enigma

I had exactly the same experience when I submitted my last 90 day report online. I had been using online 90 day reports successfully for over a year. 

I received a rejection email saying that I should report to my local Immigration office, which is Chonburi Immigration. They issued my 90 day report without question.

On 1/16/2022 at 12:29 PM, mtls2005 said:

Your reporting office is?

 

Were you able to use the old systems successfully?

 

 

Reporting office is Chonburi Immigration in Jomtiem.

I was able to use the old online system until about May 2021 after which every time I tried to do a 90 day online report,  I got a message asking me to report to my local immigration office. That continued to happen until this new system started.

I also had a successful result. I had my password issued in December, and I logged in this month, 15 days before my 90 days renewal was due.

I filled in the required information and emailed in about 10am. Received an instant email acknowledgment.

Approval email with attached slip for stapling into my passport was received by email about 4pm that same afternoon.

Note that the new 90 days started on the expiry date of my previous due date, so there was no disadvantage in applying 15 days early.

Also some information is no longer required, such as flight number of arrival aircraft or arrival card number.

It worked for me the last 3 times, but not this time. I get the contact your local office message. I have renewed my Retirement Extension since the last time it worked.

I tried Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome to no avail. I've tried for 3 consecutive days, starting from 12 days before due date, still no luck.

Eventually I rang the Immigration Hotline and the lady tried to be helpful, taking me through the possible reasons, such as new passport, leaving the country, trying a different browser. Then she gave up and supplied me with the telephone number of my local immigration office, but I've decided just to go there and get it done.

Many thanks for the detailed schedule, jehricaholic

I have been searching for a schedule of the fireworks all week and couldn't find one.

This event was a magnificent show last year, so I'm really looking forward to it again.

Systane eye drops are good for dry eyes. They are also made by Alcon and a 15ml bottle costs about 200 baht at Fascino pharmacy in Pattaya. However, Systane is not always in stock at Fascino or other pharmacies.

I find my vision is a bit blurry for a few moments after application of Systane, but it relieves the dryness for several hours.

Pattaya Beer Garden ... at the entrance to Walking Street, is that the one? Would like to attend.

First of all, I will post mine as soon as I actually get it. I will give it a try probably tomorrow to have them issue something. I didn't ask them to issue an income certificate, but only "certify the translation", which is what they did last year, but they are so far refusing to do this year. I guess I could change the wording a bit and ask them to "certify my signature" on a document instead.

What I have is a letter from my company (where I'm a 50% shareholder), signed by the CFO of the company and confirming my monthly income. So the Embassy can't really verify the CFO's signature, since it's not mine. What I could do maybe is write a letter in addition to the company letter and have them certify that?

Last year they would just ask me to translate it to Thai and then certify the translation, but this year they clearly stated that they don't certify translations anymore.

Rainman, I'm on my first Retirement extension so I don't have a lot of experience, but my income comes from a private company too (I'm a 50% shareholder). Acting on advice from another expat, I obtained a letter from the company solicitor to state my income.

As it turned out, no one asked for the letter. The Australian Embassy certified my Statutory Declaration (similar to an affidavit) in which I stated my income, Thai Immigration (Jomtiem) asked for the Statutory Declaration plus a balance of account statement from my Thai bank only.

However, when I go to renew my Retirement extension, I will get a new letter from the company lawyer, just in case! You may wish to do that too, rather than a letter from the company.

Given that Thaiand is running both a current account deficit and has a negative trade balance, I don't see how the confluence of the measures recommended above could work.

- if they sell their foreign exchange reserves for baht, that makes the baht stronger, and a weaker, devalued baht is necessary to prop up exporters, which is the sector at present that is most endangered.

So I think borrowing is fine in the circumstances if they want to, say, build some infrastructure (though there will be a time lag before it has any meaningful effect). They have the wherewithal to repay later.

Given consumer and investment spending is tanking, infrastructural spending is paramount, but you are of course right that there is a large time lag involved. However, there really is no other way as spending in other countries is also tanking (i.e. demand for many of Thailand's exports is on the decline). Simply put, Thailand is not going to be able to export their way out of this global, economic mess.

Right now, unless the THB gets so out of whack vis a vis other ag related exporting countries, devaluing the THB makes no sense. At least a relatively strong THB will lower the cost of their infrastructural projects.

This is the logical argument and a likely explanation of why B of T holds the baht at existing levels, but will B of T have the resolve to continue doing so, as the Thai economy weakens and unemployment rises, which seems inevitable in the global meltdown? The need for the new government to appear decisive and avoid any further civil unrest may lead them to try to influence the Bank's thinking.

Thank you all very much for the detailed information. I will try Fascino again and ask for Harnal OCAS 400 mcg as recommended by Sheryl. Failing that, I will try to call Astellas Pharma (Thailand) Co Ltd in Bangkok to enquire on availability.

Getting the right combination of drugs to relieve BPH seems to be a hit and miss affair very much dependent on the individual. I'm not a medico so I don't have the required knowledge, but I believe that Cardura, which contains doxazosin and Harnal, which contains tamsulosin, are both alpha blockers. So Mobi might be taking two drugs which have the same function.

Viagra taken with either Cardura (doxazosin) or Xatral (alfuzosin) gave me a rotten headache and dehydration some hours after the event. I eventually tried Flomax (or Harnal as it is sold here) in combination with tadalafil (Cialis and substitutes) and have almost no side effects, other than a stuffy nose for a while.

Once again, my thanks for the replies to my query. Much appreciated.

I have used Cardura (doxazosin) Xatral (alfuzosin) to help control BPH, but find the side effects strong, especially when combined with Viagra or Cialis.

So I tried some Flomax (tamsulosin) capsules (400 micrograms) that I had with me from Australia and they seem to work better. However, Fascino, the big drugstore here in Pattaya, does not stock Flomax.

They do have another brand but it's half the strength and it would be mighty expensive to take two of them every day (about 1,000 baht for 30 tablets).

I already take Proscar and Saw Palmetto, but they are not enough to relieve the night time urination problem, so I really need to use one of the alpha blockers as well.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

If anyone reading this post can pass on my gratitude to the Nong Khai police who were on duty at the railway station on Saturday evening, I would be grateful.

The 6.20pm Saturday train to Bangkok was shunted back to Nong Khai after only 20 minutes journey and all passengers unloaded, tickets refunded.

VIP buses arrived to take passengers to Bangkok, but my group of four 60+ year old Australians didn't think they could handle a 12 hour overnight trip on the bus.

The bus company was reluctant to take us to Udon Thani, presumably wanting to keep seats vacant for potential passengers to Bangkok, even though there were obviously no more people waiting at the station. They did offer us tickets if we agreed to stand in the bus, but we declined.

The police advised us that there were no taxis available in Nong Khai and that we should go on the bus. They then negotiated with the bus operator and arranged 4 seats on the last bus, insisting that we pay the operator only for the journey to Udon and ensuring that the bus would set us down at the bus station there.

We arrived in Udon without further problem. The other 5 or 6 passengers remained on the bus as it continued to Bangkok.

I intend to write to Nong Khai police and commend them for their assistance as soon as I can get it translated into Thai language. However, if anyone can pass on my thanks to the officers on duty last Saturday evening (30 August) please do so. In my four years in Thailand, I have heard many criticisms of Thai police, so some praise where due is very worthwhile.

I do indeed wish you a negative test result as I've had a few skin cancers cut out too. I have one on my arm now that needs cutting as it has not cleared up after two freezing procedures at Bumrungrad. I'm reluctant to return there as their costs are very high and I'm living in Pattaya. Were costs at PIC reasonable for your surgery?

I had ab about 15 moles removed on two different occasions. About 4000 baht. "Something" removed from the scalp. Maybe around 2000 baht. Several consultations on other problems. Form about 700 baht plus medications. (Usually around 1200 baht total.) Also they were able to diagnose some quite rare rashes after 5 years+ of misdiagnosis.

Again, recommend them without reservation!

They also did some cosmetic procedures on mum quite cheeply. (Pigment removal of age spots. She loved it. Not expensive. 1500-2000 baht range.

Thanks for that info, much appreciated. I will get Dr. Sureeporn Sritangrattanaku at PIC to look at my arm and some other unresolved skin problems. I've found it difficult to find a good dermatologist in Thailand who is focussed on medical conditions rather than cosmetic ones.

This concerns me, too. I have done far too much sunbathing in the last twenty years to believe that my skin is unaffected. My father had some kinds of spots removed from his elbow and lips during his final years. Is there a dermatologist in Chiang Mai who will go head to foot and check all the moles, etc.?

Sorry not in CM, But the Dermatologists at Pattaya International Hospital (PIC) are top notch. Usually I recommend the other hospital, Bangkok Pattaya, but for dermatology, I have always been completely satisfied with the knowledge and skill of their staff. They also seem to have every imaginable laser. ( I recommend the two women doctors as they have very good people skills.)

Can positively & definitely recommend Dr. Sureeporn Sritangrattanaku (Ms.) at PIC. Took care of a major mole and assorted maybe's, plus a wart on a toe while we were at it. A knive & laser artist Going for the follow-up & patho results today [wish me luck...]

I do indeed wish you a negative test result as I've had a few skin cancers cut out too. I have one on my arm now that needs cutting as it has not cleared up after two freezing procedures at Bumrungrad. I'm reluctant to return there as their costs are very high and I'm living in Pattaya. Were costs at PIC reasonable for your surgery?

Yes. During the last 30 days of your permitted to stay you visit Immigration with a TM.7 form and 4x6cm photo attached, passport/copies, departure card/copy, bank passbook/copies, letter of account balance from bank and 1,900 baht to receive a one year extension of stay.

Lopburi3, do I need to wait until the last 30 days of my current visa before I apply for Retirement extension? I have a multiple entry O visa and just did a visa run a few days ago, so I have nearly 3 more months before it expires. I would like to organise the Retirement visa ahead of time as I'm applying on the basis of monthly income. I think I've got all the necessary documents but you never know!

If you are in Thailand on a non immigrant visa you can extend your stay for retirement if over age 50 and have 800k in bank account three months or 65k monthly income as listed in a letter from your Embassy or a combination of the two. This is called an extension of stay for retirement and lasts for one year and you do the same routine each year to renew it. There is no police report or medical normally required for this.

I have been obtaining a new O Visa each year in Brisbane Australia, so this is welcome advice for me. My income is not a pension however and I understood that was a necessary condition of the monthly income requirement. I draw a salary from a private company in Australia.

Lopburi3, do I understand from your advice that I could ask the Australian Embassy to confirm my salary in writing and take this letter to the Thai immigration together with my current non O visa to request an extension of that visa? I am over age 50.

Many thanks for the information already provided.

Hurrah, Sophon succeeded in broadcasting the Rugby from Australia on the weekend.

I exchanged the following emails with Australia Network to express my appreciation:

ME:

"The good news is that Sophon Cable did broadcast the Rugby this weekend! There was a few minutes delay at the start as they tried a few other cards, but they soon succeeded in getting the signal.

After 10 minutes of broadcast, someone removed the card and lost the signal, but this was rectified when they put the card back in again.

The remainder of the broadcast was uninterrupted.

I don't know whether this success was due to your representation to the Thai Cable Association, but thank you very much for your efforts in any case."

AUSTRALIA NETWORK:

"Good news! Yes, we received confirmation on Friday from the Thai Cable Association that they had spoken with Sophon. I am glad the service went out relatively uninterrrupted!

Best Regards

Nicola

Australia Network"

Thankyou one and all for your help and suggestions.

Thanks for the tip GreyFox2. It is the Super 14 competition that I'm referring to.

I will wait and see if they get it right this coming weekend and offer them your advice if they don't. There seems to be an element of Thai "see-uh nah" in their attitude, which may be difficult to overcome!

As Sophon had successfully broadcast the Rugby on Australia Network channel during the previous weekend, it was with some excitement that I tuned into Austrlia Network again this past weekend to see the three advertised matches.

Alas, not to be!

The signal is encrypted and requires that Sophon (and all other cable providers) insert a card to decode it. Someone at Sophon did try to insert a card because you could see the search for the signal on the screen, but maybe it was the wrong card, because the Rugby did not appear.

A telephone query call to Sophon in Pattaya offered the explanation that "we put the card in, but the cable is not working"

My email to Australia Network returned the following answer:

"Sadly for you, Thailand is the one territory where we have been having terrible trouble contacting cable providers to ensure that they have the right equipment to decrypt the Rugby.

All our cable operatos in Thailand are part of the Thai Cable Association and we have sent them all Smart Cards to decrypt the signal and written to each of them to explain what equipment is needed. We are also very reliant on the Thai Cable Association to contact them as few speak enough English.

Therefore this will be a local problem and we will be seeking the assistance of the Thai Cable Association to try to get it fixed asap.

Thank you for your patience

Best Regards

Nicola

Australia Network"

Is anybody here in Pattaya able to communicate this information to Sophon? It would be wonderful to watch the Rugby next weekend.

Thankyou all for your suggestions.

The info from Leisurely is much appreciated, although I suspect he will find the Shangrila a bit upmarket for his taste!

The challenge is to find activities for a man whose work is his only hobby (apart from the ballroom dancing). I'm thinking of sending him off to visit some factories!

A family friend will be having dental treatment in Ratchadapisek Road over a two week period later this month.

An energetic widower who still works his own business in Australia, he will soon tire of the tourist spots and is not into the bar scene.

Any suggestions on where to direct him would be much appreciated. He is keen on ballroom dancing but I can’t find any such places in Bangkok

I agree that 1,500 baht is outrageous. I'm also rather pissed off that Jack reneged on his earlier offer to lower the price as the number of passengers increased.

However, I am spared having to negotiate further with Jack, as I had a call from Rod of Goanna Guest house today and he has three English guys who want to do the visa run to Ranong on Tuesday 26th and are thinking of hiring a minivan.

Rod seems to think that a minivan would cost about 4,500 baht so that would make 1,100 approx for each of four of us, not including the boat trip.

If you would like to join in on Tuesday, we could divide the cost by five, so can you give me or Rod (070377731) a call to confirm?

Sua yai, I had a call from Jack (see my earlier post) who is planning a visa run on Wednesday 27 July in a mini bus. He has 3 or 5 other passengers already and invoited me to come too. He intends to leave about 5.00 am and return about 5.00 pm.

However, the cost seems to be fixed at 1,500 baht return irrespective of the number of passengers, despite his previous advice to me that the price would reduce as the number of passengers increased.

Are you interested in this arrangement? We may be able to exert some pressure on him to reduce the price a bit if we work together.

I will also call in to Goanna's guest house this weekend and see if anything has come up there.

You can ring me on 016523398, it should work ok.

Suy yai, Again many thanks for your help on this, it’s much appreciated. I’m on an “O” visa and 28 July is 90 days since my last entry, so I have to renew it on or before the 28th.

I put my name on the shared run list in Goanna Guest House. The only other entry on the list is a guy who is driving down to Ranong on 7/8 August and is seeking passengers to help with expenses. I met Rod and Amanda (fellow Aussies!) while I was there.

Maybe now it’s a matter of wait and see. Make a decision next Monday 25th.

You may have difficulty if you try to contact me on my mobile, but I logon here every day.

There is a taxi/car service in Poolsuk Road (behind the temple) which advertises a visa run. It is operated by Jack, a young Thai guy, who also appears to be the manager of Willy's Station, a Swiss beer garden.

He advertises the run for Mondays but says he is flexible about that! The cost is 1,500 baht return per person but only if he gets a minimum of 3 passengers. If he gets more than 3 passengers, the price goes down for each person.

His business card gives his mobile number as 01-5753153.