northernjohn

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.

I have never heard a Thai call the waitress "younger sister", "nong" yes, but that does not mean younger sister ?

"Nong" does mean younger sister, or brother, and Thais use it all the time. Even for complete strangers who are younger...and "Pi" for older. The same terms are used for actual relatives as well. Kind of cool, I think.

Thank you Berkshire - I think this question is revealing much more about the posters than about the question of what is "Thainess" - which I assume is to be answered from a Thai perspective of what the word means.. and yet, people use it to bash... how sad.

Bashing Thais was not my intention but of course there is a certain element in Thai Visa who believe that to have an opinion about Thailand that doesn't agree with theirs is Thai bashing.

The question wasn't about Thais per se but their political leaders who are promoting Thainess for a politcal end. I could go on but I am sure anything more I said would be deemed as Thai bashing.

You say they are promoting it for a political end. The very idea that they are trying to bring Thailand together has nothing to do with it in your opinion. The P M said shortly after he came into power that it would take 20 years to bring unity to Thailand. That to me would be Thainess. How ever I believe (in my opinion) that Thainess is doing it the way they have always done it until the West came in and is trying and succeeding in introducing Western materialism in as a substitute for family values.

A more relevant question for this forum might be "What is Northern Thainess?" In fact, locals in Chiang Mai wouldn't refer to themselves as Thai at all, but Khon Muang.

Living in Chiang Mai and being married to a Thai who has most of her family here I would have to say B S. They refer to themselves as Thais and maybe some do as Khon Muang just as some in the states refer to them selves as southerners or northerners. But still Americans. Even all the original different native tribes refer to them selves as Americans. They may identify which tribe but they still claim to be Americans.

I'll go along with everything that has been said so far about Dr Chadathip.

Don't know about Kris, but I trust Elektrified's judgement.

Not sure that I'd go the 'no anesthesia' route, even if it's purely psychological.

That's like an article I read many years ago about a dentist who put a clothes-pin on his patient's ear and assured them that the drill wouldn't hurt. Flash to a picture of a happy kid in the dentist chair with a clothes-pin on his ear as the dentist, with drill in hand, hovered above him. That approach would last approximately 5 seconds with me.

I always find it fascinating how confident Thai dentists are that they won't hurt you. "Trust me!" Yeah right. I've now gone through 6 local clinics and approximately 8 dentists. Out of those 8, I've quit 2 for sub-par work and 6 for hurting me. My dentist in the US and both of his periodontal techs routinely administered anesthetics, and in 14 years of being a patient in his clinic, no staff member every hurt me during dental procedures. That tells me that dental anesthesiology isn't rocket science, but is a simply decision and conviction to keep your patients out of pain. The average Thai dentist simply doesn't care to keep you out of pain, imho.

Now may Dad...different story. He was another individual who would forego the anesthetic and endure the pain because he didn't like the 'numb' feeling afterward. God...<shiver>!

Right. First time I went the no anesthesia route and it worked out fine. No pain whatsoever. Not sure I would do it again as I may have just been lucky this time.

I have had a filling and one cap replaced with no pain killer. The first time was a filling and I thought she was just examining it. Turned out she had put a filling in.

I highly recommend Elite Clinic. There are other fine dentists in Chiang Mai as well as bad ones. I was lucky and went to Elite first. The wife had gone through two dentists and I put my foot down and said no more cheap work. She is very happy with Elite.

The clothes pin worked in about 1/3 of the cases they tried it on. Years ago. I don't think it caught on.

My work has been by a lady I don't know her name. She has done a filling for me and a cap. she did a great job with my wife's teeth also.

uptheos is familiar with them by name try to PM him if he doesn't see this and answerer here.

The last thing Thailand needs is for anyone to be allowed to carry weapons of any type.

Far too many complete nutters here (of all skin colours) for that.

Yeah, like nutters who cut people into pieces and put them in the canal. The problem I'd have defending your statement is that an amazing number of Thais carry guns without being "allowed" to.

You do realize that Thailand has the third highest gun murder rate per capita in the world, don't you? More than double that of the US? Don't look at "homicide" numbers because that includes any killing of a human including suicide. Look at gun murder rates. LINK

Thailand is VERY dangerous.

Cheers.

Those are 2002 stats.

They show the states in the 9,000 range. they are now over 30,000 a year. When I first came here in 2005 I was told Thailand was the 6th largest murder rate in the world.

Better to relinquish Thai nationality & be the EU

No point in having Thai passport anyway if you have passport & citizenship from EU country

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one small point, he can own everything including land for 100%

Also some of the Asian countries will not charge money when you enter them. I know Bali never charged my wife but charged me $25 I think it was the same in Cambodia.

In addition to the high cost of renting is there all the modern conveniences there. How is the internet service. I have heard that for a tourist a five star hotel is really only a three star and not cheap.

Oh please.

This is nothing new that immigration officers have the right, and sometimes exercise that right, to request/demand additional INFORMATION to support applications. Especially if they have suspicions, whether logically based or not. Years ago at my office the officers wanted a copy of my bank book going back a full year. In recent years, three months is adequate and have even had additional copies pushed back at me. So what? The question is have the official money seasoning rules changed or not. The answer is not.

Also not talked about but fact is here in Chiang Mai people are unhappy with the slow process and willing to spread any negative rumor.

It is not " Shortage of staff " but the shortage of brainpower in the existing staff !

I was afraid the brain dead Thai bashers would show up.

I would like to thank the many who did give their experience in other offices.

Yes I feel that Chiang Mai has the worst situation in the country. Partly as has been mentioned by others because of the amount of foreigners poring in and partly because of the people unwilling to mail in their 90 day. Also partly because Immagration does not go out of their way to announce it.

Moderators please close this. It was intended for information on other offices not bashing or continually crying about the situation here.

For that there is a pinned topic on the Chiang Mai Forum with over 1,000 posts many of them complaining about Chiang Mai and the staff. There are in all fairness some posters that do recognize the staff.

On Phuket it was also busy, but a 1 or 2 hour wait is a huge wait.. usually its 20 - 30 mins to be seen.

That said Phukets immigration staff were the nastiest, rudest, most horrible interactions I have ever had in 15 years here.. They would purposefully say and do things to make you angry playing a game of 'see if we can make them blow up' when you did see someone finally pop you could see their smirks.. It was one of the reasons I called it quits on Phuket as they were simply a reminder of the outsider nature and not so hidden dislike that is more common down there..

Chiang Mai may be over worked (or rather slow) but they have never been unprofessional with me, in fact rarely anything other than smiling and nice.. That goes a long way to helping me deal with the waiting.

Another satisfied "guest" LivinLOS?

Meaning ???

I dont have stockholm syndrome at all.. But having faced the kind of insults that in any other situation would be goading someone to come to blows, chiang mai is slow but not nasty..

I just did my annual, and was one of the last with an appointment, if theres no appointments next year, maybe I will drop back to taking holidays (I tend to travel anyway and have no hope of a citizenship app in the pipeline) or just pay an agent.. We shouldnt have to, but its their game and their rules..

I just mean that so many Farangs think we are "guests" in this country, and when I read about the way you were treated in Phuket, it is just another reason to think we are only tolerated here and not "guests".

I don't understand what you mean by "Stockholm syndrome". "who said that?" I love living here, and I love the people, but no way will I ever accept that I am a "guest". There are too many unnecessary hoops to jump through.

I think we are just playing semantics here. I mean if I had a guest for years and years I would maybe have a hoop or two for them to jump through. Also Phuket is not all of Thailand. My wife has a ten year Visa for the United States. Yet no matter where we are every 6 months she has to leave the country. Easier to mail in a 90 day every 90 days. I personally do not feel that I am not wanted here but I can not speak for others. I can assure you there are a few people here I wish weren't here. Also some I wish were here.

We all have different experiences and take the same experience different than others. So what ever one feels is OK with me I might not understand it but I don't have to. On a side note if some one doesn't feel wanted here is that a 24 hour 7 day thing?

Nakorn Sawan is great and after they have renovated of the office even the lady that used to be a real pain in the ass has been really nice. 90 days report is basically just in and out.

Phitsanulok was great last year, they even processed my application for extension of non-B while living in Kamphaeng Phet (falls under the immigration in Nakorn Sawan) as there where no people and I was already there!?!?!?

Mukdahan immigration was great the only time I used them, I extended a tourist visa the same day I returned from Savanaket with no problem and still with my address in Kamphaeng Phet.

Tak immigration in Mae Sot is usually just a few people but they are by far the worst immigration office I have ever been to thanks to the attitude of the ladies behind the counter. I used to work in Tak (see my name...) and there was always problem (one way is 80km mountain road between Tak and Mae Sot) with my visa/extension and 90 days reports, always asking for more documents or new documents or more copies (one time they needed 5 copies of my passport???) last time they even refused to give me an extension on a tourist visa (between work) because my address is in Kamphaeng Phet but I was on my way to Meramat and Umpang for a funeral and to see my old students as it was holiday for me. The same ladies also refused to give extension of stay based on marriage (non-O) for one of my friends because they did not have time for a home visit! For another friend they asked for more and more documents so he ended overstaying and had to leave and start the non-O process again, he had had extension based on marriage for 10 years before that incident!!!

Thank you for your input. I have never had to get an extension based on marriage. But I have heard of some pretty strange request's here in Chiang Mai. I have also heard that in My Hong Son there can be some unusual requests. I think a lot of this is on the officers whim's. Don't know for sure. This is the first time I have heard of the request for extra copies of a passport. I think just in case I will always take two with me. I also take proof of residency for my extensions. Never been asked for one but others have. I even have the proof of income letters along with the document from the consulate. Never been asked but it cost me nothing to have them with me just in case.

In Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon is no queuing for the 90-days reports, but extensions and other affairs can be very different. Sometimes very fast and smooth, but if you have bad luck and there are hundreds of immigrant workers, so it happens too that you have to come back the next day. But i got used to this and understand, that they can't employ enough officers to match these days when severel big factories decide to bring their workers for extensions at once.

Sorry to hear that. We also had to go through that nightmare. Finally it got so bad they opened another office far away for the workers or what ever else it was they needed.

Welcome to being a "guest" in Thailand Northernjohn.

Thank you. It is a pleasure to live here.

The Immigration for the permission to stay can be a pain but it is only once a year and the 90 days are no problem I can mail them in or go in and make a day of it with a movie and a good meal.

Here in Chiang Mai we also have the choice of hiring an agent to do the paper work and establish a time for us. Costly for some as high as 5,500 baht just to do the work plus the 1,900 baht immigration charge or as low as 3,000 baht plus the 1,900.

I am glad to hear that the rest of the country does not have the delays we do here. Delays as has been pointed out here is from the massive influx of people choosing Chiang Mai as the place to live. Seems like the news of how great a place it is to live is spreading like wild fire.

Hopefully Immigration will catch up to them. It is actually a matter of time looks like it is going to be a long time. As was mentioned we have super staff just not enough of them.

Here in Chiang Mai to say the least it is a very slow process. Mainly due to lack of staff.

Do not get me wrong. I am not trying to complain here. I am more interested in what it is like else where, Here lately we have had 30 people given queue numbers for the 365 day extension and the rest told to come back tomorrow. As many as 15 have been told to return. They are not given numbers for the following day and many are starting to line up as early as 4:30 in the morning. Even the 90 day reports are having to have people come back tomorrow. That is partially are fault for not mailing them in. I give immigration full credit for providing the means to avoid that. It is partially immigration's fault in that they do not mention it when you come in to do your 90 day and they do not have a big sign in the window telling about it. complete with the address. Even here on Thai Visa we get people wondering where to send it although it has often been mentioned to send it to the airport office.

We are also having long waits very often but not all the time for the other visa services they handle there. Twice after closing hours I have walked by their office and seen them still doing paper work. The last time I saw 10 people in their waiting and the lady was still processing them at the 90 day desk. That was over half an hour past closing time.

I realize that the distance some people have to travel is a problem all over the country and am not interested in that. All offices have that problem.

What I am interested in is any other immigration center going through the things I have described here.

I do not fault the staff here that we see when we go in.

How is it in your many areas I hear Pattaya is good and Phuket has the odd problem but nothing consistent. Those are just the rumors I have heard. How is it for you other than having to travel long distances.

One other thing is they dropped the on line appointment system. It only allowed 10 a day and covered other visas that needed extensions every year. It didn't help the system any just 10 people out of over 50 people a day. The time was still the same for them 1/2 hour. Some came prepared and took less time some needed their hand held and took longer.

I am thankful I live in a country where I can go and do a 90 day report at 9:00 in the morning eat a nice meal in an Italian Restaurant go to see a good movie then some shopping at Rimping and be home by 2:30.

THEY should be thankful that we live here to bring something exotic in their country and life !

Who is THEY are you talking about the illuminati?

I am thankful that I live in Thailand with a completely different culture. It tends to broaden one's mind if they allow it.

I am thankful for the wife I have maybe not the best one in the world but most assuredly the best one for me.

I am thankful that I can experience this different culture and still drop back into the western one at the Mall or superstore especially the movies.

I am thankful that I still have a family and friends back home that love me.

I am thankful that I don't have the negative attitude that so many do. It gives me more time to enjoy life.

Sorry Beng sarcasm was never my best point good luck.

Well you did a fine job of it here I really enjoyed it.

I recently did it for the first time after 37 years of living here [most of the year] on just about every kind of Thai visa available, at one time or another.

The one I preferred was the Non-immigrant one-year multiple entry "O" visa. In the past it was sometimes easy to get, and sometimes difficult. They are always changing the requirements and moving the goalposts.

To answer your questions as best I can:

#1... Yes, we did it at the airport location. Arrive early - 6AM or before.

#2... Not sure. Don't wait too long. Apply at least two weeks before your old visa expires. I presume you know that a Non-immigrant visa is required to apply for a one year marriage visa. Being here on a Tourist visa doesn't cut it anymore.

#3... Family photo is now required...yim ngahm. As is the 400k bank balance.

#4... Yes, basically that's it. Do yourself a favor and ask in advance what documents you will need, and show up prepared, if possible.

#5... I may be wrong, but I don't think you can choose single or multiple entry. If you want to leave the country, you get a single re-entry permit - 1000 baht or whatever it is - or a multiple re-entry for 3800 baht.

One other thing that I might mention is the frequency of home visits by immigration cops nowadays. Many farangs are getting them. It has only happened to me once and that was a long time ago - back in the early '80s. Two of them came, young guys, somewhat dour but civil. They filled out a form... information that had already been submitted. It was an obvious sham, but there was no direct or indirect attempt to shake me down. They left after about 20 minutes. It never happened to me again.

A few days ago my wife got a phone call from immigration asking her to come in and confirm the fact that I was living at the address given on the application form. She went in with a friend and neighbor who has known us since we were married. All went well and - presumably - I won't be getting a visit. So it goes.

Hope this helps... good luck.

I might have misunderstood you but I believe the 400,000 baht in the bank must have been in there for two months prior to the application and 3 months for an extension. Also the letter from the bank must match to the baht your bankbook figure.

As is common some people have been able to get away with out that but most of them have to have it. Have seen several cases on Thai Visa where they had to go to the bank and get them matching.

I shouldnt be asking you this question but as you wrote it.........

What exactly do you mean saying 2 month prior to application and 3 month for an extension?

Isnt the application and extension done on the same day? and a two month bank seasoning.

Well I am out of my league with your Visa as I read it you do not have a retirement Visa and are applying for one. I am fairly sure you need the money in the bank for two months prior to that. The extension is the visa you get every year for it you need the money in the bank for three months prior to the application.

I am not 100% sure I have the length of time correct. It might be 3 months for the retirement and 2 months for the extension. I believe it is covered in one of the permanent posts at the top of the forum.

I recently did it for the first time after 37 years of living here [most of the year] on just about every kind of Thai visa available, at one time or another.

The one I preferred was the Non-immigrant one-year multiple entry "O" visa. In the past it was sometimes easy to get, and sometimes difficult. They are always changing the requirements and moving the goalposts.

To answer your questions as best I can:

#1... Yes, we did it at the airport location. Arrive early - 6AM or before.

#2... Not sure. Don't wait too long. Apply at least two weeks before your old visa expires. I presume you know that a Non-immigrant visa is required to apply for a one year marriage visa. Being here on a Tourist visa doesn't cut it anymore.

#3... Family photo is now required...yim ngahm. As is the 400k bank balance.

#4... Yes, basically that's it. Do yourself a favor and ask in advance what documents you will need, and show up prepared, if possible.

#5... I may be wrong, but I don't think you can choose single or multiple entry. If you want to leave the country, you get a single re-entry permit - 1000 baht or whatever it is - or a multiple re-entry for 3800 baht.

One other thing that I might mention is the frequency of home visits by immigration cops nowadays. Many farangs are getting them. It has only happened to me once and that was a long time ago - back in the early '80s. Two of them came, young guys, somewhat dour but civil. They filled out a form... information that had already been submitted. It was an obvious sham, but there was no direct or indirect attempt to shake me down. They left after about 20 minutes. It never happened to me again.

A few days ago my wife got a phone call from immigration asking her to come in and confirm the fact that I was living at the address given on the application form. She went in with a friend and neighbor who has known us since we were married. All went well and - presumably - I won't be getting a visit. So it goes.

Hope this helps... good luck.

I might have misunderstood you but I believe the 400,000 baht in the bank must have been in there for two months prior to the application and 3 months for an extension. Also the letter from the bank must match to the baht your bankbook figure.

As is common some people have been able to get away with out that but most of them have to have it. Have seen several cases on Thai Visa where they had to go to the bank and get them matching.

Cost per sqm is from the roof edge, nor interior SQM, as in western standards.

So it's total construction area not interior living size.

12.,5 is acceptable, but as in many other post suggest, YOU MUST HAVE A LIST OF INCLUSIONS BY BRAND AND MODEL.

Did you have an architect draw up plans?

It has already been sorted. Thai govt. got the Dutch on the case 4 years ago.

See here.

Ya it was funny. After the flood was controlled the Dutch offered to help with water management and Yingluck informed them that we had Thai experts and would not need them.

I use the Curcumin/tumeric powder form on my cereal. Buy it bulk at Macro. As said you can purchase capsules and make them up your self.

For Niacin I get it from iHerb in the states. inexpensive and if you keep your orders around$40 no duty on them. Right to your door delivery. Never looked there for the Curcumin/turmeric.

No i just got my multiple entry non o marraige 3 months ago so i need to do my first 90 day stamp. I got my visa in Savannakhet.

Just go to local Immigration for your 90-check-in.

Your visa is for a year right?

That is puzzling me also. I know two people with some sort of a business visa set up that go out of country every 90 days and only have to renew every 15 months.

If they are here to live permanently will the government continue to allow 90 day visa runs for ever?

Ever since I've reached here, I've learnt a lot and able to handle few things, but I've read many things on thaivisa that I am slowly experiencing up myself. I'm actually on overstay already, I've able stay so long because I never go to pubs or public places. Even if there is a traffic roadblock I use the alternate routes here. If I do get stopped they never asked me for my passport, i just paid the 200 baht fine for not wearing a helmet and off I go again. I'm know that it's wrong to be overstaying my Visa but I will pay the fine and go back to my home country very soon.

why the post? You have already worked out a plan to solve the problem.

I am a double degree holder. I'm majoring in information systems and minor in business administration from Curtin University, Perth. I've tried asking around if they'd hire me but my thai is kinda broken but I can speak and understand simple thai

I know a few English teachers who can not speak Thai. They are there to teach English. You have to take a course for a month to get the permission. Are you afraid you can't pass it?