tutone

"... prohibits the selling of alcohol in temples, hospitals, pharmacies, government agencies and public parks... "

After being here for years can't remember ever seeing any for sale in these places! But the fine will really deter me - 3,000, wow - heavy man!!!

Actually, I did buy some beer on temple grounds a couple of years ago at a rocket festival in Udon Thani. How do they fine the monks? I thought monks weren't allowed to touch money, but they still seem to have plenty of it.

A suggestion would be to not check the answer "yes" about visas and when your wife gets to the interview then own up and say the web site had a problem there and explain it. I don't think this will be a huge hurdle.

Yes that is exactly what they advised me to do, but when I changed the entry, again I was unable to proceed to the next page. Another email to them and was told the applicants name had to be in capital letters. So I changed the letters to capitals. Same thing. I sent them an attachment showing the error page from the application and was told everything seems to be in order and they are investigating. Lousy website. I have even tried using another computer, thinking maybe mine had a problem. Same thing. Maybe the best thing would have been to use the telephone service instead of online.

Trying to get tourist visa for wife. Filled in and submitted e-form DS160. Received confirmation, no problem. Then went online to purchase a pin number and schedule an appointment. After purchasing the pin number and setting up an online account there is some personal information that has to be submitted in order to make an appointment online. One of the questions asks if you have ever had a U.S. visa. Check on "yes" and you are asked for the type or class of visa and when it was issued. Here's the problem. There is no option for a K-1 visa on the subject menu. My wife had one last year, we went to U.S. got married but she decided she didn't want to stay. So we cannot truthfully answer the question. The other problem is that if I indicate on the form that she has not had a visa before, the website will not let me proceed to the next page, saying I must first correct the errors on the page. There are no errors, I have triple checked and retyped the info several times. The consulate (Bangkok) has not yet responded to my e-mail about the problem.

Anyone else having problems with this website? It's called Visapoint.

Nice pics.

It's such a shame that so many posters on Thai Visa call for bloodshed.

It's very strange that these people calling for bloodshed are not banned.

I wonder why ?

is it i wonder that they don't know what it is like to live under a dictatorship and democracy is for the rich only or may be they are communists. the reds are the people there are a lot more than the yellow belly's who took power by taking it not winning it. and the reds they have nothing more to lose this will be a big problem for the government who are traitors to there own people apaist should stand down he has lost it .

this is killing the king as he loves his people in the north as well as the rest of Thailand. stop the killing now. all yellows should be ashamed of them selfs, you have all gone mad with power. when will it end.

stop the bloody war now!!!!! before its to late.

The red out number the yellows only because they are getting paid by thaksin.in which i hope thaksin is brought up on charges for all this terrorism hes causes.I hope dubia sees this a releases him into thai custody to face multiple counts of murder

Perhaps the leaders are being paid by Thaksin, but all of my wife's relatives and friends are Red Shirt supporters and many have been to the demonstrations in Bangkok. None of them have been paid a single Baht. They are not rich folks, some are quite poor. They believe in what they are doing, but recently I have heard some express some doubts and confusion about the direction these protests have taken. I think some of these folks think the Red leadership has gone over the top, and would rather have a peaceful resolution.

Are they blocking Hotmail ? Because for the last 1,5 week it's difficult to reach hotmail as well as many other websites (website my bank in the Netherlands and so on)

I'm living in Central Pattaya and I use TTNT for my internetconnection.

Anybody has the some problems ?

I have been having trouble sending mail to hotmail addresses from yahoo and gmail. So I signed on to hotmail and so far no problems. This was happening in the U.S. as well as Thailand. I Think the problem might lie with hotmail too intensely screening incoming mail.

I got it yesterday when I tried to log on to Delta Airline site. I hit the refresh button and everything ok after that.

letter from Embassy.

I use my Yellow tabien baan saves a lot of hassle.

In Udon Thani you need a letter of address from immigration to get a yellow book. I am in the middle of the process and have to go to Nong Khai tomorrow for the letter. I guess I will find out when I get there if they have stopped issuing these letters.

As it turned out I did not have to go to Nong Khai for a letter of address so I cannot say whether or not they are issuing these letters at this time. Hopefully having my yellow book will eliminate the future need for address verification.

letter from Embassy.

I use my Yellow tabien baan saves a lot of hassle.

In Udon Thani you need a letter of address from immigration to get a yellow book. I am in the middle of the process and have to go to Nong Khai tomorrow for the letter. I guess I will find out when I get there if they have stopped issuing these letters.

When I first started coming to Thailand I would just go to a taxi and ask how much and would usually pay around 500Baht. Then I discovered the meter. Since then my average taxi fare is around 250 Baht to the other airport or downtown. I think this is a great bargain compared to the states. So what is an illegal taxi? I was overcharged due to my own ignorance. At the time I thought 500 was a fair price. I've been to Suvi 3 times the last 4 months and have never been hassled. Just ask for a meter taxi and no problem. This sounds like some kind of publicity stunt to make tourists think they are not being scammed. Is anyone's arm really being twisted to make them pay more than the regular fares?

I think that would be about 248210 Baht a month. If exchange rate of 34.

How about it ? Very comfy ? somewhat comfy, so so, not at all comfy ?

Thx.

Is this a joke? You can live "comfy" in the states for that. Get out of Bangkok or the tourist areas (not good for kids anyway) and you can live better than 90% of the Thai folks and most of the falangs. Sounds to me like you haven't spent much or any time in LOS.

I AM AN AMERICAN WITH AN O-A VISA, AND HOUSES IN BOTH USA AND BANGKOK. I WANT MY THAI WIFE (UNREGISTERED TEMPLE WEDDING) TO COME FOR A VISIT TO USA. I CANNOT YET GET K-1, AS I HAVE NO CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE. SHE HAS A PASSPORT. HOW CAN THIS BE DONE? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE- JOHN

I noticed that you have not responded to any of the replies to your post. Are you in fact married in the U.S. and trying to hide this from someone? If you are divorced it is a simple matter of contacting the attorneys or court where you were divorced and obtaining a certified copy of your divorce. Something does't seem right here.

I have had tinnitus for well over 20 years. I really can't remember how long. I started wearing hearing aids about 4 years ago and immediately noticed my tinnitus had diminished but not disappeared. For me the quieter the environment the more likely I am to notice the ringing in my ears. So any situation that introduces sound to the ears seems to help me. If you have tinnitus you probably have a hearing loss as well and though expensive, getting hearing aids was one of the best investments I ever made. It opened up the world and cut down the inner buzz as well.

If you meet the requirements with your Embassy letter that should be all that is required. You should have bank book available (especially if marriage extension) and ATM receipts but bank letter should not be needed.

Except for Nong Khai immigration. For my one year extension back in April I was required to submit a letter from the bank along with copies of savings passbook. This was in addition to the embassy letter and other required documents.

The more I think about it, the more Thailand is starting to feel like the conservative 50s in the USA.

For those too young to remember, the dominant cultural ethos/pattern in the 50s in the USA was characterized (in large part) by extreme conservatism (in dress and thought), conformists ideology, xenophobia, and very bad music (e.g., How Much is that Doggy in the Window).

I see those same traits in Thailand today.......especially the music.......having to hear it is the equivalent of Chinese water torture......seeing it on TV is even worse.....like a bad nightmare or LSD trip in Las Vegas.

It was during the 50s that the country started becoming more liberal......and the boring music started to change to "rock and roll"........Elvis came on the scene......many others like Buddy Holly.

(Yes, I know the roots of rock and roll but no need to go there.)

Towards the end of the 50s, young people really started changing.........there was a rejection of conservatism.......liberal thought started to flourish.....music started becoming great......fashion changed.

By the early 60s, a full-fledged cultural revolution started to unfold........Dylan and Hendrix started to surface. Finally a total rejection of the past took place.......JFK, RFK, MLK.......some good politicians and activists took the stage.

Is Thailand passing through a similar historical phase?

Are young students waking up to the conservatism that is smothering their freedom of expression?

Will they eventually start their own "cultural revolution?"

Are you stoned?

Hi,

I drive a car or a motorcycle everyday in Chiang Mai, and I currently have a Pennsylvania Drivers license that expires in Jan. 2013.

I am living in Chiang Mai for now and I may stay here forever..., but not 100% sure at this point in time.

I do not want to renew my Pennsylvania Drivers liscence in the future.

What do I have to do to get a Thai drivers liscence or an International liscence? Which is the best choice or the easiest way for me to get a new liscence?

Thank You

Joe

I don't think you can get a legitimate IDP in Thailand. I believe it has to be issued in your home country. You could do it by mail with the help of a friend in the States. Having one makes it easier to get a Thai license. If you have a Thai friend or partner you should be able to go to the transportation dept and get things rolling. You'll need proof of residence (house book is best), passport, U.S. license, a recent medical certification, a letter from immigration. Hope that's all. After that it's a cake walk. I had my IDP when I got my Thai license so I can't speak to the process if you don"t have the Int'l Permit. So there's a few hoops to jump through but not to bad.

Its definitely worth getting. I have been able to use mine as an I.D. in lieu of my passport several times and one time it made a good impression on Thai cop and he let me out of a speeding ticket. Plus having it would probably take at least one bump out of a rough road if you were in an accident. Good Luck.

One more thing. I'm not sure if you can get a Thai license on a tourist visa. Might want to check if that's your case.

Sad very sad.

I made a bus trip to Mai Sai last week. Across the isle sat two cute Thai ladies. They giggled at me as I put

on my seat belt. I just smiled. I looked around and NO one had a seat belt on.

I know seat belts are not going to save everyone but I wonder how many had their belt on during this deadly crash and how many it MIGHT have saved if they would have been buckled up?

I think a lot of the Thai folks just aren't educated or aware of the bendfits of seat belts. My Thai wife has to be reminded constantly to wear hers and she still insists upon putting her grandson on her lap in the front seat. She just doesn't get it that a crash is going to throw her into the dash or window and maybe out of the car. There is really no attempt by Thailand to educate traffic and driver safety. Why so little fore thought to the consequences of one's actions? I guess it's the Thai way. I see it in so many endeavors and areas by the Thai folk.

I have never thought of this before, but as I have been invited to dinner to 'meet the family' for the first time, is there anything I should take?

In the UK you would maybe take a bottle of wine or something similar. Are there any customs here to observe like that on that first dinner at the parents house?

I am painfully aware of what the meeting itself is for and how to behave, being a helicopter, I have done this several (several?? ) times before, so that is not part of the question.

Beer, Whiskey, and Money

Regarding re-entry permits, does anyone know how much leeway one is given regarding the return date the applicant enters on the form and the actual date of return? Also are there any limitations on the length of time that one can be absent or out of country? Would I have a problem not returning for say three months and also returning for example 2 months after the date entered on the form as long as my current visa is valid (not expired). What happens if I miss my 90 day reporting date because I am out of the country? Thanks for all replies.

1. You must have enough time remaining on your "Admitted Until" stamp to allow immigration and yourself to go through the process, should be at least 21 days.
   
2. If you are going to use the 800K route, the money has to be on deposit in a Thai bank for at least 60 days before you visit immigration (90 days for subsequent extensions).
   
3. Bank book and letter from bank stating account balance must be current (within a few days) and the balance shown on both must match. Must also be provided if monthly pension does not meet the minimum requirement. [Monthly pension, converted to baht, times 12] plus Thai bank account balance, must equal at least 800K THB annually.
   
4. If using pension funds, your embassy must provide a letter verifying the pension income. Trip to Bangkok usually needed and maybe financial data shown, depending on your embassy.
   
5. You are going to need to first show the immigration officer that you meet the requirements for a retirement extension. The immigration officer will then issue you with a Non-Immigrant visa and "Admitted Until" stamp good for 90 days. After about 70 days, you return to immigration and get the one year "Extension of Stay" for retirement stamp. You could be asked for current bank account info again; i.e., do you still have the requisite 800K on deposit, or other amount as appropriate.
   
6. You could get lucky and immigration does it all in one visit if all your documentation is in order and the immigration officer is feeling magnanimous.
   
7. Remember to get a Re-Entry Permit if you plan to leave the country (I always get a single entry just in case).
   
8. Caution, everything is at the discretion of immigration and never loose your cool.
   
   

Above assumes a Tourist visa per tutone's post.

Thanks I.O. This is probably the most concise and to the point answer I've seen in a while. Can anyone tell me that they have done this procedure recently as I.O. relates and at what immigration office did this take place. Thanks again.

I am currently living in Udon Thani under a 6 month, triple entry tourist visa. I want to get a non-immigrant O-A (retirement) visa while I am here and not have to leave Thailand. Is this possible? A friend just went to Nong Khai immigration and was told that he could only get the retirement visa from a Thai embassy in another country (Ventiane, Laos in this case). I thought there was a process through which one could change from a tourist visa to a retirement visa at a Thai immigration office.

So could anyone tell me what I have to do and what the requirements are to obtain a non-immigrant O-A without having to go back to my home country or even to Laos for that matter. The Thai Immigration web site talks about changing to a retirement visa and the required documents, so I am unable to understand what happened to my friend and why the Thai immigration officers at Nong Khai could not help him. I wish I had been there to see for myself. If anyone has any insight or straight forward information for me I would dearly like to hear from you. I want to retire here and want to get off on the right foot. Thanks much.

I would guess there are probably several thousand of them in Udon Thani based on the way everything is all jammed together here.

Could anyone recommend a decent hotel priced at 1000B or less a night (approx.) that is within a short say 15 minute walk from the U.S. embassy. If this is not possible would I have any problems booking a room within walking distance without a reservation. Thanks.

Yes, this regards the 30 day visa exemption. Which is not the same as Visa on arrival. If you have a proper tourist Visa etc, things seems to be the same. Extending your tourist visa for one month would be the same. And going across the border to trigger the second part of your tourist visa would be the same. After that, 15 days.

Reason. is. Ive just run out of my NON O. Im trying to go ahead and get a tourist visa from Lao because i dont weant to return home to get another NON O till march.

If i go overland and come back and they give me a 15 day stamp, i will fly instead to get a 60 day stamp.

If anyone can confirm for sure please get back ASAP as i need to book my route today.

I can't confirm it, but reading everything makes me believe that as long as you have a tourist visa (say issued in Laos) then you can enter LOS at Nong Khai and receive the customary 60 day stamp. And depending on your plans you might want to get a multiple entry while you're at it. No need to fly somewhere.

Anyone, correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes. 30 days is routinely given.

I have seen several postings on the Udonmap site that says that Nong Khai is not granting 30 day extensions unless you can show a ticket out of LOS at the end of the 30 days. Any truth to this? If applying what are the particulars concerning required documents to take to immigration?

Does anyone have any specific information on what the fees are for excess luggage weight above the 20 kg. allowed by Thai Airways for domestic flights. Also, I understand two checked bags are allowed, so is this 20 kg. per bag or 20 kg. total?

Appreciate the info. Thanks.