fj709

Shows how out of touch the Thai Visa news section regulars are with the opinions of the majority of Thai people IMO.

Great day for Thailand - putting the military and elite firmly in their places once and for all.

The thing to watch Oberkommando is how long before Pheu Thai/Thaksin sells out to the military and elite families. He has been having discussions with them prior to the election behind the backs of the red shirts

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I stay in London on a regular basis near Kings Cross. A cheap hotel is the Budget Guest House on Swinton Street. Because I was using their hotel for two nights every week I got it for £30 per night. You can email them on [email protected]

Regards

What is dragoncastle? a website? Excuse my ignorance.

Hi there,

Does anyone out there know about the gay scene in Ratchaburi, if any _ bars, etc?

As a matter of interest I am also in a similar position, in the sense of wanting to do something whilst staying in the village. I have been "teaching" a group of kids English and Maths for about three years now.

I find it very satisfying and my oldest student as a place at a university.

I think it is important not only to help the kids with their education but also to encourage them to have aspirations to improve themselves. They do not always get this from their family members.

I am writing from England. I was into the website last night reading the Afghan report. There is a section on Thailand which has a video about the Prince which appeared to have been blocked even from the UK.

Could this be the reason that the whole website has been blocked in Thailand?

With reference to previous questions about the cost of visas. I went into the Liverpool Consul Office today and obtained my visas for my usual four month stay. I was not charged for the visas but paid £10 to obtain the visa while I waited. The lady was very helpful as I came in without an appointment.

I live in the Uk and i want to stay in Issan next year for 60 days, i looked at the Thai Embassy website in Liverpool and it says Tourist Visas are issued free until March 2010, so just to confirm this i called the embassy and they said "yes its free but with a £15 admin charge" it says nothing about this £15 admin charge on the website, i have decided to send my application to the embassy in Birmingham instead, has anyone heard of this £15 admin charge?

I am travelling to Thailand in three weks and will be getting a couple of visas from Liverpool, I will let you know How much it cost me.

Dear Swissie,

Are you asking about Ratchaburi about 80 miles west of Bangkok on the main road to Hua Hin? If you are I know a little about the area having first been there nearly 40 years ago and now have a house near there at a town called Chom Bueng. I stay there during the English winter.

Regards

FJ

Dear All,

I think there is a consensus that there is something fundamentally wrong with the education system in this country. We are specifically discussing the English language teaching among the Thai "lower classes".

Having identified the problem and without being overtly idealistic what can we, and by we I mean those of us who wish to see the youth of this country being given the opportunities they deserve, do to improve the situation in some small but significant way?

Is it too idealistic to believe that the 40,000 UK and other English speaking expats can have some influence by lobbying within and outside of Thailand about this matter?

Is it even more idealistic too consider developing some some small centre of excellence for teaching these unfortunate kids.

I teach a small number of children in my wifes village, free of charge, during our winter sojourn to Thailand and I think they benefit from it.

I know there are people out there with much greater expertise and abilities than I who could be organised to promote the proper teaching of the English language among the "deserving poor" of this country.

As a corollary it could also be of positiveI benefit to the standing of expats living in Thailand in the long term.

I await with trepidation the snorts of derision to the above comments!!!

Regards

Dear All,

I have been teaching my two teenage nieces and a few other kids in the village for the past couple of years during my periodic five month stay away from the English winter.

They come to my class in the evening, three days a week for two hours.

My nieces continue to complete lessons I send them over the internet during my time in England.

I have been using material from England and the internet as I have found the Thai material generally poor to say the least.

Firstly I must say that the kids are very keen to learn, they are patient and respectful and attend these evening classes keenly.

The fact is that they are being let down by the standard of teaching in their schools.

Although I have to say that one of the students who is 13 years old and goes to a well respected school, can speak English better than most of the English school teachers I have met, so there are clearly some schools who teach to a good standard.

Most of my kids go to classes with over 40 students in them, with a teacher who cannot speak even elementary English.

I am not a teacher myself but I have now decided to concentrate on getting them to read and speak English.

In my humble opinion the problem is nothing to do with the character of the Thai's but much more to do with the resources and system of education in the country.

To all those who reponded to my query.

Thanks for the responses, they were all very helpful and overall were reassuring.

We are getting our marriage certificate translated into Thai as a precaution in case there is any problems at the airport.

I was initially intent in having her name changed to mine on her Thai passport but now having read th advise given I am not so sure. We will give it further consideration and leave it until we are back in our home in Thailand.

Thank you all for your sound advise.

Francis

Thai citizenship cannot be taken away from anyone by anyone. In order for a person to lose their Thai citizenship, they must sign an affidavit requesting such. I have this info from a very good source.

I purposely didn't have my wife change her name for just these types of reasons. As well, in Thailand, most government officials have no idea she has a Farang husband and we like to keep it that way for her benefit. Of course our families and the people of our village, including the local government, know everything. I am speaking about the bigger picture and our marriage isn't registered in Thailand either.

When in Thailand, use her Thai passport and in the UK, use her UK passport. The only exception to this is to show the airline ticket counter the passport of the destination country so that they know you will be able to enter.

Martian

My wife is a dual national having a Thai (new biometric) and English passport. We are travelling to Thailand in early Nov. Her Thai passport is in her maiden name as is all her other documents, house registration and ID. Her English passport is obviously in my surname. When I booked the tickets I put them down in my surname.

My wife, who is a worrier, is concerned that if she uses her English passport to enter and return in Thailand will have to go on the visa run (we are staying for 4 months) and she is also concerned that by not using her Thai passport she is in danger of losing her Thai citizenship.

I am unable to get the tickets changed without cancellation and paying twice.

She phoned the Thai Embassy in London this week and was told that she will have to come to London twice (we live near Liverpool) the first time to complete a form to authorise a proxy to change her ID and House Registration and then return again when this is received to change the name in her passport.

I am concerned about the time apart from the cost and inconvenience.

I would like advise as to whether the person who gave her this information is correct as when she renewed her passport last year she was told at the Embassy that if she brought all the documents to the Embassy they could do the name change in one visit.

My brother and his Thai wife of 13 years live in England. She wants to change her name on her Thai Passport. She has been told that firstly she need to change her name on her Thai ID Card. Is this correct.

What documents will she need to show in order to get her name changed at her Ampur?

Does she need to get her Marriage Certificate stamped at the FCO in the UK or at the MFA in Bangkok?

By the way, she also has a UK Passport in her married name.

My wife of 37 years had the same problem yeasr ago and she changed the name on her passport without changing her ID card. But recently because we have purchased land and a house in Thailand she has had her passport, Id card and blue book changed to the same name.

The visa/passport office at the Thai Embassy in London were very helpful, I suggest that she contacts them direct for details of what she needs to bring (I think it is better to attend in person) including photos and copies. She would be wise to speak to them inThai when she phones them. My wife was told off when she spoke english!

I will be spending part of my year (probably about 3-4 months) with my Thai wife who is 8 years younger in Thailand. Does anyone have advice as to what medical insurance I should/could take during my stay, hopefully not for anything major but in case of an accident for instance.

We will be living about 80 miles south east of Bangkok.

I nearly forgot to mention that I am 61 years old.

Regards

Francis

Dear All

I have just registered on this site so please be tolerant if this question has already been addressed.

I am married to a Thai lady (for 35 years), we live in England and she has a dual passport with a bank account in Thailand.

We are in the process of buying a house in Thailand,hoping to complete the deal in October next. I want to transfer about £20,000 to £25,000 across to her account at the best available rate and avoiding any problems with the authorities in England or Thailand.

Can I be advised as to the best way to go about this?

Thanks in anticipation of your help.

Regards

Fj709