RIP Ubon Joe - ASEAN NOW visa expert

[george]

 

 

Ubon Joe, who passed away 3 days ago.
Visa Moderator/advisor at ASEAN NOW Forum, truly a legend and a great friend. ❤️

[JustThisOnePostOnly]

Very sad.  Helped me out many times.  That's rare on the Internet. RIP.

[vinci]

very sad news, RIP Ubon Joe

[Kinnock]

Sad to hear this.  Such a knowledgeable and helpful person.

[Thai Visa Member 999999]

Awful news. He was just an immense help and never asked for a shekel. RIP

[Jingthing]

Maybe premature to mention this, but his passing has made me think of the people in the future that would have had his help, who will make mistakes (sometimes very consequential) that he would have steered them away from. Sure others will step up with advice but it won't be at Ubon Joe level 

[rwilem]

Just wish to echo many of the posts here upon hearing the news of Ubon Joe's passing. Of course, it's devastating for his wife and surviving loved ones. And it's sad for here, too. We are on just a bit looser footing in the Kingdom now, when it comes to the immigration matters we deal with on a continual basis.

 

His words on digital screens showed him to be not just knowledgeable--an expert, really--on all things Thai immigration, but the words were presented with nary a hint of a condescending attitude. Offering solutions, helpful answers, was the order of the day. He provided this forum with valuable info for folks seeking answers to issues that inevitably crop up, in all kinds of situations affecting both recent arrivals and long-termers alike. 

 

He will be missed, for sure. I had wondered if something was up, as I had not seen any 'the final word' posts from Ubon Joe lately. Now we know. May he rest in peace, and his family find comfort in that so many appreciate him for his service to others.

[Maestro]

Ubonjoe's passing away saddens me deeply and I am at a loss of words to describe my feelings.

 

Joe was was a very kind man with a heart of gold.

 

On the forum, he was always patient, never tired of providing helpful information from his enormous fountain of knowledge. I am not exagerating when I say that he read practically every post of every topic in the visa forum, making sure that nothing got missed and everyone got the guidance they sought. He will be sorely missed.

 

To his wife and family, I express my heartfelt condolences.

[NanLaew]

RIP Joe. Hugely infallible and always unflustered, you've certainly earned these plaudits.

 

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Maybe premature to mention this, but his passing has made me think of the people in the future that would have had his help, who will make mistakes (sometimes very consequential) that he would have steered them away from. Sure others will step up with advice but it won't be at Ubon Joe level 

An undeniable vacancy exists but I beleive there's already one or two members who look like good apprentices.

[stubby52]

He helped me many times over the years a real font of knowledge RIP Joe.

[jaiyenyen]

RIP Joe.

Your wise words and helpful manner will be missed by all on this forum.

[ezzra]

What a sendoff, i envy you Joe, and the respect so deservedly you have earned from all our fellow posters and mods, farewell Joe.

[Tarteso]

 

R.I.P. Ubon Joe 

[jeffandgop]

RIP Ubon Joe.........

[lamyai3]

Very sad to hear. He helped me out of more visa muddles than I can remember over the years, and I still glance at his checklist each time I mail in my 90 day report or do my yearly extension.

 

RIP Joe, and thanks. 

[malathione]

RIP, Joe. Your knowledge and unstinting propensity to help even an idiot like me will be missed, but, what will be missed even more is your ineffable civility. May your legend live on, sir.

[LosLobo]

Ubon Joe was a legend in his lifetime and the Book of Knowledge on Thai visas.

 

Over the years he personally helped me with expert advice on many occasions.

 

When I moved to a new province, he was always there with the local information on that particular region along with its peculiarities.

 

I passed this information onto others who no doubt did the same so it was not the thousands here he helped but certainly exponentially many more.

 

His passing and this forum's fitting tribute makes one question the meaning of one's existence and how it could have been improved by followed his fine example of dedicated community service.

 

He will be sadly missed.

 

RIP Joe.....

[EdwardM]

RIP Joe. Thank you for everything.

[wildpuppet72]

Rip joe you will be missed here 

[AhFarangJa]

R.I.P. Joe, your knowledge and expertise has helped both myself and countless others over the years. My condolences to your Family, You left a huge hole, and a large pair of shoes that will be hard to fill. 

[sceadugenga]

Vale Joe.

[triplez]

Being in my early thirties I am from a different generation and Ubon Joe is a great example of how to be generous without expecting anything in return. 
If, in my future years in Thailand, I can be of some help to just a fraction the number of people that he helped, I can be content. 
He truly was inspirational. 

[gariang40]

RIP Joe. Condolences to your family. You set such a fine example of how to offer sound advice in a humane, matter-of-fact and caring fashion. You seemed to know more about immigration matters than anyone else in the Kingdom. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you schooled others, told them how to acquire the same same level of knowledge that you possessed, and pass it on without fear or favour. I'd noted your absence and have been hoping it didn't mean that you'd passed away. Having just read that it did,  I can only say Vale and 'thank you!' as others have done.

[Ralf001]

Rest In Peace Joe.

[sammieuk1]

We have lost the font of reliable Thai Visa knowledge ????Rip 

[Fab5BKK]

What sad news!

 

So many words, so many thanks already. What could I add?

 

I discovered and appreciated this website thanks to him. He made my first extension much easier and kept updating this all important information.

 

Behind the given information, there was a man. A man I regret not having been able to meet...

 

RIP Joe

[orchis]

RIP Joe
Thank you for all the knowledge and the help throughout the years.
You will be missed.

[george]

Funeral arrangement:

 

[ThailandRyan]

I am filled with sadness to hear about the passing of Ubon Joe.  He was a great man, and was very helpful throughout all of my trials and tribulations with Visa related issues, questions and of course how to navigate the 90 day on-line application.  Looking back through all my PM's with him, I found we connected no less than 30 times over the past many years.  In each of the PM's he was on-point with all of the information he gave and was always a true gentleman.  When I had to change visas from a Non-Imm O to an O-A visa he directed me as to where I could find all of the new requirements which were arriving in 2019.  Without his guidance, and Thai Visa at the time as it was then known, I would have been completely lost.

 

May Joe RIP and my sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

[DFPhuket]

Perhaps one thing each of us could do to honor his legacy is to be more like Ubon Joe.

 

Be respectful, answer when we have the knowledge to do so, and not be condescending when someone asks a question that has been asked countless times before. The world (and this forum) could be better if we all tried to be more like Ubon Joe. He will be missed.