Roger Lee

Bun Kanchana Alley and Sukhumvit Rd. in Jomtien on the corner offers many good quality mattresses at a decent price.

The owner understands English and is easy to talk to, he gives discounts also.

I've cruised Beach Rd. briefly in Jomtien yesterday and today and trust me, don't do it. The number of people from Bangkok, double parking, stopping, and just being idiots is staggering. Almost a nightmare to drive through and I imagine it'll just get worse.

Rich Man Poor Man in Jomtien has their pizza for 235 baht, extra meat toppings at 40 baht.

Frasers has their all you can eat pizza for 250 baht on Thursdays, not bad and you get to choose which of their 3 pizzas you want to eat.

Pastrami on Rye has a pretty decent pizza also, cheap if you get a previous reservation through an Eatigo promotion,

http://eatigo.com/home/th/en/pattaya/restaurant/name/pastrami-on-rye

And then there's many others that I haven't tried yet, pretty happy with the above three. I did try the La Bocca place and like the OP, I was a little shocked at the final bill, the pizza was pretty good though. I'm thinking they weren't too concerned as my GF ordered a couple of drinks and they are a little expensive.

I've stocked up on a box of zip lock baggies for my phone, other than that, I won't be going out much.

Playing with water has lost it's appeal for me years ago...

Thanks for the valuable information ubonjoe.

I recently went to Laos to get a Non O which is to be based on Retirement. The reason I went is because the I/O officer in Jomtien didn't like my condo landowner being an American without a work permit, he's retired also.

My next trip is in May to get the retirement blessing on my Non O. Will having a rental agreement with an American still be an issue? Should I migrate to a local place to live?

To be honest, the immigration office in Jomtien is the only one I've been to. All the signs pointing to and on the building say Chon Buri Immigration, so that's what I called it.

Maybe I should have posted "Major Fail @ Chon Buri Immigration in Jomtien* Today for Change of Visa TM 86".

Since I was unaware that there are three immigration offices in Chon Buri, the original subject line was posted in the OP. My landlord tells me there's even an immigration office in Rayong that I didn't know about either. Guess I don't get out much :-).

Whether or not a landlord requires a work permit is moot. The landlord should at least have a tax ID and submit tax returns on the income. Maybe confirmation that the landlord is registered with the Revenue Department might be sufficient.

The same problem was reported today at Pattaya. Report.

Um......Pattaya and Chonburi Immigration are one and the same. So is Jomtien Immigration.

It would appear that the subtleties of the English language are in question.

It is up to the individual whether you believe Pattaya to be the Chonburi Immigration office or a Chonburi Immigration office. If it is the latter then they cannot be the same as only the former is definitive.('the' being the definite article.)

The title of the thread would suggest that the OP thinks Pattaya is the Chonburi Immigration office.

You will be applying for a single entry non-o visa at the consular section of the embassy in Vientiane not a change of visa.

You will submit a visa application form not a TM86 form. You use this form

You will need a copy of your passport photo page, Lao visa/entry stamp and a copy of your income letter attached to the application. Just show them the original of your income letter so that you can use it when your apply for your extension at immigration.

On the visa application form, I assume my residential address is my billing address at my home country as my present address in Thailand would be the proposed address in Thailand, correct?

Also, what to put in the Name and Contact of Guarantor in Thailand and the Name of Guarantor in LaoPDR sections? Thai girlfriend and hotel in Laos maybe?

Once again, you are a saving grace.

Indebted sir, thank you.

Anything I should be aware of before going? I'll be going from a setv to a non O based on retirement.

I've got my passport, setv that is extended until late this month, a TM 86 form for change of visa, embassy notarized income verification letter, 2,000 baht fee, copy of passport bio page, copy of entry stamp and visa, copy of rental agreement.

Anything else that I will need or is it even possible?

Thanks

Ouch, my extension on the setv is only good through the 28th.

I guess Vientiane is probably my best option then.

Thanks for the information, saved me a lot of time and grief.

Thank you the invaluable information.

Why two trips?

What kind of proof of address is Bangkok requiring? Where is the immigration office?

Thanks

For a change of visa status they don't normally ask for proof of residence because people from all over the country can apply there. That is where the application would be sent for approval if you were able to apply in Jomtien. You will need to make two trips to Bangkok to get the visa entry/stamps.
Map and info on how to get there is here. http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/location1.html

It takes about two weeks to get the approval of the application. It is the same or longer if you were able to apply at Jomtien.

Which office do you recommend?

go to a different office

Thank you the invaluable information.

Why two trips?

I considered Bangkok also, but also wondered if they're requiring the same for proof of residence. It's very possible this is a directive from above as the Jomtien office won't budge from it.

I can get another tourist visa so that's what I'll do.

Bangkok does not ask for the same thing because they have people coming from all over the country to a apply for the change.

Just go up and a spend the night so that you can put a Bangkok address on the application form. If you used your Pattaya address they would turn you away and tell you to go to Jomtien.

What kind of proof of address is Bangkok requiring? Where is the immigration office?

Thanks

For a change of visa status they don't normally ask for proof of residence because people from all over the country can apply there. That is where the application would be sent for approval if you were able to apply in Jomtien. You will need to make two trips to Bangkok to get the visa entry/stamps.

Map and info on how to get there is here. http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/location1.html

I considered Bangkok also, but also wondered if they're requiring the same for proof of residence. It's very possible this is a directive from above as the Jomtien office won't budge from it.

I can get another tourist visa so that's what I'll do.

Bangkok does not ask for the same thing because they have people coming from all over the country to a apply for the change.

Just go up and a spend the night so that you can put a Bangkok address on the application form. If you used your Pattaya address they would turn you away and tell you to go to Jomtien.

What kind of proof of address is Bangkok requiring? Where is the immigration office?

Thanks

Perhaps this would be a case where paying an immigration "fixer" a processing fee to get this application through. I don't mean a bribe, I mean one of the visa services that have ways of doing things that mere mortals can't.

Do you seriously believe that using any of these "fixer" services does not involve a bribe being paid to obtain the desired result?

The whole point of these services is that they pay the bribe for you.

I considered the Visa services but thought the 25,000 baht fee was rather rich.

I could rent out another place to stay for that amount easily.

Yep, the ineptitude and incompetence mixed in with the saving face of public officials wins again.

I'm off to Vientiane next week for another tourist visa. Guess I'll worry about this later.

If you are going to Vientiane you should get a single entry non-o visa for being 50 or over. Just show the same financial proof you were going to use for the change of visa status.

Thanks ubonjoe. Great input and I'll do that.

Yep, the ineptitude and incompetence mixed in with the saving face of public officials wins again.

I'm off to Vientiane next week for another tourist visa. Guess I'll worry about this later.

"Yep, the ineptitude and incompetence mixed in with the saving face of public officials wins again. "

May be true in some cases, but more often than not it's a matter of ignorance and an unwarranted sense of entitlement combined with loss of face on the part of farang that causes all the problems.

I've always found the Jomtien office to be very efficient & well run, and the staff to be polite and pleasant to deal with. Possibly being a "tourist" gives you a different perspective.

Agreed, although I've been here since July and have numerous lengthy stays prior. I guess we're all tourists in a sense.

It's sad that when I decide to get a "proper" visa they insist on putting road blocks in the way.

I considered Bangkok also, but also wondered if they're requiring the same for proof of residence. It's very possible this is a directive from above as the Jomtien office won't budge from it.

I can get another tourist visa so that's what I'll do.

Here in Chiang Mai the condo office will file the TM30 for the people who are renting in our building. Will the management of the OP's condo building do the same thing for him? That's really the problem -- the Immigration office is saying his condo owner is able to file a TM 30 form for him, right?

And, it is dodgy that someone if the condo owner isn't filing an income tax return on the income from the condo rental. Heck, I file a Thai income tax return and I'm on a retirement visa. Well, in all fairness, that's so I can get a refund on withholding from earnings on bank interest income.

I've successfully filed a TM30 twice for tourist visa extensions.

This time I decided to change my visa to a non o for retirement. This is where the problem started.

"This time I decided to change my visa to a non o for retirement. This is where the problem started."

Since all applications for change of visa entries have to go through Bangkok, could you not just submit the application yourself in Bangkok ??? Retirement extension still needs to be done at the office that serves your residential area, but I think the change of visa status could be done in Bangkok, or as someone else suggested, use a visa service.

Yep, the ineptitude and incompetence mixed in with the saving face of public officials wins again.

I'm off to Vientiane next week for another tourist visa. Guess I'll worry about this later.

Here in Chiang Mai the condo office will file the TM30 for the people who are renting in our building. Will the management of the OP's condo building do the same thing for him? That's really the problem -- the Immigration office is saying his condo owner is able to file a TM 30 form for him, right?

And, it is dodgy that someone if the condo owner isn't filing an income tax return on the income from the condo rental. Heck, I file a Thai income tax return and I'm on a retirement visa. Well, in all fairness, that's so I can get a refund on withholding from earnings on bank interest income.

I've successfully filed a TM30 twice for tourist visa extensions.

This time I decided to change my visa to a non o for retirement. This is where the problem started.

Not the first report of that happening at Jomtien. All that I can say is that the officer is wrong. Perhaps try to take it up to a supervisor.

Thanks ubonjoe, and I will.

The way I see it is if you are a foreigner and renting out a condo you are earning money in Thailand so that means an income, a business, tax owed and a work permit. How can you earn money in Thailand and not be liable? Thousands are getting away with it though.

With that logic they need to be shutting down major condo projects and hotels owned by foreigners because the owners don't have work permits.

No, the type of projects you mention all have 51% Thai ownership.

Yeah, but where are the work permits?

bobobo, what immigration office was this?

Chunburi

Thank you.

The remaining question now is: did the Chonburi immigration office refuse to give this man his retirement extension? In other words, is there a problem with which he needs help?

I was turned away twice today at the Chon Buri Immigration Office because my condo owner that I rent from doesn't have a work permit. It's a no go for change of visa to a Non O based on retirement.

The way I see it is if you are a foreigner and renting out a condo you are earning money in Thailand so that means an income, a business, tax owed and a work permit. How can you earn money in Thailand and not be liable? Thousands are getting away with it though.

With that logic they need to be shutting down major condo projects and hotels owned by foreigners because the owners don't have work permits.

I am quessing that owner has not done his TM30 report for his tenant and that is the problem.

er

I have faithfully reported my address as a renter (TM30) and I was told the same thing today at immigration. Lady saying "The foreigner owner needs a work permit so the proof of residence is invalid."