simonphuket

£5000 is around 250,000 baht... Wow, i remember when I first came to Koh Phangnan. 300 baht/night for a bungalow on the beach (do not stay in Haad Rin), fantastic local food, booz, smokes, no thai girls but backpackers (no $$ exchange hand lol). Spent less than 30000/month and had a fab time. Have fun, be street-smart, stay within the law, kinda...

The zoo is a total disgrace. I tell anyone here, at the resort that I work, NOT to go there. Btw, on-topic, even with my workpermit, social sec. card etc, they charged me farang price, my wife thai price. That was a few years ago when she still had to pay 80 baht... Same at many venues, for example the Royal Palace in BKK. I nowadays refuse to go to any place that tries to pull this trick. Discrimination based on color, not spending power....

Simon,

Judging by your post it would seem that it is you who needs to make a serious attitude adjustment !

I have been renewing my extension to stay for some years now at the Phuket Immigration Office. I have never been treated with anything but courtesy by the I immigration officers and by choosing my time of attendance with care can be sure of spending no longer than 15 minutes in the office.

I have, however witnessed, many rude and arrogant foreigners who's behaviour, were I an Immigration Officer, would result in my being very angry!

Sorry but I have been very polite whilst waiting there. It is afterwards, reflecting on the things, that made me annoyed. Your judgement is way off. You do not know me, I am maybe too kind and gentle, according to my friends.That may be why they think they can take the mickey out of me? It would also not explain why others were also met with a disrespectful attitude (as described in my other posts in this thread).

Choosing time, can you please advise what time is the best? I tried 09.15, 10:45, 13:00 and 13:45. I could not see any difference in attitudes, except that early morning it is more quiet. I am open to suggestions.

@lopburi3, yes, they were volunteers indeed.

I suggested that this was not needed and he curtly replied that I should shut up and listen to what he was saying and that was what he wanted. I had to go back home to Patong to get the book and get the copies he wanted. This of course took some time and I managed to see him again in the afternoon and he had me going up and down the steps, on 5 separate occasions, to the copy room underneath for various copies of anything that took his fancy just to show that he could do it. None of which by the way I have ever been asked for before.

Exactly what I have experienced. The last time they told me I needed another paper, I had a question about another type of visa, and they bluntly refused to talk to me anymore, I had to get this paper first. The farang Immigration Officer tried to ask the question then on my behalf (it was a valid question, while I am at the IO, I try to get some info for my other colleagues), and he was told to go away and not bother the Officer anymore.

I must say, of the 4 Officers, one seemed to be a nice bloke. He was the only one with just 2 strips instead of 3. Guess what? He had been elected employee of the month for the last 6 months

Sorry to hear of your problems. One person's experience, I guess.

Having been to the Phuket IO now over 10 times in the past 2 years, I have never encountered any of the issues you've experienced.

Is it efficient? Well, I am typically in and out with my approvals in 15 minutes but I always have my paperwork perfect. How do i do that? I phone first and of course research or ask questions on TV.

Bad attitude - just smiles from most of the personnel and sometimes an especially efficient officer who says nothing.

Everything you mention sounds like a different office to me. Strange.

To those who hold everyone at immigration in contempt but smile and act polite notwithstanding, maybe your fake attitude is not as good a ruse as you think it is.

Why would anyone visit IO 10 times in 2 years? You must be applying for a different visa. I've never had problems with TR or B visa, however this Marriage visa requires different docs, different rules, different IO officers (the 3 back rows, at counters 4,5,6) and apparently, they not like us to marry a decent Thai lady, and work here, instead of taking them back to our countries... As said before, my papers had been prepared all according to a list they had given me before. Not in 2-fold but even 3-fold, with some additional papers and photo's of our house.

Besides that, why would they treat the farang Immigration Officers so badly? Dismiss the with disrespectful hand-gestures. This was one of the this that shocked my wife. These people are trying to help(!), are older than the Thai officers, yet not seem to get any respect.

You are confusing visas with extensions of stay - you already have the visa entry and a permitted to stay from that entry - now you want to extend that stay (nothing to do with visas) for one year on basis of Thai wife. For that you will need the normal financial proof of 40k per month income or 400k in bank for two months, marriage certificate/copy, copy of marriage ledger entry (current), wife and her ID card and home register, if children there birth certificates, photos in and outside home, map to home, some proof of living there (rent/bills or such), copy of your passport/visa/permitted to stay/departure card and perhaps witness to verify your living together and other paperwork. This with the TM.7 application, 4x6cm photo and 1,900 baht fee obtains an under review of 4-6 weeks before the final one year stamp is made. This is done each year with same general paperwork. During year you must report address every 90 days if you do not exit Thailand. If you do travel you must obtain a re-entry permit first.

Now, that is an explanation I understand, and correctly describes what I am trying to achieve. Of course I have all papers you mentioned, even in 3-fold..., yet that was not enough. I do realize that it is at the officers discretion and they are entitled to ask for additional documentation.

I smile friendly, wai high, dress politely, be as humble as I can, and am almost willing to bent over for them. Yet, inside I despise these arrogant fools and will sincerely smile if something terrible should happen to them.

Hi all, thanks for all the replies and putting up with my long complaint. I just had to get if off my chest.

I did have all the docs as requested, the frustrating part is that every time they come up with something new, that was not mentioned before. I had tax papers from last year, and suddenly they also need it from last month... They failed to mention this on the previous visit. These kind of things ( this was just one example) is so tiring.

I had a non-B and am trying to change this into a non-O. I am tired of doing visa runs every 3 months and every year having to leave the country. Also, it is now harder and harder to get a 1-year non-B visa. With the non-O I can just go to the local Immigration Office every 3 months, more easy.

There appears to be some misunderstanding here as both visas are non immigrant and both allow only a 90 day stay. What you appear to require is an extension of stay for one year (do not have to leave country but have to make 90 day address reports). So now the choice is for employment or marriage. The same visa can be used to apply for either but supporting documents will be different. For Thai wife extension you also have the money in bank (400k two months) option available.

To be honest, I have no idea. I explained them my situation, they in return gave me a list of documents to prepare, which I did. According to them, it is for a Marriage visa, which also allows me to have/apply for a work-permit. For a B visa, there is no need for marriage documents, so I assume I am getting an O visa?

The Extension of Stay for 1 year, based on a B visa, required the employer apparently to have x Thais employed. As some of my colleagues already have this Extension of Stay, we do not reach the quota for me to apply for this. Hence the Marriage visa.

lol, does this makes any sense? At the Immigration Office, even the foreign officials have no clue and give different answers... It appears to be complicated

"...we again both take a day off from work...."

Have I missed something here?

Hi Darrel, "both", as they expect both my wife and me to show up every time. Taking time off myself is one thing, but for her to explain that to her employer is harder .

As some said, Phuket might be the problem. Too many farang to deal with, some of whom might not understand the "cultural differences" too well. Then again, they know they are in a powerful position and like to exploit it too. Their uniforms are full of "military?"decorations.... for what? Preventing another officer for stapling himself? Recycling paper? Letting farang wait for at least 2 hours?

Hi all, thanks for all the replies and putting up with my long complaint. I just had to get if off my chest.

I did have all the docs as requested, the frustrating part is that every time they come up with something new, that was not mentioned before. I had tax papers from last year, and suddenly they also need it from last month... They failed to mention this on the previous visit. These kind of things ( this was just one example) is so tiring.

I had a non-B and am trying to change this into a non-O. I am tired of doing visa runs every 3 months and every year having to leave the country. Also, it is now harder and harder to get a 1-year non-B visa. With the non-O I can just go to the local Immigration Office every 3 months, more easy.

My Thai wife and me (let's say Northern European) are pretty decent, hard working people, respectful to others, well-educated, and sorry to say, fairly intelligent. Contradictory to this last term however, we are trying to get me a non-O visa. Well.... this turns out to be an interesting, at times (actually every time we see the Immigration bureaucrats) frustrating challenge. It also shows how pompus, arrogant, rude, and horrible these persons are.

After obtaining a list of the required documents we went about to gather all paperwork. No big deal we thought. So off we went to the Immigration Office. First of all, total chaos there. No proper queues or drawing numbers. Thought they proudly have a large sign on the wall. full-color of course. saying that you just have to get a ticket, and wait for your number. Lot of talk, but no action, as we often see in LOS. Anyway, we finally have a chance to give our papers to this Senior Sergeant Major. He checks all and says that all documents are fine, but, as my visa expires in 5 weeks, I am too early and have to come back about 3 weeks later. No problem we think.

So, taking another day off from work, and so does my wife, and we go for the second time to this wonderful place, the Phuket Immigration Office. After the standard dis-respect full eyeing and treatments, they again check our papers, and hey, what a surprise, 4 documents are missing... Among others the birth certificate of our baby boy (what does this have to do with my visa? Is it necessary to have a baby to obtain this??). Slightly annoyed (....) we leave.

A few days later, times is running short now, my visa is about to expire, we again both take a day off from work and go to the Valhalla of corruption and power trippers. As we wait for our turn, we observe how the farang Immigration Officers are treated as dogs by their Thai counter parts. The gestures, body language etc shock my wife. This is not how Thai people treat others. But then again, Immigration Officers are perhaps not classified as people, or human so different rules may apply. Finally the Gods are with us and we again hand over our, now complete?, ever-growing stack of documents. They interrogate my wife in a style that the Gestapo would be pride of. We feel small and humble. I consider sewing a yellow star on my clothes so it may be clearly visible to everybody that I am nothing but a parasite, not worthy to breath the same air as the superior beings called Thai. Again they do not approve with the papers, one tax document is missing, and dismiss us.

Fortunately my employer is able to supply this quickly so the next day we give it another shot. In the mean time I start to fear that I may not have a job to return to as this is already day FOUR that my wife and I have to take leave. This may actually be better, as then we can just pack our bags, stop supporting this great local economy, and just head back to a country where people respect each other and follow clearly defined rules, with disregards of your nationality, gender, color etc. Basically a civilized democracy. Cutting it short, we manage again to hand our documentation to the uniformed super-beings, and guess what, after only a few minutes of disrespectful comments and gestures, they finally accept it. Seriously, I may exaggerate slightly, but why disdainful comments? Is this to compensate for undersized certain body-parts?

At the end of this adventure, my wife softly whispers "I am so ashamed to be Thai...."

Now, is this the normal treatment we can expect at the Immigration Offices? Anybody had similar experiences? Sorry, but I find it harder and harder to find any respect for the Thai. I know I cannot generalize, but I encounter this kind of behaviour here in Phuket in more and more places Too bad.

Where was that?

Koh Tao

Ahh, the Gulf of Thailand, east coast, not Andaman Sea/Phuket.

Btw, both sides now experience rough seas, at this moment it doesn't matter where you are. I was diving yesterday at Racha Yai (Phuket area), the viz was fabulous, just a but choppy.

Most of the dive shops in Khao Lak are closed indeed as their dive sites are primarily the Similan Islands. This is a National Park and is closed for visitors (besides the fact that they are 50 miles off shore). The sites mentioned by Stevenl are open year round. Only a few days a year the boats will not go out due to rough seas.

The predicted wind speeds for The Gulf (around Koh Tao) and Andaman (Phuket) are about the same for the next few days, between 15-20 knts. The boats used from Phuket tend to be larger and way more comfortable and more sea-worthy. The diving is not comparable, with normally longer dive times (I found most Koh Tao shops have max 45 min. dives, as opposed to 60 mins for Phuket). In my opinion, there are 3 dive sites worth-while around Koh Tao, and they are all a bit further out, and therefore prone to waves and strong currents. When speaking of The Gulf I only mention Koh Tao, as this is the only are worth visting. Forget Pattaya or Koh Chang all together. Samui dive trips basically go to Koh Tao as well.

Just my honest advise, having dived most places in Thailand (hundreds if not 1000's of dives each area), go to Phuket.

Soon we, my Thai wife and I, will have our first baby. We are thinking of giving our baby more than one first name. However, according to my wife, there are certain rules in Thailand about the length (nr of syllables) or nr of first names a child can have.

Can anyone shed a light on this please?

Thanks,

Simon

You must be American. Why do you Americans always fail to see British sarcasm. However, the teachers are brainwashing them to be Thai rather than Malay - this is why they are being killed from the research I have done. I do not agree that they should be killed. I myself am a teacher and I don' t deserve to die. And I have taught in the deep South. And I have seen the ridiculous stupid flag waving patriotism. Celebate differences like Great Britain does - Wales, Ireland, Scotland. Why turn it into monotone. Nazi style forcing everybody to being German in Europe and the world did not work either. It was defeated. Far more beautiful to enjoy the rich diversified flavours of culture. When I lived in Japan after seeing many John Wayne movies in my youth I told a Japanese that the Japanese soldiers deserved to die - she replied nobody deserved to die. I repeat nobody deserves to die, nobody. Soldiers are just doing their job down there. They don't deserve to die. Teachers are just doing their job down there - they don't deserve to die. However would it be fair for Jews in Israel to be forced to learn Arabic as their first language and adopt the Arabic Muslim culture through the barrel of a machine gun - I think not. Justice and freedom should apply to all indigenous people including the Jews. To me it the decimation of Maoris, aboriginines and the American Indian are a disgace to our barbaric civilisation. It is the belief of some religions that everyone gets what they deserve due to karma. This I belileve is why this problem will never go away and more teachers like myself sadly will be killed along with soldiers, innocent tourists, public officials - all who do not deserve to die. I think it is God's decision who's turn it is to die. Not mine.

I did indeed fail to see any sarcasm or humor in your statements, but nope, I'm not American... you are way off with your assumptions. I do see the humor however in the contradictions in your own statements. And God does not decide who should die, it is the person pulling the trigger..

I have to agree with the TAT.

Nothing short of a nuclear holocost will stop foreign men coming to Thailand to engage in cheap prostitution,narcotics and wife buying.

Its also a busy time of the year (songkran) for the old Germans,Tyroleans and Swiss to visit rural NE Thailand with their agrarian wives and stay with the local villagers. Very busy time for Tesco ,Makro and The Mall. Villagers love those Bravia 52" flatrons....thanks farang.

My my, do you have a positive image of foreign men? You probably forget it takes two to tango? And that Thai men are probably worse... karaoke bars for example are not aimed at foreign men at all, prostitution is definitely the oldest profession, and arguably the most popular (easy money?) profession here. Glad you do thank us for the money we bring and which is enabling you to drive a bike, or borrow money to buy an overly expensive pickup so that the donkey-riding times are over.

Little harsh maybe about the elderly Europeans, but not that inaccurate.

Sure there is a considerable percentage, but it also depends where you are looking? Saying all foreign men come here for prostitutes is like saying all women here are prostitutes or all Muslim in the south are terrorists... Generalizing and therefore discriminating statements.

How long do the authorities (TAT) think it is going to be until the terrorists in the South realize that the headlines are going to be from attacks in Bangkok and other tourist destinations

Anyone remember Bali !!!!

Exactly - but in the karmic circle whatever will be will be - Que sera sera. Everyone gets what they deserve. By making steps to prevent bombings would only delay the inevitable karmic punishment. And of of course they live in abject poverty for karmic debts of a former life so there is no need for the Bangkok government to share in the wealth of the region with the locals. Foreigners just remember to cross your fingers.

Hmmm everyone gets what they deserve? So you are approving what is happening tand that innocent teachers and children get killed? They deserve that too? And if everyone gets what they deserve, the muslim who died... they deserved it as well? Thats what you are saying here? I really hope you are not condoning what is happening, violence will not resolve anything but only create more hatred and less understanding. I hardly believe that the outside world will feel much sympathy for the South if innocent people gets targeted, or worse, the violence is spreading to other parts. Fact is, and you are right there, compensation for the casualties are way off in the case of the red shirts, compared to those who suffer in the South.

I have to agree with the TAT.

Nothing short of a nuclear holocost will stop foreign men coming to Thailand to engage in cheap prostitution,narcotics and wife buying.

Its also a busy time of the year (songkran) for the old Germans,Tyroleans and Swiss to visit rural NE Thailand with their agrarian wives and stay with the local villagers. Very busy time for Tesco ,Makro and The Mall. Villagers love those Bravia 52" flatrons....thanks farang.

My my, do you have a positive image of foreign men? You probably forget it takes two to tango? And that Thai men are probably worse... karaoke bars for example are not aimed at foreign men at all, prostitution is definitely the oldest profession, and arguably the most popular (easy money?) profession here. Glad you do thank us for the money we bring and which is enabling you to drive a bike, or borrow money to buy an overly expensive pickup so that the donkey-riding times are over.

Back to salary...she took around 15-18k per week. Her best week was 22k. Seems real good money from what I see here but then the massage was 400-600 baht (back in 2007) and it was a really smart, flash Spa and a very busy place.

That must be a busy spa.. wow!. Salary of 8k/month so 2k/week. Avg 18k/week so 16k/week on commissions. if 500 avg/massage and she would get half of it (unlikely), it means 64 massages/week, is about 11/day. Wow, she must be totally exhausted by the end of the day Lol, of course I am ignoring the tips hehe, still a busy job and awesome salary. I may work there myself! over 70k/month is more than most English teachers or all scuba instructors make, kinda double their income.... but ehh, no happy finish from me

... Not that I ever even go, as my wife is certified in Thai massage. She learned from some of her friends ......

Lol, that does not sound like "certified" to me

My wife is spa trainer in one of the top-spa's on the island and she often gets new students who worked in these massage parlors. She started out there herself years ago. They learn the job from another massage lady who learned from another etc. They never had a proper training. Training time is limited to just a few hours and then it's time to earn money. Not like the top spa's where they go through 4 month of tough training, including theory. And if not good enough, they are out. The products (eg oil) used in the cheap parlors are quite often of debatable quality (cheap cheap) and may be harmful to your skin if used often.

Find the massage parlors used by the locals and stay away from any of those tourist traps in the main areas... They more often than not, have no clue what they are doing. It may feel relaxing, but a proper massage? Nope. 300 baht is still a bargain, but you get what you pay for

hi, I bought some wallpaper in Homepro, but they do not sell any paste... They recommend Latex glue... which dries in 2 minutes, not the best solution I guess (who would have expected anyone working there to know what they're talking about anyway ).

Does anyone know where to buy paste in Phuket? I have tried Homepro and HomeWorks. Would this paste, which works great in colder Europe, work in these warmer climates? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Simon

Just put it down to experience! What ever say will make no difference. However, I would certainly buy at least two new locks - one for your entrance door and one for your 'store' room. It is too easy for copies of keys to be made, a robbery could occur at any time, take no chances!

Good advice!! Thanks, I will definitely do that.

May be me asking the obvious.., but, have you asked them to please give you all the keys to your property, as you have noticed they have still been using your tools. And whilst on the subject of the tools, explain to them that you don't want them using your tools?

If you haven't done that, then why not? If you have, what was the response?

As the house was transferred to us, we should have all the keys... They asked for the key of the front door to get in and work on the water leakage, as they did not have any keys... but apparently were quite able to get into one of the locked rooms (located on the top-floor whilst the leak is downstairs).

I did not tell them not to use my tools, as I never granted them the right to use it in the first place. I am under the assumption that it is common knowledge and decency not to touch other peoples belongings, especially when they are locked away. Why even browse through my house, check all the floors and rooms...? They have nothing to do there, none of their business.

I have not yet confronted them with this, I only discovered it 2 days ago, and have not found the time yet to go to their office and report it. I will not take a day off from work for this, but will do it this weekend. I am just curious how you feel about this (so your feedback is appreciated ).

We just bought an new house from Supalai and are almost ready to move in. I'm doing some DIY so my tools are already in the house and every eve I'm doing some small jobs. There was a problem with one of the water pipes, some leaking, so we asked Supalai to fix it. One evening I come to the new house and find they have been working on the problem (great), but they have been using my own tools. I'm not happy with it (they dont do a good job, so use your own stuff, sorry....), so I lock this particular door. Next day I come back and find they still they have been using my tools...... Weird, I locked the room, so somehow they gained access. Apparently they still have keys to various rooms in the house, even though the house has officially been transferred in to our name. Secondly, they gain access to a locked room, and thirdly without asking permission, use my private tools. I am pretty annoyed by this! And refuse to let it go by... It even sound like a illegal act to me. Any suggestions? Or just let it be.... this is amazing Thailand after all where respect for other people's properties does not exist?

Thanks for your thoughts

Thanks Richard. And what about if they use left/right/left/right? "do not overtake yet, I'm busy"?

It is still a mystery to me... the use of the indicators. So far I think I have seen it used as:

- I am overtaking, now or in the distant future

- I may at some point in time turn left/right

- You can pass me this side, I am not moving

- You can pass me on the other side, I am not moving

- Wow, I have an indicator, how neat

- Back off you moron

- Duhhhh, was it on then? I did not notice, I was on the phone....

Anything else I may have left out? But on a serious note, a dual carriage way, I am stuck behind some car on the right/fast lane and he his his right indicator on (there is no side road anywhere, and no other car nearby besides his and mine). Is he telling me he is busy overtaking (some vehicle I may not yet have spotted), or telling me to overtake him on the left side? Or???

Thanks