Macclad

I,m going to go to my Thai bank to try and get proof that my UK pension entries originated there which should take me up to well over the 65k monthly requirements .

If they won't accept,as maybe I won't have 12 months entries, I will fall back on the monthly marriage requirements which I have met in a Thai bank since January 2019.

I did hear that Udon Thani will only accept the lump sum 400k and not the monthly amounts for marriage but can they do that if the 40k monthly option is included in their rules and regulations  ?

Yes sorry I  meant 400k and 800k not as stated. 

The office is at Udon Thani.I called in last week to ask about requirements for an extension. 

The guy I spoke to was pleasant enough but dismissive of my monthly income claims. 

He intimated I could only go down the lump sum route. 

I,ve had up to 60k paid monthly into my Thai bank account since January 2019 and 80k since January 2020.

I,ll check with my bank about the source of my Government pension originating in the UK. 

I should certainly qualify for an extension based on marriage with FTT transactions since January 2019.

I think sometimes it depends which IO you speak to on a certain day for the answer you get. 

This reminds me of when I was on holiday on Jomtien in 2005 and went to the Immigration office there to ask for the requirements for a marriage extension. 

He asked "will you be working? " I said "no".He then said you have retired. You must get a retirement extension not the marriage one. 

Of course soon afterwards I found out he said that because an extension based on retirement is less work for Immigration. 

Maybe this is a similar scenario? 

Many thanks for the helpful replies. They have put my mind at rest. 

No good me living in Laos if the wife and granddaughter are in Thailand 

I currently get approx 80,000 baht per month paid into a Thai bank account but I am unable to get an extension. 

Approx 60,000 baht is from a company pension with code FTT against it which is acceptable to Immigration but the other 20,000 is my UK state pension with code BTN which is not acceptable. 

I believe the UK state pension is paid via Citibank and not direct into my Thai bank account. 

I have been married to a Thai national for 16 years but Immigration won't accept 40,000 monthly. They say it's either got to be a lump sum of 40k baht or 80k baht for retirement which I haven't got available. 

Is there any way I can get around this   ?

I also look after our 5 year old granddaughter since she was 3 months old and her teenage parents split for good. I am down as her "legal guardian " so I wonder if that could have any effect with Immigration. 

I am currently on a Non Immigrant Multi O from Savannakhet based on marriage which expires at the beginning of August. 

Any ideas, thoughts, advice appreciated. 

Many thanks. 

Yes I was coming around to this way of thinking so that is what I will do. 

Many thanks for taking the time to offer your advice. 

I have a multi entry non immigrant o visa based on marriage which expires on the 5th of August. 

My last visa run was at the end of January and my next one is due on 26th April which obviously I can't do. 

 I was going to apply for a 60 day extension at Immigration but now there is an amnesty till 30 April, probably 31 May and maybe even 30 June. 

Would you try to extend before 26 April or wait till the amnesty finishes. 

I,d appreciate any advice from the experienced old hands on this. 

Many thanks. 

I have to admit that when Ranieri was appointed boss I thought Leicester were certs for relegation this season.

Since leaving Chelsea 12 years ago he's had mixed success at several European clubs and his last job was manager of Greece where they failed to win a match in Euro 2016 qualifying under him.His last match was a 1-0 home defeat to those giants of European football,the Faroe Islands !

But I'm glad to have been proved wrong.Leicester have been a breath of fresh air in the Premiership this season.I hope they go on to win the title although I cant see it somehow as they have yet to have a bit of a dodgy spell and a few injuries......but even if they qualified in 4th for the Champions League it would be a magnificent achievement.

Surely there must be some fanatical Leicester supporters out there ? Maybe they only speak Thai,eh ?

I was reading that the Bangkok Bank have recently opened a branch in Phnom Penh.

If you already have an account in Thailand you could open one in Cambodia with the same bank and transfer between the two.

Maybe lessens the risk of losing your money ??

Last time I was in the UK was between April-June 2007 and it rained nearly every day ! It was so boring and expensive and I couldnt wait to get back to Thailand.

Over here you are,more or less,free to do what you want but,as an example,as a middle aged guy on his own in England its uncomfortable going in a pub on your own at night when everyone else are couples or families.....you are seen as "johny no mates" which I suppose you are.....in Thailand no-one bats an eyelid.

Both my parents are dead and I've got an older brother but we have never been that close.I retired at 50,over 11 years ago,and have gradually lost contact with most of my friends in the UK.

I very much doubt I would go back to the UK now.If I asked someone could I kip on their sofa for a couple of weeks they would rightly see it as a nuisance intrusion in there lives and I wouldnt want to be thought of as that.

I've made my life here and its my choice.Even if it all went pear shaped for me here in Thailand there are other countries in SE Asia or even South America I would try.

I suppose the big problem comes when you can no longer look after yourself.....a bit of a nightmare......but if you have had a good 20 years or so of retirement over here you will have some great memories in your life.....and staying in a nursing home in the UK,with a blanket over your legs and being spoon fed prunes and custard by some uncaring individual is just as big a nightmare.

Cambodia.....you can get a 30 day Visa on Arrival which can be extended to a long stay visa for up to 12 months,if you wish.....cost is about 7,000 baht.

Phnom Penh,there is plenty of nightlife near the river which is probably the best area to stay.Plenty of female company and cheap beer.

Phillipines....I'm not sure.I think you can get a visa that lasts you for up to 18 months but you have to report to Immigration every 2 months.After the 18 months is up you have to leave the country.I believe the island of Cebu is about the best place to stay,a lot more so than Manila.But if its the ladies you are after then Angeles City is the best place to stay.Its about 2 hours drive from Manila.

For hotels in both countries you can always check on Trip Advisor.

Its been unseasonably hot up here in Isaan,as well.

You expect it in March and April but May and so far in June its been about 37c during the day and no lower than 27c at night.You would expect some rain from early May onwards but very little this year.

That said,we had a big thunderstorm last night and this morning its overcast with a fresh breeze.....heaven.

We were down in Hat Yai a couple of weeks back and it was noticeably cooler than in Isaan.

Note that you can also pay for your Visa On Arrival in Thai Baht as well as US Dollars.....current fee is 1500 baht.

A shocking tragedy....RIP Phil.

Evans has served his time.I guess only he or the young lady involved really know if he was guilty or not.It is a serious and difficult case.

He should be allowed to play again but certainly not at Sheffield United.I think abroad is easily his best option.

Mackay was daft to tweet what he did but I would hardly call it a serious offence.A fine and warning should be sufficient for this and no problem with him managing again.

Whelan.....to make the comments he did given the circumstances shows either complete arrogance or completely out of toach with reality.

For Western food try Buzz Stop on Chaiya Road......English grub plus Guinness on draught.

Some decent Thai seafood restaurants on Samila beach (as mentioned) and Dr. Cool Beach Restaurant on Chalatat road,overlooking the beach,has live music and decent Thai food.

The extensions based on marriage have to be sent for authorisation in Bangkok.

The process generally takes a week or two to complete so you will get a temporary extension in your passport,also.

Its true that now only one person can authorise the extensions based on retirement in the Udon office.

If he/she is unavailable for any length of time you will get a temporary extension in your passport and be told to return later,usually within 7 days.

Hopefully this will only be for a short time and things will return to normal soon.

Prachuap Khiri Khan is just south of Hua Hin,so surely this topic should be on the Hua Hin-Cha-am forum ??

Prachuap Kiri Khan does have some nice beaches south of the town,notably Ao Manao which is very scenic.About 10 kilometres further south is Hat Wa Kaw which is a quiet beach but very clean.

North of the town is Ao Noi which is a small fishing village with a few quiet beaches dotted around.

As regards the town of Prachuap Kiri Khan,it is ringed by the 8 kilometre bay of Ao Krachuap.Not he best for swimming but there is a promenade you can stroll along close to the town centre.

Not sure what its like living there.....the guys on the Hua Hin- Cha-am forum should be able to help you though.

Hows about this scenario......

Say you have been getting a Multi Entry Non Immigrant O for several years and getting up to 15 months use out of it every time by doing the 90 day border runs.

The last time you obtained this visa back in the UK you had to show financial proof of 1400k GBP monthly but this visa works for you as you go back to visit family in the UK and can leave Thailand as often as you like.Also you dont have to do the 90 day reporting at your local Immigration office.

But useing this method your passport will have many visa stamps in it.Suppose after August 12th you try to do your 90 day visa run to say,Laos,and after stocking up on the duty free try to return to Thailand where your home is.

Could an Immigration Officer not look at your passport and say there are too many visa entries on it and refuse you entry ? Or would they give you 30 days by which time you would have to extend based on marriage or retirement ?

The Thai TV broadcasting regulator said that all 64 World Cup matches should be shown on free TV not just the 22 games but dunno if the pay TV have appealed against this decision,so it might still be up in the air ??

Yes.....maybe Flanagan.....I'd forgotten him !

Townsend ruled out and Kyle Walker unlikely to be fit in time.

Opens the door for Caulker,in defence,and Wilshere likely to be included now.He is a good player but very injury prone....thats why I only put him as a wildcard.....goes off injured after 30 mins in the first game and thats the end of his tournament.

If Walker is unlikely to be fit, I'd like to see Coleman of Everton given a chance, he's had a solid season.

Its unlikely that the Republic of Ireland will give permission for Coleman to represent England in this years World Cup,I'm afraid !

The thinking behind Caulker is that we would still have Jones of United to cover Johnson at right back.......who would the alternative be ? Smalling ? Oh dear.

Townsend ruled out and Kyle Walker unlikely to be fit in time.

Opens the door for Caulker,in defence,and Wilshere likely to be included now.He is a good player but very injury prone....thats why I only put him as a wildcard.....goes off injured after 30 mins in the first game and thats the end of his tournament.

I think your squad is more or less spot on.....at least for 21 out of the 23 names.

I reckon Hodgson will go for Andros Townsend and James Milner at the expense of Caulker and,quite possibly,Wilshere.

Wild cards will then be Caulker,Wilshere and Defoe.

Just read that 2 ONE-WAY tickets in the named of the stolen passports were issues by a travel agency in Pattaya.

Hmmm... if that's the case, it raises a lot of red flags for more than just the obvious reasons. If you're flying to China you either have to be transiting through or you need a visa. If you have a one way ticket, you can't get a tourist visa (although a return or onward flight could be booked through another airline). So, that begs the question, were there onward flights for these passengers? They would have had to show proof of another flight before they could board the plane in Malaysia. Or, did they have a Chinese visa? And if they did, how did they get visas with stolen passports?

Officials must know the answers to these questions....but we haven't heard a thing about it.

The two people who had false passports had onward flights from Beijing to Amsterdam and from there one would have gone on to Denmark and the other to Germany.

They would have been only "in transit" passengers in Beijing and thus wouldnot have required a visa for China.