anotheruser

58 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Hardly surprising when they are only growing by 700 members per year.

Nice to see you back so you can add your thoughts as the disinterested third party you are though. 

Looking to buy a second hand mini van, preferably around Bangkok or Pattaya. PM if you know anybody selling.

There you have it, an easy way for a Thai national to go get their money back.

Just now, cyberfarang said:

Are you sure about that?

Ax long as she has money she is pretty for me. comprende?

She can stay at my place.

.

20 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Hardly surprising when they are only growing by 700 members per year.

At the minimum level that equates to more than 10 million dollars.

For the service to work as a "luxury" for rich people. They would have to do a few things. Here are a few ideas they could do to make it better in these regards.

1. Unless you are flying in to affix the stamp you should not need to go meet CW immigration or the nearest immigration to you. I thought a cup of tea or coffee in an area away from the main hall would be nice. In hindsight, they just make you sit and there is no need to be present for any reason. You are never scrutinized by immigration in person. They could obviously have a clause that you may need to appear in person. This however doesn't need to be a mandatory thing.

2. 90 day reporting. They should keep a list of the dates for reporting and email you just before it needs to be done and send a courier to your house  (possibly at your expense) to pick up your passport and bring it back. I am uncomfortable giving my passport to other people so I would like it to be signed by TE that they personally are responsible for it's safety should anything go astray. You can drop it off at TE office in Chong Nonsi but to go there and come back to my house I just go to CW myself. One trip instead of two.

3. Transport to any (with in reason such as Bangkok) airport 24 times a year whether they operate there or not. So if they aren't in Don Mueang I can still get the limo. It isn't my fault they have plans to expand next year. Do what you can for me in the mean time it doesn't have any impact on sending a car.

4. Obviously let at least two people go through fast track together. It is completely insane to assume that more than one person in any given party would have elite visas. 

5. Bank accounts. Instead of requiring me to have a special letter and appointment, a member of TE staff with a copy of the passport waits in line and opens the account for you with out having to be physically present. Again if there are any questions or doubts the applicant may be required to appear in person.

6. A SIM card could be  included in your welcome package.This is easy to do and the last villa I stayed at in Bali gave a local SIM upon check in. It had a few minutes on it for calls and to use internet all you had to do is top it up. 

I know I am dreaming but if they did those 6 things there would be the appearance of some sort of VIP service. They are trying to add value and are falling short. If they can't deliver convenience sell it for 380,000 for 5 years and drop the pretense. That would be pretty fair.

Nothing in any of my suggestions is that hard to do and none of it costs anything to do. They are selling it as hassle free and that hasn't really been my experience so far. Nobody even seems to know what a PE visa is including immigration officials at airports.

Take it easy mate. Nobody thinks that your wife is a hooker. It is the other guys wife.


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The fact that you aren't the OP and feel the need to defend your GF who I never said a word about is somewhat odd. 

Just now, LivinLOS said:

 

However the expectation that you can live in a cheaper, sleepier, less developed country and have free, instant, unlimited right of access to a more developed country with supply chains.. Seems.. well.. unfounded.

 

Access for residents and business people is a privilege, not a right.. 

I never said it was a right. I was just explaining the impact it will have for some expats as one poster didn't seem to be able to understand the implications. 

10 hours ago, JLCrab said:

So everyday life in PDRLao depends upon virtually unrestricted no-cost access across international border to Thailand. OK.

You really no nothing about living in Laos do you? Look at what is sold in Laos and you will see that the country is very dependent on Thailand. Why do you think many things are priced in Baht? I will give you a hint... because they are bought in Thailand.

Virtually every restaurant in the capitol gets their stuff from Thailand. For an example of how it affects people let's say theoretically you live in Thailand. Now let's say they say you no longer are allowed to shop at any mall, Tesco, Big C, Tops, Rimping, powerbuy, homepro, Thai Watsadu, global house, index, robinsons, Mark and spencers, and the list goes on and on.

If you really don't see how not being able to access all of those regularly try building a house with out them. There really isn't much available in Laos and it does affect the development of the country. things are slow because literally every single thing you need has to be trucked in. 

Over 90% of consumer goods come from outside of Laos. If you want sticky rice and lao lao and live in a thatched hut you can get the stuff for that in Laos, for anything else it is imported.

That isn't even taking into account health care. So yes to answer your question everyday life is deeply dependent on having access to Thailand.

41 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

There is finger wagging, admonishing, advice, political correctness, and indignation in 90% of the responses to this thread. Only some very few realized it was a joke, and a rather good one. I suggest you all take a deep breath and read the OP again, without preconceptions.

shhhhh let them take the bait. They are like moths to a flame.

15 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Nothing new about that. In the last 25+ years, I have almost never met a farang with a really hot wife unless she was a hooker - not a lot of really pretty hookers either.

Normally the ability to clean the house and cook an egg is the bar that has been set. The egg is not even cooked particularly well. Not having a penis seems to be a bonus if the girl looks too good.

We should believe in the good inside all people. Let her go ahead and send the money. Full me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

What do we think was said?

5 hours ago, ldiablo72 said:

I am aware of that, but nowhere in the OP's post does he state he has legal residency in Laos.

This is missing the point. Assuming he does live in Laos it is still a huge inconvenience that disrupts everyday life.

That's true thais in Bangkok are different


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6 hours ago, sandyf said:

Either a non beer drinker or limited bar experience, the majority of bars, particularly the popular ones, don't sell large bottles of beer.

In Pattaya there is a growing number of what you could call expat bars selling large beers at reasonable prices. In Bangkok you are probably looking at upwards of 120 for a large Chang, struggle even to get a small Chang in the 60/70 price range.

Typical Pattaya mentality. Everything that costs money gets equated to bar fines, short times and the price of a Chang. 

35 minutes ago, Mangostin said:

I have to agree with Cockwomble, next time make sure she's at least on the level of a Red Label....

Red label taste on a moonshine budget?

Sure she worked at Robinson's and learned English there. Anyway my suggestion stands.

lol Great post.  Seems like you have a working formula so I wouldn't change anything

11 hours ago, smotherb said:

While I agree if she makes B15-20k/mo already, the problem should be solved; but your assumption that his girl was a prostitute is a bit off, isn't it?  Do you think all Thai girlfriends of farangs sold/sell their bodies?

No not all but I do think this one does or did. I am no detective but the fact she has no job and is being supported by a Farang who has a condo in Pattaya are things that set my spider sense off. The fact she seems to have a few Pattaya contacts in the taxi industry and has places to stay there is another give away. The ability to speak English is also sort of suspect. 

All of this seems rather odd for a farm girl from Issan don't you think? don't worry my opinion doesn't matter but if I was right then my question stands. Why not let her keep doing her thing to buy her own business? There is nothing wrong with that anyway.

18 hours ago, JackThompson said:

The existing restrictions on serial visa-exempts converted long-termers under 50 into Tourist-Visa users.  This changed nothing except blocking frequent short-term folks, who immigration was still letting through on visa-exempts, even after the visa-exempt crackdown, since they clearly were not working.  Most of those who *are* working are Lao and Cambodian, and this doesn't affect them.  With the entire history of every Thai-visitor in the immigration system, adding a "date/day-counter routine" would be child's play.  So why, really, then?

 

Other possibilities: Maybe they don't want money being spent in "those areas" in the North and East.  In Bangkok (where most planes land), no problem (for short-termers).   Also, many expats in situations similar to the OP, and/or with health-issues, may decide to live in Thailand full-time. 

Can't speak for people in Cambodia but this affects every single person I know living and working in Laos. To say anything otherwise is to admit you have no clue at all of what you are talking about.