Sheist

Salt.

Ants won't cross it as they can't sense/smell across it, so they always go around. So make a big circle on the ground around the bowl with salt.

I sent him an email at his Ryan Law office with my number and purpose. He called back and I set an appt to meet at his office. Took very little time.

He is getting on, so I would not be surprised to learn he is limiting his hours or even passing it on at some point. Several years ago. I would easily try him again before I attempted to try another consulate. Good luck.

Sathorn Unique.

Combining Western excess to failure, with local fear of ghosts... KON UAD PEE!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sathorn_Unique_Tower

Everyone else is cheaper than InvadeIT, but only speaking of price here. Can usually get free shipping and/or a good discount code elsewhere also.

Check out tohome, ibuyathome, cdiscount (COD available), and in particular, JIB.

Heavy on the last two.

I have the original "SE" lifetime visa which requires me to extend every 90 days at Changewattana. Years ago this used to be ok as the extension was processed at the diplomat section so you would be in and out in 30 minutes to 1 hour. Some time ago they expanded the processing section to include student Visa's and now it take a whole day of waiting to get your extension which is a real drag.

Has anyone used the elite service to do the extension of stay for you? And if so what is the process. ( I know they can do the 90 day residence report but I am interested in the extension of stay report)

Also any news on the 5 year driver license?.

Successful 5-year renew of driver's license on PE. The Banglamung DLT seemed to be screening out renewal vs 1st license persons downstairs for the correct queue tickets so they weren't interested in the "type" of visa you had, only if you were first time or not. Woo hoo! (NOTE: your mileage may vary.)

With online reports of 90-day address now, that means only 1 visit to Immigration per year on PE. (SE is 4)

That could be reduced to NONE if you just leave/re-enter the country once a year. And, if you have acquired a new passport since arriving, this might be necessary if your online address report is failing for no reason.

(For PE, they do the 90-day address report "for you" only if you live in BKK, but online would still be easier for everyone.)

As you noticed already the only way is the Elite Card or the ED Visa right now.

Both has its advantages and disadvantages.

Elite Visa:

- One time high fee (500k THB ~10k brithish pounds)

- 5 years hassle free unlimited stay (no other visa can give you this!!)

- 90 days report at every immigration nationwide (or even per registered mail and soon online) 1900THB for every 90 days report

Wrong, sparky. Address/90-day reports are free for Thai Elite, the same as for every other visa with a "yearly" extension.

The online report rumor is true; the website is up, but not fully ready to go country-wide. Plus, it is currently http only, which means insecure, but perhaps that will be improved soon. Since some offices don't allow mail-in reports (i.e. Jomtien!), online will be perfect.

ED Visa

- Have to visits every 90 or 60 or 30 days your local immigration to do extensions of stay. This can take from 1 - 5 hours, depends on your location. This wouldn't be so bad at all if the immigration rules would not change every few months and many immigration officers wouldn't try to extort you for a few thousand baht extra about some alleged new regulations. I wrote 90,60 and 30 days because there were many student reports in this forum from the last few months which states that they didn't get the regular 90 days extension of stay. Instead they just got 60 or 30 days extension because the immigration officer was not satisfied with their language skills.

Actually, you now would go after 15 days, if approved, you go back at 75 days. In short, twice in your 90 day period. No extra charge for the 2nd visit; still 1900b per 90-day extension. I have also seen the proof of the "pay extra to be like before" fee, and railroaded students particularly at Chaengwattana... it is sad that the ED visa darling is no longer the charm here.

Wrong. Prices are not lower than $2.25 USD right now, and the median range is $2.30 to $3 (poor 'ole Los Angeles!). Gasbuddy dot com confirms it. Use the heat map and pick your favorite city or area.

Money is a tool; like a screwdriver, a motorbike, a pair of sunglasses.

Happiness is a motivation; an idea for action. I see many Thai's with an incredible capacity for forcing happiness despite hard work daily, and little money.

But whether money, like anything, can make you happy, that is up to the miserable person alone. Does sleeping with your screwdriver really make you happy?

Is the honorary consul still Forrest Smith?

He made the same mistake with me, oddly enough. He did not know an ED existed. The man is quite old, but a friendly chap.

Fortunately, I went back the next day to his office since I was still in Dallas at the time and had him cancel the Non-O and put a new full-page stamp in my passport with the correct visa with "ED" clearly visible.

Have 4.4.2 on my Mega 6.3 and do not see this issue. I can leave the phone off charge for at least 2 days without having to plug it in. I keep wifi on all the time, even while it sleeps. Has 3200mAh battery and the Note 4 has a 3220, by the way.

Suggestion: root it, and uninstall/disable any/all apps that are crapware. Crapware tends to seek data constantly and THAT will certainly drain your phone and prevent it from sleeping properly. Titanium Backup is a good choice that offers a "freezing" option which does not uninstall the app (if you are not sure about it), only disables it and removes it from your app list at the same time. Install ad blocking software (like AdAway) which prevents apps from sending/receiving ads that also wastes battery and data. You can Google for info on which apps are notorious battery-wasters, like Facebook.

It is more complicated to set up, since you have to install a custom recovery like Cyanogenmod or (recommended) TWRP2 or Philz (using ODIN and your PC with a USB cable, but there are step-by-step instructions), then you can flash SuperSU, after you reboot the phone into recovery, to give you root access, but there are many step-by-step instructions for your phone type on forum.xda-developers.com.

Perhaps unseen, answers the question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5vlco4yvSc

Welcome

Very good news that you are a new member

Join us on the Facebook page too

(Search for Thailand Elite Members)

This Facebook group is a very good idea. It will be important for us all to be in contact with each other to take action next time they declare insolvency.

All the pics with dudes posing with their Lambo's and Ferrari's and such... cracks me up.

I am sure there is an element in Thailand that will want to use this trove of photos and information as a one-stop-shop.... for nefarious pursuits.

What i have to fill out on the application form when im unemployed ? Business title, company name, nature of business, Business adress ????

Suggestion: Retired.

No business address, but you can choose to check from what field you worked, if you desire. It is just a checkmark from what general field, or you can specify in the Other category if you choose.

If you have a permanent address outside of Thailand, put that down for PERMANENT address. I think it helps, but for your CURRENT address (where you choose to have documentation sent to you within Thailand) you should put your current address within Thailand.

I hope this detail changes soon, as "might" the rule that gives us only a 1-year renewal eligibility for a Thai's driver's license instead of the 5-year you are entitled, after the full 1-year probationary license expires. Since the PE is a special "tourist visa", The D of LT only currently observes non-tourist visas for the 5-year renewal privilege, but was emailed back from TE that they are "working with the DLT" to try and change this.

jryanb, please keep us posted on this. I already have 5 year valid driving license but require IDP issued by Thai LTD. As you probably know, IDP is given only to those with non-tourist visas and 5 years valid licenses. I asked the TE guy who met me in BKK Immigration about this but he had no clue.

Here is my email thread response:

- At the first year you will get 1 years driver's license and second year we are now talking with the department that be concerned to get 5 years driver's license for Elite member. Once we get the final result we will inform you again.

Bedt Regards,

Chok

As I read the fine print, I think I see that you still must leave the country once a year or do some more paperwork once a year. The details are elusive.

The details are well defined and very clear although some of them are in the book they mail to you after you join the scheme :

1 - You must do 90 day reports like everyone else on long term visas

2 - I you haven't left the country by the time your one year stamp runs out you pop along to your local immigration office and get a 1,900 Baht 'extension of stay' which will give you another one year 'stamp'

Apart from the above two requirements you don't have to do anything else.

1 (90 day reports) is correct, and true for your local immigration office and Bangkok.. You can also mail in the report at least 15 days prior.

2 (extension), however, is INCORRECT, according to TE staff currently. You CANNOT go to your "local immigration office" for the extension. That can only be acquired in Bangkok, where you got the visa. If you do not live in Bangkok, it means a once-a-year trip for the extension, if you do not plan to leave the country annually. This detail is important for those who typically use Immigration in Jomtien, and/or Nakhon "nowhere"...

I hope this detail changes soon, as "might" the rule that gives us only a 1-year renewal eligibility for a Thai's driver's license instead of the 5-year you are entitled, after the full 1-year probationary license expires. Since the PE is a special "tourist visa", The D of LT only currently observes non-tourist visas for the 5-year renewal privilege, but was emailed back from TE that they are "working with the DLT" to try and change this.

Well this is interesting because I was told the complete opposite of what you're reporting here.

This text with my emphasis is copied directly from the PDF file sent to me by TE on June 5th, this is the PDF which they sent to me confirming my appointment to have the 5 year visa inserted into my passport :

Service Description : - Renewable 1 Year extendable stays without the usual need to leave the country.

- Stay extension obtainable at any immigration office or at any immigration check point

throughout Thailand except Bangkok International Airport immigration check point.

Below is the email response to my specific question. I sincerely hope I was told wrong and the above will be true!

This is my email thread with Chok (who has been helpful with about 15 email replies to me from "[email protected]"): (they do reply back very quickly, usually within 24 hours and will answer or attempt to answer every question, but like any/all helpdesks anywhere in the world... there is likely to be some "misinformation" provided to me here. The above response sounds MUCH more carefully stated than what I was told, so I am hopeful now!)

Aug 9 (10 days ago)

to Pattarachok

Excellent, thank you. One final question. Can I extend at Jomtien Immigration in Pattaya? I understand I have to travel to Bangkok to get the visa but I hope I can make further extensions here in Pattaya. Correct?

Many thanks.

Pattarachok Tangcharoenworakul <[email protected]>

Aug 9 (10 days ago)

to me

Dear Khun *****

Greetings from Thailand Elite ...

You can do only in Bangkok but if have any change i will inform you again

Best Regards,

Chok

Why would an illegal worker buy it? He would still be working illegal.

The 30 day visa run crack down was an apparent way of stopping people living, and working in Thailand illegally.

So, now they can buy an Elite Card and do not have to leave the country for 5 years. Of course, they can still be caught working illegally, but wouldn't you be a little suspicious of a 25 year old buying an Elite Card?

One could be forgiven for thinking he is working here, illegally.

So, on one hand, they crack down on it, and at the same time, offer 5 year visas.

This is why I see a problem in the future, one that they will eventually have to address, and possibly revoke the scheme, but this is just me speculating.

As I read the fine print, I think I see that you still must leave the country once a year or do some more paperwork once a year. The details are elusive.

The details are well defined and very clear although some of them are in the book they mail to you after you join the scheme :

1 - You must do 90 day reports like everyone else on long term visas

2 - I you haven't left the country by the time your one year stamp runs out you pop along to your local immigration office and get a 1,900 Baht 'extension of stay' which will give you another one year 'stamp'

Apart from the above two requirements you don't have to do anything else.

1 (90 day reports) is correct, and true for your local immigration office and Bangkok.. You can also mail in the report at least 15 days prior.

2 (extension), however, is INCORRECT, according to TE staff currently. You CANNOT go to your "local immigration office" for the extension. That can only be acquired in Bangkok, where you got the visa. If you do not live in Bangkok, it means a once-a-year trip for the extension, if you do not plan to leave the country annually. This detail is important for those who typically use Immigration in Jomtien, and/or Nakhon "nowhere"...

I hope this detail changes soon, as "might" the rule that gives us only a 1-year renewal eligibility for a Thai's driver's license instead of the 5-year you are entitled, after the full 1-year probationary license expires. Since the PE is a special "tourist visa", The D of LT only currently observes non-tourist visas for the 5-year renewal privilege, but was emailed back from TE that they are "working with the DLT" to try and change this.

Do you have any devices with a gigabit ethernet card?

If not, then you won't miss much and the DIR-605L from D-link (Google it...) is only 1190b at Power Buy, and it has an Android app so you can control, monitor and even reboot your router from your Android phone. You can even set it up to receive emails for things like when a new device connects, etc. Desirable feature are IP address reservation, which lets you permanently assign the same IP address to the same device so you always know what local IP address it gets from the router. It is a "300mb router" but I get the same internet speed as I did with my old DIR-600, but the extra features including the phone app are a must for control freaks like me.

4, 100mb ethernet ports, and you plug in your Internet connection source, or modem. Wireless also (of course), with latest WPA2 encryption.

You can set the router to be accessible only from within your network OR/also from the internet, so it isn't always accessible to the internet if you don't want that. (I don't need or use that either)

A visa is never transferred, but an extension of stay is. If you got 90 days on a visa entry, you do not have to do anything. They will take care of it at the border when you show both old and new passport.

If you plan to apply for an extension of stay, you will need to visit immirgation and they will take care of it there.

The form you will need to transfer the details is form:

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/transferstamp.doc

or form

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/changenewpassport.doc

(Form depends on if you have a new paspsort with extension of stay or not)

So which exactly is for a new passport that replaced an expired, and needs the old "extension of stay" transferred to the new? I've read them both and sadly, I am still farang-confused!

My new 90-day report date is still 6 weeks off.

Also, these forms state "Bangkok Immigration", so do we still use the same at Jomtien Immigration?

Finally, I wonder if anyone knows how "quickly" one should scoot down to Immigration once the new passport is in hand? I assume waiting for the next trip to do a 90-day report is not advisable? (or is it?

Try tohome.com. No fax required. Email works fine. Excellent email customer service, fast shipping, sometimes free ship promotion (with a 1xx baht handling fee), and the two times I ordered online (bank transfer) they had the best prices I could find anywhere online.

Good info. (if not slightly disappointing)

I appreciate the answers. Makes life a bit simpler...

Questions.

1. $70 + $40 = $110; is the $40 for extra pages?

2. EMS fee; Is this to have your new passport mailed to you?

Do you know if one can, for example, come back the next day or two (something reasonable) and pick up the new passport yourself?

I don't know anyone who still has a blackberry. People nowadays like big screens and the keyboard on traditional blackberries simply takes up too much real estate.

It is just business-related anymore. That may never change completely until RIM declares bankruptcy and the remaining holdouts are told to jump ship.

Dropbox will certainly follow and is a lot better than Gdrive.

I use Dropbox WITH Gdrive. You can put your Dropbox in a new subfolder of Gdrive, since most apps play nicer with Dropbox anyway, plus the folder specificity aspect.

CORRECTION. I mean 2 TERABYTES.