Sporting Dog

fantastic pics - thanks, my wife is gonna love seeing these

You did the right thing by going to watch the football.....there's plenty of football coming up so I'd make the effort not to miss any of it. Good luck.

Perhaps you could report her as missing to the Thai police and then they can contact Singapore with the required details.

Good luck

I've been looking at flights recently on that route - by using the mutistop option you can price a stay in phuket before flying onwards - doesn't cost any more.

True mate. Black ops- Thaksin dead.

Maybe they could get a few farangs from the bars in nana/ cowboy etc - I've met quite a few that have claimed to be on r'n'r from black ops

You'll get a taxi at the airport - last time it was 1500 baht.

Or better still hire a car for about 1000 baht a day ( at the airport - haggle a bit) - and then you can have a look around khao lak too.

I've used Latestays, Sawadee, Agoda and a couple of times, Directrooms, and I've booked online many times. Never had problem with any of them. If I don't know the hotel I use tripadvisor to get some reviews, and I always check the hotels own site. I usually check them all and there have been times when a two week stay has resulted in hotel vouchers from 3 or 4 different companies.

Latestays is consistently the cheapest but you can't book until about a month prior. Sawadee often has lots of deals (extra nights etc) out of high season and has a pretty good selection in thailand. Agoda has a good website and I've got rooms on them when the others are showing no rooms but they are consistently more expensive for the same rooms, they are less likely to have specials, and I think they usually take the money immediately upon booking. Some of the best deals have come from hotel's own websites.

I've never seen a price for hotels or airfares on expedia or orbit etc that couldn't be beaten on other sites - maybe thats because I've only booked from either LOS or AUS and the good prices are in the US etc.

I would assume that fairly extensive business experience would be needed? An MBA is a pretty common qual these days.

I've used Fast Car rental - via this - site a few times. They are just a 3rd party agent? and the actual cars came from Thai Rent A Car. I think I've used them 3/4 times in Khon Kaen, once in Chiang Mai and once in BKK.

Only once was I disappointed withthe car - BKK - but I guess it comes down to the actual renting company. Khon Kaen has always been good. Their prices have always been better than anything else I could find - including Thai Rent A Car direct via web. Though I would check them a few first as promotions come and go.

So they're OK.

I've stayed at the Rachawadee a few times over the last couple of years and every time it has been enjoyable with no problems.

We usually get a couple of rooms (adjoining) and its really cheap - we used to stay at the Sofitel but a couple of rooms for a week is now quite expensive.

I like the pool and the grounds - laid back and peaceful, and I've spent a fair few hours laying relaxing with a few cold bevies.

I don't mind being out of KK as I usually get a car anyway to do a bit of touring around the area.

Probably the only down side is that breakfast is pretty ordinary (but I can live with that) and it sometimes gets a bit noisy with weddings and they sometimes have business seminars and events there.

The restaurant over the road (the Greenleaf???) is OK but the Kinaree restaurant at the hotel is very good.....initially we were reluctant to go there as breakfast was ordinary, and often hotel restaurants are a ripoff, but this one is great. Lots of thais come to eat there - we had dinner a few times, beside the 'geese' pond. It says it's 5 star restaurant, dunno about that, but it is good food and prices - worth a visit even ifyou're not staying at the hotel.

....and I've got no vested interest etc in this hotel!!

pic I took of the swimming pool - last October

The real point is that even if you do have some leverage over the employer, YOU will pay a price too, and that is all you should be considering. YOU have been breaking the law, and just because your employer has been complicit doesn't mean you'll get off easily if the law gets involved. Also be careful about threatening anyone with anything - if that is what you mean by leverage.

Also bear in mind that performance is not a one-sided assessment - we all have seen situations where employees honestly feel they have performed well but unfortunately no-one else agrees. Most businesses usually don't wantto get rid of the money-earners without a good reason.

Good Luck!

The situation must be frustrating - but if some doctor is red flagging the application because TB is (some sort of) issue, then I guess you'll just have to jump through the hoops. The immigration lackeys are naturally going to err on the side of caution.

I'd still contact the embassy and say that you're very concerned with the doctor's diagnosis and what it means for your Gfs treatment program. Point out that the Thai specialists hve no reason for any concern yet the Oz docs have recommended medications - WHY?

Also liver function monitoring is required when taking TB meds as this is the main side-effect of treatment. ??

I'd also ask the Thai specialist to contact the Aus doctor (in a professional capacity) to ascertain why treatment is required. I've had specialists do this in Aus and Thailand - with no problems whatsoever. In fact I would have thought the Thai specialist would be very interested to find out why the divergence of opinion.

Good luck - my wife had a few health issues when she did her spouse app (meant I had to go back to Aus and leave in LOS for three months) but we got thru them despite the hassles and aggravation.

I think that immi will always take the Aus doctor's opinion over the others (depsite the fact that there is more TB in SEA). What sort of specialist was the Thai doctor - respiratory physician or just a doctor.

Perhaps more concerning is that the Aus doc believes that your partner has had TB exposure. I recently returned a positive mantoux - nothing on th x-ray. (I've worked in hospitals for years and it is not uncommon that health workers return +ves s they've had exposure - also in Thailand many people will get exposure without knowing). Apparently TB will remain inactive for most people but remain in their body unless they receive treatment which I assume is what your partner is getting -a TB preventative drug. And thats good - it means after the treatment she will be TB clear and hopefully able to enter Australia. TB is a disease on the rise, and the newer strains can be very difficult to treat. Naturally Australian health authorities need to be vigilant and there are fantstic TB support facilities for immigrants etc i Aus.

I would write to the embassy and outline your concerns in the context of your gf's health - that you've received these conflicting reports and you would like to clarify the situation. Ask for a copy of the Aus doctor's report - they don't just make things up. This may turn out to be alucky break - your gf may end up healthy and TB free in the long run.

Good luck

Can't offer any advice but good luck, the future must be lookinga bit bleak at the moment but I'm sure you'll get thru. Small steps will get you a long way eventualy.

The spouse visa is being held up due to Australian doctors insisting on her completing a course of treatment for TB. I assume the panel doctors are in Thailand. The x-ray might carry more weight as a diagnostic indicator - I have had dealings with the WA TB Clinic (wonderful service that they provide) and they used XRays for the main diagnosis.

I would think it highly unlikely they will allow entry on a tourist visa because

- Australian doctors believe she has/had Tb or exposure

- You'd need to show substantial funds to cover the costs of any potential medical treatment during the stay as a tourist - full-price is hugely expensive.

- by applying for a spouse visa already, there are indications that she wants to stay in Australia. (Tho your post says "gf applied for an Australian spouse visa earlier this year" but later says "will be a problem in applying for an Australian spouse visa in the near future")

However no harm in trying - good luck.

Whenever my wife has had any change with her details - TR to PR, new passport etc - I always show the the immigration people as we are leaving Perth (there is a counter just after they check everyone's passport) to have alook and check the visas, stamps etc - I always explicitly ask them to check and assure us there will be no problems getting back in.

Also we've never had problems from the BKK end when checking in, but every time they have made sure that my wife and daughter have had a valid visa into Australia.

^ above - you should get the 100 stuff a couple months prior to the end of the 2 year period, so if all is OK the PR will 'kick in' just after 2 yrs is up.

(gburns - centrelink, there's all sorts of stuff related to child support, rebates etc - I still haven't got my head around all the implications - I think it means more money!!!?? Anyway don't forget to look into it to see if you are eligible!)

Find the karaoke bar where the local BiBs hang out and start pointing and laughing out loud when one of them starts singing.

Unfortunately your extensive experience in business, IT and medical sales won't count for much in the TEACHING field, tho' having a degree will make it easier to get a work permit. Teachers with extensive experience and qualifications in non-education fields are a dime-a-dozen in Thailand - they earn 30-45k a month!!

If your plan is to get into your fields of experience in the future, I would suggest that you start trying to get a position in LOS from the states - ie an expat job. No doubt there are jobs in your areas of expertise if you speak thai.....or get an expat job.

For a better income teaching, get an education degree and experience and then try for International Schools, but obviously they will take a few years.

I also suggest you go over to Thailand and get a more realistic view of the landscape for non-qualified teachers.

Good Luck

The el cheapo flights always seem a good idea until you're sitting on the tarmac waiting to take off, after a 2 hour delay for unspecified reasons!!

(Actually they have the takeoffs sorted, not so good on the landings)

I wondered about that too (the medical check). I guess they just keep them until a visa application comes in.

However the hospital must submit it direct to the embassy, not to you. Don't worry about it, I've had to do it twice - medical checks in Bangkok (for wife) and Khon Kaen (daughter 18 months later) and both times there were no problems!!

Getting married doesn't entitle your wife to a visa...tho it may help you get one.

The name change doesn't matter, I personally think it makes it easier to change the name before starting the process or after its all over - as suggested above. Don't try to change it half way thru the process (this is assuming that you are trying to eventually get a permanent residency visa)

As for the rest it depends on what visa you want, I think anything more than short (3 month ) torist visa rquires medical and police checks.

Oh and I'm in Perth too!!!

I'm gonna disagree here - my wife changed her name once we arrived here - could have changed before coming as we were living in Thailand after we were married (in Australia).

After nearly 2 years in Oz she had to get her passport renewed and decided to get one in her married surname. Had to change it in Thailand, at the Amphur (we had to get Aus marriage docs translated etc first), then to MFA for the passport etc etc, then back in Australia all of our correspondence had to be changed, (employment, taxation, Immigration etc etc had to be changed to the new surname)

The first couple of times coming back to Oz we always got pulled at Immigration at the airport and have to explain it all. (no problems but a hassle when returning home)

So , from my experience, I'd say that if you are in Thailand, and getting married go and get it changed before starting the visa process both in Thailand and Australia.

Of course your wife doesn't have to change her name if she doesn't want to.

Good Luck

Yes, it would seem to me the key 'issue' is to provide evidence that your wife will return to Thailand, being married doesn't actually strengthen your case for a tourist visa.

However a spouse visa may be easier to get now that you have been together for nearly 18months since your last application, a clear demonstration that your relationship is ongoing and more evidence that it is genuine.

Good Luck.

I received this from the Australian Travel Agent that handles the travel for the University I work at - sent this week.

It is now compulsory for all Australian passport holders to go online and register for entry to USA, prior to leaving Australia. The website is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

On the whole the embassy in BKK has been OK for me - 2 tourist, 1 spouse and some other visa issues. However on a couple of occasions I have had problems, and a couple of the employees (Thai women) have had really unhelpful attitudes. However I have had nothing but great service from DIAC in Australia.

I wonder about the BKK embassy. In my most recent dealings - which required making an appointment for a replacement visa into a new passport - I had to send numerous emails (as suggested by DIAC) and finally state that I would contact DIAC in Australia if I didn't get a reply....I got one within the hour. So I don't think workload is the problem.

Thailand is a great place for a holiday...and I think this may be part of the explanation for the embassy. Whatever the reason, I can't imagine any Australian manager, CEO etc would be happy with the feedback that it gets.....there doesn't seem to be a culture of service in the place.