Mason45

Gold in Bangkok was 7,000 baht mid 2000 when I first met my wife to be and over that time it's gone up 100% + but not even a whimper from the Jews of Asia until now, as soon as the price of gold starts fluctuating they can't shut up shop quick enough.

I'm an Aussie and I live in Bangkok with my Thai wife (amphur marriage) we've been together for 7 years now married for 6 years. When my wife to be was my girl friend she obtained a 3 months tourist visa and after we were married she obtained a 6 months tourist visa. On receiving the 6 months visa she was told that she couldn't get any more tourist visas and if she wanted to return to Australia for any reason she would have to apply for a spouse visa. This didn't really suit us as we're both happy living in Thailand but surely as an Australian citizen I can take MY legally married wife back to MY country at least once every year or 2 to visit our family, friends and take in some sight seeing along the way and on a tourist visa for her but the answer I got last time she applied was that it was explained to me in full previously and that she no longer qualifies for a tourist visa, the exact reason why has still got me baffled. She has never broken any visa conditions on her previous tourist visas to Australia, I'm a self funded retiree, financially very sound and I still own my own home in Australia. This isn't just isolated to me, at least 4 Aussies friends have been told no more tourist visas after the second.

Thanks all, the reason I brought this up is that I'm a bit light on ready cash in Thailand and as the Australian dollar has slipped 8 baht in the dollar in recent months I would prefer to take my everyday living expenses out of my Thai bank account rather than transfer money from Australia. As I read the new law you must have a minimum of 400k in your Thai bank account 2 months prior to the day that you make your application, is PRIOR the operative word ? I'm still not sure which way to go, one would think that I could access the money now as this is my 5th consecutive visa application, none refused but again TIT.

I've had 400,000 baht in my Thai bank account for the last 4 months, I renewed my non immigration O visa on December 3 for the 5th consecutive year. As the Australian dollar has dropped 30% to the Thai baht in recent months, is it possible for me to access my 400,000 baht now or must I wait until my application has been approved.

With the way the global financial situation is at the moment I'm in between a rock and a hard place. I deposited 400,000 baht in my Thai bank account as per one of the requirements for my retirement visa and I must re apply for my new visa on December 9. I need money now for everday expenses but if I transfer money now I'm only getting about 20 baht per Australian dollar which is a drop of 30% plus in the last 6 weeks, so really I don't feel like burning money going down that road. My question is when can I access the 400,000 baht set aside for my visa, can I access the money the day after I make my application or do I have to wait until my visa is approved and handed to me.

I'm going to Koh Chang next week and I was wondering is there a boat service from mainland Thailand to Koh Chang that takes on private cars and if so where is the boat terminal; and how much is the cost for the car. Thanks.

You should read the readers comments in the Bangkok Post's article quoted by the OP. Hilarious. I liked this one best:

Another plume to BKK despite the hulabaloo. Want to see greener areas? March to government house where the once-manicured lawn is now a ricefield...

Who sponsored the clean and green award, was it the enviromentally friendly company who supplies all Thailands plastic bags carry bags.

If you really want to confirm the sex of a ladyboy, tell the subject that you have a fetish for fellatio with random strangers.

Is there a man alive who does not have a fetish for fellatio with random strangers?

Several years ago I was having some fun with a ladyboy on Pattaya beach, little did we know that a policeman was watching us, anyway he arrested both of us and escorted us back to the Soi 9 police station, after being interrogated for a quite a while he charged the ladyboy with receiving swollen goods and I also copped a charge of having an offensive person on my weapon. Months later when the charges were read out in court the prosecution withdrew all charges because the evidence wouldnt stand up in court.

Hey mate,

You should not have to much problems getting her another visa, My girl who I had only know for about a month at the first application went home after the 3 months and then about 3-4 weeks latter applied for another visa and was granted a 12 month multi entry visa which allowed her to visit Australia up to 3 months at a time.

Good luck,

Cheers

Aussie_23

I'm legally married to my Thai wife, she went to Oz on a 3 months tourist visa and 6 months later she obtained a 6 months visa but on the proviso that she can't apply for a tourist visa again, she must apply for a spouse/immigration visa. It's now 4 years since she was told that she can only return to Australia if she obtains a spouse visa. We're very comfortable here, we have a nice house, income, car etc but surely I as an Australian born male can take my legally married Thai wife back to my country for a holiday and visit our family and friends but the answer is always she must apply for a spouse visa if she wants to return to Australia for any duration.

Update:

Explosion in sewer injures one in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok's Paholyothin neighbourhood was shaken by a powerful explosion inside a sewer on Thursday. One injury was reported.

The blast, which happened at 6am, caused damage in Paholyothin sois 45, 47 and 49. It blew off 37 manhole covers and shattered glass in telephone booths and nearby buildings.

37 manhole covers!

Chatuchak district director Pornlert Phanwattana said the area was sealed for public safety and water was sprayed into the sewer to dilute oil, reportedly discarded into the sewer by an old gas station at the mouth of Soi 49.

Think you're gonna need a solvent other than water when dealing with oil.

With the huge influx of Isaan people converging on the capital seeking work it may've over loaded the Bangkok sewerage system with amounts of methane gas that the system simply couldnt handle. The Isaan staple diet of culitvated weeds and effluent would be to much for even the most sophisticated sewerage system when under stress.

-- The Nation 2008-08-07

Today at Suan Phlu

90 Day Address Reporting + Re-entry Permit

I arrived soon after midday

The Lady at the Reception Desk who gave me

my Ticket for the 90 day Address Reporting Queue

Insisted on explaining to me that I was Lucky today

cos there were only 2 others in front of me ... and that

Sometimes - she added - there are 100 waiting !!!!!

I was soon called and in less than a minute

had my Passport and Receipt given back.

This lady was sitting at a Computer

but I could not detect that she used it.

As mentioned by another poster ...

I was NOT asked to provide some Evidence of my Address

I went to Suan Plu yesterday August 7 for my 90 day report. I got there at 9.15 am and my number was called out before I had a chance to sit down opposite counter No.3. There was a very light crowd in all sections there, is this a sign of tourists staying in their own countries or bypassing Bangkok as a holiday destination.

Really if I thought I was in strife in regards to this matter I would be getting legal advice but I only brought up this topic as a matter of interest which is what forums such as this are all about. I do remember though when my wife brought the second property, she had to give them a copy of our marriage certificate signed by both of us and I had to sign an extra form. I was informed by an English speaking officer that this protected my interests and if we did split up my wife can refuse me entry to our house but if she wanted to sell it she would need my permission which would be a 50/50 split of the proceeds from the sale.

I'm legally married to a Thai woman, we have two properties in Bangkok, a two storey house which we paid 2.5 million and a town house which we paid 850,000 baht which is currently rented out because we couldn't sell it when we bought the more expensive property. We visited my sister inlaw up north last weekend and I asked her when will she marry her English boy friend, she told me that she doesn't know what to do because Thai women legally married to farangs can't buy property. All the funds for our two properties were transferred from my Australian bank to my Thai bank account, my wife contributed nothing to the purchase of our two properties, where do we stand, are my property purchases in Thailand legal. My sister inlaw assures me that after making enquiries in regards to matter that she's right but then again knowing Thais up north who did she refer her inquiries to.

Wherever I go in Thailand and there's a two tiered price system, I simply refuse to pay, do a U turn and move on. This weekend I stayed at two different national parks in the Lopburi-Saraburi area, one was was pay by tent (70 baht) irrespective of how many people stayed and the other was pay by donation, the sites and toilets etc were very clean. It really gets to me the way that Thais think about us, I take care of my wife and her unmarried sister who has two kids and they still want to rip me off, I also pay tax on everything I buy in Thailand. I wonder how many times a farang is ripped off and sold a Thais ticket and the balance goes towards paying for the park rangers alcohol and tobbaco addiction.

I stocked up in advance yesterday, I bought enough to cover all scenarios including my feral inlaws from up north and when they smell a freebee they go all the way until our larder and cellar are bare. My wife knows the rules, I stock up on food and booze and when depleted they're told there's no more and they vacate our premises as though it's on fire. The wife pulled a classic yesterday and she told me that I should give her 2 brothers 1,000 baht each for diesel to drive down to our home in Bkk, my reply was if they can't afford to get here then do what I do when I'm short of cash....stay home.

As long as the male friend can prove that he will support the female by giving her accomodation, food, travel insurance etc they maybe ok but the Australian Immigration is paranoid about young Thai women going to Australia with other intentions. When I first took my girl friend (now wife) to Australia she had nothing but I deposited her air fare in her bank account, a little looks much better than nothing on paper. Anyway years on I cant take my wife back to Australia for a holiday anymore unless she gets a spouse visa, I told the Immigration that we dont want a spouse visa because we want to live in Thailand but I was assured that if we ever want to go to Australia again even for 3-4 weeks my wife must get a spouse visa, even though we've been legally married for 6 years and on 2 prior holidays to OZ my wife never broke any Australian Immigration laws. Also my wife is 52 yo which should be taken into account.

Tullamarine is the nearest airport to the City of Melbourne, it costs AU$50 by taxi but they do have a very good sky bus service and you can pre buy your ticket online or on entering the bus, a return ticket will cost AU$26 and the ticket is open for 12 months. The sky bus goes every 15 minutes at peak times and 30 minutes over night, there is no rail service from Tullamarine Airport. Avalon is on the Princes Highway on the way to Geelong about 50 kms from Melbourne, its mainly used for air cargo, pilot training and some Jetstar flights. The major airlines all land at Tullamarine.

My one year Thai drivers licence expires in a few weeks and I will be applying for a 5 year licence. I'd like to clear up a few grey areas. 1. Seeing that I currently hold a one year Thai drivers licence would I have to submit a new medical certificate. 2. Would I have to submit a certified letter from the embassy of my origin to prove my address in Thailand which is the same as when I submitted the application for my one year licence. 3. Would I have to do the colour blindness test etc again. I'm well aware of the other documentation required plus the new application should be submitted after the previous licence has expired.

I'm about to go from Bangkok to London for 2 months, what's the most cash I can legally carry on me when departing Thailand and on my return whats the most cash I can again legally carry on me leaving the UK. Thanks.

If you have been using 400k and can continue to use it (grandfathered) you might want to continue to do so - but you must remember to have in account for the 3 months prior to application.

If you use 40k per month family income anything from overseas must be confirmed by your Embassy in a letter - there is no option to make 40k deposits into a bank account. If money is local from spouse tax payments must be presented to prove the income.

Other than the financial proof the procedures/documents are the same.

Thanks lopburi 3, between my wife and myself we have no local income, all our money is transferred from Australia via my Aust bank to my Thai bank. I realise in the case of the 400k it must be in my Thai bank account at least 90 days prior to the day of my renewal application, does this same 90 day period or something similar apply to 40k monthly incomes. Thanks.

I've been banking 400,000 baht for my immigration O visa in recent years but I've decided to take out the 40,000 baht option for my next renewal. Is the 40,000 baht option the same procedure as the one year visa and how long must the monthly transfers begin prior to my visa application day.

Being married in Thailand gives you only one privilege visa wise.

If you and your wife have a combined income of over 40,000 Baht/month, you will be granted a 1 year extension of stay.

Your wife's income has to be proven by tax payment, your income, if in Thailand, as well (along with the work permit), or if your income originates abroad, it has to be certified by your embassy.

You will still have to report at immigration every 90 days to confirm you are still living at the same address!

That's it

I'm married to a Thai so being over 55 yo and on a non immigration O visa I have the options of a minimum of 400k per annum or 40 k per month. If I take the 40k per month option how long do I have to transfer 40k per month prior to renewing my one year visa and how long must it be certified by my embassy prior to renewing my one year visa.

Hi Mason45

just got my new cr card 5 yr one so here goes with the answers

1) I went the day after expiry (still have UK PP as 'backup')

2)Your PP, House book and Owner(Thai Wife?) plus ID card AND letter from local Immigration Office are required (& photocopies of all (except wife! ))

3)Yes

4)Not 100% sure as both mine were done locally, but surprised if a problem.

5)No, I didn't have too

BTW you get the option of a new plastic card or old style (cheepie) paper card. I took PP size photo's with me and they were not required as office takes photo's for new card and its charged out with the cost of the Cr card DL (Mine was 960b for 1xcar & 1xmotorcycle). It was funny, I showed new DL to my Thai mate who is a policeman and it made him very worried cos they are printed in English and clearly most BIB wont be able to read 'em. Good times ahead !!

I hope this has been of help

Dave

Thanks alot Dave and Palace, your help is very much apreciated. Dave you mentioned a letter is required from the local immigration office could you please elaborate on this and how it can be achieved, do you mean from the embassy from our country of origin or Thai immigration and what is the procedure. Thanks again.

I currently have a Thai drivers licence which is up for RENEWAL next month, there's a few areas which I wish to tidy up before then : 1. What is the proper day to reapply ( the expiry date or the day after)

2. Do I need a certified letter from my embassy or as we own our own home is our house book sufficient.

3. Do I need a doctor certificate for a renewal.

4. Do I have to apply for the renewal at the same office where my original licence was processed.

5. Do I need to do the colour blind test etc again.

If anyone can help me from recent applications I'd be more than grateful for their advice. Thanks.

Slightly off topic but I would be greatfull for some advice. Im on a retirement visa, I left Thailand and returned on May 08 prior to leaving Thailand I had a slip to say that I must do my 90 day report on May 23, do I report this day or do I report 90 days after my re entry date. Thanks.

Thanks Lopburi, once again your advice is very much appreciated.