmation of those writers who say that after the initial extension of a Non - A B visa, the extension is for a given catagory. It is certainly possible that an Immigration Officer may allow a work permit for the holder of a retirement visa, but it's not in accordance with the rules. The correct way would be to leave the country, obtain another initial Non A, non B visa and on the first extension, ensure that you are granted the extension in a catagory that permits you to hold a work permit.