menorah

Thailand just becomes a bigger and bigger ripoff of everyone who comes here. The greed that governs this country is gone wild.

Yeah its gone up a whole 100 Baht where will it end

The level of sarcasm and understanding by some Thai Visa contributors is as poor as ever!

It may only be B100 increase per person Mr Tafia...but with a predicted increase of 13.5 million travelers using AOT in the coming year, it certainly does not add up to 'peanuts'.

Why bother making a comment at all if you've nothing sensible to add.

As a rule I do any work I'm capable of doing myself and thus save myself money but take nothing from the 'Thai purse'.

My partner & I have spent the last 3 years renovating property she owns and for the last 2 of those years I've taken responsibility for any quality finishing, be it painted surfaces, ceramic tiling, electrics or architectural design.

Thailand is full to bursting with capable trades people, however, few if any possess any kind of professionally recognised qualification.

Thais are the original 'Jack of all trades..'. Don't get me wrong, the problem isn't they're incapable of achieving recognised Western standards, it's simply that they're not educated or encouraged to be better than basic!

On occasion, during some job or another, I've asked the worker what he/she thinks about how it's all looking, I always get the same response...".I don't think about it or I have no opinion" !!

The concept of taking pride in how work is executed and the end result are of no importance. Only the wage at the end of the week is important !

If the authorities should ever take me to task over my activities, which hurt no one, not even Thais since they don't want to work to my exacting standards, then I would exercise my right to exit LOS and find myself somewhere else to stay.

In fairness, my activities are carried out openly and most of the various government offices are well aware of 'the crazy farang ' who does all 'the donkey work' himself.

Most of them are complimentary as they recognise the discomfort an average farang endures working in heat & high humidity.

To date I've received much praise for my 'innovative ideas' and practical solutions to age old problems encountered by Thais when building property.

So, in short, there's an outside chance some 'Jobs worth' Thai official will 'go by the book' but he/she is most likely to be overruled by superiors recognising the greater good, ie financial spending, you contribute within the local community.

When your new passport is issued then the old one is in effect canceled and canceling your extension to stay now. How do you avoid the fine/overstay?

It amazes me, every time, how dim people are. The above question is a classic example of not bothering to read the relevant information, which was;

The new policy means that now when you get a new passport because the old one has expired you have to apply for a new extension of stay, with all the accompanying paperwork and of course pay the usual extension fee of 1,900 baht.

Put simply:- old passport about to expire, therefore apply beforehand for an extension of stay, thus avoiding over stay charge. However, to avoid extension of stay fee...

...anyone holding this visa needs to renew their passport while it still has at least 13 or 14 months validity. Usually the Homeland Embassy will compound any remaining time with the subsequent 10 years validity of a new passport.

But this is Thailand, so check Immigration for any opinion relating to the new passport number not matching the one on record and held against the existing visa. It should be ok as you have a legal passport in your name and with at least 10 years before expiry, as per Thai Immigration rules.

First part of video with the foreigner in the frame in slow motion:

It's sad that our American friend, Mr Eyeswideopen, ThaiVisa 'Advanced member/Suoer member, lacks all objectivity and wades in with his condemnation of 'huge numbers of farang' being unworthy of the privilege to visit Thailand.

For whatever reason, there can be no justification by this Thai swordsman, or any other nationality of swordsman, to attack another individual in this fashion.

I'm sorry Eyeswideopen's wife was so badly treated in Mexico, in deed it's shameful when other nationalities behave thus. However, consider the attitude of many Americans toward their Mexican neighbours and the reason for her experience may become apparent.

More importantly,Thai Visa is a forum for anyone living in or wishing to visit Thailand and provides valuable information but it's frustrating, on a daily basis, when events bring forth contentious commentary by the sanctimonious as well as the stupid.

Perhaps the time has arrived to carefully edit the dross and simply display posts which are balanced and objective and not based upon personal grievance or circumstantial guesswork.

I've 12 years experience here in Thailand, good and bad. I get frustrated with Thais on occasion and suspect the feeling is mutual. I enjoy the lifestyle here and the 'freedoms' compared with my British origins but I see the shortcomings on both sides.

What I don't need is self righteous condemnation of fellow farang by any self appointed Judge, Jury & Executioner. If the Thais wanted things different they'd enact laws to control antisocial behaviour by foreigners and Thai nationals alike. The fact they haven't speaks volumes. Enough said !

She says it's something to do with the direction you point a coffin at a funeral or something, can't sleep in that direction for that reason.

I'm not dead yet.

Have to humour them.

I was a monk In my younger days, I try to explain to her this has nothing to do with Buddhism, but I'm fully aware to you will never change their thinking and as it does not bother me and is quite entertaining I will let her be.

Not that we can really control them anyway.

How long have you been married?

And how long have you lived here?

Where, in Thailand, is your wife from?

The odd melding of ancient and newer religious beliefs, along with native and imported superstitions, varies a lot by region here.

Maybe best to try to expand your understanding of your wife's beliefs, rather than watching TV and expressing your negative thoughts by shaking your head, and then lamenting about your wife's beliefs on a public forum?

For an 'Advanced Member' your last comment is sanctimonious and undeserved. A public forum is perfectly fine for 'airing' what was obviously meant as a light hearted observation of cultural habits in some parts of Thailand.

I don't really get why you would conclude we are "guests" in this country because of that immigration incident. It's pretty obvious the immigration police have great power over us foreigners, and it is foolish not to adopt a kowtow like attitude towards them in this culture, but I don't see the connection to the guests rhetoric.

When you applied for your visa, of whatever description, you supplied requested information to the 'Host Country's' immigration department. In short you asked, "Please may I come in?" and they said, "why should we let you come in?" On appraisal of the requested info' they said "Yes".A guest if ever there was!

We can discuss semantics 'until the cows come home' but a guest is someone who enjoys the moment for as long as he/she makes themselves welcome. If found to be acting otherwise, like any guest, expect to be asked or made to leave.

Take a look at your own country's guidelines to immigration and you'll quickly see immigration officers have discretion to act similarly if the foreigner is contemptuous of requests for correctly presented documentation or behaves in a fashion likely to be offensive or unlawful.

I personally use Immigration at Nakhon Sawan and have never felt obliged to Kowtow, quite the opposite, they're approachable and helpful to the extreme....must be something about you!!!

I rather forget the whole US marriage certificate route and just get a Thai Marriage Certificate. They then said, you have to go back to the US embassy and get a certified document proving that you are "single". Okay sounds easy if I didnt get the marriage certificate in LA 8 months ago in the first place. So having no choice, I have to make a trip out to schedule an appointment with the Condoleezza Rice and while I'm at it, get and autographed picture as a souvenier ?!

Everyone I talked to said the US makes things alot more difficult than other coutnries...no kidding

What am I not knowing here? please help..

I'm UK citizen. The paperwork you're after is called an affirmation of freedom to marry. UK guys can download this from the embassy website, have you tried looking for same thing on US website?

I downloaded and completed the form. Went to British Embassy BKK to get it officially verified, took the relevant documentation to Laksi, like you, and 30 minutes and 600baht later was officially married. That was 6 years ago. been back and forth ever since. Have step daughter and year old son!

Moving permanently to Thailand in february, but using a 12 month multi non-o visa. Will consider the marriage visa after assessing things first!

Good luck.

I will be back in late January, more than three months after my visa was issued. My question is whether I have to apply for a new visa, or would my current one be valid? I do not see an expiration date on this one, just the date of issue.

Example: you apply for and receive a single entry Non O visa. You must enter Thailand before the visa expires, ie; 3 months from date of issue.

Upon entry your passport is stamped, you then have 3 months in Thailand from the date stamped in your passport.

Always check the date at Immigration....it may not be correct and require 'polite negotiation' on your part!

Good luck.

The one Thai word that Westerners seem to use all the time, and crops up all over this forum, is "Farang". But isn't it almost meaningless and vaguely insulting to the countries and cultures we come from?

Farang derives from Farangset, meaning French.... the first western culture to visit Thailand.

It seems to be the modern generic term for foreigner and can be irritating when used relentlessly, grow a thicker skin and use being a Farang to your advantage.

Embrace the culture, use and discard what you want. Don't try to reinvent the West or you'll soon be looking for another country to settle!

Paul.

. my wife has constantly sent money to her parents and I figured that if we got them to invest some of our money they could perhaps almost self sustain, and not need my wife to constantly poor money into them.

You're trying to change a cultural trait that has been established for millenia! Thai culture is based on inter-dependancy not independance. The parents will expect to be 'helped out'.

Best you can do is budget the 150K as a set amount each month. Unless the family are educated (unlikely) they will not be able to adjust to your ways.

Embrace the culture and invest onlt that which you can afford to lose.

Regards Paul.

Hello,

I've purchased a ticket to come to Thailand to visit my family (one who is resident there, and two retired relatives who are spending the winter months in Thailand), and my girlfriend (Thai national) for a longer period of time. It's a return ticket going out mid December and coming back end of March. I plan to visit friends and other family in Singapore in January/February.

So, I thought I could go to the Royal Thai Embassy in London, and apply for a Multiple (2) Entry Tourist visa, fill out the form, show my passport, (show bankstatements?, employers letter?), pay the fee and get the visa after 2 days (need to collect in person or not?).

However, upon reading material on the web - It states sometimes that the original ticket cannot be more than 3 months at a time? Even if I have a return ticket Singapore in January/February? Is this true? Or is it ok, what I'm planning to do at the current time?

Any advice helpful!

Cheers,

J

Log onto the Thai Consul in Hull web page. select visa information. Download Visa application form and follow instructions.

Multi entry visa costs £100 for year. You need to go to border office approx every 85 - 88 days to renew visa for following 90 day stay period.

Regarding plane tickets. You can enter with a one way ticket as long as your visa is valid beyond or up until the ticket return date.

Recommend emailing the Hull Consul, they will answer you within a day or so with best advice. You can obtain your visa by post using their service and they are far more efficient than going to Embassy in Gloucester Rd, London.

NB. even when you're legally married to Thai national you do not enjoy the same status afforded by western governements to legally resident foreign nationals.

Even if you can guarantee £600 per month income (pension..whatever) permanent indefinite leave to stay in Thailand is unlikely, unless you have vast financial reserves and a skill or something else the Thais desire!

Advice: Get yourself a Nationwide Flex account and Debit card. You can use the card in any ATM, there's no commission charges by N/wide or the Thai banks and when you get home your statementshows each detail regarding exchange rate and where the transaction was made. Been using it for 4 years and very secure and reliable. As ever, never divulge PIN, not even to your 'Thai family'.