Goinghomesoon

Congrats are in order for the RueFangs on the birth of a beautiful little boy last week! And equally huge belated congrats to Redfish44s on arrival of baby girl a few weeks earlier.

Soak overnight in a bucket with fresh lemon slices, or with a cup of vinegar. Then wash and dry in the sun. Warning: If you use the vinegar the clothes will smell a bit when they come out of the wash, but it should disappear when they dry. Once your whites are dingy there's not a lot you can do to improve the colour.

Our place looks very sad as we are packed and leaving in a few days. We donated heaps to SecondChance Bangkok (google for their website) a group working in the Klong Toey slums and now all that is left is the dust bunnies and skeleton coat hangers.

My mother in law uses the day-old cooked rice. She makes it into egg-shaped mounds and then dips them in a mix of salt, beaten egg and coconut milk before grilling over the coals.

This is not how I've seen it done but the ones in this video look more like the ones I've seen on the street. http://www.mayajo.com/video/grilled-sticky-rice-with-egg-17106

I like those too SBK. I also like Thong Yip (the golden honey/syrup balls).

Most of all I really, really love Khanom Krok, the white snacks shaped like half a ping-pong ball that are cooked in a hot dimpled pan. I don't like them with corn though, only plain.

Thank you all. I think we'll continue with our original plan of offloading most things onto Thai mother-in-law.

With reference to post # 87

The file is not always sent to Australia as all the information is on the DIAC data base. All the information can be accessed on line in Australia by DIAC.

Bangkok does the first stage of processing, Canberra the second stage. You need to keep them informed of your current postal address in Australia. DIAC will forward some documents to be filled in about 6 to 8 weeks before the date the 309 visa expires.

Actually they are currently running behind with sending out the 309 documents, so do follow them up if you are expecting them. My spouse's were due to be sent in May (had held the temp visa for 2 years at that point). We followed up in June and were told they were running behind in sending them out, so wait a bit longer. Followed up again mid-July and they emailed them a few days later. According to the letter that accompanied the forms, the current wait time for Stage 2 visa is 6-8 months from lodgement.

We have been packing to move to Australia and have found that we have enough room for more stuff. We have a bunch of electrical goods bought in Thailand like our DVD player, rice cooker, toaster, printer. Since we have space I'm thinking maybe we could just ship them instead of buying new ones when we get there. Will this stuff work in Australia with only a plug change? Sorry guys, I am both female and a no-hoper with electrical questions!

A long time after my first answer, in my case the dermatologist looked at my pigmentation patches and said laser was not the most suitable treatment - it depends on what is the cause, I guess. The cream was low-cost and really effective, it hasn't reappeared at all.

Bina's post about the Vit D deficiency made me remember this thread, as I just read an article saying similar about Australia - the success of the "Slip Slop Slap" campaign (slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat) means that many people never get any sun exposure and therefore a large proportion of the Aussie population is Vit D deficient.

Yes we send his parents money- it's something he did long before he met me. His siblings send the in-laws the same amount, so my hubby is not being singled out to send more because he has a farang spouse. I did get a sin-sot but as the in-laws are very poor and could not afford it, they used our money and returned it to us later.

A close friend of mine is married to a Thai guy whose background is very similar to my husband's. We talked about this just recently - that we are with our hubbies for a myriad of reasons, none of which are based on money. For me they include hub's kindness, big smile, gentle nature, the fact he cares deeply and openly for his family and is great with kids. He is a hard worker even when being paid a pittance and treated like rubbish by his employers and despite his difficult life has very strong moral values: he does not gamble, drink excessively or beat me. He is inquisitive, loves learning new things and is excited about us having a life together. He doesn't need a university education or a lot of money to be a nice, normal man in a happy, strong marriage.

Hey Boo, we've stayed there a few times and quite like it. Has never been there when it's had mor than a few rooms occupied. The resort itself is small and is one black back from the main street. The entrance is thru a dirty alleyway so it's quite a relief when your vehicle turns at the end of the alley and it reveals a nice reception area. We found the rooms were cleaned well and the staff very polite and helpful. Their pool-access rooms are especially nice, they have steps down from the room balconies into the pool. The rooms upstairs are just regular old hotel rooms. There's also a small kiddies wading pool connected to the main pool if they have little ones. There's a small swim-up bar which might interest some people (like me).

Our main gripe is that in most rooms their double beds seem to be two single mattresses joined together which can be a bit uncomfortable! Also being a smaller place their brekkie buffet is pretty limited. I'd say it's a good 3 star, maybe a 3.5.

Although it's a while ago now, one time we did a great boat tour with Aussie Liz and hubby Sun (Andaman Camp and Cruise) who used to sponsor the forum here. I'm not sure if they run their tours in August due to the weather. We've also done a couple of beginners rock-climbing courses on Railay. Pretty hilarious for hubby and I to be struggling up the first 2 metres of rock while 6 year old kids were whizzing past us...it was good fun though.

The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the horse-riding tours the beach. Sold to us as a sun-set ride suitable for children and beginners but it was awful from start to finish - dirty horses, filthy stables, inadequate supervision on the ride (fine for experienced riders but not with beginners or children around). It ended with daughter's horse bolting with her clinging to the neck while the cowboys that were supposed to be leading the tour just sat on their ponies and laughed. Not recommended!

last year I received a yearly extension of stay based on marriage without proof of income tax.

for the life of me, I can't remember providing any evidence of me paying income tax as well to have my wife's visa extended.

We needed it for the citizenship application (+ a minimum income of 15,000baht/month) but not for a bog standard extension of stay.

Chaeng Wattana doesn't require hubby's income info for an extension at the moment. We were there 4 weeks ago, they gave hubby a list in Thai of the documents needed, no financials among them. But perhaps some of the regional offices have different rules.

We provided a Thai police clearance as part of the initial temp spouse visa application (309). We are currently doing the additional documentation required for the second stage permanent visa (100). The package from Immigration says "you may need to obtain an overseas penal clearance" and provides info on how to get a Thai clearance. Since we already provided this in the initial application, do we need to do another one? Do the Thai clearances expire at all?

Sorry to ask this again, searched around but couldn't see an answer - does the Thai clearance expire? Wondering if we should arrange another one just in case, since they "may" ask for another one down the track, when we are no longer in Bangkok.

Email [email protected] and they will send you the information. An adult application can be done via the Embassy in Bangkok or their rep in Phuket.

The second stage processing times also seem to be increasing (the second stage is when the spouse proceeds from their initial 2-year temp visa to the permanent residence). The document we received yesterday says to expect a wait of 6-8 months once the second-stage documents have been submitted. This is several months longer than the indicated wait time when I asked a few months ago.

We provided a Thai police clearance as part of the initial temp spouse visa application (309). We are currently doing the additional documentation required for the second stage permanent visa (100). The package from Immigration says "you may need to obtain an overseas penal clearance" and provides info on how to get a Thai clearance. Since we already provided this in the initial application, do we need to do another one? Do the Thai clearances expire at all?

Mystery Luicky you pointed out that it is 4 years later on this thread and well done for going the distance.I am living here on the outskirts of Bangkok with my Thai husband of 20 years. Re the Non O imm Visa.Easy peasy.I did start out doing the Visa runs and then we BOTH went into Immigration to see what was required.It was a bit tedious the first time but after perservering we got thru it.Now I report every 90 days for address purposes and then once a year we go to Immigration and take the same old documents to renew my Visa.At Chaeng Wattana (Bangkok) absolutely no proof of income required from either of us.At it happens neither of us works here (retired until we need to work again)and they have never , over the years asked for any bank statements, income tax thingy etc.The first time we did have to return as theysaid they wanted photos of where we live.Which is what we gave them.However, they said "But you are not in them!"So back home we went and got the family to take photos of us beside the pool, in the loo, sitting on the bed etc etcThe only ones they are ever interested in are the pool ones-so they are using the same old photos from a few years ago.Hope this gives you a bit of an insight.As to changing to a work permit-no idea.Good Luck

Yes in Bangkok they do not ask for any income details from the Thai hubby for the farang wife's non-O extension. They even have a little print-out that lists all the docs the foreign wife needs to provide....I think it even specifies how many photos you need to provide.

Trembly-how long has this been in effect? My Thai husband has held dual citizenship and 2 passports for well over 20 years-and all without any problems from going from country to country-in this case Australia. He lived in Australia for nigh on 30 years and has never ever had a problem (Touch wood)

I was told this after pestering a Thai lawyer friend, I've never read it myself - so I can't confirm when this came into effect.

Given the King himself holds dual Thai / American citizenship, Abhisit holds a British passport and Thaksin holds Montenegran and Nicaraguan passports in addition to Thai, I can only foresee it being a problem if you wave your non-Thai citizenship in the face of a Thai immigration officer who is remarkably moody and / or ignorant.

Trembly we were told recently at a Thai Govt Dept that this Thai law was changed several years ago and dual citz is now permitted. I regret that I didn't ask exactly where I could find the information though.

Just re-reading this thread again as we are leaving in a few weeks. It's becoming quite an emotional time as hubby is very worried about how his elderly parents will cope without him. He is the eldest boy and has always been the one to help out on their farm whenever he could. Personally I think it's time for his many, many other siblings to step up to the plate but am biting my tongue as hubby and his family need to come to that conclusion on their own. He's also a bit worried about finding work but he's had assurances from people that provided he's willing to work a manual job there's plenty available. Other than that he's keen to go and get settled. Yup, I got me an adventurous one!

I think we tend to hear about incidents involving their planes because management are open to releasing details and discussing the incidents. I understand this is not the case for many airlines.

Should all I'm asking here because we tried to call on the number given recently in the pinned threadabout Imports but no answer - I guess they may not be open on weekends.

I'll ask here, think perhaps the pinned threads don't get too many reads....

Can anyone tell me what documents the Thai Govt vet requires to issue an export permit? We have originals and copies of our cat's microchip details, vaccination certificate, flight details & the photo page of my passport.

Do they need to see the import permit for the receiving country?

Also how long does the medical check and issuing of the export permit take? We're wondering if we could do this early in the morning when they open and then make a late morning flight?

Addendum to the above questions: Is it possible to do the medical & export permit on the day of departure?

Anyone done the visit to the vet at the airport recently? A couple of minor questions (we are going out there Monday)

- How long did it take to issue your export permit & do the official health check docs?

- Did the office want to sight your import permit (for the receiving country - in our case Malaysia) before they issued the Thai export permit?

What's with all these 'need woman's view' posts on your 'ladies' forum' - never heard farang (mostly) women being referred to as 'ladies'. bar tarts yes, farang no.

This the thai expat equivalent as some boring male bastard edging along the bar of your local pub to bore the shit out of you when you're just out for a relaxing one and a natter or so with whoever's in the same location? Yeah. I've met many of you. And I'll say trhe same as back 'ome.

Sod off and bore someone else with you're self inflicted self indulgent tripe. 'wimmin's point of view' <deleted>.

Not sure if you're angry at the OP for raising the topic, or for women having the audacity to have their own forum on TV. Noone's forcing you to read it, so - in your own words - why don't you "sod off".