smileplur

This problem is compounded by the privatization of the school system here. You have students going from Lat Krabang to Klong Toei to study. This is insane.

Make sure your Childs birth certificates are certified and stamped translation or they will not accept it. And i would recommend getting the child's passport at the same time...

Unless this is a new requirement (within the last 2 years) of the US Embassy, what you say is wrong. For my first child, I used a translation service and provided a certified and stamped translation of her Thai birth certificate. For my second daughter, I did the translation myself of her Thai birth certificate (same doctor, same hospital, so only the baby's name and dates/ages were different). The form in English is available on-line. They accepted my translation (not certified or stamped) without question or hesitation. Perhaps this issue is covered on the US Embassy-Bangkok's web site. I haven't looked.

I didn't see anything about having a certified translation. I also used a local translation service. They used their stamp on each page. It is correct. I don't see why they wouldn't accept it, as he has a western name with a western spelling. I am hoping that is enough!

Thank you for that. I am not intending to move back to the states anytime soon, so the fiance visa isn't an issue. The issue of our relationship did come up when she applied for a tourist visa. In fact, the officer interviewing her told her that the most important factor in their decision to grant her the visa in her brand new passport was the presentation of my passport and work permit. I'm glad I told her to take them along for that process!

We will proceed with the marriage very soon. Time is the issue. I have been married before here in Thailand. I have had to translate the divorce certificate for this process. So, I can also use that translation for the declaration that I am free to marry as well. We will be signing the papers in the very near future.

In all honesty, I gave absolutely no thought to obtaining a Social Security Number for him. Now that you have raised the issue, I have investigated it. It seems easy enough, but it will require him to have his passport as they need two forms of identification. As far as I can tell they would be a Passport and the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. There doesn't seem to be another way around that while being based here in Thailand. I will be working on the passport soon enough I guess.

Thanks for that. We already have her passport with the documents we are planning to bring. I've read stories of them asking for photographs proving our relationship with each other on other forums in the Philippines, but I haven't heard of such a requirement for the embassy in Bangkok.

This morning I found my old Maryland State ID Card. I guess I will bring that along just in case. I may be able to dig up some old bank statements from somewhere in a file in my spare bedroom.

From the sounds of it, it should be alright. I tend to worry a bit too much about things.

Thanks for the replies so far. Please forgive the structure and typos in the OP. I did it in the dark on my iPad. Reading through that is difficult!!

Ok, I am pleased to report that we has a beautiful baby boy delivered at Chulalongkorn Hospital on April 12. With the new appointment system in place, I want to make sure I have everything in order for an early appointment at 8:15 am on Friday morning. Here are the facts ....

I am a United States Citizen

The mother is a Thai national

We are not married

Her passport was issued prior to conception (one year prior to the birth)

She spent 3 weeks in America on a 6 month tourist visa, pregnant at the time in October

Our son has my name on his birth certificate

I've translated it to English

Having been married here before, I translated the divorce certificate as well

My only concern is the proof that I've lived in the US for the designated period of time. I have my university transcripts and my high school diploma. Will this be enough to satisfy them? Furthermore, both of my parents served I. The USAF. My mother is now a high ranking official in Washington, DC.

Any help would be appreciated. He's just 3 weeks Los, so I am not conserved about the passport. I just want to register his birth.

Any thoughts or moments would be most appreciated .....

I am having a hell of a time getting one for my City. They did ask for a copy of my passport, so I gave it to them. 2 weeks later, they called me and told me to come get it. I went. They gave me a manual in Spanish!!!! She is working on getting the English one again. I hope this will happen one day! This is at Honda Rama IV.

Could you give us some insight as to how you got the position filled?

Yes, the time limit is 15 days. If it is not done within that time, the fine is 1,000 baht. We found out about this 13 days after birth! The wife is registered way out in Issan making life difficult for us in Bangkok. Thankfully, her cousin lives in Bangkok and we got him on her Tabian Baan. It's easy to switch later. For now, that's where our son will remain. There are ramifications for social security and education depending on where the Tabian Baan is ..... think carefully ... =)

I called the '1111' hotline and got through to someone who informed me that they are open today. I am not sure if I trust her though.

I think the title says it all. I was due for my 90 days last Thursday. Work and the birth of my son prohibited me from going earlier. I meant to make it yesterday, but was tied up with other government paperwork until late afternoon. I'd hate to drive out there from On Nut to find it closed.

Do any of you know if they are open today?

Thanks!

Ok ... If you say so ... I drive myself to avoid dealing with them whenever possible ....

>>Anybody have experience with getting a replacement for a lost driving license?

Yes, I went in with my police report, copies of my work permit and passport, and had a smile on my face. I was out the door with a replacement in 10 minutes.

Very kind of you indeed. I hope you find the man and he gets it back ....

Physical Test - You may or may not have to do all of the following:

Depth Perception - You sit with an archaic Atari-like remote control. You move a 'stick' forward to be between two other 'sticks'. Then, they slide it forward. You move the 'stick' back to fit between the 'sticks' again.

Color - They point to a dots on a large board full of different colored dots. You say the color.

Peripheral Vision - You sit looking forward with your chin on some contraption. You state the color and the side when a light flashes (example: red, right).

Sometimes, you can do it in English. In my experience, it was all in Thai ....

I have done the test for a motorbike. You can do it at the Department of Land Transport Office that is closest to you. It has been written about to death on this forum and about every other one that I can think of that is aimed at expats living in Thailand. It would be helpful if you stated:

• Where you are
• If you hold a valid license from your home country
• What kind of visa you are on
• Etc.

When you google it, you will find that these things are important.

I have never had to pay a reconnect fee. My power has been cut twice when the girlfriend forgot to pay the bill. During normal hours, it was a simple process of going to any of the MEA offices and paying the bill. They would then contact whatever office you reside in and send someone out to reconnect it. When it happened after hours, we had been away for a while. We had to call the MEA. From the On Nut area of Bangkok, we had to go to the Klong Tan office. After hours, we were sent to the area where the technicians hang out. We paid them. They couldn't provide a receipt, but they did mail one later. They sent out a technician, and the power was on before we got home. We stopped off for dinner going home.

On both of these occasions, we were not subjected to any reconnection fee at all. If you are late and pay beyond the date mentioned on the second notice, there is a 40 baht charge if I remember correctly. That is a late fee. Both times we were cut, we were not even charged the late fee.

They technicians at Klong Tan servicing my home now know that if the car isn't there for an extended period of time, but the motorbike is ... I am probably out of town. They have agreed they won't cut it again in such a case.

It isn't all that easy. My license from home (USA) was expired. So, I dd all of the tests for a motorbike. They make no distinction between a little 100 cc scooter or a 1000 cc Ninja. A motorcycle license is a motorcycle license here. It's pretty insane really because ... Well ... This is Thailand.

Then, I bought a car because our son was about to be born. He was actually just born on Friday. So, I had to go through all of the tests again for a car license. The tests are identical. The only difference is the driving portion. The car driving test was much more difficult for me than the motorcycle test. I saw many Thais failing their car driving test. I would say 75% failed on their first attempt. Many were there for their third, fourth, or even fifth attempt at the test.

The motorbike one can be tricky. It's all fine until you need to make a 90 degree turn in a narrow row of cones. Stay in the middle, make a narrow u-turn and then weave in and out of the cones. Touch a cone = fail. Put your foot down = Fail. I would say about 85% passed this test when I went and did it. If was far easier than the car. What's funny is that I don't even think it would be possible to pass the test on a real motorcycle. It simply wouldn't fit between the cones!

There are a bunch of documents you will need. As mentioned, you will need some sort of residence certificate from your embassy. A work permit can substitute for this, but you clearly don't have one. You need a medical certificate from a clinic or hospital. You need copies of your passport and entry stamps, etc.

It's not clear to me what kind of visa one needs to get a license. It would seem that some can do it on a tourist visa. In my case, I have a non-immigrant 'b', so it wasn't an issue. However, I have read that it has been an issue for others.

I drove without a license for several years. I do NOT recommend doing that. Thankfully, I bribed my way out of it 100 baht at a time, but I wouldn't want to go back to those days.

Thank you so much guys for the valuable info

I'll do it for sure. It's free on top of that so I'd be stupid not to.

Best regards !

Good decision. It's best just to do it. In my case, I get a day off work to do it. Often, it takes me longer to do the report than it would for me to finish work and be home for the day. That's just the way the cookie crubles since they moved immigration way out to Chaeng Wattana. I got stung once for not doing it because I was unaware that the 90 day clock resets itself if you leave and re-enter the country with a re-entry permit. They got me for 2,000. I won't be making that mistake again.

I do know some people who simply never report. They seem not to cross-reference these things in their computers when you exit the country for whatever reason. I would not want to be one of those people. Things do seem to be getting more streamlined, even if it takes a bit longer here in Thailand. The slip of paper given with the date of your next 90 day report is now printed instead of written by hand! It's only a matter of time before they sync the computers.

If you can't be bothered to go to immigration for whatever reason, you can do it by mail. Within Thailand, it's a damn cheap alternative. In my case, mailing it to them would be cheaper than the gasoline and tolls that I pay going to Chaeng Wattana. However, I don't like my passport out of my hands for any longer than required ... So, I go myself ....

I haven't been to AUH, as I fly the opposite way to my homeland. However, I can tell you that the Duty Free in Thailand is horrible. It is cheaper to walk outside of the airport and buy whatever you need at 7-11 in my experience. So, I would probably hold out for anywhere that is NOT BKK!!

It's great news for me. Whenever I am stuck in Mega Bangna, I head to Ikea for some of their Swedish Meatballs. They are a fantastic snack/meal. It's about all I have to look forward to when heading out there. The last time I was there, we spent 18,000 baht. When parting with that kind of money, I like at least having a treat to go along with the insane prices we have to pay. No Swedish Meatballs made the trip even worse that it usually is. I am glad they are back!

As some of you may know, we are expecting our first child very soon. Our son is due on April 17, so I will be a proud father in a very short time. Of course, this means the obligatory visit from family. The Thai side of things is easy to handle, as they live in the country and are accustomed to doing things the Thai way. When the Thai in-laws come to visit, they are more than happy to stay in our spare bedroom without A/C and live simply. Although it will be an adjustment for me for a few weeks, it should be relatively painless and easy. They will be here for the birth and a few weeks following to help with the initial adjustment.

My mother and a close family friend will be visiting at the end of May into the beginning of June. Here's where things get a bit more complicated. In the past, my mother has stayed in places like the Westin, Sukhumvit Sheraton Grande, and Oriental Hotels. She prefers the five star treatment. In order to maximize the amount of time she will get to spend with her new grandson, she has requested that we stay with her. Due to her dates, I am unable to take time off from work. I am fortunate in that my hours are generally light and am permitted to do most of my work from home and I am not required to do any office hours. Nonetheless, Bangkok's notorious traffic means that I would prefer to be close to my place of employment, near Klong Toey Market off of Rama IV Road.

On her last visit we happened to find a 2 Bedroom Thai Villa (House) on the grounds of the Davis Hotel on the Rama IV side of Sukhumvit Soi 24. The location is ideal. The Villa itself was spotless, spacious, quiet, and absolutely perfect. The grounds were meticulously kept with swimming pools. The breakfast was very good. On all accounts, we were very happy with our stay there.

Before booking one of these Villas again, I wanted to get some options and opinions from the community here about any similar options out there that may work for our specific requirements. It's always nice to try new things, and I have time to go and check them out should any suggestions here meet our requirements. Those requirements are as follows:

> Price: $100 - $200 (3,000 - 6,000 THB) per night. More is acceptable if quality warrants it. The price for the 2 Bedroom Villa is 6,882 THB which is acceptable for the standard of accommodation provided.

> Ground Level - In other words, no lift/elevator. My mother has been stuck for extended periods of time in elevators on two occasions in Panama which has led to an intense fear of elevators. She is okay if the elevator is glass, but she would prefer not to use one at all. She is known to climb 10-15 flights of stairs to avoid an enclosed elevator.

> Swimming Pool - The swimming pool doesn't need to be luxurious in nature, as she prefers more lounging by the pool and having a few drinks from time to time. She rarely swims in the pool for any extended amount of time.

> Car Parking - Obviously, I will need somewhere to park my car. Having the car is more to ensure that our son has a proper car seat and ample storage for the stroller, diaper bag, etc.

> Location - Close proximity to the Klong Toey area of Rama IV Road would be ideal. Traffic is horrific coming from Silom, etc. at the moment due to the construction taking place on the Thai-Belgium Friendship Bridge. I am not opposed to taking the MRT to Queen Sirikit Station or Klong Toey Station if required depending on the suggestions given.

> Room - Ideally, we would have a Villa like offered by the Davis Hotel, but I don't know of any others. I am not even sure how I found these Villas last year. It was just by chance when browsing their website. If it is not a Villa, we would prefer an adjoining two bedroom suite as opposed to two separate rooms. The idea is for grandma to be able to spend as much time as possible with her grandson in a very short amount of time in comfortable surroundings. She's been here several times to visit, so the tourist stuff isn't a primary concern for her. Spending time with the little guy is the priority.

Follow the link for an example of the Villas offered by the Davis: [Davis Hotel|http://www.davisbangkok.net/]. You will have to navigate a little bit to find the Villas, as I could not find a direct link.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to whatever suggestions you guys put forth. These are exciting times indeed, and I just want to make sure everything goes smoothly for the initial introduction between grandmother and grandson.

I wasn't sure which forum to put this in. I decided on Bangkok Forum because it seems to be where I would get the most knowledgeable responses. Feel free to move if it is more appropriate to post in the Thailand Travel Forum

As mentioned, direct deposit to a certain bank for me on the last working day of the month. Always there when I wake up. Never late. Early during the floods when the school was closed to help teachers affected by the floods.

The slums aren't near Sukhumvit. They are located off of At Narong Road near the port. It is a sight to see. I've wandered around there many times watching things that are really shocking. 10 year old kids huffing what I assume to be paint thinner in open sight on school grounds. The place is a mess. Drugs are everywhere. As a farang, you will be offered everything you can imagine if you walk through .... There are some genuinely friendly people. They have been dealt a bad hand in life though ....

The initial damage assessment found that the fire quickly burned 500 rai

of parkland mainly due to leaves, grasses and underbrush which are

quite inflammable when dry.

Am I missing something here?