theoldgit

I have asked the British Embassy if they will give a statement based on Nett or gross income. After more than 4 weeks the embassy still can't be bothered to reply.

Ah yes, that'll be in the too difficult tray.

Corruption is not an inconvenience it shows a lack of integrity and honesty by the perpetrator and using whilst in a position of trust or authority for dishonest gain is reprehensible.

It may just be easier to hand over a small amount of money to get on your way but the longer this practice of extortion is accepted, the police cannot be taken seriously. And what about the number of Thai people who begrudgingly hand over money, is that ok? they probably cannot afford it.

And before any bright spark makes the usual suggestion, I am home and I'm going nowhere.

I'm going this week, I will report back.

I suppose that if the tax has already been deducted at source, and shown on the evidence, they are correct in showing the net figure as that way they way they are correctly confirming the income available, will have to wait and see.

But I haven't yet been brave enough to try them! Good luck....

Thanks for that, hope I will be able to report back in due course.

You can do either, though it's no cheaper to take it to the Embassy as you still have to pay the courier fees to Hong Kong, suppose it might give you peace of mind,and it might help if you don't live in Bangkok.

http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for...ssport-renewals

And there was me thinking it was always farangs who were involved in these terrible activities, really awful.

Edit - whoops, didn't read it correctly, seems they were procuring these kids for foreigners, I really don't know which is worse. Without the pervs there would be no market and no need to traffic the kids, and without the trafficers the pervs would have to go somewhere else.

One thing I did notice was the complete absence of any police officers or troops.

I have just come back from the Siam Square area, Red Shirts have succeeded in closing everything down, ok it's pretty good humoured but the majority of "rent a mob" protesters have no idea what they are doing to the economy, though I suppose closing places like Siam Paragon doesn't really bother them.

The Government are between a rock and a hard place, they cannot let this go on for ever, nor can they go in heavy handed.

Well I have booked Ethiopian as they seem to have the best price for my journey requirements and the added benefit of 30kg of checked luggage, only time will tell if I have made the right decision, or there are offers nearer the time.

As a matter of interest this if the price of the various carriers, including all the add ons, that had suitable flight times:

Ethiopian - 8330

Royal Jordanian - 9105

Air Asia - 9136

Emirates - 11530

Thai - 23345

Cathay Pacific - 28580

Have to say I was amazed at the large price differential.

They have been running every day for months but it is not in service yet, they are either testing or training drivers, I don't know which.

Try orient thai ...they might crash as they have a bad record but i flew with them last month and booked 2 days before departure for 5.400 baht, The food is <deleted> and the flight was delayed 2 hours coz the pickup with the stairs reversed into the bus but still its the cheapest offer,

Be a devil...put your life on the line and live dangerous

Did consider them, but there timings were no good for me, I would have needed another nights accomodation which would have cancelled out any savings.

Yes, cost more than Ethiopian.

I'm looking for a cheapish flight to Hong Kong next month, and about the best I have been offered, that fits in with my schedule, is Ethiopian Airlines.

Not a carrier that initially sprung to mind so I wondered if anybody has flown with them of late. especially on this route?

Note: I had originally posted this on the SE Asia Forum, on reflection I should posted here.

You are absolutly right to highlight the dangers with submitting false applications, but the problem is that Immigration Advisers and Agencies are not regulated in Thailand, anybody can set up business offering immigration and visa advice.

Anybody who allows any agency or advisor to submit false evidence or forged documents really deserves anything they get.

You don't say if you are waiting for your passsport to come from your embassy or not. If you are British then it should have gone to Hong Kong to be processed, not the Embassy.

As an aside, it is always a good idea to keep copies of every page of your passport before you send it off for renewal. Personally I am waiting to see how the new arrangements for using Hong Kopng work out before I will risk sending my passport.

For the avoidance of doubt, and off topic, when renewing a British Passport in Hong Kong you only need to send them a photocopy, not your actual passport.

Etihad are currently offering sub 30,000 from Bangkok to London, including taxes and surcharges, still expensive in my view but I think the days of cheap flights is over.

My understanding is that the posession of child pornography for personal use is not illegal here.

My understanding is that it is illegal, but I wouldn't stake my pension on it.

Don't know about the processing times but the office will be closed, or at least have restricted staff numbers during the Easter and Songkran holidays.

http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us...office-holidays

How about making child porn illegal here ? It is.

How about stopping the people selling child porn openly on Beach Rd in Pattaya and Pantip Plaza in Bangkok ? A very good question, I suspect we are back to the money talks bit.

I suspect there might well be a few people crossing the Mekong, reporting their passports stolen and making their way home.

I wonder if Thailand might attempt to extradite in such circumstances, though whilst these people could be prosecuted in their own countries I'm not so sure it would happen.

Really? My understanding is that the laws are in place for Thailand. The issue is that money talks. Read the perp apprehension stories. Always some guy that looks like he lives hand to mouth. Never see someone that has money. I wonder why? Is this one of the side effects of tolerating corruption?

Again absolutely right, this country is divided into the have and have not, very few of the haves will get themselves into trouble because their money talks.

Thailand really needs to get out of this corruption culture, everybody seems to accept that as a fact but is unwilling, or unable, to do anything about it.

Sorry I am veering well off topic.

Unbelievable! How is a child supposed to know what they are consenting to? They only know after the deed is done and then their childhood has gone already.

Absolutely right, and that's why the government is right to address the issue, starting with foreigners is a start, but they must also address the mindset of the Thai people who are no doubt putting these poor little ones in danger.

I think the minister by his statement accepts that there is a major problem with the Thai way of thinking.

I agree 100% that convicted child abusers should be locked up for as long as they are a threat to other kids, and that may mean for the rest of their lives, but I am not sure about the quote below that indicates Sweden wanted Thailand to severely punish child-abuse suspects. I suspect this is just a case of bad reporting or at least a poor translation as suspects are just that and are innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law, though I do agree that bail should be very difficult and maybe impossible if there is compelling evidence.

I am however glad that Thailand seems to be taking these types of offences seriously, let's just hope that neighbouring countries soon follow suit.

Permanent Secretary for Justice Kittipong Kitiyarat said Sweden wanted Thailand to severely punish child-abuse suspects and recommended that they never be released on bail because this was a serious crime.

Yes I had rather hoped it was more about today's date then another government initiative.

^^^^^

From the Entry Clearance Guidlines, 7by7 has even provided a link.