Isaan dwellers...Some questions

[richard]

Hi guys

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this but mods move if needed

I'm going back to the Uk in April for a month. Upon my return I'm considering switching my base from HH to Khon Kaen. In other words spend more time there and less time in HH. Credit Crunch factor.

To those who have already decided to live in the sticks a few questions

1) What do you do about visas? (I'm on a retirement visa)
2) Satellite availability, cost, response times etc, other options (forget landlines)
3) Hospital quality (I have DVT and need regular warfarin treatment). Have heard KK has 3 very good hospitals

My base will be 70 Kms northeast of Khon Kaen so only an hour away at most

Any feedback welcome


Nothing definite yet as since I've been in Thailand I never make plans Just assess options

[Randy Cornhole]

Hi Richard, I feel my answers will be of no use to you really. But as I live in Issan (credit crunched in the UK at present) I thought i'd give you my two penneth...

1. As regards a visa I go back to England once a year.
2. There is UBC where I am but I personally don't bother.
3. I have never been ill in Thailand so don't have an answer for that one.

See, no use to you at all...

[richard]

thanks RC

Every little helps mate

ps Where in Isaan are you?

[Spitfire]

Hi richard, welcome back from your "holiday".

1. Visas are not a problem, there'll be a place in Khon Kaen no problem, it's big enough. The main Northeastern Immigration Center is in Korat, Mittraparb Rd, about 15 km before you get into Korat coming from Bangkok, the big TOT building on the oppositie side of the road, can't miss it as it's the only big(5 floor) building there is there. If my judgement is correct, then your base will be about halfway between Khon Kaen and Udon, could also go there if you really needed to.

2. UBC is everywhere, no problem, cost me about 5000 baht to have it installed, came round the next day. I've seen it in some really 'out of the way' places, so no worries.

3. Hospitals should be OK aswell in Khon Kaen, yes, a couple of good ones. Good heart Hospital called, forget the name now, on the left of the main road out of Khon Kaen to Udon.

If you do move then the above three shouldn't cause too much of a problem, you might have to exercise a bit more effort than in HH though to obtain your desired goals.

[lomuamart]

Not absolutely sure, but for visas it looks like Nong Khai and Vientiane for a double entry tourist visa (reports are they're still fairly easy to get there) or maybe a single entry Non O if you're married to a Thai and maybe for retirement as well. Alternatively, Savanannaket, but I believe they blow hot and cold with regard to all visas especially if you're trying to get a number back-to-back.
It would appear that Korat would be your best bet for any extensions, either to tourist visas or the annual for retirement.
Can't help with any of your other questions.

[Spitfire]

Agree with lomuamart there richard, Vientianne is cool/better bet, I'd stay away from Mukdaharn/Savannakhet if you want anything other than a tourist visa, last time I went there I had a 'devil of a time' just getting a Non-O single entry out of them and that's having had one before, got the wife with me, all the original documents etc.

The other problem with Mukdaharn is that foreigners cannot use the ferry crossing anymore that was basically in the middle of town, only for Thais and Lao people now, foreigners have to use the new bridge, which is about 7-9 km outside Mukdaharn, then you are again the same distance from Savannakhet on the other side which all equals, expensive and obligitory taxis or tuk-tuks, because they've got you. You can take a bus from the bus station in Mukdaharn to the border but only runs at certain times.

Might have changed recently, not sure, but the above was the case last time I went just over a year ago or so.

[Randy Cornhole]

Richard im 65kms south of Surin...

[richard]

thanks RC

thanks Spitfire but what about a RETIREMENT visa?

Hey guys I'm not talking about TV satellite but internet satelitte

'JC and bitter' what's wrong with the comms tonight?

Bucksi I Know.. I know, i know ............TIT

[Spitfire]

thanks Spitfire but what about a RETIRMENT visa?

If you have to leave Thailand, then head for Vientianne, if you don't and you're not sure were to go in/near to Khon Kaen etc, then the default place to go is the big immigration center in Korat, can sort any visas out there. Only just over 2 hours from Khon Kaen.

Just had a quick look on Google and it looks like, not 100% sure, that people in Khon Kaen go to the center in Korat, so maybe no immigration center to talk of in Khon Kaen.

Go to Korat, lots of retirement visa holders around, not an issue.

Hope that helps.

[sandman67]

Richard

dont know aboot the rest but if you need a 12 month non imm B visa you should PM me......

can be arranged no probs apart from the visa fee.

[lomuamart]

Richard,
This is just terminology/semantics, but a "retirement visa" is a Non Imm OA (otherwise known as long-stay visa). You can only get one from a Thai Embassy in your home country. The rules on age and financial status are the same as for the annual extension to a Non O visa on the basis of retirement, but there are other requirements such as police and health reports. See here:
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493
It would appear that you're asking about an annual extension on the basis of retirement (that's not a visa, but you must have a Non O to extend from). I looked last night and I think spitfire is correct. There's no Imm office in Khon Kaen. Korat would be your best bet. I've heard they're pretty user friendly. Another alternative would be Nong Khai, but they can be more difficult.
If you've got an extension, so just need to report every 90 days, don't forget you can do so by post:
http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en ... age=90days
That might save you some traveling. You'll only have to attend Imm once a year to renew your extension.

[margaretcarnes]

Welcome back Richard babe. The question is not visas, internet and hospitals. The question is - will there be a decent chippy?

[Randy Cornhole]

will there be a decent chippy?

Margaret, I think you'll find many Thais are rather decent wood-workers or chippies...

[hhfarang]

Randy,

When did you move to Issan... I was under the impression (from previous posts?) that you were in merry old England...

[Randy Cornhole]

I am currently in the UK. It was intended to be for a few months only but with loosing my lodgers and being burgled amongst other things I have been credit crunched into a longer stay...

I have actually been toying with bringing Mrs Cornhole over to the UK for a while... Have to be summertime though...