trevorw

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not recall any government anywhere in the world reducing a tax on gasoline in the whole of human (gasoline) history.

This is insane at a time when all Thai towns and cities have polluted air from clogged roadways. Any responsible government should be increasing taxes to reduce dependence on vehicles, whether two- or four-wheeled. (Or three with some tuk-tuks.) With extra taxes you can begin the much-needed modernisation of the rail system.

Reduced use of vehicles might also lead to better health. Btw, how often do you see a Thai person walking in the city. I am in Chiang Mai, and the only people I see walking are farangs like myself (breathing in the diesel fumes as I wait for traffic lights to change....)

Tourist come here to relax not to be hassled

where are you going? On what day? Why are you going? Who are you going to be with? What are you going to be doing?

Wow might as well go to North Korea for a holiday

Normal questions asked of Canadian citizens when they re-enter the True North Strong and Free

Probably true here for both sides. Its democtatic process in its infancy and hopefully it will refine and mature over years.. decades proabaly, but I think its the beginning of the end for the racist ruling classes and their distaste for poor dark skinned people in any guise other than cleaner or driver.

What poor northern farmers must think when they watch Bankokcentric television I can only wonder. Lifestyle programs, Fashion shows, soaps, travel diarys, all viewed from inside a wooden shack with a tin roof, paid for by the daughters that had to go and slave in the city or, if they were lucky enough to be considered pretty, to sell themselves in the brothels and bars that the hi-so's own, frequent or extort money from.

A plea from the pampered tourist sectors will likely fall on deaf ears outside of vested interest. Why would two thirds of the population of the country living in poverty give a fig about some soppy falangs holiday being disrupted.

I see the biggest danger now for Abhisit is Thaksin dissapearing from the scene.

They have demonised him so much that the next mover from the Red side who is Thaksin free will be able to wipe the floor at the next elections.

Yes, the Democrats now NEED Thaksin for their survival and to deflect anger and critisism from the massive financial fall out of this last week, the PAD antics and the general world financial climate. Not to mention the possibility of them also not being compenent enough to run the country's finances. No Thaksin = no bogeyman....wooooooooooooooooooooh

This is the best contribution to this thread by far. Gets to the heart of the matter. The main emphasis in expat communications is always on how easy/difficult etc etc it is for some poor sod from Braintree, Essex, or Notlob, Lancashire, to "survive" in LoS. Well, who gives a toss? The only way we expats can live comfortably in LoS is by ignoring the very real poverty that allows us to live on artificially low prices for everything (except what is imported from Europe). What danger do we run, as expats or tourists, compared to the danger of dying from malnutrition or disease in some northern Thai location?

Does any one give a flying fk for the condition of the rural poor, whose daughters come down to Pattaya, encouraged by the monks and all figures of authority (just like in Medieval Europe), to "make a living" from us farangs, who probably square our consciences by saying we are transferring "wealth" to the third world.

What bs.

Well done, Grandpops...keep it up.

Trotsky

Hello,

I met my Thai girlfriend in 2003 and have been dating each other since. She actually been to Vancouver for 4 month in 2004 and attended a one-month-international-student English program in Douglas College. We are planning to live together in Canada and are wondering how to proceed in doing so. After some preliminary research, it seems to me the following procedures will work better for our situation. Please have some feedback and suggestion for us.

1. Have my Thai girlfriend apply a Tourist VISA to Canada

2. Get married in Victoria, BC, Canada

3. Apply for Sponsorship, and Permanent Resident

A little about me:

- moved to Vancouver from Taiwan in 1999

- got my Canadian Citizenship in 2003

- Working full time as a hotel night auditor making $16.48/hour. 2008 T4 is about $38300 (more than $35641). I have been in this job for about 1.5 years.

- own a car and currently renting a 1 bedroom apartment.

- now living in Victoria, BC

About my girlfriend

- Living in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

- Been to Vancouver, Canada for about 4 months in 2004 and attended a one month International English Program in Douglas college. (Her dad has to borrow from his boss about $300,000 Thai Baht = $10,000 CAD and put the money in her bank account for 3 days in order to obtain the tourist VISA). She also had tourist VISA to Taiwan and stayed for 4 days in Taiwan in 2008

- Now working in Chiang Rai as an elementary school teacher teaching English, Japanese and various subjects. She has been a elementary school teacher for about 3 years now.

Some of my questions?

1. I currently make $16.48/hr, which by calculation gives me a annual income of $34278 (16.48x40 hr x52 weeks). This means by calculation my gross yearly income is lower than the Immigration Canada sponsor income requirement of $35641. However because of overtime and gratuity, my gross income on the T4 is about $38300. Will I pass the Sponsor Income Requirement?

2. I found many posting indicating that it is almost impossible for their Thai girlfriend to get a tourist VISA to Canada therefore they are forced to marry outside of Canada. Since my girlfriend had successfully obtained a tourist VISA to Canada in 2004, I hope it won't be too hard for her to get one this time. If she came to Canada on a Tourist VISA, can we get married in Canada? What is likely to happen after we get married in Canada.

3. I am also looking to consult an immigration consultant or a lawyer. If you have any recommendation for Victoria, BC, Please their name.

Thank you all for spending reading my posting. It is very much appreciated.

Sincerely

Jay C.

I live in Victoria, and my Thai gf has just been refused a visa to come and study English here!!! Why? Not enough money in the bank account. The Canadian Embassy employs Thai women to do the interviewing, and they are extremely rude and go out of their way to humiliate Thai women seeking visas.

As for getting married here in Canada, there should be no problem at all. (may be an expensive proposition, though). I have read (on this site) that it is difficult to get an Asiatic woman into Canada EVEN WHEN MARRIED TO the Canuck. They will ask all sorts of intrusive questions, which have the effect of dampening one's romantic inclinations!

Have you asked the Canadian Embassy?

I don't know what the British or American embassies are like, but from all I hear about the Canadian, the embassy in Thailand (and in certain other Asian countries) treats the Asiatic female as if she ipso facto has leprosy.

In other words, no....You will be fobbed off with a non-answer.

Sorry if this topic has been covered before. My Thai gf is about to go through the visa process to come to Canada. She is 37, has paid for a language school for 16 weeks (Can$4500 for fees in advance), and has the letter of acceptance and receipt of payment etc. All seems to be ok, but I am wondering:does anyone know what is the normal expectation at the Canadian Embassy for "money in the bank" in her Thai bank account. Is there a certain minimum that past practice seems to suggest?

Anyone with experience of this, I'd be grateful for your replies.