jacko

Very brave, such a major change in career direction late in life....

Both the interpretation and comment appear to contradict what they put on the actual visas themselves and in the instruction package. Single entry Tourist Visa is valid for 3 months from date of issue and allows a single entry for a stay of up to 60 days from date of entry. Double, triple or quadruple entry Tourist Visa is valid for 6 months from date of issue and allows 2, 3 or 4 entries each for a stay of up to 60 days from date of entry. Single entry Non-Immigrant Visa is valid for 3 months from date of issue and allows a single entry into Thailand for a stay of up to 90 days from date of entry. Multiple entry Non-Immigrant Visa is valid for 12 months from date of issue and allows any number of entries into Thailand each for a stay of up to 90 days from date of entry. I have again checked the stamped visas in my passport and neither my triple entry tourist, or multiple entry Non-Imm-O state they must be utilized, for the first visit, within 90 days ,or less than the visa validity. The Tourist visa even states 'Entry Before'....giving me 6 months to utilize. Telephone conversations with consulate staff may not be accurate, it would depend who you get to talk to.

Well I suppose what they stamped into my passport must be irrelevant then. I re-read the Thai visa application package and did not determine any criteria specifying that a Non-Imm-O multiple must be utilized within 90 days of issue. Nor any restriction on how 'early' you can apply before travel. They do ask for 'Date of Departure from UK' and 'Date of Arrival in Thailand' as seperate questions. Perhaps they need to cater to someone who is going elswhere for several months prior to Thailand!

Well, at least you suggested my possible error politely. I did check the website, and have also taken a look at my current Non-Imm-O, Multiple, and the statements seem clear. 'This visa must be utilized before....' and the date stamped is a year from the issue date stamp. It may well be illogical to obtain a visa, and not utilize it for 11.5 months, but it seems permissible.

I am assuming that you will get a multiple visa... then the answers are. Q1...You are wrong, perhaps you are confusing with a single entry. Q2..Yes. Dowload the visa application pack... it reveals all

If your computer has an S-Video output socket yes you can. Then you will need to get cables to match whatever is available on your TVs, normally an AV female socket, but sometimes they have S-Video too. You also need a seperate cable for the sound, from your computer (small stereo jack male plug)... to 2 AV plugs, like the ones you find on audio systems. I found all this quite cumbersome, and was not particularly happy with the picture quality. Getting the computer to output to the TV also has to be figured out... you sometimes end up with no screen to operate your computer by.. most confusing.

I had to go back and check you were talking about PIH and not BPH. I have been misled into thinking the PIH was more about providing health service than turning the money making handle. I saw a Dr Jaew at the 'Art of Smile' dental clinic for a crown fitting and was quite pleased. (2nd Rd, nearly opposite Bangkok Bank/ Greggs Kitchen). In retrospect I could have saved a few thousand by saying 'let's skip a step or two' but one can get led along by the nose by attractive women.

I have eaten there a couple of times. Food and service both quite good.These English style pubs all seem to have the same menu. It is cosy inside unless it is flooded! As you eat in the bar area you have people smoking nearby. I think the Pig and Whistle is better. Or if you like Indian food, Oliver's on Pattaya Klang, opposite TOPs. They get it from next door, Ali Babas I think.

Funnily enough I was just on Qatar Airlines webpage pricing a roundtrip business class flight for late April. If I originate in Thailand, 67,000 baht + taxes. If I originate in Manchester £3900..... Some pricing differential that!

Fair point of view Gary, but I got 1500 baht interest from my bank account last month... pleased me . As I learned today, proving income, although only necessary the first time, can be a bit of effort from October, and a bit of expense. Visits to your embassy, their charges, then the letters have to be verified (stamped) by some Thai chamber...again a fee required. Perhaps I have more money than patience. Anybody out there who has previously proven their income, as a means of obtaining their retirement visa, may want to consider renewing it early! You can renew up to 3 months before expiry, and the more stringent income proof only comes into effect October 1st. Hence postpone the onerous effort for a year!

Nakhonchai Air buses leave from their own station to go to Ubon via Korat. You can go to Korat and from there many buses go to Khon Kaen. VIP busses leave Pattaya at about 5am, 08.15, 10.00am and 10.30am, I say 'about' because I have a timetable from Rayong where they originate and guess 2 hours from there to funtown. (Edit in...sorry, I appear to have fucked up the times, my old timetable is in Thai and I am stupid....well done Tahoe Bill....good link.....I do know a class 1 bus leaves at 07.45 as I put my TGF on it yesterday.....YIPEEE....off to Lolitas now )You would need to go to the bus station to reserve, (computerized), and buy the ticket (again I guess around 450 baht+). If you come from Pattaya Klang and turn right onto Sukhumvit (towards Rayong/Sattahip), the bus station is on your left after 50m, near the 7-11. If you don't want to reserve, get the bus from Pattaya North Rd bus-station, (NOT VIP..plebs only ) to Moechit, Bangkok. From there buses to KK are pretty frequent, probably hourly, although not sure what portion are VIP class.

Not true, you can get a Non-Imm O-A from some 'home' countries (USA,OZ,UK and others). This is a retirement visa, it is easier to get in Thailand as no police report is required. Perhaps worth investigating as proving the income can be easier at home along with some other aspects. Yes, I would recommend this, a multiple is required. The requirements for it vary country to country, embassy to consulate. The 90-day visa runs are nothing to be put off by, a day trip to the Cambodian border for 2000 baht. Actually you can get nearly 15 months out of this visa. Quite correct. Most people get a Non-Imm O in their home country, then convert it to a retirement visa in Thailand. Good luck OP, although you may not be able to 'live off' the 800,000 baht as you say. I heard that immigration may want to check up on it now and again, to make sure you didn't just 'borrow it'. Probably easier to maintain a balance of about 800k, or prove your income. Check out this website.. http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/visainformation.htm

I tend to agree. Although some people are driven by price only. I like a bargain myself, but tend to avoid Aeroflot, Biman, Garuda etc....oh and this one too

Not any more there isn't. I just saw on the BBC that the UK has suspended Mahan Air citing safety and operational concerns. If you have paid for a ticket on them you need to start getting a refund and alternative. Mahan Air Suspended

If you paid for her insurance, perhaps you should have got the 10,000 baht cheque...... well maybe a wife would not quite see it that way...

So you came out even, they covered everything....... but methinks a zero is missing someplace!

Might try my TGF's mother's house. Looks like a scruffy antique shop...

Hard to be sure without seeing the place. Certainly sounds 'about' right. For certain you could get more bang for your buck on the other side of Sukhumvit. I have a bit of a garden, parking, but only 2br/1bath, separate house for 15k, fully furnished....fully!. But spacewise it is all I need....me and her can't occupy 3 bathrooms at once. I would like to know more about my neighbours too before moving into a townhouse. You pay a premium for being closer to town. I'd be tempted to take a look around at midnight too, there might be a Karaoke nearby or other nightime pests.

Lot of sense there Gary... the last thing I want is her relatives with us..apart from the odd 1 or 2 days a year It's hard enough keeping the TGF away from the Thai style of living. I have already alienated a couple of her friends who came over for a few hours and stopped for dinner. They can't seem to control their kids and certainly don't take well to my suggested improvements!

I second that... Doesn't sound like the vehicle is worth the red tape and open palms.

Can you get a drink on the Mahan flights... or in Tehran airport?

He might want some but he doesn't get any of mine! Actually the rules differ UK and USA. Once non-resident status is achieved and declared you can get your interest tax free. I have been out of the UK ages, but am unsure how long it might now take to achieve this status, as the rules have changed.

Hmm, let us know how this works out, I had heard (second hand) that you still had to report. Perhaps a variation on implementation as TIT!

I got a flat fixed on the bike in 10 minutes ..cost 150 baht. Across the street to the dentist ...appointment only 2 hours later (my fault, went at lunchtime)... no problem, go get a massage with happy ending to take my mind off the toothache.

Yeah, wait until you are 65 and take a bigger cut! When you work, you are selling your time..... as you get older it should be worth more to you than to some employer.