JimGant

Nice photos. Clock tower in NKP is the "Ho Chi Minh" clock tower (apparently he had lived there eons ago).Stationed there during "Stupid American War I," I found this clock tower dedicated to Uncle Ho as somewhat ironic.

But nice to see it again.

Some Immigration offices won't accept a clinic's report, but require one from a hospital. At least this was the case a year or so ago, as reported on this forum.

A standard SWIFT wire transfer from Bank of America to Bangkok Bank incurrs a one time fee of $15.

If that means you never have to pay a wire transfer fee ever again, that's great. And the $3 rate (or even $10 for quicker service) is a winner, as my wire fees at USAA are $35.

If your Bangkok Bank account is set up for Internet banking, it would seem you could verify if and when the money arrives on-line.

Just wonder about security issues. Swiss banks issue crypto devices to ensure on-line security. And with USAA, they'll only wire money if the name(s) on the receiving account matches the account at USAA -- otherwise they phone check to the phone number on record.

How, I wonder, does BOA ensure security? Same name accounts, I would think (?), otherwise your money could end up in some hacker's account.

If BOA is pioneering this, other banks will soon follow suit IMO. I'm sure TV posters will stay on top of this, as getting money from farangland to Thailand is a popular subject on this forum.

I bought myself an electric trimmer and do it myself.

Could you provide photos (front, side, back) of yourself?

Is it true that the visa to "support Thai wife" allows application for a work permit, if desired, the other does not?

Yes.

maestro,

I can see why the confusion: the TV page you mention (left column) indeed refers to a "marriage O-A." However, literally, this is incorrect. (Some of these TV boilerplate reference pages *do* need to be up-dated; but not sure who to ping about it(?).)

The confusion is that 'O-A' became an all-encompassing shorthand for a stamp in your passport allowing you to stay for one year, based either on marriage or retirement. For most, this is a one year extension of stay, obtained IN Thailand, of your 'O' visa. Both 'marriage' (actually, support of a Thai dependent) or 'retirement' are the two criteria. On the other hand, the 'O-A' can only be obtained OUTSIDE Thailand at a Thai Embassy or Consulate -- in which case only 'retirement' qualifies as criteria.

It is easy to see why the confusion -- but it can cause some unnecessary hoops, as one chap actually paid for a police report in his home country, thinking this was necessary to extend his 'O' here in Thailand (the real 'O-A' DOES require a police report; extending in Thailand DOES NOT).

(leaving room for future additions from O-B to O-Z). All clear now.

Actually, there is an "O-Z" visa category. But it's restricted to Aussies.

What in the world does the police report need to say? Merely that you've reported the passport "missing?" Without a full court press investigation, what else could it say -- 'bugger looks honest -- probably lost his passport vice selling it.'????

I now have decided to take the plunge, next year, and apply for a non-OA marriage visa (see: I am gradually learning the jargon )

Well, not quite... The Non Immigrant O-A visa is the so-called "retirement visa," allowing for a one-year stay (vice 90 days for an "O" visa). It can't be obtained under "support Thai wife" criteria. Tons of info on the O-A on this forum.

If you meet the criteria for both "retirement" and "marriage" visa extensions, you may want to consider the "retirement" route -- which would bring the O-A into play. Again, several items on this forum comparing the two.

I've wondered what the implication of not telling the land office you're married could be (?). My wife, who kept her Thai last name, bought our land without my ever being involved. A few months later, I went to the land office for the first time to do the 30-year lease thingy. Our marriage status may have come up casually -- I can't remember -- but I've never taken a written or oral oath that the money for the land was hers. I certainly would have (even tho' it's "our" money) if the opportunity availed, or had become necessary.

But why would the land office need something that implies I have no claim to the land? It's not like the wife dies and I show up at the land office singing "this land is my land." (Apologies to Woody Guthrie.) What good would that do, since I can't own it? Also, her will would dictate in this situation -- and it says, effectively, 'if Thai law allows, I can own it. If not, then I can sell it or designate a relative to take title for my benefit.'

I suppose if our marriage ended in a pissing contest -- and I contested the ownership of the land -- the land office could show proof that the land was bought with her money. But, again, why would they even bother -- their only concern is about farangs owning land -- and Thai law is quite clear on that.

So, the only beneficiary in the above situation would be the wife -- and her lawyer, who would be gleefully waving a piece of paper from the land office saying it was her money. But in my situation, they won't find any paper relinquishing any claim.

But none of this was in my thought process when we bought the land. Plus, after 30 years together, there'll be no pissing contest. But I have wondered if somehow not putting me in the picture at purchase time was flirting with fraud or misrepresentation -- and if so, what could be the implications(?). None would be my answer -- but TIT.

yeah, for the most part, but when we fly, its sometimes a navy bird flying out of an Air Force base, so thanks for the landing strip guys!

Anytime. Just don't disturb our golf games

Hey, Pierre, how do we say 'aileron' in French?

We say 'aileron' -- we invented it!

Ok, so how the fuggin' thing work?

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(This thread is designed for infinity.....)

I was assuming of course that a 1 year extension had been obtained using a single entry visa..

I wondered about that *after* I hit enter.

After their interrogation the suspects will be sent to "retraining camps" to help them reintegrate into society,

Guantanamo's lovely this time of year.....and it will give them ample time to brush up on their Arabic and bomb making skills.

if you had just a single entry then every time you leave Thailand you would have to get a re-entry permit..

Well, true, but with single entry, visa is 'used' after your entry, so you're stuck with the 90-day 'admitted until' window you received when you entered Thailand. Yes, you could get a reentry stamp from Immigration to allow you to exit and reenter, but your original 'admitted until' date would not change. And if you left Thailand after 60 days, reentry stamp would be nonsense since you'd have less than 30 days remaining when you reentered -- so might as well just reenter on a 30-day 'visa on arrival.'

Multiple entry Non Imm 'O's aren't always 1-year. My last one was good for only 6-months (Embassy Wash DC), although they charged me the full $125 (my justification: married to a Thai). And latest post on their website shows multiple Non Imm 'O's will now only be issued to "former Thai citizens." So, OP's question may be moot, assuming he's looking at an 'O.'

by going through the 'staged' method you mention that I would NOT get a O-A visa, but just an extension of an 'O' visa?? If so - is that effectively the same thing as a retirement (O-A) visa - or would I subsequently have to go through yet another stage to get that?

Effectively the same. With an O-A, you enter Don Muang, say on Sept 1, 2005, and they'll stamp your passport "admitted until Aug 31, 2006." With an 'O' visa, you'll get a stamp that says "admitted until Nov 29, 2005" (90 days). Or with a tourist visa, "admitted until Oct 30, 2005" (60 days). Then you do the drill with Immigration in Thailand to get an extension based on retirement. Eventually, you'll get a stamp that says "application of stay is permitted up to Aug 31, 2006" -- samo samo one year you got with the O-A, only the effort was done on this side of the pond, where no police report is required -- and the physical is a snap compared to what it might be in the West (cost, wait, inconvenient). But in both cases -- O-A or O extended in Thailand -- come August 2006, both will be in the same boat, as now getting the second year in Thailand is idenitical for both categories.

Why get an O-A? Well, with some Honorary Consulates, it's relatively painless. AND you're pre approved, at least for the first year's stay in Thailand, before moving lock, stock and barrel to Thailand. [Caveat: If your O-A visa is not 'multi entry', you'll need to get a reentry stamp from Immigration should you want to leave and reenter Thailand during your 'admitted until' period.]

Seeker,

The Colorado Honorary Consulate, reviewing comments by several posters, has not read the ambiguities of Thai Immigration Law as favorably as some other honorary consulates in the States have. Suggest you try another.

That "O" visa can then be converted in Thailand to an O-A "retirement" vis

Not really. It can be extended if you meet the retirement criteria to allow for a one year stay. But no one in Thailand is ever going to stamp "O-A" in your passport. The practical results, per earlier discussion, are the same. But this confusion can, apparently, lead some to get police reports not needed if they plan to do the age, financial, and medical drill in Thailand, not in their home country.

Non-Immigrant O-A visas (so called 'retirement visas') CANNOT be obtained in Thailand. They can only be obtained at Thai Embassies and Consulates, including Honorary Consulates (at least in the US; there is some evidence that in other countries, you may need to apply for the O-A only at the Embassy). So, if you don't get an O-A abroad, but instead do the retirement drill in Thailand, the end result is NOT getting an O-A visa. Thai Immigration will NOT put any stamp in your passport that says 'O-A'. As Lop says, this is strictly MFA territory.

Again repeating Lop, only the O-A requires a police report -- and there may be additional requirements to have all paperwork 'authenticated' (notarized, or stamped by your foreign mininstry/State Department as 'official'). This varies by country, with Honorary Consulates seeming the least hassle. (expatinasia: why did you think you needed a police report to extend your 'O' in Thailand? Did you think you were getting an O-A here? If so, you're not the first -- and won't be the last -- to get hung up on this confusion)

LA Consulate requires you to be a US citizen -- not just a resident of the US -- to get an O-A visa.

Some Embassies/Consulates will NOT issue Non-Immigrant 'O' ('O' is for 'other') if your stated reason is to go to Thailand to retire. In this case you'll either have to get the O-A, or get a tourist visa and then do the progression to 'O,' then 'extension based on retirement' in Thailand at Thai Immigration. This progression is doable in Bangkok -- not sure it can be done at other Immigration offices.

If you qualify to extend your 'O' in Thailand for both 'support' (marriage normally) or 'retirement,' there are plus and minuses to both:

Marriage requires less provable finances, allows you to work, and doesn't require a medical certificate (although these are easy and cheap to acquire in Thailand). But on the downside, you'll usually have to wait over a month between application and the actual stamp, as more investigation is required than with a retirement extension.

Retirement extension stamps can be obtained the same day as application. And it is possible (according to at least one poster) to apply for this extension anytime during your 90-day stay -- not just during the last 30 days. Downside is: no work allowed and, of course, higher financial requirements.

Anyway, all this is somewhere scattered over this forum. Would be nice to have it all in one place.

What did I miss, Lop?

This doesnt sound right to me. I understood that I just had to sign papers saying that the money belonged to my wife.

Sounds like the bank might be following procedure for 'Thai married couple' buying property to be held 'jointly.' But, of course, this can't happen when a farang is involved, and as you point out, the only thing the Land Office wants to confirm is that the money is your wife's. Maybe having the Land Office explain what's what to the bank might help.

Using your mother-in-law as an interim would cost, as you'd then have to pay two transfer fees. I used this procedure with my sister-in-law, as we bought while in the States. At that time there was a special deal on transfer fees, but as I recall, it still wasn't cheap -- and I believe that deal has ended.

I guess the question that might need answering is: how accomodating is Hull on Non Immigrant 'O-A' visa applications? We've heard a lot about Houston, New Orleans, and Portland on this forum re 'O-A' applications -- but I can't recall anything about Hull (?). Do they require notarization of police and medical reports? (If so, that would be enough for me to just get a Non Imm 'O' and do the 'extension for retirement purposes' in Thailand.)

I'll assume the OP has researched this forum for the pros and cons of 'O-A' vs 'O' in regards to retirement in Thailand. And putting the employment question completely aside, I'd call/e-mail Hull and ask their guidance re 'O-A' vs. 'O'.

But for sure, as in the States, don't use the Thai Embassy or the official MFA Consulates. Too much bureaucratic BS bogs down -- or even nullifies -- the application process.

O/A's in the States CAN be obtained at both MFA and Honorary Consulates, not just the Thai Embassy. And long discussions archived on this forum give several reason why the Honorary Consulate may be the way to go. Would think Consulates in Australia have the same latitude -- but nothing's 'for sure' in this subject area, as roiet is finding out. Wonder if this is just Melbourne -- and just the flavor of the month? (Is Melbourne Consulate MFA or Honorary?)

A quirk on the LA Consulate site says that not only must you be a resident of the US to get an O/A visa, but you must also be a US citizen. I've never seen this anywhere else -- may just be a LA powertrip requirement. But beware -- if this shoe fits.

Thanx, roiet. Good info.

I just put in a well, so now I have both city and my own water sources to choose from. And I also now have two blue monster filters -- one specifically for the well water, which then goes thru the second one that historically has dealt with the city water.

But in talking with the well guy, I find I may not have known how to backflush these guys correctly. As I've got a lot of water pressure, do I:

Slowly open the valve that vents the backflushed water, eventually arriving at max opening? Or do I lay off max pressure, period?

Then, switching valve action to push filtered water thru the flush pipe, what's the correct procedure here? (This action must be required, I assume, because the water is pretty dirty immediately after switching from the backflush position, so I certainly wouldn't want the house valve opened until the filtered water runs clean.)

And what about cycling back and forth between backflush and filtered position several times? Good idea when filter elements recently put in? Never? All the time?

I've a filter in the house for final filtering of water I'll drink. Is there something about well water I should know? It looks and tastes fine -- but I'm non-skeptical about most things -- to a fault.

(Skin still looks ok too after a well water shower -- will it eventually fall off? )

Grace Dental gets my vote. Had a tooth guard made there that was heads and shoulders above the one made in the States (which broke). And when I got the bill, I thought they'd made a mistake -- much less than Stateside. Cleaning was very thorough; report that some of my fillings would need to be replaced 'in the future' (this I knew from my last Stateside dentist visit) -- no pressure to do replacement work now. Professional, clean facility. Adequate parking.

Thanx, Donnyboy.

Interesting take on CM -- and snakes at the Mandarin Oriental

NY Times, 19 June 2005

(subscription required, but painless)

But as he is married to a Thai he can get away with 400,000 instead of 800,000 baht

True, but if retirement criteria can also be met, this might be the way to go. First, it appears Immigration often gives 'same day' turnarounds for extensions based on retirement, while support extensions mean 'come back in 40 days.' Also, no family photos or police visits to neighbors with the retirement option. Finally, should Thai wife die, no hassle involved with new status as 'widower with no-longer-valid support extension.' ('tho I'm sure Immigration wouldn't deal harshly in this situation; but I don't know what happens if new widower doesn't qualify under the retirement criteria......?).