gazz

Perfect ... an escape hatch!

Thanks so much for easing the all-consuming stress that clobbered me this morning.  Good to know there's a way out.

cheers

And yet they'll allow a 60 day extension if applied for prior to the expiration of my current stay without having to produce a new visa?

That's great news, Joe, thanks.

So if I'm following correctly, extensions are simply appended to others without losing current visa status.  (It sounds too easy, too convenient ... surely there's a roadblock in that scenario.  Makes me wonder how many 60 day extensions can be granted if one follows another without interruption.)

Righto, first things first.  I need to find out it Phuket Immigration is wanting 3 months.  Probably best to start another thread with that as subject line.

Thanks again.

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

No immigration office has any legal right to very from the written requirements in the police order.

If you had to you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife and then do the one year extension near the end of it.

If Phuket officers insist on 3 months rather than the stated 2 of the police order, is there an internal immigration process whereby one can dispute the judgement?  I'm not keen on ruffling feathers at the local level -- I still have to live here -- but by the same token, as I recall, the hoops I had to jump through to acquire the visa in the first place is not something I care to repeat anytime soon (trips in and out of the country, embassies, translations bureaus, foreign affairs ministry, etc.).

Your suggestion of a 60 day extension looks like a reasonable approach.  Not having ever made use of it, I'm curious to know how that might be put into effect.  I assume I would need to apply just prior to the expiration of my current stay.  Then, unlike the annual extension, I'm also guessing there is no "period of consideration" so would be effective as of the date applied (?).  Of concern, is whether I would need to leave the country at any point during this process, and whether it is as simple as submitting an application for an "annual extension to stay" prior to the expiration of the "60 day extension".

Thanks Ubonjoe.  I guess I'll just have to sweat it out until someone from Phuket can confirm current requirements.

I had thought a way forward might be to change the visa from:  "(6) In the case of marriage to a Thai woman" to "(5) In case of parents"  which does not indicate a requirement to season the funds for 2 months ... or 3 as may be the case in Phuket.  It's contentious so may not even be a way around the possible 3 month Phuket requirement.

I've found the conflict:  I have this pdf on file (attached) that was current as of June 2013.  The area of interest indicates an anomaly that may be associated with the Phuket Immigration office (i.e. 3 months for subsequent years).

I would sure be grateful if anyone from Phuket could clarify whether the 400k needs to be seasoned for 2 or 3 months.

Marriage Extension Checklist.pdf

Wow!

Like I said, I think I'm losing some gray matter.  I seem to have had it in head that it was 60 days for the first time after receipt of visa and then 90 for subsequent applications for extension to stay.  I will henceforth add this item to the growing list of "reminders" in my calendar.

So long as it's pertinent -- and I can now go ahead with the application -- can anyone point me to a current list of documents required for Phuket immigration office?

Many thanks to Thai Visa forum and the generous support of knowledgeable folks like Ubon Joe.

So now I'm looking for the best option to remedy this unfortunate oversight.  (Don't know why I had 60 days in mind; must be getting older.)

Is there any chance immigration will still consider the application for annual extension to stay based on marriage if the 400k is almost 2 weeks shy of the 90 requirement?

If not, what is the best way forward?  (Expiration is Nov.30/17)

Thanks in advance for any informative advice.

Clipped this a few years ago: (It works; I keep a bottle cap behind the microwave and top is up as need from the batch I made years ago and kept in glass jar.)

Ant killer

Ingredients 1/2 cup water
1 tbl     boric acid
From some other TV threads: krod boric กรดบอริก
1 cup sugar

Directions

   1. Put the water in a medium sized bowl. Heat in microwave for 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon boric acid. Stir until completely dissolved, about a minute.

   2. Add 1 cup sugar, stir until completely dissolved.

   3. Place the mix in small containers, like bottle caps or the bottom 1/2" of a yogurt container. Put these wherever you have ant problems. Or better yet, pour a small 1" diameter puddle near problem areas on kitchen counters or floors. Warning: dogs and kids will eat this stuff. Cats won't, they don't like sugar. I dunno about hamsters, etc.

   4. Be patient. The ants will find it within a couple hours and go nuts. Don't interrupt their feed-fest. You have to let them eat their fill and bring it back to the nest, where, over the course of the next couple days, the boric acid will kill the queen. That's right, I'm inciting regicide.

   5. Proportions are important. Too much boric acid and the ants never make it back to the nest. Too little and you're just feeding the little buggers.

If you have something in particular you wish to protect from ants, like the cat food, put some talcum or baby powder under it. Ants hate this stuff and won't cross it. And, as a plus, your cat will get very soft little paws.

This post was intended to aid anyone who may not have thought about the points raised here.

It is not an invitation to debate or argue the relevance nor the origin of the content.

If you have anything useful to add, go ahead and do so.

The following are words of advice from lessons learned over the past 11 years of submitting applications for yearly extensions of stay based on a Non – O visa in Phuket:

• Never assume you have covered all possible contingencies and are properly prepared; you will be disappointed
  
• Monitor TV forum for updates on changes to local office requirements before completing your application package; ask specific questions if in doubt
  
• Allow minimum 3-5 working days prior to expiration of current extension and be aware of any local holidays that may affect opening hours
  
• Photocopy documents so that information is presented and readable horizontally on the vertical page (some officers don't like having to turn pages sideways to verify information); then sign each page in blue ink, a contrasting colour (do this before presenting application to officer)
  
• Do yourself a favour and download necessary forms from the immigration website; queueing up for forms handed out by a single volunteer and then being told to fill them out before queueing up again to collect your number (issued by same volunteer) can cost you hours; the line may not be long but that volunteer is in charge of vetting everyone's paperwork and answering all their questions before issuing a number; most importantly, try to remember: this volunteer does not know everything and the immigration officer can, and probably will, still find you are missing required documents
  
• Arrive early and be prepared to spend the day if you are not properly prepared; having to alternate between queues for upstairs, downstairs offices and photocopy shop is somewhat less than amusing even with the obligatory lunch break or potential excursions to banks and Ampur offices to collect additional documents
  
• Make an attempt to dress “politely” as a show of respect (ladies with bare shoulders will be turned out of the Phuket office (upstairs) for not being “polite”); read signs and notices posted on or beside the entrances
  
• After presenting documents to an officer and then being told to go and wait for your name to be called (he / she will likely have to turn your documents over to a superior for further processing) try to wait where you can keep on eye on the desk where you last left your documents; it is easy for them to get buried under a pile and forgotten until some hours later when you initiate an enquiry
  
• Bring something to read or to occupy your time; distraction from the general disgruntled atmosphere of the waiting room is essential; never allow yourself to fall asleep when waiting for your name to be called
  
• If you're lucky enough to get through the ordeal in short order, go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief, but know that in a month (or two) when you collect your approved 'extension to stay' stamp, next year could be radically different
  
• Above all, smile or grin and bare it . . . it's better than poke in the eye with a sharp stick!
  

Ubonjoe, thanks.

I've just now checked through expired passports and your comments are true to fact.

I would add as matter of interest:

When applying for another extension in the new passport (same paperwork and fee), the shortened and now transferred extension will only be extended to the date it would otherwise have been if the old passport had not expired within the validity of the original 1 year extension to stay application.

For example:

• annual extension to stay application processed in March with passport expiring December same year
• extension granted until expiration date of current passport
• new passport obtained November and extension stamp transferred to new document
• extension to stay application resubmitted in December; approved but only until March of following year (3 months)
• March following year; submit application to stay (same paperwork and fee as usual); approved for full year

Strange but true.

Will immigration issue an extension to stay beyond the expiration date of your current passport?

I remember reading a thread some time ago suggesting a new passport be obtained prior to applying for the extension to stay. Otherwise, you risk having the extension terminate along with the expiration date of your current passport. Thereafter, you would have to apply for a new (visa and / or extension to stay?) and run through the whole process again in order to use a new passport. Clarification on this would be greatly appreciated from those who have direct experience.

Well guys / gals, it's all getting a bit messy. Bridged network setting means I lose NAT (host ip address) and thus the wireless connection to internet. Config to 'host only' gains access to the rest of my hd but the wait times for opening folders (and being bugged each time to enter password) are beyond acceptable.

Keeniau96:

Logon is automated along with the setup procedure through VMware so no opportunity to switch to Cinnamon. Another iso install me thinks is the answer.

A few more days and many hours tweaking this and that and I may stumble on a workable solution...meantime must attend to more pressing concerns. Thanks to all for help and suggetions (which I'll continue to monitor. If time permits, I'll get on the linux community forums for further information.)

I gather from the above, I need to configure Windows properly before Linux will see more than the 27 GB drive virtual machine drive that it is installed within. Would I also then have to set up shared folders within Mint? Trying to add the hard drive via VMware player does not work; Mint won't boot up in that case I think because a new .vmdx (?) file is created for the new hdd configuation and that appears to prevent the vm from recognizing it's own hdd. I may well dump the whole thing and try another install with Cinnamon...just for the fun of it;)

Thanks to all for your input. I ended up going with a virtual machine install and have begun messing around a bit. Getting the VMware tools manually installed was not exactly straightforward so took a few tries. I can't say I'm overly impressed with Mate; is there an elegant solution to swapping that out for Cinnamon or would it be better to create another vm for a side by side comparison? Finally, I have yet to discover how to make use of the media contained outside the virtual machine...any quick tips on that score?

Hi all,

I'm looking for some tips / guidance for dual-booting my machine. I would like to take a look at Mint to see if I can get by without Windows and Windows dependent applications. If so, I will install it as my primary OS on the SSD and use the HDD strictly for data.

As it stands:
64GB SSD (12 GB free) holding OS (Win7 Pro 64-bit) and misc. applications
1TB HDD (320 GB free) for data
8GB RAM
CPU is i5 2500K (moderately overclocked)

My backup device is a Buffalo 500GB ext. drive with OS support for Windows and Mac.

I have been looking at partitioning for various installations and gather that LVM is not yet supported in most distributions. That said, I'm not familiar with Linux so it's all a bit academic at this point...it's just that I like the idea of complete control over available disk space. The idea of subsequent (read: post installation) incremental expansion or reduction of allocated partitions or adding additional drives is appealing to me. Also, because I lack a proper understanding of effective partitioning.

That aspect aside...
Is it possible to shrink the NTFS partition on the HDD (without compromising the existing data) in order to install Mint? Can Mint then interact with these files?
Would it not be reasonable to just run Mint from a live DVD or USB device? I can't imagine this being a method that would allow for a fair evaluation.
If I choose to go with a Linux install as my sole OS, would that external drive really be rendered useless or is there some work around to be able to read the contents?

I've been sitting on the fence here for quite some time. I don't have any real issues with Win7; seems to work fine...most times. I'm intrigued with Linux and would like to take it out for test drive.

Comments, suggestions and advice are welcome.

Good thought Mr. Bojangles...that's what I call thinking out of the box!

Indeed Lopburi3, the light is precisely to monitor how long the pump is running. A quick squirt to top off the accumulator tank; multiple bursts over a short period of time; continuous running when no taps open...etc. The light would be in a location that would be visible from main living area and kitchen so easily monitored most times during waking hours.

Thanks to all for suggestions, advice and hints.

Gazz,

May I ask under what circumstances do you wish to know if the pump is running? Day/Night? Morning/Evening? What would be the likely causes of the pump not running or the pump running when you believe it should not be?

The footer valve on the last installation gave out after eight years as did the motor on the pump. There is no storage tank between ground well and house (something I will rectify once I decide where and how it will be installed). The sidewalk behind the house which was not anchored to the foundation is now slowly falling away and cracking. And, of course the pipe work for one of the washrooms runs through the cement. I will have a leak there one day unless I manage to get the walk way repaired first--it's on the list of things to do;) Having the light in the house indicating when the pump is running will help to determine if there is a small leak / large leak or other malfunction whereby the pump cycles when it should not.

Right, thanks guys. I think I got it straight: live supply to insulated box, containing diodes and resistor (I'll mount the indicating light on the outside of the existing wooden cabinet covering the distribution panel; additionally, there's lots of room to mount a small circuit box within) then simply run the lead exiting the new insulated box back to the connection point at the breaker for the pump. Am I correct with this plan?

Running a wire from the pump is not practical in my case as the entire wiring conduit delivering mains supply from the road to the house (and back down again to pump) is underground.

Thanks Crossy. The circuit seems simple enough but the explanation given in your link: From originally at we use the way checks the condition of AC power Load by a temple AC Voltage. But when use this circuit. You can check the event can work by check AC current flow through load. This circuit easily in case of Load and control switch stay far from the stall shows. Because misfire stand an electric line from load again the group. This circuit easily use electronic parts a little with be normal rectifier diode 4 pcs, Resistors 1 pcs and LED 1 pcs only. It as a result can know that have current change load get already although. This circuit will suit AC house electric but this idea still can go to is usable that is high class low voltage get. By make volt be down 1.5V always just. ...baffles to say the least!

The pump motor is rated at 300 watts. I'm not experienced in wiring up additional circuitry to what is already installed so would need some help with that aspect. (proper wire size, correctly rated diodes / resistor, and where to introduce the LED monitoring circuit--before / after the breaker?) I have a friend nearby who should be able to help with this.

Thanks again.

After recent complications with a new water pump installation, I was wondering if it is possible to install a light in the house that would give a visual indication when the water pump is running. The panel is very basic with mains supply going through a Safety-cut then to a circuit box. The water pump is on it's own circuit with a 16 amp breaker. The water pump operation is controlled by a pressure switch (a 100 metres away).

Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

Heads up:

An officer in charge of processing 90 reports miscalculated the 90 days counting from my arrival on Jan.11; he stated and wrote on the back of my arrival card the 13th of April. This took place on March 13th when I went in to file my application for extension of stay. I just wanted to confirm what date I needed to be there for the 90 day report and then he noted I was due to check back on April 18th to see if my extension of stay was granted, he told me to just wait until the 18th to do the 90 day report at the same time. I looked at him with a skeptical expression and he took my passport crossed out the 'miscalculated' 13th and wrote over top the 18th whereupon he handed back my passport with a big grin and "Mai pen rai."

Today, 'mee pen ha mak mak'...the same officer was not in attendance and the one I presented my document to checked his handy dandy little 90 day calculation booklet and figured 90 days from Jan.11 = Apr.10. Ergo, I need to pay something. My wife jumps in with the explanation but he doesn't want to know. My wife is rather insistent that I'm acting on what I was told to do so he hands over the documents and says go see him then. I sat in front of the empty chair where he would normally be sitting for some minutes. Then determined from one of the quasi official farangs who try to be helpful to tourists that the officer in question is not there today. Meantime, my wife is at it with another officer in charge of 90 day reporting. This other officer is angrily pointing out that it is entirely my fault for not calculating the 90 days for myself and further, that I should not have taken the advice of the officer who told me to just file the 90 day report a few days later when I had to appear to check on the status of my extension of stay consideration. In the end, she begrudgingly issued another 90 day slip (which I've subsequently verified as being 89 days!?).

By the way, the officer who looked at my stamp to report back on the 18th of April for my extension to stay handed my passport back directly saying I should just come back in on Tuesday next. I felt like asking for signed affidavit or perhaps a recorded video of his verbal statement telling me "mai pen rai" just come back next week.

Lessons learned:

Check your own 90 day calculation and come in before it's due.

Forget about a week's grace after the date; some officers won't allow it.

It doesn't matter what happened or who said what...it's still always going to be my fault.

(This is the first time in 12 years I've actually considered leaving my 'home' in Thailand.)

How sad for the families of these victims and the surving passengers!

The occurrence of reckless driving is nothing new to those who have lived here for a period of time. Seven pages of comments in less than 24 hrs. speaks to the level of concern and outrage felt by many who frequent TV. The concensus appears to indicate nothing will be done to curb these atrocities; accept the reality or succumb to the delusion that it's not as bad as it seems.

So, as a rational thinking human being, what to do?

Avoid this mode of transport when and wherever possible (including giving way while in your personal vehicle). If you must join a group of passengers in a van with a reckless driver, never be so submissive to ignore the fact that your life is in danger. Speak up people, take charge of your safety! Try a quiet or polite approach to the driver to indicate you are afraid for your life and it seems other passengers are anxious as well so would he please slow to a safe speed. (From personal experience, this has worked in the past.) If this tactic fails, speak with the other passengers and organize a vociferous collective appeal to the driver. As a last resort, demand he stop the van at the next convinient opportunity and exit. It's your life and it's up to you to save yourself.

Hi,

I'm looking for a suitable building (preferably around Thalang) to rent. Require 3 phase / 200 amp electrical service and good access for trucks to turn / load outgoing shipments.

Anybody with some leads?

thanks,