therealworld

In September 2011 the British consulate which is next to my wifes office said 'they were taking over our office' this was news to her. After trying to find out what was happening she had a meeting with Consulate officials in March 2012. At that time agreement could not be reached over how much of the office could be given up however in April my wife agreed to their request and notified them. To date they have not had the courtesy to even reply and the closure was the first news she heard.

Obviously we know how busy they have been with queues daily and even the previous Honorary Consul suggested that they were making money. So as previously mentioned the cost and travel/inconvenience surprises me as being cost effective - for whom!

With all the natural catastrophes in the world it is not surprising that desease follows right behind, mostly water born and stemming from lack of sanitation.

In Pattaya we have not had any earthquakes or other major problems but we still have health hazards and in particular one man made one - Raw sewage being pumped onto the street. For days now the road contractors have diverted the drain run off whiich contains sewerage direct onto the open road in Soi 5 (Immigration Soi) Jomtien.

Pattaya city council have been notified but just do not want to know. It will be interesting when it hits the headlines as people are already suffering from sore throats and headacres, perhaps worse ro come, so stay away if you wish to be healthy

We waited 3 years in our old office for promised ADSL connection so in end moved to new office in Jomtien. Bought maxnet 2Mb package and fine until June now lucky if we can connect to overseas web site and emails some times never come. Last speed check showed 18kps in! Thinking of changing to CAT but 3 times cost and reading these articles are we wonder if we wre ' leaving the frying pan and jumping into the fire'. Any comments would be appreciated

Took 15 minutes to conenct and make this reply!

Hi

Remember when you used to call in at the cafe and Mr Kenyon the Hon Consulate would deal with your request or, if you had a genuine urgent problem he would drop everything to help.

Well us Brits now have a super new building with armoured glass (so no bombs or guns) and an intercom to speak into so everyone around hears what you are saying.

So I am conducting a survey to see what we think.

I would appreciate your comments good or bad (no foul language please) on the new service and the friendliness/helpfulness of the new consulate service.

Edit: Send a PM to member if you do not wish to make a public post.

Many thanks

The real world

History. Perhaps if one looks at who is bankrolling the 'yellow brigade' they will find it is the Thai elite, they who lost a fortune in the nineties crash and having blamed foreigners for their ill have no concern what the world thinks, they more than likely have 'squirelled' their money into somewhere safe and could not care about tourists. It is the average Thai who will suffer and the status quo will continue, they will be kept in their place as before. The 'red brigade' on the other hand have shown to the world restraint and initially gained sympathy but unless they get their timing right this will soon disappear. Both sides do not want to lose face but care not for the ordinary decent Thai

or really retire – a terrible thought!

You really need to get a grip. Your problems are hardly suicidal in nature. A lot of us go through far more inconvenience to stay here.

Obviously you do not have a sense of humour or do not see mine! Of course there are many who are in a worse postion as in anywhere in this world and one should always be thankfull just to be alive and kicking.

UPDATE

Their Foreign Legal Adviser Raymund responded by email next day, so far so good. Gave him all the details and over the next week had various correspondence. Today he came back with two alternatives. One, apply for a marriage visa, this will mean paying more tax but also need THE WIFE. She is however back in UK earning money to keep her poor old husband in the way his wishes to become accustomed (if you beleive that you will belieive anything). So plan two - apply to Bangkok immigration for an extension to the retirement visa and told that they will grant it with a Bangkok address on my form. As this cannot be done until 1 month before expiry will have to wait now and see what happens.

To answer an earlier question the Labour put a stamp in my passport right opposite my passport details. Apart from laundering it even they could not fail to notice so had to answer when asked 'yes' I have work permit.

Whilst this exercise is costing money at least Sunbelt are trying to put right a wrong done by their former employees and as a business person I think that is an exception in certain countries!

Will let you know the outcome after a trip to blighty

A tale of Woe

Whilst not wishing to sound like a goodie goodie I have all my life (65+now) tried to obey rules and the law of the country I am in.

Having been coming to Thailand for nearly twenty years and living here for four I obtained the correct visas therefore avoiding the necessity of doing visa runs. I have invested over 20m Baht in Thailand for the benefit of my family and happy to do so (well reasonably!).

Being active keeps the body in reasonable shape but the mind? What to do, why not bring over the business I operated in the UK. Now as usual the Thai grapevine is full of advice mostly to keep a low profile but anyone who knows this type of work realises I am the salesperson not my Thai wife.

So off to Sunbelt Asia Pattaya branch who I have used over the years. No problem getting a work permit on my one million baht company which owns land. No Thai employees required just my wife as MD and me a director. No Problem that my visa stamp had been changed to a retirement one. So yes back came the permit with a requirement to pay 1,500 baht every month.

Great until I went to renew my visa today, ‘Cannot do, must have a 2 m baht company, 4 employees and lucky they have not rescinded my visa so far, I did smile in between ‘crying’ well looking sad.

Back to Sunbelt Asia but the staff that dealt with it have left and legal matters are dealt with in Bangkok, no help or advise, sorry would have been nice or a contact.

So yes we know that visa permissions are different to work permits but WHY? It only makes the black economy bigger with less tax revenues, all those that work in the background are laughing at me, and yes there are ways around it but by bending the rules. It makes me think at my age I will take up drinking (teetotaller at the moment) or really retire – a terrible thought!

Addendum. Sunbelt have restored my confidence, having emailed Greg Lange MD his client manager replied within an hour and promised a follow up by his legal adviser

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If you were a Thai and were able to be instrumental in changing immigration laws, how would you do it for the good of Thailand.

To keep this simple I am only going to list a few of the most used visas. Feel free to add one if you wish. You can respond to one, all or none at all - your choice.

• Illegal immigrant or visa overstay. What should punishment be if any?
  
• Tourist visa
  
• Work visa
  
• Married to Thai visa
  
• Retirement visa
  
• Other
  

It is assumed that you understand the existing laws or you would not know what you are changing. DO REMEMBER you are looking at this is a Thai not a farang, so do what you think is best for Thailand not your farang self.

Tell us what you would change and how it would help Thailand. Thailand is counting on you.

In general I think that the Thai's are going along the correct path, it is only a pity about being 'able to use a brown envelope' in certain cases and as with other countries embassy officials some interpret the laws differently. I should also add that I operate (legally a visa business for overseas visas but not allowed to mention it)

So

Illegal and overstays as they are but rigoursly enforced, overstay and you must pay a fine or imprisonment for gross breaches and stamped accordingly in passport with the latter refusing entry for the latter

Tourist visa, 30 day on arrival or apply as per now at your local consulate for a 90 day. This covers all legitmate tourists. No extension within three months - no more visa runs!!

Work permit (obviously biased). Apply for a non immigrant visa in your home country as at present. Obtain a job and complete an application for a permit, again the supportive job should be substantiated and will allow you to do that job concurrently with your visa. At the end apply for a renewal. None of the 1/2m baht companies and number of Thai's employed. WHY? there is already a list of prohibited occupations, it will make the whole thing more transparent (hate that word) and bring out of the woodwork all those hiding behind their wives and make then pay tax. What tax, well that is another topic in its own right

If you have a contract to do one off jobs then again apply for the non immigrant which with a multple re-entry will overcome the point mentioned under tourist.

Still think that 90 day signing on is a good idea

Married to a Thai and not working, leave basically as it is. Proof of income is the thorny point (brown envelopes). Perhaps show as we do at the moment your financail status in your home country and the amount you have brought into Thailand over the last three/five years legitimatley plus ATM transfers. Many have brought in sums to buy property and hence require day to day expenses only

Retirement and marriage would be the same, but consider lowering the age limit. In other words if you want to live here, you have a job or are retired and can prove your financial posiiton

Would suggest they amend the property laws to say owning 2 rai with property that has been purchased correctly, would ease those that have invested in Thailand for their future

This is only my immediate response and no doubt many flaws so it really is something that should be taken seriouolsy and thought through properly!!

PS wish I could get Ispell to work so apologies for spelling

Just another tip

Write to her and send photographs of your residence and the area, plus your family with names on the back. Address the letter in English and Lao (get her to email address in Lao). Tell her to keep the envelopes as well as the contents and do it regularly

good Luck

Lloyd

Whilst it is 3 years since we last applied, my Thai wife had obtained several schengen visas for holidays in France. These were from London, FOC and sent and returned by post within 48 hours. On the first one they required a translation of the marriage certificate (English OK) STAMPED as an offical translation by the Thai Consulate on London

Whilst fully appreciating the need for the two parties to be able to converse otherwise what sort of marriage is it. It is my mind the standard of the so called test likely to be adopted. My wife obtained British citizenship and at the time had to pass ESOL 2. This revolved around conversation so she managed it. She had also passed her driving test and has had her own business and other work so she is contributing to the UK economy (when there).

However my point is that had she needed to take the latest English ESOL 3 and 'Life in the UK, she is unlikley to have passed. Indeed any UK citizen I believe would have difficulty.

So yes have a test but surely it should be based on conversation and perhaps some knowledge of the UK not the rediculous (some) questions that appear, and as mentioned who will be allowed test whilst abroad?