Mattd

NanLaew, thanks for the reply.

Yes the guys will indeed eventually go offshore, the visas have in fact just been approved (yesterday) and the company we are contracted to have arranged for their collection just over the border in Argentina, though for reasons best known to them they need all of our crew to go to Brazil first, then the visas will be collected and activated on their behalf.

The approval process took around 6 weeks BTW.

No, these 'suits' were more than just involved with seamen, though it could well be some sort of security agency they work for.

I'm going there tonight to check the guys in, this time armed with invitation letters, OKTB letters, cash for them to carry etc.

So if they appear again then this time I will ask to see I.D. etc.

No, unfortunately they did not end up flying, we have now got the company in Brazil working on the needed paper work, our fault really, but as Filipino's do not need a visa to enter on business, then technically they should be able to fly.

The problem is the company that we have the contract with need to see these guys as part of their work visa application, bit of a catch 22 I'm afraid....

They should, maybe, hopefully fly tomorrow evening, once we have all the steps completed.

As a company we knew they need the work visa to work offshore there and this is in process, like I said, this was or is part of that process.

No these expat guys are something else, what or who I really don't know, hence the post, it was a most strange setup, hence the curiosity.

If I didn't need to be so 'diplomatic' last night then I'd have asked them for their work permits!

Tomorrow I'll have my passport and work permit with me, so hopefully they will appear again.

No, these guys were not employed by the airline, the Filipino's had problems checking in on Saturday evening on a different flight and A/L and these two guys were involved that night also.

Agree regarding going with the flow, this is a more a case of me being interested to know who and what they are as such, the situation with them was strange, which has me curious now.

Last night I was at the airport assisting (well trying to!) 9 Filipino guys to check in to a flight to Brazil, as the rules are very strict for Filipino's wishing to fly to Brazil, then unfortunately they were not allowed to fly, sort of our fault as the paper work needed was not in place.

However in the midst of all the negotiations going on at the A/L check in desk, two Expats (one male, one female, and as a pure guess German and Dutch respectively) came over, who were obviously working within the airport and seem to take care of matters such as this, but in a very officious manner, meaning they are not just there as translators etc.

They were really scrutinizing these guys passports, seaman books etc.

The airline in question had requested their presence and were obviously going to go with their decision on this.

When I explained that these guys worked for me and the reasons for their trip, they then questioned me, wanting to see my work permit, photo ID etc. though at no point did they offer to show me any ID....

So I'm left just wondering, who are these guys, what or who do they actually work for and what gives them the right to question me in such a manner?

As far as I'm concerned the only department that has the right to ask to see the work permit is the labour department, for that matter they are the only ones who really care??

BTW, yes I do have a valid work permit!

Has anybody seen or heard of this before, I'm intrigued as to their status?

I can tell you from personal experience that certain insurance companies operating here in Thailand will not except even the International DL.

I was involved in a single vehicle accident some years back and when the insurance guy turned up the very first thing he asked for was my Thai DL, he was quite adamant that if I did not have one, then the insurance would not pay up, as it happens I did have one, so all was well.

I then checked on my insurance and sure enough there was a clause (in Thai) that states all drivers must be in possession of a valid Thai DL for the vehicle, as I did not read Thai, then I'd have been blissfully unaware of this!

So to sum up, get yourself a Thai license and do things legally, you just don't know what is around the next corner and it could get very expensive if you do not have this license.

Gents,

I remember a time before volunteer police, US navy anchoring with Midway just off the beach, sailors spending lots and lots of money in the bars on beer and not like now in 7/11 on water, the real funny thing was, lots of fun had by ALL, shock, horror, absolutely no trouble, so sorry guys the argument that the US navy needs HM & co really just does not wear to us oldies.............

Oh dear, who started the Brit bashing..............I thought that this might happen!

To the guy that exclaims about the AIG shirt, so they are a Manchester United sponsor, MUFC wear red at home, others are wearing red shirts, starting to make any sense in that 'very small' brain yet??? (we all can only assume that you thought of AIS and the Thaksin connection??) come on guys, think for gods sake. otherwise you are sad to say the least!

I would have said that it is a very fair question by the OP.

This city survives on tourism alone and will have a lot of tourists in residence right now, that have spent their hard earned cash to take a holiday here.

They need to eat, they need to drink, a fact of life.

The various businesses that need these tourists to spend do not need yet another unnecessary closure.

Yes the lucky ones like us that live here can eat and drink home, though as expats here we are by far in a minority.

I agree with Paul1970 regarding the chips and have dramatically reduced my visits to the P & W since they stopped doing the real chips, I have had the frozen ones in there on a couple of occasions and found them to be awful, not just because they were not the 'real deal' but they just weren't cooked properly.

Haven't been for over a month, but Saturday's used to be a Steak on as a special, not Bangers and Mash??

Personally find the seating a little uncomfortable in there also, the tables just do not go with the benches, making for cramped eating.

I do actually know a guy that is extremely good mates with Bob the owner, so I'll pass on for him to check this thread out.

"All Heinze products are manufactured in Thailand. They are not imported.

Barry"

Barry, the Heinz salad cream, some Tomato Ketchup etc. are indeed imported, hence the need for the import sticker on the back of them and the inflated cost.

Bansleyman, thanks a lot.

Lite Beer, thank you, much appreciated, I'll inform him to ask at the Pattaya office.

Gents, I'm not sure if this has been asked, my apologies if it has, have tried searching, but cannot find anything relevant.

My friend is going to apply for an extension of stay based on marriage and was wondering if the 400,000 THB that is required to be deposited in a Thai bank at least 2 months prior to the application can be in a foreign currency (specifically GBP)?

He currently banks with HSBC UK and he does have an account at the branch at Silom, with the exchange rate the way it is now, then he would obviously prefer to keep the money in GBP right now, in the hope that the exchange rate increases later in the year, he would deposit the GBP cash with HSBC Bangkok.

So the question is, will the immigration accept the GBP equivalent of 400,000 THB on deposit at HSBC Bangkok, OR must the cash be deposited in THB and with a Thai owned bank, i.e. SCB, BBL etc.?

The option of 40,000 THB per month income is also viable, he is an ex. fireman and his pension would cover this if the above isn't possible, in which case he will approach the British honoury consul in Pattaya to certify this income, will his salary / pension slips be adequate for proof of income?

Thanks in advance.

Recently had my car serviced at the Toyota dealers, it was it's first (1,000 K's) service and the car uses synthetic oil, the cost of the oil with the filter was 3,058 THB, no complaints though, this is still cheap compared to Europe and it is at the end of the day the car's blood that will keep the engine alive.

In fact I requested to change the oil, even though Toyota say it is not necessary.

Part of running a car is accepting the costs that go with it, this applies anywhere in the world.

If you are coming down Thappaya hill from Pattaya, go past Bruno's, Indian by Nature, News Cafe, etc. straight through at the Thepprasit road lights and it is then immediately on the left side.

Syd, there are just so many nowadays, difficult to recommend just one.

Depends on personal choice, but apart from those already mentioned in this post, then you could try Nicky's, Robin's Nest, Caddy Shack, Juice, Kiranee (not spelt correctly), Shenanigans Jomtien, the list goes on.........

The one thing that I personally find frustrating is the quality of the roast potatoes at most venues, they are generally soggy and not crisp as they should be, probably caused by pre-cooking and then microwaving them.

Otherwise from that all of the above have reasonably good roasts.

Anybody know what time the SUPERMARKET part of Central opens, is it open earlier than the main complex?

I want to check it out, but as I can only do this at the weekend, then would like to go early morning to avoid the traffic later on in the day.

AussieFarang is correct, Central Bangna, very easy and efficient, have done several there for my wife and children.

Syd, let us all know how you get on, cheers.

Hi Patsfangr, Peacock Hotel is located on Soi SCC on the right side if coming from the city, a little before the Horseshoe point turning and after Terrace bar, Sammy's is further on, where the road bares left around the lake, by the arch for SCC and it is located just before Magnolias Hotel.

Actually it is really getting harder to choose where to eat or drink out here nowadays, there is a lot more choice, which is good coz it means there is no need to go in to town anymore!

For instance I can even go to the new small Villa supermarket between Burapha and Laem Chabang golf courses and get supplies a lot easier than going to say Foodland.

The Peacock inn food quality has now improved a lot since they had an American chef in to help train the cooks, menu increased in size along with the servings, worth trying.

Has anybody tried 'Sammy's Snack Attack' yet? I drive past a lot and have yet to see a customer, but if it is any good, then it would be ideal for a quick take away sandwich or burger.

I've not actually tried myself, but several British mates have brought different types of sausages from the new Central Supermarket and all have reported them to be very good and tasty, Cumberland variety gets the biggest thumbs up from all so far.

Thanks Mario.

The confusion seems to lie in that another one of our staff has the same ED visa for his child, again multiple entry and immigration have since stamped a multiple re-entry permit in the child's passport? This doesn't make a lot of sense to us either, as why issue a multiple entry visa in the first place if a re-entry permit is subsequently needed.

It is actually not myself with this problem, it is a colleague, again he appears to have more problems, as his partner (both are South African) is in the country on a non-imm O visa, multiple entry.

She is the mother of the child and he is the father, but in the eyes of Thai law they are not married as they have no official marriage certificate, they have several documents showing common law marriage, but this applies to their home country only.

Is there anyway that both his son and partner can get a one year extension of stay based on being his dependents?

He is on a non-imm B visa, one year extension of stay and work permit.

If you are issued with a Multiple ED visa, valid for 12 months, multiple entry, then is it is necessary to have a re-entry permit stamped in your passport before the first departure from Thailand is made?

Our HR department says not, but the child's school (he is 6) is saying it is necessary.

His passport was stamped allowing him to stay in Thailand for 90 days until 3rd April 09, how about an extension of stay, is this possible and how long would he get, another 30 days?

Thanks.

I'm not sure that this is really the right post area for this, but I'm sure a moderator will move it if it is not.

We have to provide food handling certificates for our Thai catering staff in order to comply with one of our clients expectations, do any of you know if this training is available here in Thailand, that will allow the issuing of a safe food handling certificate to the participants, course would be best held in Thai.

Thanks in advance.