seykota

My son's desktop is positioned quite close to an outside door that is left open when they use it (wireless connection) though they close the door if rain is blowing in (as far as I know).

So the problem is that, as of this morning, the only response after turning it on is a beeping noise, the power lights come on but nothing on the monitor. The monitor displays it's trademark and then goes blank, therefore it appears to be a problem with the computer not the monitor. I guess this is obvious as the "beeping" is coming from the computer box. Apparently the virus software expired last night, could this have anything to do with it? I should have checked but the virus software on the laptops is still valid.

Any suggestions will be gratefully accepted.

Thanks

seykota

I think Loaded has expressed the requirements for success here very well.

When I conduct the "orientation" session for new lecturers I say basically the same as Loaded;

In my opinion the key to obtaining any sort of success here is being able to work with Thais; that means understanding the basics of their culture and bending towards their way of doing things rather than enforce or expect a western perspective on work.

Remember This Is Thailand and it will change you or break you but rarely bore you.

Do not try to change the world or think that you are entitled to anything different than your colleagues (Thai or farang), just go with the flow at the institution where you are working and enjoy it. Be realistic with your expectations and you have less chance of being disappointed.

Koreans expect their "online teacher" to have an Internet connection that is comparable to their own, unfortunately that is difficult requirement to meet in Thailand.

"Dude if u want to work in korea, go to korea. simple as that.

Its like saying Im working in Africa and I want to work in Puerto Rico, will they come interview me? ROFLMAO"

Things have changed in Korea re: the requirements, thus it is not as easy to just arrive, accept a job and slip across to Japan for the E2 visa. A "fresh" police clearance from your home country is required amongst other things. Contact the bigger language companies or actual government schools/universities; the secret is to avoid Hogwans. The big companies and government institutions stick to the rules.

I was informed at 4pm on Wednesday by the uni's administration that I was required to teach yesterday (1st May), I did not expect any students to attend, however about 50% of the usual number came. I was quite shocked, though their mid term exam is next week and they had questions for me regarding the exam.

My department's secretary has told me that I do get next Monday and Friday off. I was not too concerned about working yesterday as Thailand has many public holidays anyway (too many, I think).

You had an extension of stay from a non immigrant B visa entry. The visa only allows a 90 day stay and you must leave the country. The extension removes the need to leave the country but when you stay longer than 90 days you must report your address to Immigration every 90 days.

It was "too good to be true", my previous was incorrect.

1,900 Baht, form TM7 (signed by me), a photo, letter from my employer, and a copy of my work permit were given to the official at the Immigration office.

I have included a scan of the Multiple Entry "O" visa (granted in Seoul re visiting my wife and son) and the extension stamp (until October 24th 2008) given by Suan Plu Immigration office on December 25th 2007. I went to Laos in October for a 90 day extension.

seykota

Ok, unfortunately my passport is at home but I will check tonight. I will also have a chat with the admin chap here about what documents etc he actually included in the package I gave the officials at Immigration.

Again thank you for your assistance.

I believe I have an "O" visa that was issued in Seoul (June 2007) and now has an expiry date in late October 2008. I will double check but I know it is not a "B" visa, I did not have to pay at Immigration for the extension. I went to Immigration (soi Suan Plu) with a letter from my employer and a copy of my work permit. Five minutes and a new stamp with the date of expiry changed to October ie. a 4 month extension was placed into my passport.

Your extension of stay is for employment so will end with loss of employment (not based on family which would remove that possibility). As they seem to be re-considering work permits on retirement extensions do not believe over 50 living with child extension would be a problem.

Interesting, thank you.

The university tells me that the original visa was extended (purpose visiting my wife and child), therefore is not reliant on employment. So can my "O" visa be extended for anther 12 months when I sign a new contract? I did not know that there was an "O" visa extension for employment.

Thanks LopBuri3, as is often stated "the visa issue really is confusing".

My wife, son and I went to Korea in early 2006 and stayed until August last year, therefore my Non Immigrant "O" visa extension (based on marriage) expired. When returned in August, I had a 12 month multiple entry "O" visa (visiting my wife and son). I commenced employment in October at a university in Bangkok and the Immigration Department extended my "O" visa to correspond with my work permit (and contract). The university has told me that my "O" visa will be extended again when I sign a new 12 month contract in October.

Thus I can continue to live and work here with this "O" visa rather than an "O" visa based on marriage or a "B" visa. I assume the rule allowing fathers to live with their children after the age of 50 years, allows the fathers to continue working?

My 1 year work permit cost about 3,000 baht.

I had a 1 year multiple entry "O" visa (visiting my wife and son) and this was extended to coincide with the 12 month work permit expiry. When I re sign my contract for another 12 months, the Immigration Department extends my "O" visa for another 12 months as well. My university gets the work permit on my behalf and provides all the required documentation for the "O" visa extension. I have not had any problems extending the "O" visa at Suan Plu Immigration, in and out in 10 minutes.

As has been mentioned in previous threads, if you have an Non Resident "O" visa, do not change to a "B" visa!

"However, this is not to say there are not potential risks attached, namely occasional snakes, crabs that can nip your toes, sharp snail shells which can cut your feet and perhaps most risky at all, the small chance of contracting Weil's Disease or leptospirosis from rat wee. This disease is on the increase in Se Asia, and if you have any cut or open sore, you would be well advised to wear waterproof boots before venturing into a paddy or other watercourse."

I used to work on our farm in sandals and bare feet until I ended up in hospital, quite unwell, for 3 weeks. I contracted leptospirosis, I was not aware of having any cuts or open sores though I may have had a mossie bite that I had scratched? After recovering I purchased waterproof boots, and pairs for my son and wife. I offered to buy some for my extended family who work on our farm but they declined, saying they were too uncomfortable.

It is a most unpleasant illness and can be life threatening, wear waterproof boots.

I agree with abdulrahman, however I would add that you have to be careful which builder you select. Do not go with the cheapest as the quality, most likely, will be poor. Accept that you may pay a little more and ask to see other houses the builder has built (check that they really did build them!). As stated, wood is very expensive so a farang style house will probably be cheaper, more comfortable, easier to keep mossies out and cheaper to keep cool. We have had teak trees growing on the farm for a number of years so we can build our "retirement" home in the not to distant future (a combination of brick and teak), until then we have a Thai style house with a few Farang extras, currently we work in Bangkok much of the time. I have found it a little difficult to live full time in our Nong Bua house in the past, and we do not want to spend much renovating the current house as we will be pulling it down in the future anyway.

Where in Nong Bua are you thinking of building? Our house and farm are about 25 kms from Nong Bua on the Udon - Loei road.

Good luck

As a Phd, some Universities will be interested as there is a big push on credibility, not just in Thailand, so faculty members maybe feeling some pressure to publish. The pay would be 40k+ but you would be expected to produce research, English language ability is important but teaching is lesser so, in these positions.

I was asked about a similar scam a couple of years ago.

A woman was offering jobs as fruit pickers in Australia at about 50k per month. I explained to my wife's friends that it is illegal to work in Australia unless you are an Australian, a permanent resident or have a working holiday visa or other special visa for special projects. A person needs to be under 28 years of age and only from specific countries to qualify for a working holiday visa (Thailand is not one of these specified countries).

I suggested they offer to meet this woman in our house and discuss the details. Not surprisingly, she declined the offer and no-one from our area accepted her offer. BTW she was only offering "fruit picking" jobs to women under 40 years of age??

Don't forget to factor in the fact that a salaried position will pay you through the university holidays during which you may have no teaching and not need to clock in.

Also any teaching that is undertaken during these breaks including the current 4 month Summer Semester is paid as overtime.

I'm wondering if anyone here has ever gotten a Non-Immigrant B Visa from the Thai embassy in Seoul?

If so, what was the exact process, documents required, etc. (And embassy hours if you can remember)

For reference, I'm not Korean, as you are probably not either.

I obtained an "O" visa there last year. It was a painless experience, very quick and polite staff.

The information for obtaining a "B" visa can be found here

http://www.thaiembassy.or.kr/eng.htm

seykota

Thanks, GunnyD.

I will try there (Lumpini Park Villa supermarket?) and I guess ordering online from the USA is another option.

seykota

I have been taking Effexor for several years and recently read a topic on thai visa about the relatively easy availability of generic versions of the major anti-depressants in Bangkok.

However, I have inquired at numerous pharmacies in the Silom area and Wong Wian Yai (Klong San) area and have been informed that they only sell the "name" brands. Can anyone tell me the location of a pharmacy that sells Venlafaxine, via pm if you prefer.

Thanks

seykota

There are buses leaving Udon for Loei about every 40-50 minutes (6:00 to 20:00) from the Old bus station ie the New bus station is close to the railway station but the Old bus station is on the main Nong Bua Lamphu road.

Welcome back and thank you in advance for your future posts. I am still a novice as a farmer and I appreciate being able to read the posts here as a balance to all the "advice" (well intentioned) I receive on the farm.

OK so that's clear.

Do you have a copy of the contracts? Are they in English or Thai or both?

Yes and they are both in English.

My understanding is that only contracts written in Thai are actually legally binding in Thailand.

I think corrupt as they come, is a politician that recieves aid money for his straving population, yet banks it in a swiss bank account, as many of the African leaders have done.

I personally thought mr.t feathered his nest a little too much, but also the people of Thailand advanced economically. Unfortunately the hisos felt they weren't getting enough of the pie.

My thoughts exactly.

"Is the current military junta less corrupt than Thaskin ?

Yes, definitely."

However, this I disagree with quite strongly, corruption involves more just money! Manipulation, dishonesty and deception. The 2007 New Years bombers have still not been identified (publicly anyway). The aftermath of the election will be very interesting; another coup perhaps?

No, she and over-inflated salary were dumped by the current government as part of the Thaksin cleaning-house initiative.

The Junta needed to free up funds to spend billions on the armed forces. There will be no backhanders or bribes there, of course not, no sirree.

Hang on, why was the purchase of those Ukrainian Armoured Personnel Carriers put on hold again?

Agreed, if the PPP win the election and are allowed to form a government (doubtful), it will be very interesting to see what backhanders etc are uncovered from the past 15 months of military rule.

Perhaps the "Thaksin cleaning-house initiative" will be followed by a cleaning house initiative of positions created and filled by an unelected military backed government.

I completed my contract in Seoul in July and returned to Thailand with a much healthier bank account. I worked 6 days a week and did some overtime but I also was averaging 95,000 Baht per month. PM me if you would like more information or to ask any questions.

PROGRAM

• Well-developed curriculum concentrates on pronunciation

• Almost no preparation needed (for teacher)

• Homework must be done before every lesson (Foreign teachers do not mark homework)

• Learners spend 25 minutes with a Korean teacher and 25 minutes with a foreign teacher

• Lessons are very focused – No babysitting - No entertaining

SCHEDULE

• Average of less than six contact hours a day – Monday thru Friday

• Alternating shifts - Three months of block shift followed by three months of split shift, etc

SALARY

• Minimum salary 67,000 Baht a month (Base Salary)

• Bonus for teaching more than 5.2 hours a day (1,700 Baht to 12,000 Baht per month)

• Saturday work optional - 2 Saturdays = 10,000 Baht / 4 Saturdays = 20,000 Baht

• Overtime: 600 to 830 Baht per hour

HOUSING: TWO OPTIONS

1. Non-shared housing provided (Key money and rent paid by employer.)

2 If applicant does not need company housing, employer will pay 400,000 won housing allowance.

AIRFARE

• Half a round-trip ticket to Korea or airfare to Osaka reimbursed at the end of the contract

SEVERANCE PAY - HEALTH INSURANCE - PENSION PLAN

• All provided according to Korean law

TRAINING

• Mandatory three days of training before starting work

GOOD LOCATIONS

In Seoul we have clinics at Yeoksam Station, Kangnam Station, Samsung Station (2 of them), Apkujeong Station, Jonggak Station, Eulji-ro Station, City Hall Station, Yeouido Station, Shinchon Station and Guro Digital Complex Station. On the outskirts of Seoul we have a clinic at Seohyeon Station in Bundang. There is also a clinic in Busan and we plan to open a few more in Seoul within a month or two.

Send your resume and matching photo to me via PM or phone me on 086 219 0037 (Bangkok). I am available to meet you in Bangkok to answer any questions you may have about teaching at English Channel and living in Korea.

In order to get a teaching visa in Korea, you must be an English Native Speaker plus a university diploma and matching sealed transcripts must be submitted to the immigration authorities. Having these on hand will speed up the hiring process considerably.