samuibeachcomber

thanks ubonjoe,maybe look at Khota Bharu,i guess its a consulate and same docs. apply,is it on the thai border,will have to get a map,but thanks your info.i think i'm going to go the 60 day multi entry way and wait and see if exchange rates improve and then bring money over,and season for 3 months.and re-apply for retirement visa.

ubonjoe i have contacted guest house in penang re tourist o visa and am waiting their reply.with regards vientiane,if applying for a multiple entry tourist o visa can you tell me what docs.are necessary,and do you need to show thai bank a/c and how much money in the a/c you have to have.My g/f do not have marraige cert. yet.Still have to go to embassy in BKK for stat dec.

thanks to all for your imput,i have some thinking to do................where is "thinktoomuch"

On the bright side of things, if you are denied an extension for seasoning reasons, it isn't the end of the world, just think of it as a travel opportunity. Malaysia and Laos can be very enjoyable destinations.

yes thats true,i would really like the multi entry but laos is such a hike from samui.Do you know what docs i would need e.g. bank book up to date,passport photos,resident certificate from samui immigration stating my address in thailand,and do i have to front up to consulate/embassy more than 21 days before expiry of retirement ext.

after being told by the office i was too late to season the money i asked about marriage visa.was told no problem just go to tax office fill out form pay equivalent years tax equal to 40,000 baht per month bring marraige licence,house book and ID of wife and then i not have to show money in bank,but this information was from same source that had originally said i did n't have to season money for retirement extension as it was my 2nd extension,only to change that when i visited today.

My g/f had previously gone to a higher officer there and asked about marriage visa requirements and was told i would have to provide proof of regular income from outside thailand and she would have to provide tax receipts.S o its very hard to know what really is what.

The general rule is that when using the COMBO method, you do not need to season the money for either a first or subsequent extension.

If using the 800K only, the general rule is that you always need to season the money for 3 months for the first extension, but some offices have adopted a policy of not requiring seasoning for subsequent extensions. I recently did such a non-seasoned subsequent extension at Jomtien with nary a comment. Several reports from there that this is their policy, not "letting people by" as a poster characterized it. Sorry to hear about the Phuket bad experience.

it must vary with each office,guess i was unlucky.

Interesting point... If you are renewing a retirement visa, do your funds Have to be in a thai bank, or will a letter from the embassy confirming sufficient deposits in a bank in your own country work? My monthly income has now dropped a little below the 65,000 bhat per month, (due to the declining exchange rate for British pounds). Thus I will need to show a mix of income and capitol. It seems lunacy to transfer funds to a thai bank whilst the exchange rate is so poor.

Failing that, can a farang open an account in British pounds in a Thai bank, and leave the funds unconverted?

i think the money has to be in thai baht in a savings account.

When your extension is nearly finished get a Tourist Visa from a nearby Consulate.

With at least 21 days remaining on that go to Immigration and get it changed to a Non O Visa . (2,000 Baht)

With about 3 weeks left on that your money will have been in the bank fore more than 3 months. Apply for the Retirement 12 months extension again. If you can get a single entry Non O Visa that would be even better as it would cut out the need for the upgrade.

It,s a bit rough on you but that is the official rule.

thanks lite beer,i was thinking of going to penang(currently live on samui)but would really like to get a multiple entry tourist visa.Do you know what consulates/embassies are offering this service and do you know if there is money in thai bank account qualification?

My retirement visa expires on 08/01/2009 (will be 2nd.extension)

on my last 90 day report in sept.i asked samui immigration when i needed to top up funds and was told one month before visa expires and today i returned to their office to find out latest i could transfer funds (rotten exchange rates the reason) and was told it was too late, funds have to be seasoned 3 months before.So now i have to decide what to do next.

First thought was to apply for marraige visa but i cant show regular income from overseas(money tied up in term deposit)

2nd thought was go for a tourist visa(60day+30day)multiple entry.Does anyone know(1)where i have to go to get this and do i have to show money in the bank to qualify and if so how much.

help would be appreciated.

sometimes the forum is serious,sometimes funny,sometimes flippant,take the rough with the smooth.liken it to a bunch of guys/girls sitting round a table communicating,am sure you get the picture!

"Tell me tell me tell me the answer...............where do i sign up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Pdaz...............pretty much sums it up,sad but true.Have you been to Krabi?it still looks unspoilt.

Ssssshhhhhhh ! Don't tell anybody ......

...especially to the hordes of package tourists, who are over there already since years.

was over there in aug.and it seemed very quiet,good tarmac roads,no litter,proper wheelie bins and earlya.m.rubbish collections,clean beaches and water ,beautiful islands to visit and lovely longboats for transportation,i guess the package tourists will be there dec/jan.period,but the locals have got to make some money sometime.

well diamondjack how do you know that Palin's not correct?Learned scholars believe the aborigines, (in australia)are the oldest living(still alive)species known to man and are at least 40,000years old.IMHOi f you can believe that,then you will believe anything!

OK. let me put this another way.

Personally I haven't even tried the Thai wines. They aren't any cheaper than imported wines and if I have to pay 500 B for a bottle of anything that is even remotely drinkable, I am not going to buy Thai. The wine market in the world is MOSTLY not consisting of wine snobs who need to drink a rare bordeaux every night. The bulk of the market is people who like some wine with their meal, something at least drinkable. Better is better, but for everyday, it doesn't need to be. Have the Thai wine industry deliver a DRINKABLE bottle of wine in Thailand for 150 B or 100 B and you would see a massive expansion of the market. Signed, a proud NON wine snob and I did work in the Napa Valley California wine industry for a few years as well.

Do you mean to tell me that everyone will throw away their lao cow and leo beer for 100 baht bottles of Thai vinegar?

Try some local wine, then comment mate. It's not in it's infancy, it's been here for years and still sucks. I wouldn't drink it if it were free, and unlike you, I didn't work in Napa Valley. I don't drink 5000 Baht bottles of wine either. I am willing to support local companies and entities but I am not gonna reward crap because the owner's of the estate won't invest in methods, technologies and know how to bring their goods to world standards.

If you ever wonder why their is so much illegal booze in this country, take a drive to the cambodian border. Artificially raising the price of imported wine does not protect the local industry, it only makes people go underground and with it the taxes.

Once the grape (in this case foreign) has been let out of the bottle, it's hard to get it back in.

Thais make many good things, but wine IMO is not one of them, neither is cheese.

no but in the case of wine it might be good in the future,many thai owners are going to australia to learn the trade and many wine growers overseas are apparently coming here to advise.Like anything it takes time and the thai wine growers have to learn but they need encouragement from the thai authorities and thats probably the hardest part.

Perhaps it has something to do with soil and perhaps that little old thing call "the climate"? I am no expert but off the top of my head, I can't think of any really good wine growing countries / regions that are located in the tropics.

areas that have a higher altitude receive a more clement climate,less humidity,and as long as they get good rains and sun with good soil ..............bingo grapes grow!

OK. let me put this another way.

Personally I haven't even tried the Thai wines. They aren't any cheaper than imported wines and if I have to pay 500 B for a bottle of anything that is even remotely drinkable, I am not going to buy Thai. The wine market in the world is MOSTLY not consisting of wine snobs who need to drink a rare bordeaux every night. The bulk of the market is people who like some wine with their meal, something at least drinkable. Better is better, but for everyday, it doesn't need to be. Have the Thai wine industry deliver a DRINKABLE bottle of wine in Thailand for 150 B or 100 B and you would see a massive expansion of the market. Signed, a proud NON wine snob and I did work in the Napa Valley California wine industry for a few years as well.

Do you mean to tell me that everyone will throw away their lao cow and leo beer for 100 baht bottles of Thai vinegar?

Try some local wine, then comment mate. It's not in it's infancy, it's been here for years and still sucks. I wouldn't drink it if it were free, and unlike you, I didn't work in Napa Valley. I don't drink 5000 Baht bottles of wine either. I am willing to support local companies and entities but I am not gonna reward crap because the owner's of the estate won't invest in methods, technologies and know how to bring their goods to world standards.

If you ever wonder why their is so much illegal booze in this country, take a drive to the cambodian border. Artificially raising the price of imported wine does not protect the local industry, it only makes people go underground and with it the taxes.

Once the grape (in this case foreign) has been let out of the bottle, it's hard to get it back in.

Thais make many good things, but wine IMO is not one of them, neither is cheese.

no but in the case of wine it might be good in the future,many thai owners are going to australia to learn the trade and many wine growers overseas are apparently coming here to advise.Like anything it takes time and the thai wine growers have to learn but they need encouragement from the thai authorities and thats probably the hardest part.

I wasn't suggesting Thailand is a great wine country. However, the government here isn't doing the local wine industry any favors to help them grow, and that's a crying shame.

I saw a programme on the australian network about the thai wine industry and it was interesting.Maybe in a few years the wines made here will be really good,not necesarily cheaper.Many thai's drink wine especially reds.Many areas of thailand are perfect for growing grapes,and even if they will be different to the wines we're used to drinking they may still be very good.

big business has got govts. by the balls,they're damned if they do and damned if they dont,and this is just the beginning,i think its called blackmail.

Tigs give me your bank a/c details i'll send you the money no probs!

It's scheduled for Thai Channel 7 at 2.45 am (match starts at 3am). True Sports 3 is showing the Scotland v Argentina match at 3am.

thats wed.right?

Pdaz...............pretty much sums it up,sad but true.Have you been to Krabi?it still looks unspoilt.

probably on a thai channel.Last week i tuned into channel 7 and watched spurs v liverpool in the carling cup,and clicked on audio and was able to change the commentary from thai to english.

Another friendly? It's no wonder the EPL managers are pulling out their stars. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY

yes and i reckon that's what they're doing,maybe faking injuries so they dont have to play and you cant blame them with all the money tied up in EPL,shame though,there was a time when to play for your country was well sought after.

While assuredly there are good doctors at other hospitals in Bangkok, for the record, last week I did get a second opinion from a doctor in the same department at Bamrungrad. The second doctor (who I wanted to see in the first place, but he was out of the country) didn't say anything against the first, concurred on the condition, but had a completely different view on the way forward which makes a lot more sense to me.

Before I did this I talked to a friend at Bamrungrad (a doctor in a different department) and he told me not to be concerned with internal politics since I was the patient and my health was the most important thing. Hence, if this ever comes up again at any hospital don't let it concern you.

That is good to know. However I now have an appointment at Bangkok Hospital with the Assoc Professor, as recommended by Sheryl, so I might as well go along with it.

I just received an email from Bumrungrad today, advising that they will send me a copy of my hospital records, upon production of a letter of authorisation and a copy of my passport.

I have decided to stop the alcohol until my appointment on 27th, and thereafter we will see.

good luck mobi,keep us all posted.

yes a big shopping complex

I would think controlling the amount drugs/drinks someone has if they have reformed would be very diificult to do,so probably abstinense would be the only way to go.Many people have addictive genes and its difficult to stop with just one or two.

probably on a thai channel.Last week i tuned into channel 7 and watched spurs v liverpool in the carling cup,and clicked on audio and was able to change the commentary from thai to english.