dereklev

I'll be on a 747 heading for BKK.

Well it could be worse.

Yes it could.....

I will be on a 777 flying to London!

Merry Xmas to you all.

donz is actually the love child of a Surin bar owner

Now that is funny!!

I think you may have to go to the elephants rather than they come to you.

Depends on your budget

We had 2 elephants at our wedding....

We live near Korat and they came from the Surin area in the back of trucks.

The cost was about 10,000 baht for the 2. They came a couple of days before the wedding and stayed until the day after. The mahouts spent their time giving rides to all the local kids.....

If anyone knows of any stomping grounds for english speaking expats in Korat I would be glad to trade a few beers for information and insight into life in the kingdom. Thanks again for everones input so far.

A lot of "expats" meet at the Pasinee Restaurant (Lebanese Restaurant/Mike's Place). English spoken there for sure. You can find more info about the place if you do a google search for "Pasinee Restaurant Korat".

Maybe not that much English but a lot of American, Australian, Scottish, Welsh etc.....

Over fifty, if father of a Thai child as I understand it.

Sunbelt ?

Correct based on 7.17 (5) of the National Police Office Order No. 606/2006

If married with Thai child, then you should not apply under 7.17 (6), if you are over 50 years old.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Thanks. Always a chance I could be wrong but not Maestro.

Wasn't doubting either of you just I had never heard of this.

Sunbelt can I swith from marriage extension to support of Thai child? Is this possible?

Thanks in advance..

...my Daughters Birth certificate...

You didn’t mention your age, but if you are over 50 years old, you should be able to get an annual extension without having to show proof of income or money in the bank.

---------------

Maestro

Thanks for the quick response guys,

I'm 52 yeras old. What do I need and where do I go to get this one year extension based on my age? Is it a retirement visa?

The way I see it , it would be a year extension based on supporting a Thai Wife and Child and as you are over fifty years of age . No proof of income or savings are needed. A bit strange but good for us oldies with kids

Obtained from any Immigration office in Thailand.

Others on this site can advise further.

Is this a new rule?

I am 56 and have extended my non-imm 'O' based on marriage and support of a Thai child for the last 3 years........they have ALWAYS asked for 400K in the bank.

I have spoken to Immigration post October 1st and they have confirmed the same rules, 400K in the bank.

I am now confused.....

Don't worry bout it. Nothing has changed for you.

Others it has, but for you, you are ok with 400K in the bank, as you had an extension of stay based on marriage before Oct 1st, 2006

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Thanks Sunbelt I understand that my situation remains unchanged.

I was querying what Maestro and LITE BEER are saying about over 50s NOT needing to show money in the bank to extend their stay for 1 year.

...my Daughters Birth certificate...

You didn’t mention your age, but if you are over 50 years old, you should be able to get an annual extension without having to show proof of income or money in the bank.

---------------

Maestro

Thanks for the quick response guys,

I'm 52 yeras old. What do I need and where do I go to get this one year extension based on my age? Is it a retirement visa?

The way I see it , it would be a year extension based on supporting a Thai Wife and Child and as you are over fifty years of age . No proof of income or savings are needed. A bit strange but good for us oldies with kids

Obtained from any Immigration office in Thailand.

Others on this site can advise further.

Is this a new rule?

I am 56 and have extended my non-imm 'O' based on marriage and support of a Thai child for the last 3 years........they have ALWAYS asked for 400K in the bank.

I have spoken to Immigration post October 1st and they have confirmed the same rules, 400K in the bank.

I am now confused.....

I can not fathom how selfish you are concerning your own daughter. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I have been contemplating what to write concerning this post, and find myself so angry I cant think straight, and would probably be thrown off the website for the amount of expletives I feel should be directed at you.

well why don't you try thinking straight and then you might be able to read the op correctly she is NOT my Daughter i reff er to her as being my wifes Daughter which kinda suggests she's not mine!! She's from my wife's first husband/partner.

Yia Jen!

Marriage=YOUR daughter now. You feel good waking up in the morning, nice and well fed, in your comfy home....knowing your wifes( now Yours) family live in squalor?

For the price of what you drop at the pub on a weekend, or the monthly cost of cigarettes, you are whining? It is no wonder you aren't showered with thanks from your new family....your wife must be so proud of you.

I regularly contribute to my new family,They have never asked for a penny. I have built them a home. I am always treated as a son, because I act as one.

You sound very angry, would you like to talk about it, we are all friends here! Seriousley though i don't agree with you i married her not her Daughter or her family. However, i do accept my responsibilities and accept thats the "culture" and send the money with out fail. Also if truth be known i do feel a small of pride knowing i'm helping her Daughter through college.

As another post suggests it's best to see it as a charity thing.

When you married you must have been aware of her daughter and her family!

They are your daughter and your family now!

You seem to think that your 5000 baht a month goes an awful long way......

Saying thank you is not a Thai trait, but it can be very annoying when they don't say it!

To you all,

My girlfriend is looking to come to malaysia with me on my next visa trip but she hasnt got a passport. Where can she get one? and how much do they cost? how quickly can she get one?

Ruds

Best place is the main passport office at Chaeng Wattana in BKK.

I think it takes 48 hours and costs approx 1000 baht.

Here is a link with details of offices and what documents she needs....

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/474.php

Hi,

I wrote a small guide about Korat and Roi-Et on my website. If you come to these cities, you will find information about hotels, restaurants, maps, what to do, massage, zoo, etc.

I did it only for fun, sharing information.

I lived a year in Roi-Et and now I have been living in Korat for 2 years.

enjoy,

http://sebastien DOT korat farang DOT com

Can't write it in one shot here....

Sebastien.

I think it is because korat farang is unacceptable language here on TV...

There is, and never has been, any age qualification for an extension based on marriage so am not sure what you heard but it sounds rather odd.

Sounds very odd...

I could vaguely understand them putting a maximum age of 60 but a minimum.....

Party House, PussyCat and Coyote (in Korat) on Sunday night and boy did I have a hangover on Monday morning...........

Confine yourself to oral sex and forget about the pill.

:D

Very sound advice......

What are the chances of my 82 year old mom who has been making border runs to mae sai for three years, getting a retirement visa. She gets about $800 usd per month into her us bank and could come up with about $2000 savings. She is not an invalid her health is good.

Any advise would be appreciated. ...

0% or 100% depending on which Immigration officer you sit in front of.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, other than saying contact SunbeltAsia....

Could you please just 100% confirm that for Extension of Stay for the so called "Marriage Visa" for a person who has been issued one proir to October 1st 2006 must have 400,000 baht in their Thai bank account for at least 3 months prior to their next renewal and that this sum must remain untouched until the Extension of Stay is granted.

Corect with two exceptions, 40,000 Baht income per month or a combination of 400K in the bank and 40,000 Baht income per month. Example 200K in the bank and 20,000 Baht income per month.

Look at

7.17 of National Police Office Order No. 606/2006

(6) In case of the applicant has married to Thai wife, one of the couple or both of them need to have the total annual income that is averaged out not less than 40,000 Baht per month. Except for the case that the said foreign national has entered Thailand before this Order is enforced and the foreign national has been permitted to stay in the Kingdom by the result of having married to a Thai wife. If the applicant does not have the said income, then, the latest 3 months records of the account book of any Bank in Thailand with the account name of either or both parties need to have the amount of money not less than 400,000 Baht.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Thanks Sunbelt, now I am 100% clear...

I will contact the British Embassy tomorrow to see what documetation they need to confirm my income, which fortunately is far in excess of the 40,000 Baht a month required.

I find it "financially offensive" to tie up approx 6K UK pounds for next to no interest for 5/6 months every year! !

Any comment from Sunbelt ?

We've been told some more new changes may come out around Nov 15th. However, the changes are still in the "talking stage."

Till we see something more concrete, its nothing to hang our hat on. If these changes do come out, will be interesting to see if they are more liberal or conservative.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Sorry to say, it seems the changes are going to be just on change of visa. For instance on an extension of stay based on retirement, you need to show 90 days of the money in the bank.

The same requirement does not exist on a change from a tourist visa or 30 day stamp, as long as the money is in the bank, you are allowed to do the change. You then are granted a 90 day “under consideration stamp” This was perfect as you then could apply for the extension 90 days later as you met the qualification of the money in the bank for 90 days. You could stay in Thailand during this process.

On Nov. 15th this will change to correspond to the extension of stay with the money required to be in the bank, 90 days for both the change of visa and extension. You cannot do the change without 90 days of money being in the bank.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Sunbelt

Could you please just 100% confirm that for Extension of Stay for the so called "Marriage Visa" for a person who has been issued one proir to October 1st 2006 must have 400,000 baht in their Thai bank account for at least 3 months prior to their next renewal and that this sum must remain untouched until the Extension of Stay is granted.

Interesting that they are already talking about changes so soon after October 1st.

Now I guess we all wait nervously to see what they come up with this time.............

You always need to fill in a reason for a TT/SWIFT transfer. Nothing new.

I have never been asked for a reason for the transfer. Even when I transferred 1 million baht to buy a car.

Love to know where lopburi and others get there 14/16 hour transfers from. My "Express" transfers from the UK rarely get into my account in less than 4 days! !

I phoned Suan Plu today about extending my "Marriage Visa" the officer I spoke to just kept repeating same as last year to each question I asked.

When I asked does the money have to be in the account 3 months in advance and remain untouched until the extension is granted he just repeated for you the same as last year!!

Now I am even more confused!!

There is no change for you because you already are in the 400k system and will remain able to use it. Only those making first application are likely to be hit with the 40k income requirement. The 3 month may well be something they tell you to do on your next renewal but believe it will only be closely checked for those who are suspect (no money until application and then gone).

Thanks lopburi, there is always a steady flow of money through the account but effectively tying up 400k for about 5 months would be a little painful.....

But I am still confused as Sunbelt seems to imply the money must be in the account for 3 months and remain untouched until the extension is granted! !

I phoned Suan Plu today about extending my "Marriage Visa" the officer I spoke to just kept repeating same as last year to each question I asked.

When I asked does the money have to be in the account 3 months in advance and remain untouched until the extension is granted he just repeated for you the same as last year!!

Now I am even more confused!!

The Immigration officer on the phone is "low-level" was the answer I got today, when I asked in person, "why some people were getting conflicting information on visas."

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Sunbelt are you saying that the 400k has to be in the bank 3 months before I apply for my next extension and remain untouched until the extension is granted??

Also can I use my overseas income, far in excess of 40k, and not bother about the 400k??

I will be applying for my 4th extension next March.

I phoned Suan Plu today about extending my "Marriage Visa" the officer I spoke to just kept repeating same as last year to each question I asked.

When I asked does the money have to be in the account 3 months in advance and remain untouched until the extension is granted he just repeated for you the same as last year!!

Now I am even more confused!!

Congrats Bambi.

I am sure you will have a fantastic time.

It was sweet heart club on soi 7/1. I trusted him when he said he is not borther to go in these places and waste the money on them. Up until last Friday.

chan

Thanks everone who post the message here!

I find it very hard to believe that he was ripped off in Sweetheart! !

I know the owners very well and they don't need to rip off drunk farang.....

Perhaps your husband is not being entirely honest with you! !

Am I the luckiest Farang on there boards??

Yes if thats your gf in your Avatar.....

What bar does she work in? ?