Sporting Dog

I wanted to do the same SIN-BKK-SIN - contacted Swiss Air, Cathay, Singapore Air and all told me that subsequent legs will be cancelled if the first leg is missed.

no...I'd be pretty confident on getting one of TG's crappy old ones!!!

Sorry to hear about your problems - but from reading your correspondence I am not surprised you have received no reply. You are a lost, never to return customer for Tiger. The damage has been done, there is no reason for Tiger to waste (in their view) any more time or resources on you.

I flew Tiger Perth to BKK once. I'll not use them again, the schedules are horrible, the seats are too small, they plied a group of Aussie yobs with alcohol the whole way so they got ruder and more obnoxious as the flight went on (they make a killing from the on board sales - fuc_k the other passengers on board)...and I've found that with a bit of searching and being flexible with travel times, the full-service airlines are often not THAT much more expensive. However I would and have used Tiger (or Air Asia, Nok etc) for short haul journeys (BKK-SIN max for example).

I am also wary with all of the cheap airlines and have the view tha if anything goes wrong, or there are unexpected changes, its easier and less stressfull to just write-off the tickets and rebook, find alternatives.

Whats a good paying job?

A BA from a western uni wouldn't get a good paying job in the west. One from a Thai Uni (with a major in English) isn't really great a qualification for much.

I had to get a visa sput into a new passport and the Immigration Dept in Aus said to contact the embassy in BKK to arrange getting it done. I emailed a number of times to make an appointment but never got a reply. Finally I sent one and stated that Immigration had requested me to email them, but as there had been no reply, should I take up the matter with the officials in Australia - I cc'ed th email to our case manager.

I got a reply within hours!!!

I get the feeling they routinely ignore emails unless they have a compelling reason not to - ie they'll look bad.

I had to get a visa sput into a new passport and the Immigration Dept in Aus said to contact the embassy in BKK to arrange getting it done. I emailed a number of times to make an appointment but never got a reply. Finally I sent one and stated that Immigration had requested me to email them, but as there had been no reply, should I take up the matter with the officials in Australia - I cc'ed th email to our case manager.

I got a reply within hours!!!

I get the feeling they routinely ignore emails unless they have a compelling reason not to - ie they look bad.

Agree with all - no guarantees can be given.

The application isn't that difficult - just lots of hoops to jump thru.

Work thru the list of requirements - and the visa company would probably ask for all the stuff anyway before 'guaranteeing' anything - and you'll be fine.

I've done 2 x tourist, and I spouse TR/PR, child addition on to the TR/PR and managed. Sure it can be a bit of a hassle (and running around) organising all the paperwork, but on that company's prices I saved at least 100K baht - which is quite a few days holiday in LOS!!

I am landing in Singapore on a QANTA S flight at 17:35 and am considering connecting to a Jetstar flight departing at 19:10.

This leaves a gap of 1.35hrs to disembark the QANTAS flight, collect baggage (they won't send baggage thru), check in at Jetstar (checkin closes 40 mins prior to depart ie 18:30).

Does anyone have any experience of doing this?

Singapore is usually pretty efficient, but if I can't get checked in by 18:30 I'll lose the total value of the ticket. I spoke to QANTAS and Jetstar, one said yes the other said no (2hrs needed to connect).

So, doable or bad idea?

Thanks

I used to use VLC but now its KMPlayer, as stated plays everything and has lots of extra stuff if needed.

http://www.ames.net.au/education.asp?articleZoneID=6

http://www.ames.net.au/AMEP

I think Australian Migrant Education Services might be able to help. Try the link above or ring them. I can't remeber exactly how we went about getting into the courses - I think they are a separate entity fom TAFE. ......but make the effort, 500+ hrs is a lot of learning!! (for free).

^ Yeah my wife got a bunch of them, met quite a few other thais, and the whole thing helped her get used to the city, dealing with Aussies, the public transport system etc etc. Bloody great idea by the Govt!!

We were contacted about 2 monthe before the 2 year period was up, and we had to get the application in before the expiry of the 2yr temp period - ie she entered on 8 Oct 2006 and had to have her application for PR in by 8 Oct 2008. We are currently awaiting the outcome - we have a couple of issues to resolve with regards to her daughter joining her on the Temp application. The PR won't be finalised until daughter gets to Oz in Feb 09.

However the dept has been helpful the whole way,no problems at all.

Also we were contacted by Immigration when my wife arrived - given info about Govt services and most importantly the free English classes (500+ hours).

...paragraphs can be your friends.....

Just AFP, local not required.

Case officer was stated on the initial PR correspondence letter - name, case# and contact details. We had no correspondence with Immi until the PR application came up.

Can't imagine it being more than 3 or 4k baht.

Couple of months ago the missus and I were meant to fly to Khon Kaen in the evening but got stuck in a traffic jam and missed the last flight.

No probs, driver agreed to keep heading NE and drove us there!! Cost 5.5K and a plate of food and a few bottles of Red Bull. Much cheaper than a hotel for the night and rebooking flights the next day. Can you imagine being able to do that in a western country!! (Well not in Australia anyway).

Not that this is any hassle, but for memory is fairly expensive, I remember I had to get one when I was considering a Thai Retirement Visa, applied for on this side of the fence.

AUD 34.00 I think - it was about two months ago we sent it. Immigration Dept included the form when they sent us out the PR forms. The AFP clearance thing has not in any way been a problem, hassle or nightmare.

In fact dealing with Immigration has been great - I've spoken to the case manager twice, and she's been nothing but helpful and positive. We are getting my wife's daughter added to the visa application (even at this late stage they agreed to it). The whole process has been much easier than the original spouse visa application done in BKK.

We had to provide an AFP clearance for our PR which is currently being processed.

Fill out the form, send a cheque and they do the rest.

Hi Steve,

I was about to phone you. Mr X just applied for a job as Cheif Brayn Sergon here at St Mary's Hospital, London. Your post saved me a call - he's hired.

Cheers,

K.

:D

My wife changed to my surname when her passport expired. We had to go back to her home amphur to change her ID card - translated, certified copy of the marriage certificate needed, then back to BKK to get the passport in her new name.

No problems other than the nightmare that is thai govt departments.

I am looking at the paperwork for changing the TR to PR...we are putting ours in tomorrow in Perth.

Qu2. Have you returned to a country for an accumulative period of more than two months since you obtained the initial clearance?

No - no new overseas police checks needed.

Yes - You may need to provide a new overseas police check. Your case officer will advise if a new one is needed.

Qu3. Have you developed any significant medical condition since the grant of your temporary Partner visa?

No

Yes - case officer will advise if new health checks are needed.

And we only need to put in 2 stat decs from third parties as evidence of ongoing relationship. 2 years after gettingthe TR.

Went to Rayong - Novotel - a few years ago. The beach is probably OK BUT if the prevailing wind is from the sea it will be very dirty. When we were there, rubbish, plastic and even SYRINGES had washed up on the beach!! No way I would have swum there. However if the breeze is off the land it will be OK.

Koh Samet is OK but overpriced and too crowded, nice beaches tho.

I went to Hua Hin about a month ago (which I thought was pretty horrible, but I hadn't been there for about 5 yrs) but took a drive down the coast to Prachuap (I think the poster mentioning the army camp place was talking about Ao Manao? - very quiet and laid back), and then back along the coast via Sam Roi Yot Park. There's some OK resorts in the area, very quiet etc. However the beaches aren't great for swimming, very shallow and therefore muddy, but if the place you stay at has a pool it would be a great spot. Sam Roi Yot Park is a nice place....catch the train to Hua Hin and hire a car or bike, traffic isn't that bad.

I recently caught the train in Kanchanaburi (the tourist one) and had the mispleasure of having a few russians sit near us. They were loud, boorish and arrogant (and rich - one had great delight in getting out his wad of 1k baht notes and showing them around).

I'm sure they're not all like this - and a few of them looked a bit embarassed by the compatriots behaviour. I didn't say anything cos I assumed them to be mafia, weapons dealer or serial killers.

Luckily they didn't stay on the train for too long.

I think 25yo+ israelis are worse.

I have used them once before but this time problems. Anyway I'll wait a bit longer to see if are resolved.....

I am having problems with them at the moment....I will wait a little bit longer to give them a chance to sort it out (I shouldn't tho') and report back.

Q U E E N ' S G A R D E N R E S O R T

near the airport, its cheap and basic, and pretty much caters for people usingthe airport....its on lots of the websites.