kurtmartens

My parents just went to CNX Immigration this morning.  They had the letter from the US Consulate and got their extension in 5 minutes in/out.   They were supposed to go to Savannakhet for a longer visa, but obviously that route is closed right now.  

They said CNX Immigration was painless.  They already had 2 land crossings this year and a 30 day extension prior to the virus causing issues.

Note:  They got a 20 day extension and on Day 18 they need to go get another 10 days for a total of 30.  At least that is what Immigration told them.

2 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Does anyone have any experience on whether the Thai wife HAS to be present when making the application, or will signed copy documents still suffice?

Signed.  Use blue ink.  

On 2/26/2020 at 3:54 PM, kelboy said:

Also has nothing to do with no drinking alcohol in the afternoon and the bars close at midnight and everything is to expensive. So all I can say is you brought it on yourselves. 

But maybe Chiang Mai just doesn't want the types of tourists who are drunk at 11AM? 

Without being sarcastic, is it expensive here?  I haven't noticed after being here for a few years .. but, we moved up from Bangkok so maybe its just a difference view.  

On 2/26/2020 at 12:06 PM, Thailand said:

Smog and virus under control, no problem.

 

The government says so.

We are from the Government, we are here to help.  (LOL)

Seriously though, I rather the virus than the smoke / smoke.  

1 hour ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

So, assuming everyone starts turning up at Savannahket with the requested certificate, what do people predict the next stumbling block to be?  

Until the vans stop turning up with "tourists" on visa runs, it will just get harder and harder for those of of us trying to get Non O visas for marriage / family / kids.  

Much more to your point though they might start requesting bank books.  Which would slow down the border runners at least.

4 hours ago, fourpack said:

Can debate this till the cows come home. If they are asking for it then that's it. They really don't care what you/we think and to be honest why should they.

 

 

Preach!  And really that is the correct view.  We can all bitch and moan til the khway come home ... but in the end, do it their way or don't get it done.  I particularly love the forum members who post about telling IO's they are wrong, etc ... 

I don't mind helpful replies, but of course should expect the usual forum replies I suppose.  

Real helpful thanks.  

I was looking for someone to come tell us what they are worth.   

Okay.  Maybe a silly post, but have been trying to find someone in Chiang Mai on my own and failed.  We have about 30 koi - all sizes and colors - that we need to sell since we are moving to a house without a pond.  Anyone know anyone that buys koi?  Other than a pet store.

16 hours ago, radiochaser said:

I am in Pennyslvania. I had to have a witness for a notorization.  One of the employees at the location signed the witness line. 

Might be that way at the U.S. Embassy too

 

I think Ubon Joe already said this, but you don't need a witness at the Embassy.  Its not a state notary, its a US State Department / Consular Officer notary, which is a bit different then using a state licensed notary.  (For example, I am a Texas notary, but cannot notarize outside of Texas.)

1 minute ago, Russell17au said:

Yes, but that is only for 90 days and then he must have the financials for his extension which is either 400000 baht in a Thai bank account in his name only for 2 months before his extension application or a minimum of 40000 baht international transfer into his Thai bank account every month.

Which is why Savannhket is easier.  

The Consulate is smart and had figured out that doing these Non O visas are a money maker for them.  

On 2/15/2020 at 5:35 PM, peterpop said:

This is a brand new Chief Immigration Officer and I do not think she will last long.  

 

Not sure how long she will last, but our agent confirmed a few months ago their was a new Chief which was causing "a  lot" of issues.  Our Agent used to be an IO so I'm trusting she was told something by her friends still there.

On 1/23/2020 at 6:25 AM, ChipButty said:

Been going on for years down here in Phuket, infact I knew a Thai guy who wouldn't rent to Thais'

Same here.  My wife (Thai) tried to rent a car in Phuket and we had to put it under my passport instead.  I was confused as to why they wouldn't rent to another Thai ... until now.

(A lot of the bike shops were the same.)

19 hours ago, Morty T said:

Trump this,  Trump that. Trump derangement syndrome seems to be alive and well. Your information is erroneous; OP dont leave the country until you actually have your new green card in hand. 

 

We ran into the same situation on a trip to Canada in 1988. All the correct forms, but no plastic card. 

Well said about the "Trump" syndrome.  Especially since you had the same situation in 1988.  Of course folks will just replace Trump with Republican since 1988 was Reagan.  (LOL)

Happy 2020 all! 

My parents (US citizens) were recently told that the face that they are having 65,000 baht a month transferred from the Social Security Admin to their Thailand bank accounts would not qualify them for a Non O (retirement) and that Americans now had to show 800,000 Baht in a local bank account and not monthly transfers.  

It was made clear that this was for Americans only and was a "trial" ... of course some of that might be lost in translation.  Even our usual fixer couldn't get anywhere and she used to work at CMI.

I was going to send them to Savannakhet (where I got my Non O based on marriage) to get a 3 month Non 0 ... which our fixer then said could convert to 12 months in Chiang Mai.  This has of course left me banging my head on the wall at the stupidity of having to go to Laos to come back to Chiang Mai and convert a 3 month to a 12 month.  Instead of just doing it all here.

I am the first one to say never argue with Immigration.  But, I am just curious if I am getting all this right?

9 minutes ago, Autonuaq said:

They have tourist visa for real tourist,

They have other visas for the rest. And when people like you do like the rest theb one has no problems at all.

 

 

People like who?

5 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

You don't need to show your old passport after obtaining a new one as a tourist. There's no such rule. Who told you that? 

I agree with Max.  I was in Savannakhet 2 months ago with what was clearly a brand new passport.  No one at the Consulate asked for my old passport - which I wouldn't have been able to produce since I let the US Consulate in Chiang Mai dispose of it.  

1 hour ago, Okis said:

There's not much else to say, but since you don't like what you are reading i will explain how a border jump works;

 

I get stamped out, walk 30 meters to the counter across the border, get stamped in and then move 1 meter to my right side to the departure window,  get stamped out. Walk back 30 meters, fill in arrival card. and get stamped in to Thailand again. 

My nationality is eligible to visa exempt so I don't need a visa. 

 

 

 

I actually agree with you about doing a "visa run" vs reporting in.  For me it breaks up my time and I just schedule it as a mini - vacation.  

He should be delivering face masks given the air quality this week!  It is abysmal this week where I am.

On 12/18/2019 at 10:59 AM, ubonjoe said:

They have kept moving the the cutoff for the transfers not in the IAT format. First April then September and now apparently this month.

Have you verified the coding of them with Bangkok Bank to find out if they are in the IAT format?

 

Okay.  Bit of bad karma this week for me.  The transfers I had scheduled were returned to Bank of America from Bank of Bangkok (NY).  I called the NY office last night / there morning and the person I spoke to confirmed that the cutoff went into effect (he mentioned they had a 10 month grace period that finally ran out) and "domestic" transfers would no longer be allowed.  Suggested I "wire" the money and gave me the SWIFT for Bangkok Bank ... I did and it the money left Bank of America and I will be curious to see how long it takes to credit to Bangkok Bank.

6 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Are you really trying to say Thais can't understand their language?

You obviously don't understand Thai, or you wouldn't call yourself Khun, a term only used a a term of respect by OTHERS.

Wow.  Pretty angry response to a post that wasn't rude or harsh.  I don't think he was saying that Thais don't understand their own language, but certainly folks can read an article and come away with different opinions on what the article said.  Hell, happens in English every day .... daily on thaivisa.org in fact!  ????

My dad's yes, mine no.  Mine was setup years ago as domestic.