northernjohn

I was dramatically effected by the housing bubble in the USA, and it looks exactly the same here to me. I am waiting for the crash to pick up some nice properties

Prices do not drop as they would in the US. They will let the unit turn to dust before they lower the price.

While I know "this time it is different" are the 5 most expensive words in investing but..

I think theres a far greater reliance on credit and finance than there has been in the past.. That may well force liquidation on items that would previously simply sit.

Doubtful, the banks being the lenders have taken property and sat on it for decades as some are still holding property repossessed in the mid 90s. The ghost buildings.

Just out of curiosity has any one ever enquired into purchasing one of those old buildings that have just been sitting empty for at least ten years.

In Vancouver I had to get a Notary saying I was who I said I was. The police check was just a community one and the medical check was just plain funny. Both the doctor and I had a good laugh as he filled it in.

done the O/M visa heaps of times from bris thai consulate

from my experiences

the rules were , the visa lasted one year from date of issue,

but

you had to leave thailand within 90days of entering it

perfect example a crossing at Maesai border is sufficient, to receive a furher 90 days

and a crossing just before expirary date of visa will give you a extra 90 days (one year 3 months in total) then start the ball rolling again with a new O/M visa

No need for agents at all, the onus is on you to leave thailand to get another 90 days

that was in operation ,until i did my ret /visa with my super duper agent Pom of O.S VISA around 3 yrs back

things may have changed now,

its a no nonsense , high noon to all:)

If you look at the photo of his visa you'll see it's an O-A, not an O and it does appear the the visa agent was in error to sell him a re-entry permit.

Nancy what is the O/M visa ES is referring to and is it done at the airport or the Promenada?

Just wondering if there was any advantage in one.

I did my retirement extension a couple of weeks ago,first time at Promenada,and first time

without an appointment,(think we know the reason that was canned),anyway got there soon,

was 3 rd in queue,first was a Burmese sitter,paid to get there early and keep place for an agent.

second a Japanese gentleman,you don't have to sit on the stool in the queue,you can put a bag,

bottle of water,or if your German maybe a towel,so you can wander off, recline car seat and try

to have a nap.

The agent arrived at around 8,with client in tow to relieve the Burmese sitter,the coffee shop had

also reserved a couple of places for 90 day clients by placing old bags on first 2 stools,and later

couple young girls down the line keeping a place for some Japanese that arrived about 7.30,so

there seem to be money making opportunities to be made, resulting from the chaos there.

After 8 they started to hand tickets out ,first for 90 days and tourists,the retirement extensions

who had been there first were done last,into the office,first extension called 8.45,then the

Japanese guy,he need extra copies,and also talked the lady officer to do his 90 day report

for him,so it was about 9.30 before I was called,only took a few minutes,told to come back

at 2.00 to pick up passport.

Back to office 2.00,passport not back from the airport where they are sent for big boss to sign,

around 2.30 they arrived,collected passport,got re entry ticket, 15 mins later had the stamp and

on my way home, thankful this is only one a year,no way, I would use an agent,would never pay

anyone to do something I could easily do myself,Ok took a bit time,but met other people,and it

was not a hardship ,and saved 4K (4GS) or 7K agents,plus whatever they charge for re entry.

I cannot see things improving anytime soon,like I said there are money making opportunities

to be made from the chaos there.

regards Worgeordie

may E/S asked the following question

i note from your opening post from the thread which you started named *You need I.D for posting letters etc at the post office* C/mai forum

that you posted your 90 day report on the 17/5/2016

where as your above detailed post says that approx around 24/4/16 you had your ret/visa renewed at the zoo

so within 24 DAYS or so ,from renewing your ret/visa , you are in the process of executing your 90 day report

is such a early, early, 90 day report , by mail , needed these days , as in your case???

just wondering

a top of the morning to all

Are you not on speaking terms with your super duper agent?

Even if the CEO of Promenada had come to talk, I doubt he was prepared to talk about what plans Immigration had for the space Promenada had given to them.

In fact, I need to give him a heads-up that he'll be ambushed with questions about Immigration, because now that he's not coming, people are telling me that they'd plan to come to hear what was going on at Immigration Promenada (as if he knew!). Well, actually if you look at every customer comfort improvement at that office, it's been provided by the mall, i.e. inside aircon waiting area, chairs, wifi, TVs that were suppose to be used for lighted queue number signs but aren't, etc.

Yawn !!!

Finally you have joined the crowd and become tired of listening to your own nonsense.

Well done cobber.

The CEO of Promenada isn't coming to tomorrow's CEC meeting. He got called out of the country.

As for an update on the Consular Corp's efforts to improve conditions for retirees at Immigration Promenada -- they've not made much progress despite numerous meetings. I'll ask the Hon. British Consul if he'd like to give an update at a CEC meeting soon. The lack of progress wasn't due to any lack of effort on the part of the Consular corp and there still are efforts to bring the attention to higher levels in Bangkok.

first line, How Convienent

next paragraph

Always Mission Impossible. !!!! Reason...None of their business

many thks for your requested , update

E/S

Why don't you get off your high horse remove the stick and ask the conciliate committee your self?

It is not Nancy's job to hold your hand and it is nothing to do with the Ex Pats Club except they allowed him to speak on what they had been doing up until that date. Nothing to do with the Ex Pats or Nancy.

I was hoping that the Promenada would be there. Interested in more than Immigration there. Well the demographics may be boring to some and laughed at by some with a four footed friend but I for one will be interested.

but according to you, a little while back, during a C.E.C. meeting that a special task force(words that you used) had proposals or agenda , etc etc in the making etc etc to alleviate the ret visa very poor service etc etc at the zoo

it would be very kind of you,for a update on how that is progressing???

If my memory is correct

I was at the CEC meeting

It was from the X British Honorary Counsel

It was to do with the funding from the Promenade Centre

To develop a program

Maybe it was not successful and maybe Bangkok Immigration did not approve it

Hopefully Nancl might have the information

I believe she would have shared the information if she had it

It was actually due in April

This is what happens when you go to some of the meetings you hear it from the horses mouth as to say

Not from what a friend told me

Same as when the Allison Monkhouse did there presantion

The miss informations that came from that as i was at that meeting too

You are correct. The report was done by the British Honorary Counsel. He was talking about some very good suggestions that a committee of members from the conciliates had come up with.

It has nothing to do with the CEC it was just a report on the activities of an outside group and their actions.

Obviously there has been no action by immagration taken on their suggestions.

If mister high on his horse stick up some thing would come to the meetings he would at least know the speaker's speak for them self's not the club. This Saturday they will have a speaker from the Promenada. He or she may say some thing about the immigration or they may not.

No

What type of visa do you have

I have permanent residence.

I was in there last Tuesday at 11:00 ion the morning. A lady was getting a single reentry. I asked her how long she had to wait. She said they had just sent her right in no waiting. From all I have heard it is a quick procedure. It took me half an hour last year. I had a friend help me fill out one for next month paper work is not my strong point. If you are unsure of any thing point it out to the girls out front they might know. Or before you get a queue number ask some of the people waiting for other visas help them break up the monotony..

For myself I am going to get my picture taken next door. I have been using the same one now for 4 years and am looking a little older. I know it will cost me more to have them do it but it will be exactly what immigration wants.

Good Luck.

Very nice and concise report. I'd have told the guy in the wheelchair to take his place at the back of the queue. Being disabled doesn't give you special privileges everywhere; sometimes it is appropriate, but other times it is not. The queue for visa extensions falls into the latter category.

Totally agree. I myself have a partial disability yet I ask for no favors or am I given them. I have seen people there in wheelchairs waiting that had much better seats than the rest of us. I don't envy them getting there. That in some cases could be a trifle hard but just sitting there is no big deal.

I would like to admit I made a mistake. In post number 255 I mistakenly posted an answer that could very easy been considered an answer to HM1367 and Nancy.

It was actually a post number192 by yang123 that I was referring to. One where he was siting number 9 in the line for his yearly extension with 5 agents ahead of him and three people representing them selves. Yet he got queue number 13 rather than 9. Once again showing that makes no difference an agent can represent more than one to get a queue number. According to Nancy the agency next door doesn't have to do that they just slip in at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Must be the other agencies.

We all know that most mornings it is rather hectic and some people get there extremely early.

I for one find it highly unfair that one queue number can be used by more than one person both in the yearly and the 90 day reports.

But it seems to me that in the afternoons things aren't that bad. I just talk about the several times I have walked through there in the afternoons and looked at the numbers on the desk to see how many people had been served. If I don't want to do the 90 day report I will fill the form in and send my wife with it. She knows how it is done. She will get a number and just sit in line until it is called.

hml367 -- you're right. I didn't read the previous threads properly. You used an agent, but you did observe how one person can obtain a retirement extension and account for needing several queue numbers because there are dependents tied to his retirement extension: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/881962-immigration-promenada-one-stop-service-2016/?p=10744307

NancyL,

You need to broaden your perspective. I never said the person was getting a retirement extension. As a matter of fact, the person did not look old enough to be eligible for a retirement extension. My opinion is that the person was not getting a retirement extension. And I repeat - I have no idea what the person or the people with him (presumably family, and all farangs) were getting. If it was not a retirement extension, as I believe it was not, there would not have been any dependents tied to a "retirement" extension.

In my experiences at Immigration at the airport road location (remember, this was my first experience at Promenada) families normally do all of their passports at once. Even international schools used to process all student passports at once.

The only reason I noted them in my post was because there was someone at that desk signing whatever was put in the passports. That same person signed my passport which was for a retirement extension and a reentry permit. In reading threads in the Chiang Mai forum it seemed to be that people were saying passports could not be signed at Promenada at the same time the paperwork was done. Mine was and every person that went to the desk I went to while I was there had their passports signed.

The whole thing is being misrepresented. I pointed out that if you are number 8 in line you should get number 8 queue number. I don't care if you have 1,000 relatives. They are no better than you. The gentleman should have received number 8. If indeed it was a family. It was obvious that they were getting an extension as that was the line they were in. If there is other things getting queue numbers in that line makes no difference. They should get in line the same as the rest of us do except for those of us who speed the system up by getting known qualified agents who take far less time thereby allowing the officers to handle more people in the same amount of time.

I repeat it is not a one queue one customer system. As for the one officer signing both documents perhaps he was the man responsible for that job and he was helping out that day.

Not trying to rain on the whiners and criers parade. But this is reality. I went in there at 10:47 for my 90 day. I was given number 83 I went in and looked they were on number 70. One agent sat there with 4 reports. So much for the myth one customer to an agent. Regardless I was out of there at 11:10.

When I arrived and got my queue number I noticed they had only given out 17 one year extensions. I walked around and noticed that they were processing number 10 at the time. I talked with a lady who was getting a permission to enter 1 time. She said she got there and they took her right away.

Those are the facts as I experienced them and witnessed them for today in between 10:47 AM and 11:10 AM May 17 2016. Had a nice lunch at Ragu saw a movie did a minimum of shopping at Rimping got a free shuttle home and was home at 3:30.

I will admit if it had looked like it was going to be a long day such as people lead some to believe I would have walked next door paid the agent 300 baht and enjoyed my day. Then again I had forgot to bring my book. I was just about to talk to a guy when they called his number.

As we all know and has been posted many times

It depends on the day

Also the time of the year

It is like Russian roulette

Just like the air conditioned bus service

maybe Promenade was created to use agents

As far as im concerned its all old hat now

No good whining about it or constantly posting about it

We just have to accept it Chiang Mai is different

Plus i am entitled to my opinion

I don't past much anymore

as too many posters just post for the sake of it

i have better time than post

life is short we have to enjoy every day here

i feel better now i got it of my chest

I completely agree with you that is why I posted the facts with no opinions.

One agent sat there with 4 reports. So much for the myth one customer to an agent.

It is one customer to an agent in the early morning queue for retirement extensions, except for a certain favored agent. Your report is about your 90 day report and anyone can submit your 90 day report for you, NJ -- you don't have to do it in person. That's why one agent can do 4.

Get your facts straight.

So Nancy if they give out 150 queue numbers they may have 600 applications. I know any one can file it for me. I just pointed out that they can get one number and go in and represent many people.

It is not a 1 queue 1applicant system. Check back on the one where there was 5 agents 2 people for them selves in the line ahead of a fellow and instead of number 9 he got number 13 that was for a yearly extension. I noticed you didn't comment on that.

As I said I was an eye witness to the one at the 90 day and am relying on the honesty of the poster who got queue 13 when he was eighth in the line for the yearly extension.

Not trying to rain on the whiners and criers parade. But this is reality. I went in there at 10:47 for my 90 day. I was given number 83 I went in and looked they were on number 70. One agent sat there with 4 reports. So much for the myth one customer to an agent. Regardless I was out of there at 11:10.

When I arrived and got my queue number I noticed they had only given out 17 one year extensions. I walked around and noticed that they were processing number 10 at the time. I talked with a lady who was getting a permission to enter 1 time. She said she got there and they took her right away.

Those are the facts as I experienced them and witnessed them for today in between 10:47 AM and 11:10 AM May 17 2016. Had a nice lunch at Ragu saw a movie did a minimum of shopping at Rimping got a free shuttle home and was home at 3:30.

I will admit if it had looked like it was going to be a long day such as people lead some to believe I would have walked next door paid the agent 300 baht and enjoyed my day. Then again I had forgot to bring my book. I was just about to talk to a guy when they called his number.

I got a single reentry last July and it was an on the spot thing. Am going in again to get another one next month. Hope they haven't changed it.

I recall that last year you used the agent a few doors down from the immigration office - is that your intention this year too? Cheers

Read the black part of the message.

I only used the agent for a yearly renewal.

Nowhere does it say I used them for any thing else.

NJ --you took the easy way out and used them for your annual retirement visa extension knowing that they enjoying preferential accesses to the Imm. office and that they wouldn't be there to help you if you had a problem later on. Hey, that was you decision. That's the decision you make when you decide to use a "queue jumper" vs. a full service visa agent.

Try to keep up with the posts. Just a few back a man was in line with 5 agents in front of him and two people for them selves He got number 13 How did that happen if the agents only represent one person. LOL

Besides I did not come to Thailand to clean it up to be the way I thought it should be. I came to retire and enjoy my life.

I don't know what these oeople were getting but all the people that went to the same desk while I was waiting received their passports signed by the same person that signed mine. They walked out with their passpoets. One group looked to me like a family - husband, wife, and 3 children - they all left with their passports.

Maybe it was my lucky day!

I got a single reentry last July and it was an on the spot thing. Am going in again to get another one next month. Hope they haven't changed it.

NJ -- you've always been able to get re-entry permits "on the spot". What you haven't been able to get on-the-spot is your retirement extension. When you used G4T last year, you came to their office to submit your forms in the morning and were told to come back later in the day to pick up your passport with your visa extension stamp, right? That is what appears to have changed if I understand hml367's description correctly.

I have absolutely no idea what you and ataloss are talking about. I went in last year to get my single reentry and got it in I recall about a half hour. That was before they had the page system and the guy just came out and mumbled. I had number 41 and the lady two down from me had number 42. The fellow was standing right in front of him and she had to ask what he had said he motioned her in so I followed and when she got hers they then looked through my papers and gave me mine. In the airport I used to get a multiple reentry at the same day. I got the 365 day and then did the multiple reentry. Obviously the fellow had got his passport back before he applied for the reentry. If you are there at the right moment it can be done. It might have been the signer was there that day and the agent like the agent at G4T could just skip due process and go to him directly.

As for me I went to immigration for my yearly at 1:30 in the afternoon. The girls out front checked my papers said they were good but could not give me a Queue number. I inquired if they went through all the queue numbers that were handed out and the office was still open could I get one they told me no. I thanked them went next door and gave G4T 3,000 baht they checked my papers they were not complete so much for the girls out front.I had forgot to sign one spot. Told me to have a seat. I did in a bit a girl came and took me next door they took my picture and I was out of there at 2:15. Had to come back later to get my passport. As it was I had a movie to see and a meal to eat before I went home. I passed by their office and that were still open so I grabbed my passport then. I have since done two 90 day and waited about an hour at the max for them.

sS you can see I have absolutely no idea of what you and ataloss are talking about. Not my experience. But who is to know what the future holds. LOL If you don't believe me check back on my posts.

I don't know what these oeople were getting but all the people that went to the same desk while I was waiting received their passports signed by the same person that signed mine. They walked out with their passpoets. One group looked to me like a family - husband, wife, and 3 children - they all left with their passports.

Maybe it was my lucky day!

I got a single reentry last July and it was an on the spot thing. Am going in again to get another one next month. Hope they haven't changed it.

I recall that last year you used the agent a few doors down from the immigration office - is that your intention this year too? Cheers

Read the black part of the message.

I only used the agent for a yearly renewal.

Nowhere does it say I used them for any thing else.

I don't know what these oeople were getting but all the people that went to the same desk while I was waiting received their passports signed by the same person that signed mine. They walked out with their passpoets. One group looked to me like a family - husband, wife, and 3 children - they all left with their passports.

Maybe it was my lucky day!

I got a single reentry last July and it was an on the spot thing. Am going in again to get another one next month. Hope they haven't changed it.

Have been to Promenada several times for extensions, in my experience it does not work as well as the former service at the airport.

The final indignity today was the record on my papers showed me having paid the fee of 1,900 baht, I had actually paid 2,000 earlier in the day without any receipt, they disputed, I had no proof, but I have found Thais bow to visitors who make a fuss, they just reached into the money box and handed over 100 baht.

Although the whole processing is a shambles compared to the way things are done in the rest of Thailand, I did get into conversation with other applicants who informed me that using agents is the only option if you need your application to be processed smoothly. From what I have observed in the many hours I have spent there, that definitely is the case. The body language between the uniformed officers and the agents says it all. For those who object to using agents they may be overlooking the fact that all the staff are Thais and we applicants are not Thais.

True

the paper work is in order and they will not have to listen to a string of excuses as to why you didn't make copies from your passport or what ever. Also the agents are easily processed they know what is needed and have it ready.

I did my retirement extension a couple of weeks ago,first time at Promenada,and first time

without an appointment,(think we know the reason that was canned),anyway got there soon,

was 3 rd in queue,first was a Burmese sitter,paid to get there early and keep place for an agent.

second a Japanese gentleman,you don't have to sit on the stool in the queue,you can put a bag,

bottle of water,or if your German maybe a towel,so you can wander off, recline car seat and try

to have a nap.

The agent arrived at around 8,with client in tow to relieve the Burmese sitter,the coffee shop had

also reserved a couple of places for 90 day clients by placing old bags on first 2 stools,and later

couple young girls down the line keeping a place for some Japanese that arrived about 7.30,so

there seem to be money making opportunities to be made, resulting from the chaos there.

After 8 they started to hand tickets out ,first for 90 days and tourists,the retirement extensions

who had been there first were done last,into the office,first extension called 8.45,then the

Japanese guy,he need extra copies,and also talked the lady officer to do his 90 day report

for him,so it was about 9.30 before I was called,only took a few minutes,told to come back

at 2.00 to pick up passport.

Back to office 2.00,passport not back from the airport where they are sent for big boss to sign,

around 2.30 they arrived,collected passport,got re entry ticket, 15 mins later had the stamp and

on my way home, thankful this is only one a year,no way, I would use an agent,would never pay

anyone to do something I could easily do myself,Ok took a bit time,but met other people,and it

was not a hardship ,and saved 4K (4GS) or 7K agents,plus whatever they charge for re entry.

I cannot see things improving anytime soon,like I said there are money making opportunities

to be made from the chaos there.

regards Worgeordie

I did mine for the first time with an agent this year. I used the one there G4T 3,000 baht. Previously I have done it by myself and whole heartedly agree with you about meeting interesting people there. I also take a book to read. This year I just couldn't get myself up to going there early as I normally stay up late. Maybe next year I will do it personally rather than the agent. Mine is an extension for retirement. Retired means I have lots of time. I don't have to be any where if I do it is easy enough to schedule around it. After all you can come in 45 days early.

The one thing they can do is have the staff out front learn what is required so as the fellow in front of you would already of had the copies. I don't know for sure but I imagine the photocopier shop is open before immigration. Also I suppose if he had the paper work rite and she didn't have to go to another desk doing the 90 day would have been OK as it just takes a signature and a date. That is a grudging OK.

Was in there this afternoon about 25 to 30 people there at 3:30. Noticed they were on the 140 90 day and the 20th 365 day extension.

Thinking about it, when I go out to eat, I usually get myself a bottle of mineral water from 7/11 and take that with me to a restaurant . I just prefer water that hasnt been drunk by someone else before

According to science that is imposable. It could have been drank by your great great great great grandparents.

in reply to query,income letters are valid for 6 months.

Just to double check on that as it would save me getting 2 this year.

Have you any experience or personal friends who have done this?

Makes sense as retirement incomes are for life in most cases.

duh,stupid is as stupid does.another bizarre post by a bizarre poster.

All you had to do was say yes or no or it is just a rumor you had heard.

Pretty simple.

in reply to query,income letters are valid for 6 months.

Just to double check on that as it would save me getting 2 this year.

Have you any experience or personal friends who have done this?

Makes sense as retirement incomes are for life in most cases.

I thought that wasn't allowed, even for agents. One person, one ticket. They seemed to be enforcing that a little while ago, and even though yang123 was number 9 he got 13, which was really unlucky as they only processed 12 by lunchtime.

One of the agent squatters was there on behalf of a family.

In other words he had 4 clients.

Arrived this morning at about 8:20 for a retirement visa extention. Counted about 18 people ahead of me.

When I got my queue number, there were about 4 people behind me. I got number 12.

Was processed at about 11:15.

Told to come back to collect my passport at 2:30.

Not a bad day.

Some times you eat the bear and some times the bear eats you congratulations on your bear lunch. I think that happens more than we realize.

Re: Annual extension (retirement)

I'll keep this factual in accordance with the mods' wishes.

Yesterday at Promenada: my time-line

04.15hrs Arrive. 8 queue places already gone: 3 human beings + 5 seats taken by agents' 'deposits' (bags, folders left on the seats);

08.15hrs Ticket allocators appear. By now about 20 folks in the queue. 90 day queue extends outside the building

08.45hrs Ticket allocators begin work on our queue. I am allocated ticket 13

11.15hrs Processing desk closes, having dealt with ticket 12 application

13.30hrs I am processed; asked to return for passport collection at 17.00hrs

17.15hrs Receive passport, duly stamped. About five folks behind me (?tickets 14-c.18?) also receive theirs

Obviously too late to apply for multiple re-entry stamp.[Points above taken about the value (or not) of a multiple re-entry stamp; I make at least quarterly visits outside Thailand]

When I extended last year, passport returned as soon as the final stamp was inserted - no delay. This year passport and form placed in basket behind officer's desk; taken into room behind the screen pre-lunch and late-afternoon when desk processing sessions ceased.

I'll use an agent next year. For anyone interested, contact details of G4T (office to the left of Immigration) are:

<removed as per forum rules of no phone numbers and e-mail allowed in posts - Use PM for info>

There's another on-site agent associated with the Coffee Shop. Look for their processing counter facing into the Immigration offices.

You say

3

3 human beings + 5 seats taken by agents' 'deposits' (bags, folders left on the seats);

8 people ahead of you and you get queue number 13. Sounds like the agents represent more than one person. Thanks for the information. I to will use G4T