jazzbo

If you are -- as you say -- an artisanal baker that is something rare enough. You might also consider the route of just sticking with the breads, etc. and selling wholesale to other shops rather than going the retail route ... a much broader potential customer base regardless of where you locate your bakery.

Personally, I am not saying anything about any individual MoEd registered language school's ability to help you obtain a visa ... There have been few if any reports -- except for one incident in Chiang Mai -- of any real problems ...

All I was saying is that it is a temporary solution for any intended long-term stay in Thailand but should give someone such as yourself a few years' breathing room and time work work out some other more 'unlimited' arrangement.

Good Luck to TT As he notes in his Title 'Why is Everything Transient?' he should also note from the TLC website: "Currently some visitors have been able to benefit from this (ED Visa) scheme for 3 consecutive years."

from Post #58: " ... are on an extension based on retirement and the financial requirements are suddenly raised to realistic levels from the current token amounts." ... and what is the actual word used for 'Token amounts'' in the Thai-language original document?

If Kuhn Natapol does in fact complete the dangerous ascent of Mt. Everest it will be a great personal achievement for himself and his team. The notion of being 'the first (fill in the blank) to climb Everest' or "I am dedicating my ascent of Everest to all those who (fill in the blank)" has become pure over-played hokum and has maybe cost some climbers and Sherpas their lives.

Good Luck to Kuhn Natapol on this dangerous ascent.

Moral: "If you dare to dream, you need to go out and realise it..." as long as you can find a sponsor.

Personal circumstances aside, I think it is great to want to help raise one's Thai step-children ... When someone Thai or otherwise asks me "Don't you want to have some children of your own?" I respond: Why? Is there a shortage of babies in Thailand?

Body language can be the giveaway ...

from post #127: And how difficult would it be for someone to create a 'bank statement' on a computer? ... Maybe not all that difficult for a skilled Adobe InDesign-type guy but -- since the gent prior said he printed the statement from an online USA account -- the Thai IMM people if in doubt could always just ask you to log-in on their computer so they can see the statement real-time... and then change the password when you get home

Given all the various alternatives mentioned for $US 12.77 I'll take my chances even if it does only last a year ... the product reviews range from raves to a piece of junk.

from Post #22: now i am really confused so if u do not own a condo or house.how do u obtain an o visa?

According to the Hull website download Abb (as of today) you can obtain a Non-IMM 'O' for among other options:

Volunteer work

Evidence required: Suitable letter from recognised charity.

... 'twas already on my USA shopping list.

As the certification of 'commercial' documents from USA as I referenced in Post #12 would have to originate in the USA and would involve much effort on the part of the Thai Embassy in Washington DC and the MoFA at CW here in Bangkok, the Thai IMM Department has basically said 'Never Mind' and will accept the sworn statement of US citizens as to their affirmation monthly income.. any Corroboration thereof at Thai IMM officer's discretion..

from Post #6 Agree with you its sad they dont take advantage of the free resources available... You may see it that way ... but I could easily see why Thai school officials might consider such a policy could become very disruptive to have non-professional persons coming in and out of the school just to '"help out" with the English -- saving face or not.

... Meanwhile on Planet Earth ...

For at least the US Embassy in Bangkok, it IS possible to have your income autheticated, but not by showing it to the Consular Official who handles your Affirmation of Income. Start here:

U.S. CONSULAR OFFICERS ARE NOT EMPOWERED TO AUTHENTICATE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/notary_authentication.html

According to TAT, for year 2007 (last year available online) the 2 numbers represent the average days per stay of all foreign visitors and the average baht per day expenditure:

2007 -- 9.19 -- 4,120.95

^{Surely represents the average hoofer on Thai Visa?}

I have been involved with a Thai farming land melodrama but not as a spouse ... The aged Father died and because my TGF's Mother was not married to the Father, the younger brother of the Father did a bunch of tricks as he was in possession of the actual land deed -- eventually the land was split 2:1 in my TGF's favor but not after considerable lawyer's and other fees ... BTW the value of the land went up because they built an airport near the farm land: Swampy.

I have one of these from BigC ... always sharp with replacement blades -- great for packages or splitting pills blue or otherwise -- not so good for field dressing a moose.

I already know Thai and 4 other Asian languages

I do not need a Visa

There are several schools suggesting that one can study Thai for Visa purposes and stay for more years than it takes to earn a PhD

A Thai student in a language school in USA needs 18 hours of classroom study per week to qualify for a Visa.

I am just being cynical

Slogan available for Non-IMM ED Visa Thai Language shop: The Dumber You Are, The Longer You Can Stay!

The fact that M45 was so ably to identify and describe key elements of the gray market in Thailand means that those elements could be adequately compensated for in the overall statistical picture ... or 'fudge factor' as I believe the statisticians call it.

Post #9 but need to go to another province on business for a few days ... so if you got a visa / extension based upon said business you would not need to show either 400K or 800K in the bank.

BTW getting back to what was the Original Post, the latest USA 301 Trade Report (April, 2010) said the following:

SECTION III. NOTORIOUS MARKETS

Global piracy and counterfeiting continue to thrive due in part to marketplaces that deal in infringing goods...

The United States encourages the responsible authorities to step up efforts to combat piracy and counterfeiting in these and similar markets

Physical Markets

Panthip Plaza, the Klong Thom, Saphan Lek and Baan Mor shopping areas, the Patpong and Silom shopping areas, the Mah Boon Krong (MBK) Center, and the Sukhumvit Road area (Bangkok, Thailand)

These locations are notorious for openly selling pirated and counterfeit goods. These are all designated as "red zones" by Thai authorities, which are markets targeted for increased raids due to their high piracy and counterfeiting rates.