rorr

I checked the Rosetta Stone website a few minutes ago. Thai is no longer listed as a supported language. That's a shame because the Version 2 (2007) for Thai language I have is really very good.

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Authorities in Thailand must act to stop the perennial problem of pollution in the backpacker town, says Chris Coplans.

lol back packer town...

I think journalist Coplans' parachute is showing.

Your question is well-written, and there are no unnecessary redundancies. Your understanding of the Long-stay non-immigrant O-A with multiple entries is correct with one happy exception. Each time you re-enter Thailand during the year following the issuance of the visa, you will receive a stamp in your passport that states “admitted until.” That date will be for a period of one year. Therefore, you might hypothetically get almost two years of usage out of the original visa before the visa would need to be extended.

For example, your visa is issued on 2 November 2010. The visa will say “enter before 1 November 2011. Should you travel outside the country and re-enter Thailand on 31 October 2011, the “admitted until” stamp will say 30 October 2012. Your visa will not need to be extended until that time. Make sure you allow adequate time for the extension process. However, as you stated, in order to maintain your ability to leave and return multiple times prior to 30 October 2012, you must obtain the multiple-entry, re-entry permit from immigration--failure to obtain the re-entry permit will result in the cancellation of your visa should you leave Thailand during that time period. Fortunately, if you reside in Bangkok, the new immigration office just off Chaeng Wattana is very user-friendly, fast and efficient. It took me less than 30 minutes to obtain the re-entry permit this past June.

Ignorance can be temporary, but stupid is forever.

I had a similar experience at a hotel health club pool. The pigeons were drinking the water. The water had no chlorine smell/taste. The most telling indicator was the water outlets into the pool had no flow whatsoever. One morning, I noticed a hose placed in the pool for the purpose of topping it off. Of course, I got an outer ear infection.

I have heard similar experiences from Thai friends--neighborhood pools, however, heavily cholrinated; water in the pool changed out only after very long periods. The object, of course, was for pool management to save money on their costs of operation.

I am afraid that your situation might be a case of This Is Thailand.

Is anyone using the "aircard device" by AIS, True or DTAC, and what upload and download speeds are you getting?

I'm currently getting a download speed of 1738 kbps and upload of 461, pinging off a Bangkok server. My service is by True through my apartment complex. I went to IT Square on Chang Wattana today. The AIS office had ads for their 3G aircard device, but no device and, of course, no 3G service [TIT]. I'm looking for a faster and possibly more cost effective service than my current service. Thanks, in advance.

Just to make sure that I fully understand, the period of time you may stay in Thailand is not one year from the issuance of the O-A visa, but from the last entry into the country prior to the end of that year. For example, multiple-entry O-A visa issued by Thai Embassy in US on June 10, 2009. Entry into Thailand on June 26. Stamp in passport: permission to stay until June 25, 2010. I will depart Thailand in April and return on May 25. The passport should then be stamped: permission to stay until May 24, 2011. So, for 2010, I do not have to apply for the visa extension; do not have to have either 800k Baht in a Thai bank account or sign an affadavit attesting to an income flow of 65K Baht per month to the US Embassy; and to make life rock right along, only need to apply for a multiple-entry, re-entry permit. Right ?

The medical exam requirement is actually met by your physcian certifying that you do not have the dreaded diseases listed. Depending upon your doc, you may not actually have to be tested for each of the listed conditions--one of the benefits of having a family physician over a long period of time.

In addition to all the correct info above, I would like to add one difference in (potential benefit to?) getting a one-year extension within Thailand vs a brand new O-A visa in Boston: For the extension within Thailand you do not need police clearance or medical exam. For the O-A visa in Boston you'd need both. May not be a significant issue for you, but just so you know.

For the police clearance in the US, you simply go to your local police department or county sheriff's office. For a modest fee the statement will be issued based upon a search of local records and upon an internet-based search. This is done on the spot and is not a big deal [unless something turns up].

Thailand sure has it's problems, but the US has become such a police state

Give me US cops any day over the BIB...At least they will do something in the US if you call them or indeed need assistance.

Give me the US cops, too.. BUT, most cities in the US have places/zones/neighborhoods where it is just plain dangerous to go. You are more likely, in my personal opinion, to lose your life by being in the wrong place in most US cities than you are in Bangkok.

Thank you for the information. Formerly I took olmesartan (trade named Benicar in US) in combo with HCTZ. Its effectiveness was marginal at best, and more recently it was ineffectual. Two months ago I switched to Azor. My US doc put me on the max strength of 10-40 mg for the combo. Cuff blood pressure is now 126/67, and that is with no rest time before checking.

Is the hypertension med "Azor" (amlodipine and olmesartan in combo) available in Thailand?

Thanks for the quick turn-around. I'll be applying for a multiple-entry, and she will either do the 30-day stamp at the airport or a 60-day tourist visa, should she stay that long. Hmm. Should she decide to stay for more than 30 days, is it better for her to do the 60-day tourist visa or non-imm? Predicting what she will do is not my strongest ability after only 30+ years of marriage.

I am applying for a Non Imm O-A long stay retirement visa to the Thai Embassy in Wash, DC. My wife will not be accompanying me initially, but will join me in Aug-Sept for less than 30 days and in Feb for a similar period of time--both entries could be accomplished with the airport-stamped 30 day visa. However, in 2010, she will accompany during my actual travel and will remain in Thailand for around 9 months of the year.

My question is: should I initially apply for her under the Non Imm O-A as an accompanying spouse or wait a year before doing so? Your advice is appreciated.