bamboozled

...just checked and I have 3 or 4 Mae Sai stamps, depending on how you count: I have the first one from the last time I exited with my business visa still valid. After that expired, I have been to Mae Sai 3 times. So Friday would be my fourth time as a tourist. You are saying that 60 days is the max one can stay in Thailand (4-15 day entries) with no visa? If one is flying in, of course, you could get 4-30 day entry stamps? I'm a bit confused on that point.

It costs me about 1000 baht to do a run, if you don't count all the snacks/drinks I buy to make the bus ride more comfortable. My quick calculation on going to Laos is a lot higher. Well, unless on a bus but that's a long ride from CM. I'll have to run the numbers again. Will they look negatively at all my Mae Sai entry stamps at the Thai embassy in Laos and feasibly reject my visa app?

Thanks so much Joe for the heads up on the 90 day thing. Now what is the max length of time one can stay in Thailand on just entry stamps? I need to do something by Friday or I will overstay. I was planning on going to Mae Sai again but now I'm not sure. They didn't mention anything last time nor give me any funny looks but if I exit and then am denied entry again to Thailand, what happens? I'm stuck in limbo in Tachilek? Maybe a trip to Laos for a tourist visa is in order... That gets a bit more costly, however.

You mean to say that there is no such thing as a one-year single entry B visa? Hmm, I have always applied for and received a multiple and will do so again. Just hoping that they don't give me only a single. That seems to happen to many folks here.

I had actually forgotten about leaving the country every 90 days. I suppose having only a single-entry with a year-long visa would be a contradiction.

Yes, I have a registered company here in Thailand. But only 1,000,000 capital and nothing to show in the bank. In fact, the company has been inactive for the past year. Not sure if that is a factor or not. My last business visa expired a month or two ago and I am just doing the stamps in Mae Sai until I get home to get the new visa. If I can somehow get a work permit and extension of stay and save myself some hassle, well, that sounds too good to be true. Now today I read that someone is having trouble getting even the entry stamps at Mae Sai. I didn't think that would be a problem if one hasn't been here for more than 90 days. Isn't that still the rule, 90 days max in any 6-month period?

Yes, good idea. I have indeed been in contact with them but was unsure which route to pursue. That is, trying to get it with my business here or with the Italian connection. As far as single or multiple entry, am I correct in thinking that if I have only a single entry but need to leave Thailand more than once that I can simply pay for a re-entry permit? And this can be done multiple times?

Thank you.

I will apply in Boston this time. I have gotten them in the past in Hull based on doing business between Thailand and Italy (with an Italian company) but going to Hull is expensive and I no longer have the Italian business. Therefore, I thought I would try and use my Thai company and go to the Boston consulate as I will soon be in Boston. Thanks Mario.

Just wondering if showing ownership of a business in Thailand is enough to obtain a Multi-Entry Type B visa....

Thank you.

Burning silk smells like burning hair as it is made from the same material. It leaves a fine ash. Both the waft and weft threads need to be checked as often they can be of different materials. Burning cotton smells like burning paper or wood and will leave a fine ash though not as fine as silk. Burning polyester or nylon will smell like plastic and will sort of flame up and leave a small hard ball. You can burn a small corner and you will know if it is a mix or not and if it requires further investigation. I buy silk in Worarot at Faithong. You can ask around to find it. I haven't bought any in a few years so.....

I recommend looking into Vipassana meditation. It actually does offer a "cure" though one is not encouraged to look on it as such; to not use it as medicine but as a way of accepting things as they are. In doing so, a lot of the reasons for feeling depressed evaporate. I am still just a beginner but their is a direct correlation between meditating and feeling better, a direct link. You will see tangible results if you put in the time though the time frame can be long. However, if you go on a 10 day retreat you will most likely experience some real benefit. These 10 days are not at all easy but they are effective. It is not just about relaxing; this form of meditation goes deeper than that and gets at the root of your problems. For more info, check it out on the internet if you are so inclined.

Take a look at YMCA. Not commenting on their quality. I only know that they are aiming to provide ED visas in the near-future.

I'm in Santitham and I've been thinking the same thing for the last year, too (hmmm one's flying over right now!). I don't remember thinking about airplanes much in the past but now it is often on my mind as they pass overhead so frequently and it is very loud. And yes, there is a late one after midnight... Something must have changed.

Yes Suanprung offers counseling in English and Thai. Google Suanprung hospital Chiang Mai and you can get some email addresses and send them some emails.

Any ideas on where to purchase nickel oxide powder? (looking to nickel-plate some items here at home). I haven't searched at all yet but just thought someone on Thaivisa might know a source and save me a lot of poking around.

Thanks and cheers...

if buying in the US don't forget about the different voltage in Thailand....

Ubonjoe, thanks for that info. I dropped the ball a while back but am picking in up again as my visa is about to expire. Again, thanks for your help, it is much appreciated. Cheers...

No news to report. She has not contacted me for info.

Upcountry Sinclair, I don't know a Thai woman who would speak with her. They tend to look down on hill tribe girls mixed up in these affairs. She probably would not want to talk with them, too.

Her current employment, if it is true, is not gaming territory but I have not authenticated her work place. The ball is in her court now. I let her know that if she wants to get away from him I have some information for her that could help.

USNret....she calls herself a Christian, too, so that might not be a bad option for her. The next step now is to see if she wants to be helped or not.

Thanks, Mario. I wonder what the reasoning is that it is difficult to get multiple entry. If Thailand wants to facilitate import/export that seems to me a necessary thing, coming and going, that is.

I found this through the info from Kast: http://www.newlifecenterfoundation.org/index.php/report-it

Kast, fantastic! Finally real contact info, I appreciate it. I need to get in touch with the girl and make sure she is willing to be helped. As SteelJoe said, it might be a story she has concocted for her own motives. I will post the developments. It might take a few days, however.

I am not having any luck in finding contact info for these organizations online. Odd and frustrating.

Thanks for the kind words, Simon. I've read various stories about people in these situations, sex workers, enslaved maids, immigrant farmhands, etc... (even in the States, such as in Florida and CA, migrant workers on giant farms are enslaved and don't have freedom -the farms are huge and they are housed far from any place where they might have contact with the outside world), and the pay back amount is always kept just out of reach. If you get close to arriving at the stated amount suddenly there will be a new charge or the terms will change. There never really is an option to pay them back. It is just a carrot dangled in front of their face to give them hope and keep them subdued.

By the way, SteelJoe, your points are well-taken....

The Pavena website doesn't open for me. I saw a video on youtube about it and it seems promising. But google isn't turning up much contact info.

He's Thai.