goodguy

Hi themongoose, did you email them to the agent?

Hi there, I am sponsoring my wife to join me here in the UK and she is applying herself without my presence there in Thailand.  I am here in the UK sending our kids to school here.  Anyway, having looked at the Application website, the link for uploading documents web page is no longer an option.

"Applicants can upload their supporting evidence from their own computer, basic details are supplied on the VFS website, the option is or the VFS staff at the VAC will scan and send the documents for a fee."

This seems no longer to be the case.  Do any other members who uploaded there documents sponsoring their wife  for a UK spouse visa have any other experience with this?

Sorry guys, you don't get it.   That is a government road.  See the powerpoles.

Here is a link to my friends video of a road ploughed out by a very greedy farmer in Don Phaya Yen circa Muak Lek.  

This happens all the time especially in the wet season when the soil is soft and malleable.  Eating the road as it is known.  Same thing happens to farm boundaries.

On 8/19/2019 at 4:39 PM, Speedhump said:

Thanks. So if they are prepared to jump through the hoops of a new visa every two years instead of extension they must be really hard up. So I guess it's a good thing they should have local health insurance (although the minimum level of cover demanded is hardly enough to have an op for an ingrown toenail, should be lot higher). 

Op for an ingrown toe nail?  Are you kidding?  Back here in the UK,  A local Chiropadist did just that, how much?  Ten Pounds.

OK Ubon. That's interesting.

Do you copy the whole passport or just some selective pages?  I normally just copied a few years previous extensions, the visa page, and the photo page and the page with the departure card stapled in.  This year that seemed to be OK.  My wife and I signed every stamped photocopy, received the passport with the date to report back and started heading back home.

Not so fast, the wifes phone rang with the immigration lady asking us to return with yet more photocopies including the four passport pages we failed to submit.  In other words they need the whole passport with any visa extension stamps photocopied.  Is that the new norm?

They already have photocopies from all the previous years.  I have stayed in Thailand continuously following for the past fifteen years.  This is my second passport with the visa transferred in 2013.  

How about you guys?

The letter was issued first in English,  my wife had a template from last year which the bank lady copied and made in Thai, the addressee being Thai Immigration.  So the final letter was all in Thai except for the foreign currency deposits being shown in their native xe abbreviations.  No problem at that stage with the immigration lady accepting the Thai bank letter in Thai and photocopies of my bank book.  She didn't want the letter of the statement of the past few months supplied by the bank.  Who knows what they expect next year?

Should the bank letter be addressed to whom it may concern and written in English , or addressed to immigration and written in Thai?  Anybody has experience with letter rejections?

Thanks!

This week I drove my old German friend to Suvarnabhumi and said goodbye to him.  After a short while his wife's phone rang with a very angry German husband on the phone.

Just to lay out his care and attention in getting a Re-Entry Permit Stamp a a good month before his departure, he is on  a retirement visa extension.  His EU Passport had all the required TM6 departure card etc.  But, there is a particular Officer who seems to enjoy victimizing any Europeans or (Farang) who present their passports for a departure stamp at his departure passport control booth.  He does not understand Visa Extension stamps, Non O Visa's which have been transferred from an expired passport to new valid passport.  He can't speak English or German well at all.  "You stay in Thailand long time" is all he can utter before he then makes the victim stand for  an unreasonably extended time on the red footprint stickers on the floor where they are supposed to photo the Farang before giving them a departure stamp.  He tries to summon his superviser with a sort of button he slams (smacks) on his counter numerous times, meanwhile the queue behind is backing up.   Then the traveller is summoned to the bosses desk for his parousal of the traveller's passport with all the extension stamps in.  The boss can't speak English either.  My friend who is  78 years old, can barely speak English anyway.

I personally had exactly the same experience in January.  The officer in the uniform is a nasty piece of work.  I had a Re-Entry Permit, Non O Visa which I have kept alive since 2003, (that really seemed to be huge red flag for him) I have the original Visa Number on Visa Transfer stamp on the first page of my current passport.  I had to point this out to the boss myself at his little desk behind the scenes.  It took about 20 minutes all told.

I was really surprised that they have such officers in a such an important position.  If I didn't have a family here.  I would probably not bother with being here at all.  Next time I go out of this country I would like to photo the guy.  That would probably be illegal though.

Meanwhile downstairs on the Ground Floor, the six tourist police all have their heads down playing with their smartphones in their glass cubicle oblivious to everything.

Dear me.

Where can one find a color photo copier in Bangkok to do normal color photcopying for a passport renewal?

Sorry to hear about your predicament. He is essentially forcing you to leave Thailand, put 400,000 Baht in the account you want to show him when you will have to reapply for a 12 month extension, after you have returned, after you have applied for an Non Immigrant Visa at an overseas embassy and returned to Thailand.

Did he put any note or stamp or anything at the unfortunate meeting? You will need to act fast, to prevent the worst case scenario from eventuating. It's worth getting Sunbelt and paying whatever it takes, which will be a lot less than the airfares and the rest if you have to get out.

He was fishing for an under the table payment, the reason he was examining your papers was really an opportunity for him to receive his bribe. A lawyer is cheaper than a bribe.

In hindsight it would have paid you to have had the 400,000 plus baht in the bank for the three months prior to your extension etc.

Then maybe you would have just had the wait and even had him have to come to your house to inspect and photo your marriage validity, drawn a silly map, take all your own photos they so desperately need year after year or even better, move away from Bangkok and Chaeng Watttana and do it in a regional office instead.

Warning, Ayuttaya is worse. Try Korat or Saraburi.

Get a lawyer fast.

The guys were sitting on the wall. So, why did you talk to them? Why didn't you simply just move the bike yourself and ride home? How did you know it was his bike? Maybe it wasn't. Maybe you set the whole thing up for yourself. He was speaking Lao to you. At first it was not too bad. When you make a bid deal out of it maybe you brought the whole thing on yourself. Which area is your school?

I talked to them because they were my students - and his bike had blocked mine - I had seen him on this bike - it's quite distinctive.

It's Thai culture for teachers and students to converse.

It's also Thai culture for the students to show some courtesy to their teachers.

I understand Lao/Isaan as I have been in and around this area for 17 years.

My school is in Kalasin - should I have accepted his bad manners and simply brushed it off?

He admitted today to the Director that he swore at me and apologised.

I find your post interesting - were you a social worker in the west?

Thank you for answering a few of my questions. Maybe you could have put your additional information in your original post. Was I social worker in the west? No I was not, but maybe I could make some more money counselling a few frustrated Scottish educationalists in Thailand. You are taking things far too seriously there in Kalasin. Use your imagination.

The guys were sitting on the wall. So, why did you talk to them? Why didn't you simply just move the bike yourself and ride home? How did you know it was his bike? Maybe it wasn't. Maybe you set the whole thing up for yourself. He was speaking Lao to you. At first it was not too bad. When you make a bid deal out of it maybe you brought the whole thing on yourself. Which area is your school?

I applied the same way, several months ago, the local teacher came round to the house on her motorbike and delivered and picked up the completed forms. Today, I had an interview with the Thai Headmaster/Principal. I discovered, the local area schools all had a big meeting yesterday and stipulated to all the Principals present, the conditions. 1. 50 hours a month. 2. 200 Baht per hour. 3. 4 months duration. 4. 40,000 Baht budget for my name (I was accepted and on the list).

The Thai Principal is a very nice guy and wanted me to start straight away. I was prepared to accept the original offer made at the house of 16 hours a month for 10,000 Baht, but this is no longer the case in Saraburi area, for Native English Teacher Assistants. Part-time would have been OK, but 50 hours at 200 baht an hour? I cannot accept.

As for the Work Permit. They had no idea about it but were prepared to phone the local immigration office about it. I hear that local Department of Labour handles the WP. Is that correct?

If they come up with a better offer, I told him I could be interested.

This is no surprise. The time of night on one of the most perilous stretches of highway in Isan. It's worse when the trucks of sugar cane are monopolizing that stretch of road. One is lucky to be alive anytime in Thailand. Total contempt for driving laws is the proud past time of nearly every idiot behind a wheel in Thailand. 12 year old's, driving Daddy latest off road vehicles , lifted, 4x4's, with the super size tyres, believe an indicator is to force trucks and other traffic to radically swerve to avoid their insane antics. as they erratically change lanes. The parents are proud of their prodigy, and blatantly boast about their twelve year old's amazing abilities. We must all be on our way to heaven, because Thai Drivers are already running hell. It can only get worse.

Sounds like a typical over pass overtake, where the thai just assumed the other car would get out of the way.

Happens all the time in Koh Samui, and it's a daily scare if you don't keep your eye on the road,

and move out of the way quickly. Since thai's hate to face responsibilty for their mistakes, it's not to surprising that the driver fled. All the passanger were young and had a whole life ahead of them, it really is a shame for their families, and if this was a local thai accident, all hell would break loose for their loss.

Very sad indeed for the tourist.

Sorry, what do you mean by "over pass overtake"?

Another car trying to pass are a car going slower,

or safely due to the conditions. That is over pass overtake.

WHAT ?

Sounds like a typical over pass overtake, where the thai just assumed the other car would get out of the way.

Happens all the time in Koh Samui, and it's a daily scare if you don't keep your eye on the road,

and move out of the way quickly. Since thai's hate to face responsibilty for their mistakes, it's not to surprising that the driver fled. All the passanger were young and had a whole life ahead of them, it really is a shame for their families, and if this was a local thai accident, all hell would break loose for their loss.

Very sad indeed for the tourist.

Sorry, what do you mean by "over pass overtake"?

BKK to LHR, Jan 20, return Jan31, Total: THB 41,710.00 Adult x 1 27,200.00 THB Tax14,510.00 THB Total THB 41,710.00

AKL to LHR, Jan 20, return Jan 31, Total: NZD 3,225.14, Adult x 1 2,945.00NZ, Tax 280.14NZD, Total NZD 3,225.14

Adult x 1, 74,310 THB, Tax 7,067 THB, Total: 81,448 THB

How on earth are the taxes on a flight from NZ to London compared to Bangkok to London being 7,443 THB cheaper? Is it because it doesn't stop in Doha? How can anyone find out the TAX amount for any particular part of the TAX bill being quoted by Airlines being justified?

Only today on one of the most dangerous areas in Thailand. Seven Buses in two years, numerous daily deaths, they now have a new peculiar way to turn left. You may be driving straight ahead, in lane, not too fast, then, the idiot behind you, overtakes you and turns left in front of you, causing you to brake. This week, around 15 times, today was twice on the way home. It pays to invest and check you brakes are in top condition, because, the Thai's almost certainly are not.

Presumably, Bangkok is now the Toxic Wastedump the Klongs always were. Do the Thai even have a Sanitation Department at the best of times?

Today I went on the due date to receive my answer for my Extension of Stay in the Kingdom of Thailand. November 3rd 2011. My wife attempted to phone the Lopburi office in the morning around 9:00AM and got no reply. 0825391964. Khun Kriteenan. So we drove up there, around 1 hour and 20 minute drive from our end of Saraburi province.

Not surprisingly, there was no answer regarding the Extension. They informed my wife they were not going to give another "Under Consideration" Stamp in my Passport, this is, they said, totally unnecessary. They were adamant about this. They cited: (Chaeng Wattana being underwater, Soi Suan Plu now taking over, etc.) So I would advise anyone else to; phone there regional office before driving/travelling in for any answers regarding Extensions of Stay in the Kingdom of Thailand, to really try and telephone their office first and hope they can get an answer to their call, before venturing unnecessarily over to their regional office for an answer.

So now, we have been advised to wait for them to call us when the answers have arrived at sometime in the near future.

They even declined the opportunity to put a new date stamp in my passport for re-reporting for the answer. So tomorrow never knows.

I am not surprised there was no answer, but surprised they declined to stamp another date in my passport. Maybe there is an ink shortage?

How is it going regarding answers and stamps in other provinces?

Od carribean 50kmh info, as where would LPG get speed info from in a carb engine vehicle with mecanical speedo, and why not change before 50kmh?

Usually an automatic system changes to LPG when coolant has reached 65C, as thats what temp is needed in vaporator to blend LPG to perfection.

Vitara, basicly no ide, but if you tell what engine, I can check if any LPG durability history is available

Honda 4 valves, few run more than 60k km without issues, non 100k km, in our 60 car (taxis) installations

and Toyotas are not obvios LPG durable, the taxis have a modified 1,6 and new Altis 1,6 comes with 2 different engines. One for gasohol/petrol, one for CNG/LPG/ gasoho/petrol, all taxis use the latter engine

in general a petrol engine with 2 valves (not 4 or 5) is more LPG durable, as it has more head surface to absorbe the increased combustion temp caused by LPG

Thanks Beachbum

That makes good sense about the head area the heat needs to be transferred away I guess.

Important about Toyota too because my gf runs a slightly ageing but very serviceable Corolla 1.3, think it's about 15 years with 240,000 km on the clock and I have suggested now that the conversion prices have come down she uses LPG. She just makes two trips a day half an hour 27km each way so I suggested the manual conversion as she can just turn the switch one time per trip whereas I'm thinking of the automatic as I'm in and out of the car all the time. Manual only 14,000 now and Auto 24,500.

I'll look up my engine but it's the standard Vitara 1.6 petrol injection think the year is 2000 +/- one year. It's in really good nick I've kept the engine up well after a silly mistake, new head, new water pump, rad, mounts etc though still on only 150km. All done by Suzuki. I'd like to keep this car indefinitely if I can reduce my 6000 per month to say 2500 or 3000 with LPG, but don't want to screw it.

Thanks Cheeryble

All done by Suzuki? Which Suzuki workshop, where? We run a Caribian LPG with a manual switch, it starts up and runs OK if we keep the revs up,over 1000 rpm, while it warms up. If we turn on the AC it will stall/nearly stall while it is warming up. It seems like when we use 91 unleaded, the fuel has evaporated out of the fuel line so we prefer to start with LPG and switch over to 91 if we need AC while it is warming up. Once she is hot, it starts instantly after a short pause, like a couple of hours. We need to find the Suzuki Parts Dealer, in Korat, Suzuki don't want to know about Caribians though Vitara's are OK.

On Monday, my wife hopes to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to apply for a new Thai Passport at Chaeng Wattana.

Sunday, May 1st is Thai Labour Day,(A Public Holiday) Is Monday part of this holiday, and will she be able to apply for a Thai Passport then?

Thanks