jimky

I'm always on guard on April fools day, but that one got me for a moment. Excellent job!

It depends one what you've bought them before, how interested they are in Thailand and what your budget it. Anyways I have a ten year old daughter in US and she loves anything to do with Thailand. The first time I brought her just some random small gifts but what she liked the most was Thai money. I gave her 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht, 10 baht, 20 baht, 50 baht and 100 baht to show it to her and this was kind of an after thought. Anyways she seemed the most interested and excited at that and after seeing her show several people I did something similar the next time.

The next time I collected things she'd be familiar with that where in Thai instead of english. Small stuff for example place mat at McDonalds, a bottle of Pepsi, Gatorade and Coke, a few candybars etc. Then in case she totally thought this stuff was junk I grabbed here a T-shirt and a very small (4,000 baht) gold chain. Once again she was interested in all this everday basic stuff from Thailand.

I'm very close to my daughter though having raised her mostly alone her first 5 years and having her half the time till a couple years ago. Now I talk to her on webcam a few times a week and on phone most of the other days, so think that's why she is interested.

Anwyays this is a great thread. i'd actually like to read more suggestions for ideas for future because I go home twice a year. End of June for her July 1 Birthday, and December for Christmas and sure soon will be running out of ideas.

I almost had a problem flying from bdl (USA) to bkk with a round trip ticket that return was 7 months later. I only had a tourist visa at time and the visa was not valid for the return date. They refused to let me check in, eventually called a supervisor for me. I told him my plan was to marry in Thailand and then go to Laos for a Non Immigrant visa later. He punched some buttons on ticket and gave me my bordering pass. Not sure if the original guy was giving me a hard time, or if the supervisor was doing me a favor, but whatever case I could see where it might potentialy be an issue.

Education Visa might be an option if you do take the whatever the courses might be.

Others with much more experience can chime in here, but if returning home is feasible option it might be easier to get a double entry tourist visa that way which you could extend out almost 6 months using 60 day stamp plus extension and then entering for second time just before visa expired.

Also you're not supposed to have more than one active visa in your passport.

I wasn't aware of this. If I happen to have two valid visas in the same passport is there something I should do to correct this?

I had a double entry tourist visa. Entered Thailand 2 days after it was issued ten days later left for a day and got a Non Immigrant visa. When I came back in I pointed the non immigrant one out because was worried they'd make a mistake and stamp it in wrong.

No big deal? or is there something I should do to correct this?

I'll be going to immigration in a couple months to apply for one year extension. Don't want any potential problem.

I'm wondering if it is any cheaper or easier to start a Thai company while on a Non Immigrant O (based on Marriage to a thai) visa already.

Is the same 2 million Baht minimum register capital required for a work permit? My confusion comes in that the article on this site as well as several other said assuming one farang work permit and visa is required the minimum is 2 million baht register capital. Note the "and visa" part, I don't need a visa and meet qualification for extension of stay without this.

Another side question: My understanding is that working in Thailand, and paying taxes in Thailand can help me to down the road get permanent residency here. If this is not true then I don't even need to be involved with the company and she could own it all. This is because the purpose is not totally profit driven. I'll explain that below.

The question are above. Details perhaps for anyone interested in the conversation are below:

To give some specifics. I'd like to own an internet based company with my wife, that profits from affiliating and advertising. I've been quite successful with this outside Thailand. The deal here is we'd like to give work to a few people here, the actual websites might not have anything to do with Thailand, and the target audience probably won't be thais for most websites, but the work will be done from Thailand and we do want to employ a few Thais.

Some other info:

I'm 30 years old now. When I was in 20's I didn't have much family and a Thai family in USA became like a family to me. I became very close to them, call the woman mom she refers to me as her son, same with her kids consider them brothers and sisters etc. I came to Thailand on vacation with her and we visited her family in Isaan. I really was attracted to this area because of low cost of living and decided to stay because met a lot of nice people here and really had this dream of creating more jobs in this area. From the begning I was near attacked, stalked by several woman when coming here lol.. I picked the one who was least aggressive and I really felt connected with. I then lived with her 5 months before we married last month. Spending time with her, I got side tracked on my initial plan.. but my reason for wanting to start a company relates to my original reason for coming here. This might be small initially, but I want to learn more about business in Thailand and find ways to create more jobs here (Isaan).

Profit is not the hugest concern. I have enough residual from past businesses to live comfortably on. I do enjoy the challenge, want to do something together with my wife, and really want to create some jobs here. Just looking for the lowest cost way to do this or to spend a little more if that means it can help me down the road in getting permanent residency here.

Any answers to questions or helpful advice or conversation appreciated.

I don't understand why red shirts, yellow shirt, or no shirt at all care that much about the type of hotel he is staying or whether he was sipping or chugging that coffee and if it was cake, bread, cupcakes or a sandwich. He can't be in Thailand leading the demonstrations for obvious reasons, it is no secret to anyone he has money he's not hiding that, so what. The man likes coffee and cake.. he's not much different than anyone else in that regard.

I'm in no way defending him, supporting him or doing the opposite. I'm simply saying the reference to eating cake and sipping coffee is just absurd and biased reporting.

Eva Air is the only company I know that allows open return option when booking online on their website and the price is pretty much the same as booking a regular round trip ticket. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe many airlines have stopped offering open returns and at the few that still do it is quite expensive and cost similar to two one way trips. Anyone know other airlines where open tickets can be booked online?

Edit: I got side tracked and typed slow. See now there is a similar response above mine.

The bus is $1 US the first way (Free for Thais) and will be included with your visa and paid for at same time. The return bus cost 20 baht and there is a large stand (same one everyone else is using) to purchase the ticket. Very simple.

Your only concern is potential long waits to get the Laos visa. When I went recently 6 tour buses pulled up back to back and it put a 2 hour freeze on this where they took everyones passport and money and had us all wait.

Not sure if there was a better time but someone told me to get there at 5:45AM is best. At 6AM can get the visa and this gives time to have forms ready and be standing in line with first group which is usually small at that time.

Also another tip, to save money have $36 US dollars ready when purchasing the Visa/Bus as I believe they charge 1640 baht (something like that) or $36 US. Dollars are obvious much cheaper.

I'm pretty sure she paid about $35. Cause I was in Laos at the time and she met me for coffee right after she had it done. She had nothing else done while she was there. Weird...

SO I'm assuming its free here in Thailand. I'll book my appointment then.

Was she in Thailand and went to Laos to get pages added? Perhaps she was referring to $35 Laos Visa?

I wish I had their business name and/or phone number or info to give you, but I misplaced it a while ago, but across the street there is a really good translation/copy/visa/etc. service. The LA consulate is such a pain to deal with, very slow, unfriendly etc. However when using this service (which is not expensive) they handle everything. I had used them a couple times, on the third time it was for 3 friends who needed tourist visas. We mailed them to this company then grabbed plane (vegas to LA) picked them up no problem. When asked how much they said free, I insisted and tipped them, but anyways really nice couple (wife thai, Husband farang) own and work that business. I'd check in with them before going to the consulate.

To describe where they are:

Walk out of consulate and look right, they are to the right across the street. There is nothing well marked. Once you go into this building they are located, walk down a hall, take a right, and then they are first (or second?) door on left.

During the past 3 months I've stayed in 6-7 different hotels in Udon.

The one I liked the most was Baan Worachan (288/28 Ring Road, Nong Bua) because price was only 480 baht, included internet which worked better than most hotels I've stayed (good speed), food was reasonable priced and television selection was okay (seemed to be same channels I get with UBC so probably UBC).

The only potential concern to note: Everything is Thai here, the food menus, front desk staff, signs etc.

The others worth mentioning:

Charoen Hotel - Good location, many tuk tuks for 40 baht any of many places to eat farang food plus others in walking distance. The downside is this place is expensive: 900-1,110 baht per night. If you need internet will likely need the 590 baht 30 day internet card, food is good here but expensive also. (Note: Internet had periodic down time and also one afternoon went out and was not out till next morning).

BB Resort - Nice villas, good internet, good food (reasonable prices perhaps slightly high but not too high and very good). Prices here fun 650-1000 baht per night depending which type of room you get.

AEK Appartments - This is near AEK Hospital, great location. I can't remember though what I paid per night - the room I rented was on a high floor with balcony, fridge, large table, decent bed, television etc all the basics. My guess is it was somewhere in 700-800 baht per night range because I don't recall it being cheap and also don't remember it being expensive. Internet was included in price. My only complaint was internet was on slow side and came in and out. (Note: their website lists prices monthly but daily rates are posted on their website).

I never stayed there but someone recommended Home Resident Hotel (udonthani.com/homeresident) which supposedly has small rooms for 250 baht and larger rooms with internet for 390 baht. This is located same area as Charoen Hotel.

Anyways to add I'm no expert in Udon hotels, we just recently had a couple month gap (thankfully over) with no home because we were waiting for one to open up where we wanted to live so I happened to stay in a few. Sure there are others here that can give a little better advice.

Great. Thank you very much for quick helpful response.

I don't see this type of visa listed on their website. I'm planning to go to Vientiane to apply for Non Immigrant visa based on marriage. This is my first time applying for a non immigrant visa. I had 2 visas prior which were both tourist visas issued in home country (USA) first time Los Angeles, second time New York.

Marriage was recent. Prior I went to Bangkok (about 5 weeks ago) and got an income statement from US embassy and had it translated and certified at Ministry of foreign affairs.

Taking with me the following:

My Wife

Marriage Certificate,

Certified Income Statement

My passport

My photo x 2

Wifes Thai ID card

Wifes House Registration

Should I bring anything else? ex: Wedding photos, photos of us at house etc. etc.

A list of exactly what is needed so I don't miss anything would be great.

Thanks in advanced for any responses.

I do have some questions. None of this is critical and I get by without the info in advanced but if anyone has answers on top of their head it would be appreciated.

Note: I don’t know Bangkok at all, I’ve only stayed there during layovers in a nearby hotel and been to airport is all.

Section 1 Travel

I made an appointment at 13:00 at the US embassy and booked a flight coming in at 10:00 to Suvarnabhumi airport, that returns the next day at 16:15. Gives me an extra day if something gets delayed or run out of time.

Q-1: Any hotel advice for something very cheap but safe and suitable for two people to sleep. My plan right now is to book Centre Point Wireless Road for 3900 baht for the night which is right next to the embassy. If there is something still relatively close but considerably cheaper then I’d probably go there.

Q-2: I’m generally a taxi person because I don’t know any better. Yes I know about using real taxi, meter etc (I lived in Vegas and bet taxi scams are worst there then anywhere). If there is a better method of transportation from airport to embassy please let me know.

Q-3 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs - How far is this from embassy? And what is the best way to travel there?

Section 2 Procedure Questions

Q-4 Register affidavit at The Ministry of Foreign Affairs - I read somewhere this takes 3-4 days and now can’t find where I read this. is this true. If so, can they mail the papers to me or do I need to go back to Bangkok and pick them up?

Q-5 Thai Amphur (Civil Registry Office) – I don’t know what this building actually is. When I had family in Thailand they went to a building in Udon about changing a Childs last name. Same place? From past experience we generally end up lost or at the wrong place anytime I ask thais I know where to go for something. This one might be straight forward but figured better to just ask and know in advanced in order to save time.

Thanks in advanced for any responses.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

LOL @ Thai + Gambling comment. Thankfully she does not gamble at all, hates the lotto etc.

I did have a thai girlfriend a while ago in Vegas b4 and man, yes. Will not discuss that one, it was a nightmare. And not even about my money she had a decent job and own money. it was just that after a while life for her was work then sit 10+ hours at a slot machine and do nothing but work and gamble forever. Total waste of life in end. I just ran into her while short visit back to Vegas (here already for Holidays) and still the same.

Anyways. I think i know everything i need to for now. If questions come up when it gets closer I'll post them. Hopefully won't have to and will just be making a trip report post of the process.

Thanks again.

Legal marriages in Thailand are accepted as legal in the US. Nothing to register in the US.

When you start doing the paperwork for your spouses US visa they will need a copy of your Thai marriage certificate.

It's not overly complicated.

Take a look at the US Embassy site for information regarding US citizens wanting to get married here.

Okay even better response . Thanks a lot.

It is for getting a legal marriage in Thailand.

Believe marriage is a state thing, not a federal one, so the embassy can't help you there. You will have to register with your own state, according to their procedures if you want it also registered in the US.

(If I'm wrong, someone will correct me on this).

Ok thanks. I think you're correct on it being a state thing. I know where to search / look further now. Prior i was trying to figure out what that article was saying because it wasn't clear to me and was just copied and pasted all over.

My exact question before making this to long.

I'm 30 years old from US. Will be marrying a Thai Citizen in February. I'm looking to see exactly what is needed to make the marriage legal/registered both in the US and Thailand.

The above is what I'm looking for a response to. Here is some more details:

I've been Google searching and found the same article several times where it starts with:

"A legal marriage in Thailand consists of both parties registering their marriage in person with the local Thai Amphur (Civil Registry Office). The United States does recognize the validity of such a marriage." ( link: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service/marriage.html )

The article then continues and I can't determine if the instructions go on just to say what is required to register the marriage in Thailand, or if it is saying these extra steps because this is also making it legal in US.

This is important because eventually (a few years down the road) we might want to live in Las Vegas a couple months out of the year. For at least the first year there won't be any plans to come back to US, but don't want to get set back finding out i did something wrong or didn't register marriage right. Also I like to be prepared and trying to figure out where I need to be when to plan this all.

Responses appreciated. i look forward to future when i have more info like you guys and can return favor responding to others threads.

You can get Married with a Tourist Visa.

After you are Married you will have a few more options.

thank you

To explain the people involved so i can type this less confusing:

My girlfriend has a best friend like a sister who her, she is close to entire family having grown up same village. Two of these sisters:

One has been married many years to a thai man and they appear both very happy. I get along with them the best of anyone in that village as does just about anyone else around them.

Her other sister has been dating a retired guy from the UK for a while. There relationship is like a roller coaster with him very paranoid about every dollar he spends and her not all that interested in learning more English or communicating with him better. Yet hour to hour they go from miserableness with each other to very happy. Like the extreme ups and downs, never will understand that.

So anyways these two guys go out drinking a few nights ago and get totally hammered. The UK guy who speaks barely and Thai, has no idea where the other guy who speaks very little english is taking him. Turns out there going to meet up with a couple Lao bar ladies he had phoned up for them.

This is interesting because the UK dude in horrible up and down relationship was like <deleted> and upset that he brought him here. While the guy who him and his wife look so happy and everyone admires thought nothing of it.

___

Second part:

From my own experience I think this is something I could have done in the earlier stages with my girlfriend. She wouldn't have been happy with it, but it wouldn't of been a deal breaker either. The company I had long term revenue share with went bankrupt and suddenly I had no money. I think we grew a lot closer during this time and I'm pretty sure now I think she'd be crushed if I did.

Anywyas after 4 months talking about it, we finally set a date for a wedding recently. Today we were making some plans and I told her I want to go to Phuket 2 days before getting married with friends. She looked puzzled for a moment, and I said not worry not going to have sex, just going to go look at a bunch of ladies, get really drunk, dance act like an idiot then come back and marry her. She said she knows about what many farang do b4 getting married and said "I worry about HIV" but am okay you go. i said not worry about HIV I'm not going to have sex. She said "really" looking like she wasn't sure and I said "yes". I get the feeling I could of said don't worry I'll use a condom and it would of been cool for that one night. But whatever, Its nothing something I'm looking to do anyways.

I've come to Thailand two times on tourist Visa. I've been here 90 days this time (60 days + 30 day extension) and am now going home (USA) to visit for Holidays and to settle some things, leaving later today.

I'm returning to Thailand on December 30.

On February 13 I'll be getting married to my Thai girlfriend.

The purpose of my next trip is technically marriage. I'm assuming I still apply for a tourist visa the same I did b4, but just wanted to check if this is correct. Is tourist visa the appropriate visa to use when coming to thailand for the purpose of getting married to a thai?

I'm 30 years old, US passport, planning to live in Thailand long term. I'm already renting a home here.

Just a quick confirmation is all I ask for that yes tourist visa is still correct / only option. I ask because US has a separate Visa for those coming there with the purpose of getting married, but pretty sure nothing like this exists for Thailand.

When I went to Nong Khai for 30 day extension on 60 day tourist visa they asked for my thai cell phone number and address. She then asked me a question I couldn't understand, English a bit broken but fine until this point. After a couple attempts to understand I politely asked her if I could return in a moment with someone that could speak in Thai for me. She said okay. My girlfriend came in they talked a little, my girlfriend looked totally confused and handed the lady her ID. She photo copied it, crossed out the address I had written and wrote in my girlfriends address even though I understood her saying I am not staying at that address. Stamped the 30 day extension and I was on my way home.

The differences in pricing is generally small. The two situations where one is preferred over the other:

If booking online with a credit card not in the name of the passenger: Air Asia you'll have less problems. Nok Air this is a hassle.

Other than that it really comes down to which bangkok airport is more convenient.

If neither of these are a factor, go with the one that has the best price.

I went to NongKhai yesterday to get a 30 day extension on my tourist visa.

Nothing to report on as far as travel goes, because we took a motor bike (which sucked but w/e).

I arrived at 10:30AM (yesterday was a Tuesday). There were five desks all with staff there, no one else in sight. I walked in explained I was looking to extend my tourist visa (60 day one I got in Los Angeles before coming to Thailand). They looked quickly at my passport, pointed me outside to the forms, had me fill out TM7. This took only a couple minutes to fill out.

They then made some copies (charged me 10 baht). I paid the 1900 fee and in a matter of minutes was out the door with extension. Was very simple.

I had the required photo with me. I purchased a dozen of these for 100 baht (guess extras for later, was only way they sold them) in Non Soong before I left. This was a little photo shop on the main road next to 7-11 (which is close to Non Soong market). Not sure where to get the photo or what they would have charged if didn't do this in advanced.

They did tell me that Udon immigration (at the airport) now does extensions on tourist visa and this would have saved me long travel. Whether it is true or not I don't know because I've gotten incorrect info at Thai offices many times, but is worth checking out next time i suppose. I had went to Non Khai based on recent report that this could not be done in Udon.

Anyways as far as getting the extension goes, everything was easy.