Oscar2

2 hours ago, kidizen said:

Newbie here. A bit confused by the mixed reports of whether to walk in and take a chance or hire a sitter or agent. I have yet to get my O retirement visa in a couple of weeks so will need to apply for extension mid-Nov to Dec.  Didn't want to start a new thread as my questions are totally germane to the thread.  Just got my income cert letter with Chiang Mai address, question 1: must I apply for extension based on retirement in Chiang Mai?  Can I not do it in Bangkok? Assuming I won't have to go out of my way to go to Bangkok. I have a dependent as well so any agent fees would be doubled and I'd rather not have to pay 12,000 baht on top of the visa fees.  Waiting in the early hours with a child is absolutely out of the question, so getting a sitter would be the way to go, or take a chance and just show up.  Question 2:  Where do you find these sitters and how much do they cost? Did someone mention only 300 baht a piece? Thanks in advance.

you don't need an agent or a "sitter", and you don't need to go "in the early hours." just use common sense. if it's too busy, come back another day.

1 minute ago, Thailand said:

Lucky you.

you quoted me before i could edit. it should be Tues, Wed, Thurs. NEVER Monday.

8 minutes ago, Thailand said:

I am a Brit, have many Brit friends and friends of other nationaities with whom I have discussed the current situation at immigration, of those who have done their "retirement" visa during this year there are NONE who have been able to roll up at immigration on any special day or otherwise and complete an application without either queing early in the morning, employing an agent, or as in the case of a couple of us recently,engaging a line sitter.

 

And I also believe them,just sayin!

i walked in at 9:00 in June, walked out at 11:30 with my extension, just like many others. just like every year.

i always go Tues, Wed or Thurs.

3 hours ago, chiang mai said:

 

A long standing Brit friend just stopped by and we were just discussing this subject: he tells me that he and his wife went to Immigration in CM recently to extend their retirement visa's, they dropped their pet dog at the vet at 9am, went to Immigration and took a number, waited for about 90 minutes and were then seen to extend their visa's, job done from start to finish in under four hours. Since I've been using an agent for the past three years I have only had reports from this forum to judge how bad things have become, it seems it is not that bad for everyone, all the time. My friend, who is notoriously averse to paying agents for these things, states that it's a matter of picking a day between Tuesday and Thursday (Mondays are always bad he says), leave enough days to where if the job can't be finished in one day there's enough room left to be able to try again the next, he says he's never ever queued up in the early morning and never would. Soooo, I'm hearing mixed stories on how bad things really and am now beginning to wonder why there are such conflicting reports, I'm inclined to believe my friends version 100%..

been saying this for years. piece of cake...walk in the park.... if it's too busy come back another day. takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours. (ONCE i had to go back at 5:00 p.m. to retrieve my passport.....no big deal). i go about 3-4 weeks before the visa expires. no rush, the right day always comes along. don't believe more than 1/2 the people on this forum with their endless complaints and whining/whinging . extensions are easy.

believe your friends version 100%.

just get a cooler as mentioned above as it is much easier to use. the ones at 20 Baht shop are not stainless and they will rust in 6 months time....total junk.

5 hours ago, ramrod711 said:

 

Nothing complicated about it Oscar, my line sitter handled it all. Having said that, it is the first time I've used one, never used an agent and never ever had a problem with my paperwork, but you should buy a lottery ticket for sure because you are the only one that can wander in to immigration at your leisure and get an extension every year. Is it ok if I pm you next year so I can wander in with you?

rubbish. i'm not the only one that knows how to get an extension easily. in fact there was an Israeli who came in after me and was still able to get his extension by 12:00, and he was clueless, didn't have any photocopies, forgot his glasses,  filling out the forms outside....but a Thai woman showed up and helped him quickly get it together. sometimes i have to come back a second time, but i never go before 9:00 - ever.

1 hour ago, Bill97 said:

Really Nancy, have you considered the services of the VA, IRS, whoever in the government responsible for serving vets from Viet Nam, Iraq, ....HUD...

And you find them all without waiting and with efficient service.

If so, look again.

i concur. i once had a friend who has long passed, that was down on her luck and needed to have her glaucoma treated at the county (government) hospital in Los Angeles. sometimes i would give her a lift. she would have to arrive at 5:30 A.M. and be lucky if she was seen by the eye specialists by 4:00 in the afternoon.

8 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

Budget and close to Thapae Gate?  "Daret's Guest House."  It's directly across the street from Thapae Gate, facing the plaza, has very basic but clean Air/con rooms with en suite facilities for 400 baht, is is currently closed for restorations. It has a restaurant open from early morning until late in the evening, and will feature an all-new menu that is being photographed right now.  It will reopen next month if you want to make reservations. For even less money, you can stay in the brand new dorms that they have just erected next to the older guest house. Those should open next month as well.

 

doesn't Darets have shared toilets?

after i witnessed some very bad behavior by the management who condemned and insulted restaurant patrons who did not agree with management's political views (red-shirt movement), i would never step foot in there again.

20 hours ago, ramrod711 said:

Having arrived at 0530 on the 8th and being 3 or 4 for shy of the quota I was forced to return on the ninth.

 

My wife has a friend that is a line sitter, she and her son usually arrive at immigration at about 03:30 which was good enough to get me 4th place last month, the three people ahead of me were all paid by agents. The other night the lady was there at the usual time, 8 people ahead of her all employed by agents.  At what point will it become impossible for a person to do an extension themselves? I should add that the people ahead of her said that they arrived at 22"30 the night before.

i always get a kick out of reading about the people who go to Immigration at 3:00 or 4:00 or 5:00 or 6:00 or 7:00....etc.  in more than 12 years now i have never, ever, ever gone to Immigration before 9:00 for an extension. there is absolutely no need whatsoever. once again, this year i got there at 9:00 and was out at 11:30. couldn't be easier. some people love to do things the complicated way i guess.

8 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

Lanna Thai Guesthouse CM and you book online.  

that place used to be very popular until the woman was murdered by the Pakistani there. it has since fallen out of favor and looks run-down.

why the delay in reporting? wasn't this like a week ago?

3 hours ago, hougourou said:

Yes, that's the one . I guess it's only related to the visa extension in that it was required to be produced to get the visa.  I've never been asked for it before.  They also told me I/my wife need to report back after returning from a trip abroad to avoid the fine. Hmm,  wonder if  I should tell my wife she owes me the 1600....

why should you pay it? she should be aware of the laws.

3 hours ago, JAS21 said:

Somewhat cheaper ...do you use a Thai  Credit Card or a US one or ...

mine is always set to USD and i use Amex. my wife's account is set to THB and she uses K-Bank - i think, but the last time she ordered was about 3 or 4 months ago when the shipping fee was a flat US $4.00 so can't compare recent shipping costs USD vs. THB on long-time accounts.

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

The best way to minimise the effects of the burning season in Chiangmai is not to be here, or apperently live in San Sai.

well the bit about Sansai is a load of <deleted> but indeed the best thing is to just leave for a month or 6 weeks.

5 hours ago, augustwest said:

I live in SanSai and hardly notice it.

have they filled the pond back up and put the fish and turtles back?

14 hours ago, JAS21 said:

Okay, it was Amino 1900 and here is the link ...  http://th.iherb.com/Universal-Nutrition-Amino-1900-Amino-Acid-Supplement-300-Tablets/37132 802.75 for the AA plus 377.11 shipping.

 

I am looking at the correct site... yes?

Yes. when I clicked on your link I got the following shipping cost (after logging into my account, adding the item, etc).

Destination: Thailand Change

Global Mail - ฿256.29

Estimated Delivery: September 26, 2016 - September 29, 2016

Extra discount for orders over ฿1,396.70
Limited Tracking. Orders up to $100 USD. Max 4 lbs (1.8 kg)

 

BUT when I change the currency to USD, I get:

Destination: Thailand Change

Global Mail - $4.05

Estimated Delivery: September 26, 2016 - September 29, 2016

Extra discount for orders over $40.00
Limited Tracking. Orders up to $100 USD. Max 4 lbs (1.8 kg)

 

 

sadly, all the shops that have those type of items keep the stock outdoors and they are all mildewed and in poor condition, as well as ridiculously over-priced. the best place to find that kind of stuff is on the FB groups. the problem is that you have to monitor the groups very closely as the items sell very quickly.

5 hours ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

nope, good general said not to parade suspects for the cameras. in this case he paid compensation so will not have to go to court to be found guilty so he can remain anonymous. lucky for him he was doing this in thailand where he got off lightly.

in another article one victim demanded 50K which he paid. there was nothing about him paying compensation to the other 4? victims. so case will proceed.

15 hours ago, JAS21 said:

I just looked at buying something for 808thb weighing 1.05Kgs. Shipping quoted as 379thb via Global Mail. 

I tried to duplicate your order but could not come up with exactly 1.05 Kg. but came in at 1.12 Kg with a shipping cost in USD of $4.05 or 138.14 THB. go figure!

an English course would be helpful...

buy everything in Bangkok. much easier.

i could be wrong but i think you can only take one Buddha statue with you.

2 hours ago, ignis said:

Maybe.docx

don't understand what used cars have to do with the topic??

what a dump! was in Panthip today so i popped in for a look. terrible assortment....and the under baked bread....yuck!  reminded me of one of those Family Marts that you may find on the outskirts of Bangkok or in Phuket town, with almost all the shelves filled with shredded pork, fish balls , bottles of soft drinks and fermented milk. they didn't even have Farmhouse bread. people living nearby will be happier at Rimping 100%.

Monster Ink and Printer. they work on all of our printers and don't try and oversell.

16 Hatsadisevi Rd, Sripum
Muang Chiang Mai 50200
053-404300 , 053-404027

22 hours ago, dcnx said:

Buy at home. 

 

Everything here is either imported and overpriced or of poor quality. Not to mention, at your size it's going to be difficult to get a proper fit. 

 

Avoid cotton if you sweat a lot. Get moisture-wicking fabrics, these will help keep you cool and dry. Bring a light jacket if you're coming over winter. 

not really. example: Spalding and Russell Athletic are both high-quality U.S. brands. both are manufactured - where else? Thailand... a pair of sport shorts (running, gym, etc.) and a matching shirt will cost you at minimum 2500-3000 Baht here for a set (more in Bangkok). i found the exact set of each brand in the USA for US $14.00 per set! so i came back to Thailand with Thai made products that cost 800% more in Thailand.