roberteales

I've put a 'Part I', because I'm sure they'll be a part II.

Hi, Rob here again...

My Thai visa expired today, so I took the overnight train from Bangkok and Hey Presto - here I am in Vientiane. Unfortunately today (Saturday) the Thai Embassy is closed and also obviously tomorrow, so it looks as if I'll be submitting my application for a non-immigrant 'O' visa on Monday, collecting it Tuesday (I think) and then buggering out of here on the same day.

Anyway, this morning I arrive at Nong Khai train station and a tuk tuk driver offers me a trip to the border for thirty baht. I agree and halfway through the journey he asks me if I have a Lao visa, which I reply that I do not. So he then asks me if I want one, which I reply that I do, as it would save fussing around on the other side of the border. He then takes me to somewhere which is advertising Lao visas for 1,600 baht. I do not have any dollars on my personage, as I am aware that to buy one in Laos costs 30 USD. So I ask the dude behind the counter how long it will take to process and he tells me ten minutes.

To cut a long story (and indeed it is one) short, I pay my money, the visaman fills my form out for me, asks me for a photo and then before I know it a car has pulled up. The visaman then tells me that I have to get into the car and that I will be driven over the border. Thinking that I have already fallen for a scam, I board the car and approach the border. Coincidentally, don't you just love those Thai Immigration Officers? For saying that Thailand is supposed to be the land of smiles, they certainly do not give a newcomer to the country a good first impression.

Anyway, after getting my exit stamp I am driven over the Thai - Lao friendship bridge. On the other side, the driver of the car queues in the 'Lao visa on arrival' queue, produces thirty dollars and then several minutes later I have my visa and he buggers off back over the Friendship Bridge. The long and short of it is, I could have done the whole thing myself for probably a few hundred baht cheaper.

Oh well, you live and learn!

Afterwards, I take a taxi (in a car which I think is actually older than myself) to Vientiane for 150 baht. Halfway there, the taxi gets a puncture but the driver gets out and changes the wheel within the space of five minutes, which quite impressed me actually.

Anyway, first day in, I've already had quite a bit of Beerlao and am quite looking forward to some more. I'll be in touch quite soon.

Cheers,

Rob

Dear readers,

Please could you let me know of the most convenient Thai exit point for going to Penang, Malaysia.

Also, I'm currently on a non immigrant b visa and wish to get an extension. Will immigration give me one easily? If so, how long will they give me, and also how much will it cost?

Kop Khun Khrap

I do not know of the name of the companies in question but if you pick up the Bangkok Post you will find plenty of advertisements for assistance with work permits. They are mostly legal firms, and obviously their advertisements do not read: 'Under the table work permits for sale'.

I phoned one several weeks ago, and the Thai woman who answered the telephone told me that they list you as being either a consultant or a singer and it is a real work permit and you do pay tax also. I know, as well as everyone else, that this is illegal but even people with real work permits are breaking the law, like teachers who have several teaching jobs outside of the one on their work permit.

Feel free to get in touch again, should you wish to ask any more smart-arsed questions.

Robert

Cheers again for the much needed advice.

I am under the assumption that prior to July (ie. now!) I don't need to show funds in the bank for an o visa. Am I correct?

Robert

Another question, my fellow farangs in need...

Considering the immigration crackdowns that have been occuring recently, does anyone think that it's a good idea to get one of those work permits that are always advertised in the classified section of the Bangkok Post? You know, those ones where it is actually a real work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour, but you're not working where the permit says you are, and doing a different job as well, like a singer or a consultant.

I have considered this avenue but would like other people's opinions.

Thank you,

Robert

If anyone can read that phonentically and understand what it means, I was asking if there are any Thai embassies or consulates that are open one the weekend (barring Khota Bharu). Travelling in the week is difficult for me, and my visa always seems to expire on the weekend. Preferably a border country to Thailand. Thanks for any advice, in advance.

Rob

Thanks again.

I didn't know that you could get a one year extension in Thailand. I'm currently on a b visa but want to change it to an o. I will be taking to Penang my marriage certificate, my daughter's (with my Thai wife) birth certificate and her Thai ID card?

Do you reckon that this'll be enoungh?

Cheers again for the advice,

Rob

Cheers, Lop and Pong,

I have heard that Penang is starting to get awkward for some reason. Have you heard this?

Will Penang give me a one year non imm o visa?

Thanks again

Rob

Hello people,

I am an Englishman who has recently married the love of his life for seven years, who is a Thai lass.

I aim to go on a visa run in the next couple of weeks as my current 'B' visa is almost expired. A buddy told me that the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, Laos only issues three month non immigrant 'o' visas. Ideally I would like to go to an embassy or consulate that gives me one that is valid for a year (but I do know that I'll still have to do a visa run every three months).

So if anyone can let me know where to go I'd appreciate it. I was thinking of somewhere cheap and easy to get to, like Penang. Does Penang do one year ones, if not then where?

I hope to hear from you soon, anyone that can assist a bloke requiring much needed advice.

Robert

PS. The good Doctor Patpong gives sound advice, so he is more than welcome to reply.

Knock Knock

'Who's there'?

'Doctor'!

'Doctor Who'?

'How did you guess'?

HA HA HA..............UUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH

Crap joke, but nice reading.

HA HA HA

HO HO HO

CHUCKLE CHUCKLE CHUCKLE

Is it true that you can get a work permit on a marriage visa? I heard that you couldn't work on an 'O' visa at all?

Does the fact that you have a marriage visa make it any easier for you to work at all?

Me and the missus are not legally married but will be doing so soon, so just before the new laws change I'll go to a Thai consulate in another country, show them my marriage certificate and then be guaranteed of staying for another year.

Regarding someone who e-mailed about the UK laws, yes I was actually refering to the amount of asylum seekers who enter each day. Thailand doesn't have an asylum seeker problem as there are no social handouts to attract them.

On top of that though, I will eventually return to the Motherland but not until my child is at schoolbearing age, then hopefully I should have saved enough quid.

Robert

First world country that can't speak English?

And with Thaksin chasing out all of the English teachers, the place will suffer even more.

<deleted>

Whining about it on a web forum wont change a thing? What do you suggest then, everyone keeping quiet and letting them know that we're happy with it all?

I doubt that Thaksin or any Immigration official looks at thaivisa.com in his spare time, but this site is used by lots and lots of foreigners. It would help us all if we stuck together during events and crises that we didn't like. At the end of the day, we can all share our ideas and eventually something good may happen. The way to get what you want is to discuss things first, but nothing will be achieved by telling all of those Farang men with Thai wives and kids out there like myself,who have a possibility of being seperated, that they're whiners.

It is not the increased fees so much that concerns me anyway, it's all of the other <deleted>.

Robert

The new laws that are coming into effect are RACIST. One person who replied to the initial topic quite rightly pointed out that it will break up families. These new regulations are almost certain to backfire after they come into effect but because of the 'losing face' issue in Thailand I would say that it would be next to impossible to get them reversed.

Who the heck is responsible for thinking up these 'Keep Farangs Out' shemes? Thaksin? In the UK it is much easier for a foreigner to come and stay for a long time, even though many of them have no money and get social handouts every month. Not all, but many Western Farangs in Thailand contribute greatly to the Thai economy, but the Thai government are not likely to see how much money they will be losing until the laws do come into effect.

I myself have a Thai wife and child but will be forced to return to my mother country as soon as all of this craziness occurs.

My only last hope would be this: His Majesty the King is a kind, caring and compassionate man. If like myself you will find it extremely difficult to stay here after this July, write him a letter explaining your situation. Maybe he could and would intervene on your behalf. Other than this, it is the only thing that I can think of.

Best of luck to you all, who share my concerns.

Robert

I'm currently in Khota Bharu, having just sub,itted my applcation for a Non-immigrant 'B' visa at the Thai consulate here.

The man told me that I would have to go somewhere else if I wanted to re-apply for another one, as this was the second one that I had got from there and I hadn't produced a work permit.

Just letting anyone know, who may be thinking of coming here for the second or third time for a non-imm.

Rob

Ten years is a long time to get away with being here on tourist visas.

I've been here for nine months and worried that my next trip to Malaysia to apply for a non immigrant visa may be refused, as I don't yet have a work permit.

Am I being paranoid, or what?

By the way, does anyone know how easy or tough it is to get visas in Laos and Cambodia?

Rob

Hi Dr,

Cheers for the reply. If for some reason my application for a 'B' visa is refused, then would they alternatively give me a tourist visa if I asked for one? Would I even be allowed back in the country?

Rob

Hi all,

I have a visa run coming up next week. My current 'B' visa (which expires next week) has a little stamp on it stating that I have to present my work permit before re-applying for another 'B' visa.

I plan to go to Malaysia (don't know where yet) and I was wondering if someone could let me know if I might have difficulties getting another 'B' visa. The reason that I'm paranoid is that I do not have a work permit, but do have a company letter asking for a visa.

Should I be concerned or not?

Please advise!

Robert