Lifer

Ashampoo makes good working software. I have used several of their free products after reading about them from, I believe, Wanda Sloan, Bangkok Post Database. The utility programs work very good, but the best I have on my computer is the Photo Optimizer program. They also make several good multimedia related programs.

Give them a try.

Experience with Pimandek since Kindergarten level. Excellent Thai family run private school, not International. They go through 6th grade level.

I'm scheduled to depart CM at 06.30 tomorrow morning (Thursday 5th) for a work assignment at Lampang. Vehicle will be a bigger size pick-up or a CRV.

Can any CM members share any news on the road to Lampang, please?

Thanks.

Sorry, not sure about roads, but my wife's Niece, who lives with us, went by CM Lampang train as far as Hangshot District yesterday and train left at scheduled time. Of course that isn't the road, but might consider if roads closed.

How about CM to Chiangrai. Anybody traveled there in the last day or so for visa run or any other reason? Roads and towns along the way OK?

The other silly requirement is requiring a mandatory std blood test to get a work permit. Doesn't do a thing to enhance ones ability to perform their job. Negative today, positive tomorrow or the next day! Allows the medical people to get another fee for the test.

Okay, they raise the wages for the people who a making the things we need, hence the producers must simultaneously raise the price of their products, hence the net benefit to the workers will be nothing, but the government will certainly increase its revenue as the amount of VAT collected increases, along with all other taxes. It seems people interested in buying votes, do not think these matters through very well. The only net affect will be everything in Thailand becomes more costly, as though the cost of living here is not high enough today.

Actually, in these economic times, give the workers more wages, increase product prices to cover product cost, including wages and operating expenses, sell less, lay off workers. Same thing happens at Boeing. Bad times, orders cancelled, skilled workers laid off. Later when orders increase, workers hired back, and on it goes.

Savitri-Sharin Clinic, just past DK Book Store and Chiang Commercial College on the left about 1 block. (95/2-3)

Dr. Savitri is a Pediatrician with over 30 years experience. Dr. Sharin is Internal Medicine specialist and consultant to Chiang Mai Ram and other hospitals. Both speak excellent English. Gives you only the medicine you require and explains why it will work. Will explain very precisely what he's given, why it will work, and how long you can expect it to take care of problem.

Used both for 11 years since son was born. Open everyday 9-12 noon, and Mon-Sat 5- 8 PM.

One other thing that may apply. If your Thai wife is registered outside of Chiangmai in another province as a resident, she has to get her book and have it changed and registered in Chiangmai. This last minute event happened because my wife was registered in Lampang (Hongshot), so we had to run to the district office there and get the paperwork and come back to Chiangmai to register her new address. May not apply and is not a big thing depending on where she is from. If from Chiangmai, then no problem to take care of.

I do remember we signed stacks of documents, all in Thai, with no translation. Since I don't read Thai and she didn't know how to translate the technicalities in English, we just signed the docs as they were handed to us by the clerk at Saraphi District Office.

Good luck with your adventure.

I don't see anything wrong with making appointments in advance either. It still is basically the same amount of people who need the time slots whether they make the appointment now or later. It would be nice, as suggested elsewhere, that the appointments be used for extensions and visa matters, and not 90 day reports, or even residency certificates. These don't usually take much time if you follow some of the suggestions for going in at less than peak times. It is still an individual choice I guess.

That said; I really don't believe that the queue system will be the same one year from know. It will either be streamlined, or suffer overload and fail, before then. Nothing remains the same here for long.

Your right. Who know if the system will be the same next year. It would be nice if they would streamline some of the procedures the long term extension applicants have to go through; although, the ladies there do a pretty good job, I think. Maybe if they made the process easier, they could add a couple more time slots to the daily schedule.

Nancy is right. It's no different than rescheduling your next dental appointment of Dr. appointment for the next visit. Those of us that live here long term are probably the most stable, meaning not much changes from year to year especially when we own our houses. Maybe the retirement extension applicants are different with their needs. I have the biggest problem with the 90 day check in for long term extensions. It could be done at the same time you get your next extension stamp or change locations, but not every 90 days.

Actually this time I had an 90 day due just prior to our approval coming back from Bangkok. The immigration official suggest I come in earlier that the 90 day to see if the approval was back and do both the same day. It worked out great.

Boy, you'd think all the BS going on this subject would end by now. As soon as your done with your next extension, just go to next years calendar and get your next queue number. No fuss, no mess, and security in knowing you won't have to wait in that awful Immigration office waiting to be served by the people that work very hard for YOU. The middle of next year is all set for me. We used the system recently and it worked like a charm at the Imm office.

Lifer,

Making an appointment a year in advance is selfish and hurts people who aren't smart enough to do the same. If everyone made appointments one year in advance, people who wait an appropriate amount of time would not be able to make appointments. Make your appointments only 2 to 3 months in advance maximum. We are trying to stop abuses of the online queue system.

Who are you to tell me when to make an appointment! You are the last person that has the right to tell others when they make an appointment. It does not make a difference as long as it is a verified use of the appointment made. Using the appointment system for other than what it was set up for (long term extensions) is the abuse. Please give your holier than thou advice to someone else.

Try and find a single appointment slot in the next month !! There isnt one until Monday the 17th. Not one. In part thansk to people who are too selfish to stick to the rules and abuse it for everyone else.

We are not breaking any rules, except yours! I have been here 14 years and gone through this 14 times within the same few days each year. We never break any of the immigration rules, and do not make visa runs or lie about our means of income. Why should I wait until I need the appointment and find we can't book one to take care of our yearly business. That's not selfish or unkind, it's taking care of our yearly business. If you want to get upset, do it with those who mis-use the appointment system for other reasons.

And by the way, I happen to be responsible enough to cancel months ahead if I see I have to change my date so that people who wait until the last minute to take care of their immigration business can use the slot! Calling someone rude because they don't agree with how you would do it is being rude. Good luck with your future immigration business.

If immigration doesn't want people making appointments like that, they can remove the future calendars. Until they change the rules, nobody is breaking them. It's their program, not yours.

90-day notification of staying longer than 90 days

Suggestion: Change the rule for 90 day reporting for those on long term extensions, marriage and retirement, to once a year or if one changes their residence. The reporting could be done at the same time as the extension or if one moves to a different house or location. It would save immigration lots of paperwork and applicants a lot of time and paperwork. You could even allow this rule for those that have been here on long term extensions for 5 years or longer.

Thank You

Boy, you'd think all the BS going on this subject would end by now. As soon as your done with your next extension, just go to next years calendar and get your next queue number. No fuss, no mess, and security in knowing you won't have to wait in that awful Immigration office waiting to be served by the people that work very hard for YOU. The middle of next year is all set for me. We used the system recently and it worked like a charm at the Imm office.

Lifer,

Making an appointment a year in advance is selfish and hurts people who aren't smart enough to do the same. If everyone made appointments one year in advance, people who wait an appropriate amount of time would not be able to make appointments. Make your appointments only 2 to 3 months in advance maximum. We are trying to stop abuses of the online queue system.

Who are you to tell me when to make an appointment! You are the last person that has the right to tell others when they make an appointment. It does not make a difference as long as it is a verified use of the appointment made. Using the appointment system for other than what it was set up for (long term extensions) is the abuse. Please give your holier than thou advice to someone else.

Boy, you'd think all the BS going on this subject would end by now. As soon as your done with your next extension, just go to next years calendar and get your next queue number. No fuss, no mess, and security in knowing you won't have to wait in that awful Immigration office waiting to be served by the people that work very hard for YOU. The middle of next year is all set for me. We used the system recently and it worked like a charm at the Imm office.

If you have no intention of working the retirement extension is ok. I like to keep my options open and go the marriage route.

And an extension based on marriage means...Less of YOUR money tied up in a Thai bank account!

I would like to offer a serious comment about cheap dental work. I realize that to some living here or visiting here, money or lack of it is an important consideration, but using a dentist because they are cheap is not the best idea. Try and find a dentist that many others recommend and have used. You get what you paid for, and your teeth are important. If you don't believe it, wait until you start losing some!

I am not familiar with Bangkok, only Chiang Mai. Good luck.

Lifer,

For what it's worth, I just booked a trip from Bangkok to Istanbul with a 4 day layover before heading to Barcelona and then return to Bangkok. Total was 1,220 Euros (about 51,100 baht). I don't have a break out of the cost from Bangkok to Istanbul.

I just did a quick check on their website (turkishairlines.com) for a one-person RT BKK-IST using 10/1 - 10/4 as the travel dates. They have a promo fair of 818 Euros (about 34,260 baht) which includes taxes. Go to their website and see what you get.

As for the quality of the airline, I haven't flown with Turkish Air before but have seen consistently good reviews.

David

Thanks a lot everyone. Plan a trip next March or April. Have seen the prices for e-tickets, but my problem is I do not have a credit card, only a US Visa debit card. I did notify the Airline office in Bangkok and they said they could email me the e-ticket upon receipt of the money. All e-ticket prices quoted in Euros. Used to live in Turkey in the late 80's and spent a lot of time in Istanbul. Thought it might be fun to take my Thai wife there for a getaway.

Thanks again for the info.

Anyone out there use the fairly new non-stop Turkish Airlines flight between Bangkok and Istanbul. What was your experience like, and what kind of price did you pay? Thaniks.

I keep hearing about having to have some additional form to present proving yourmarried. After 14 years of renewing my extensions based on marriage, we have never been ask for anything other than two copies of our marriage certificate. I do not have any idea what this ledger form even looks like. So I guess its up to individual immigrations. I remember one time the officer renewing our extension was a little frustrated and mentions that everytime the boss changes, they want them to get something new. Guess its a power thing!

You can never just go to immigration every three months. What you can do is extend your stay one year at a time with proof of 40k per month income or 400k in bank account for 2 months. Wife/marriage certificate/her ID and home register/photos in home together and outside with number showing/copies of passport/visa/permitted to stay stamp/departure card/TM.7 with current photo/1,900 baht fee/proof of address. Apply during last 30 days of non immigrant O visa entry and you must return 30 days later for official stamp after approval in Bangkok. There may be one set (Bangkok) or up to 3 sets of copies required. After this you must report address every 90 days if you do not leave Thailand and if you leave Thailand you must obtain a re-entry permit first to avoid losing the extension of stay.

Thank you so Much so i have to go my embassy to ask a letter from my income right so im Canadian do yo know how manny days t0 wait for my letter if i go tomorrow i have the letter same day or i have to wait a weeks thanks again its mey last question

Be prepared to provide two copies of backup documents proving your monthly income, especially if it's the first time you have used an proof of income affidavit. Take it with you. They may not ask or they may ask. If your not prepared you will have to go get the proof and return. The only time in 14 years they ask was year before last when so many were falsifying their affidavits, and immigration starting getting wise to it. It your legit, not a thing to worry about. Chiangmai requires two copies of everything, including map and two pictures. They even cut up each picture and paste them on their documents which has info on you and your wife. Good luck and be cool.

Wife and I have applied in Chiangmai every year for 14 years. Now they have an online registration system for advance appointments (go to Chiangmai forum)it is easier. The key is to have 2 copies of all your paper work, pictures, and map ready. I had to apply from the US for 90-day non-O, then move here. Within the 90-days, we applied for the marriage license, and finished getting our house in her name. Then within the 90days, went in to the immigration office in Chiangmai and applied for the first extension. One the first application for extension, they came out to the home. A male and female officer walked around the house, looked in the bedroom closet for evidence we lived together, NO fee for this. Repeat, NO fee. Then they had some paperwork that someone in our housing had read and sign saying they knew us and we lived together as a married couple.

After that, every year within 30days of the expiration, we went in and repeated the extension. The only thing that changes is the requirements, so keep up with them on TV. Now the requirement is 400,000 baht in bank for 3 months (may get away with 2 months on first use of money in the bank. If you use the affidavit from your Consulate, you have to show monthly income. Be prepared to show proof of income you report on your affidavit. Ours is easy because we have both money in bank and pensions coming in, so we can use either method.

I can say this, Chiangmai Immigration has improved vastly over what it was 14 years ago. The same two female officers process or extension over the years. The officers at the front desk are friendlier and more eager to help than in the past. From what I read, Chiangmai Immigration is a good place go, with the exception that they handle a very high number of tourists and expats.

Just go expecting there will always be some little copy you forgot, just sit there handing over the documents, and let your wife yak with the officers. It takes approx 45 minutes no matter how organized I am with the docs. The one thing I know, I would NEVER want their job, even if their pay was higher than it is! Good luck and enjoy Chiangmai. You can be as active or recluse as you want to be here.

Why don't they find this "influential person" and take him down a few notches and put an end to the "Cartel" since it seems to be causing international problems and causes loss of face so often for Thais.. Seems everyone down there is afraid of their skin or somebodies skin(s).

Up to third world status? Maybe not! It's sad that something this trivial continues.

The Headline reads - "Phuket taxi cartel grants US Military safe passage"

I thought to myself - wow - thats very nice of them - what a nice gesture to 'grant' them a safe passage.

These are US servicemen from just about the most powerful nation on earth, and the Phuket Taxi 'Cartel' was gracious enough to grant them a safe passage

we bow down before you - oh great tuk tuk drivers!

I think they didn't have much choice because I don't think it would take a company of marines much time to have the "Cartel" on their butts! Or worse. Just another example of friendly Amazing Thailand.

This is for anyone who has made a successful appointment using Firefox 6 browser. I can see the fill in block and the calendar. What I want to know (only) is: where does the que code show up after pushing the reservation enter key. Is it a separate pop up window? I have noticed since I made my original appointment that they have added a print link next to the cancel link. When you try to print, do you get a choice to save instead of print or is it a print screen operation?

I do not want to make a bunch of appointments to figure this out, and then not be able to cancel.

Had the 9AM appointment on the 18th for 1 year married extension, but did not get a que number when making the appointment on the computer. Only problem was that after sitting down with wife for the #14th fun experience the immigration lady ask for my que number and printed form. I tried explaining 4 times that I was one of the person who did not get a que number after making the reservation. She finally gave up and went ahead processing the paperwork. You must have two copies of everything including the map you draw. The two pictures are trimmed and glued to the form that she fills out on your wife's information. Just in case you don't already know, they need original and zerox of application with two original visa pictures glued on them. May have been needed before but didn't remember.

It seemed to work out, but the big problem I see with the appointment system is that everyone will book so far in advance you can't get in when you really need too, and the fact that many are making appointments and not cancelling them right asway when not using them to allow others to make the appointment.

you can avoid the 150 baht fee by using any bank exchange booth with your passport and usa debit card

u just tell them to swipe your debit card like a cash advance

they will only do 20k baht per transaction

Yep, that's commonly called a "counter withdrawal." And the Thai banks have not been charging the 150 baht ATM fee on those...

The problem is, as has been reported here by various TV members, in some cases when they've tried to do those at their local bank branch, the bank staff have refused and told them to use the bank's ATMs instead... I'm not saying that happens all the time...just that it's been a sometimes problem reported by members here.

The other downside to counter withdrawals is the risk, however minimal, of carrying around one's passport and the potential for losing it... Again, normally a small risk.... but a hassle should that befall someone.

Also, the practical limit on a counter withdrawal may not come from the Thai bank, but from the daily limit on a person's ATM card by their home country bank, which in the U.S. often is set by default at $500 in each 24 hour period.

Likewise, in past discussions here about counter withdrawals, the limits that people reported hearing from Thai bank staff on what they could do did vary quite a bit bank to bank.

I have a US credit union account. I can go into SCB and transfer up to $3000 from CU into my account with no fee other than the 1% my CU charges when an ATM or debit card is used. The $3000 limit is set by my CU and not the banks here. It took me a long time before I tried it, but now do it regularly.