Mason45

My current visa expires on Jan 05 2014 when should I submit my application. Would 24 days prior be acceptable? Thanks.

Hi all,

Slightly off topic but my Thai wife may have a problem entering Australia on her current Thai passport. My wife has been to Australia two times before, the last time she was challenged in Immigration at Tullamarine because her date of birth in her passport is : xx xx 1956. She was pulled aside and was spoken to rather rudely until I intervened as I was her legal husband. A senior official cooled things down and she was allowed to pass through . That was 7 years ago and we've been to Kuala Lumpur 3 times since without any hassles. Her problem is she's from a very poor family and was born in the back blocks of Korat. She hasn't got an official date of birth as her father was probally high on Lao Kaow when he registered her, all he knew was she was born sometime that year and the official told him that year was 1956, the day and date are unknown, no official birth certificate. We've tried government offices everywhere and have been told there's nothing they can do about it, There must be thousands more going back nearly 60 years ago with no birth certificate especially in the Isarn area. Will she have a problem again entering Australia, other than that she ticks every box including financially. Thanks.

PS : On her Thai ID the date of birth is - - - - 1956.

I'm a resident of Bangkok living on a non immigration visa Thai wife. We've decided to go to Vientiane to visit her fathers family, she only just found out that they are still alive, We'll be travelling by plane to Udonthani and part of the fare is the bus to Vientiane. I realise I need a Thai re entry permit and 1,000 baht to get back into Thailand. What is the procedure at the border crossing into Laos and what are the charges or fees, we'll be in Laos for only 5 days. Thanks.

_{Sorry I forgot to mention in my previous message that I live in Bangkok.}

One month ago I woke up to find 3 puppies dumped outside our front gate, I took them in so that the soi dogs didn't kill them. I cleaned them up and fed them but I don't really want any pets as I am a regular traveller overseas and cant look after them. Ive tried several dog refuges etc and no ones interested unless I pay for them until someone adopts them. The cost was rather expensive and I'm not going to pay for them as they're not my dogs. Anyone know where I can contact an animal agency who will take them away for free. Thanking You.

My Thai Chinese son inlaw who is a solicitor told me Farangs aren't always wrong. When the BIB's move in they consider which party is the richest and muscle in on their share of the action. He told me the ONLY thing to do is phone your insurance company and nothing else. Don't even render assistance to a dying person, When the insurance company representitive arrives at the scene the BIB's will make a quick exit knowing there's nothing for them.

And a re-entry permit costs 1,000 baht (not 1,900 baht).

I think you and I are on the same page Lop, if in doubt I check up well in advance. We both know the Thai immigration changes the rules beteween their officers but if we play their game and don't buck their system a retirement visa here is so easy. Same as re entering Thailand, pay your 1,000 baht and move on. We can always pay for multi entry if we leave Thailand regularly and return. I've been here over 10 years now, no real problems just a few hiccups. which were fixed immediately. Cheers.

Hi all,

I wish to visit Hell Fire Pass Kanchanaburi on April 25. As this day is Anzac Day I wish to attend the dawn service with a few friends. I've been there several times before ( never stayed over night ) since the area is quite remote we would need a resort close to HFP to lessen the drive at around 4,00 am. Has anyone stayed close by to HFP before Thanks.

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Ive lived here for 10 years and I still find farang offensive. All my wifes kids who are grown up now and their partners and children never call me farang. Up north her family call me farang every time. So I just call refer to them as slope head or jungle bunny. They certainly dont mind farangs when the food, booze and fags appear from nowhere. My point is if I know a persons name then thats how I would refer to them even when talking to others. After WWW2 many people migrated to Australia for obvious reasons and Aussies didnt really accept them either but with government programs over the years Australia is a true multi cultural country. Try being racist now, that is unless your'e a Muslim radical there's a fair chance you will get yourself into deep shit, just ask any policeman who works in suburban Melbourne or Sydney.

My wife to be at the time wasn't to happy about me refusing to pay the Sin Sod, I told her I'll contribute my share of what her 10 siblings give mom and dad every month which was jack shit. 10 years on as we know Thais are full of piss and wind its never been mentioned again. My wife was married for 16 years before her husband got killed on his bike. Of course when we visit them up north we stock up at the market, buy a box of Chang, a large Kao Lao and a packet of smokes, if they want more they buy their own. The trouble with Thais up north is they invite everyone in the village knowing that when they're broke thet can always scratch a drink from someone.

Seriously mate I know how difficult it is getting an Aussie visa for my wife of 10 years. Let me tell you now firstly move out, change your residence and any contact with her and relax. Then when you've cooled down contact her and tell her to go forth and multiple but not with you. Let her wait, which Thais hate and she can divorce you in 3 yers time for desertion.

Maybe the Democrats should make a switch play and apply the blow torch to Tarit as no one in a political position in this country is squeaky clean.

As I see it Abhisit comes across as a very nice guy and this attribute the military used to their advantage. I predicted something like this would come back down the track to haunt him. How he let it go on for so long is beyond me, I'm retired now but I was a very staunch unionist and as radical as we were we soon learn't to get our message across in a few days knowing that we would be dispersed or suffer the consequences, Did Abhisit actually give the orders or did some lame brain soldier decided he need some target practice and then the shit fight ensued. I've told my wife several times to keep away from rallys if you don't and get arrested or inured then don't expect me to back you up because you're a <deleted>. She's from Isaarn and she gave me that dumb look but never responded that's the power the big man from Dubai has over them.

I've been married for 10 years and lived all that time with my wife in Thailand. This daddy/pappa/farang thing doesn't really worry me, My wife has 2 daughters both in their mid 30's and she has one grand child. The 2 daughters, their partners and grand son always call me pappa Raymond never Pappa. Recently my 56 yo wife has been calling me daddy, so in turn I call her pee or yai believe me she's not happy and immediately seeks a wall mirror to see if she's just short of Buddhas departure lounge. Even close Thai friends who know me well refer to me as a farang when talking with other Thai people, that's fine I just refer them to my wife as her slope head friends and as she speaks good English she hates that, Strangers I couldn't give a ratz what they call me. What about the Isaarn stare, I don't mind some cutie but certainly not some old scrubber slobbering betel juice.. I just stare back at them looking rather aggresive and they spew " how dare you". Seriously I just play the game, I have nothing to do with them unless they're family or close friends and CERTAINLY no business partners and I'm really enjoying my retired life here after 45 years of hard work in the building construction industry. sawasdee krub.

Thanks to Harry and Simple 1, to be more to the point I lived in Thailand for 6 years prior to applying for the OAP, during that time I visited Australia for one month every year to see my family, friends and sort out business matters. When I applied to CL in Melbourne for the OAP I was refused but after accessing Google the secretary of the then minister in charge of this portfolio Joe Ludwig stated that they'd checked my file and again I had to return to Australia for two years to re qualify for the OAP. They did give me the phone number of the International CL in Hobart and again the same answer. I'm not prepared to go back to Australia and wait for two years. If I could get the the OAP as soon as I returned to Australia and not leave for two years I'd seriously consider it. Seriously CL carrys on as though it's a secret society, such as the mafia, masonic lodge or even the ku klux klan, why don't they come clean and give us the specific guidelines that everyone understands before they're 65 yo and in doing that will stop hassles at both ends. Of course we are a minority, very few of us vote when we live overseas so both major political partys couldn't give a rats arse about us, Anyway thanks guys.

I'm 67 yo now, 2 years ago I applied at CL in Melbourne for the OAP and was refused on the grounds that I'd been living outside of Australia for to long. If I applied again when back in Australia would it be granted if I signed a declaration binding me to live in Australia for 2 years without leaving during that time span rather than waiting 2 years before it would be granted. I'm doing ok here but like many of us expats my superannuation has been hit hard and I'm not sure how long it will last. Surely expats who previously lived in Australia for say 50 years should be exempt from these ridiculous laws. I have close friends here from 4 other countries and they all received their countries OAP's when they reached 65yo no questions asked. The Howard government brought in these laws obviously without much thought in regards to aged Aussies who wish to spend their retirement overseas but the Gillard government han't even reviewed the current laws. Anyway thanks for any suggestions to get around this situation we find ourselves in, Thanks.

Would a photo accepted by the Australian Consulate in Bangkok for a passport renewal be accepted for a visa renewal in Thailand. My main queery is would a photo with a white background be accepted, the photos are one week old. Thanks.

Anyone know of any day time gay massage/saunas in outer Bangkok around Ramhangkaeng or Ramintra areas. Thanks

I'm looking for a decent male massage in the Minburi Ramindra area. Before you jump to conclusions I'm certainly not gay but as I was a professional sportsman up till I was 40 I need a harder massage than most Thai women can give me.

Thanks.

My Australian passport expires the same time as I need to apply for my next Thai non immigration extension. What are the guide lines when making a passport renewal in Bangkok. Thanks.

Actually the road toll in Thailand is far worse than the statistics reported by the government or media. Deaths in hospitals or home care caused by motor accidents aren't considered part of the roll toll. Random police road blocks changed every few hours should be top priority, here they seem to be in the same places everyday. Maybe 2nd offence confiscate the vehicle and make a serious deterent.

It begs the question, did the lady lure her estranged hubby for oral sex setting him up for the fatal munch?

She appears to be a very smart lady because there's no way the main item of evidencce will ever stand up in court.

Wouldn't you think that the Thai Immigration would make up a set of guide lines to be strictly adhered to by applicants and the Immigration officers. Im about to make my eighth visa extension and its got to the stage where I copy every document which maybe relevant and let the officer take what he/she wants. Everytime I make a visa extension there always seems to be something extra they want, so I just play the game and keep my cool. Uniformity would not only be beneficial to the applicants but may even make the officers happy in their job, resulting in greater productivity.

I only just came back from my local shopping mall and whilst I was there I purchased new passport photos for my next visa extension application. The photographer spoke very good English and asked me what the photos were needed for. When I told her she changed the back ground sheet for a blue one and assured me the photos she was about to make were acceptable for the Thai Immigration. The photos she made are 4cm x 5cm and not 4cm x 6cm as stipulated on the TM7 application form, will the photos I purchased be accepted. Thanks.