northernjohn

So I doubt all 15 on the queue today would have been seen by noon, least the question be asked about why they're limiting the quota to just 20 tickets per day.

There were two Japanese people ahead of us on line. One had a one-day overstay, so took a little longer, but not much. The number two applicant took less than 15 minutes. It took the Immigration officer about 20 minutes to process my application and my wife's, then another five-eight minutes to get us both photographed and have the information entered into the ledger books. Four of us in under an hour. So I guess you're correct. That would only be 12 people by noon. Three would have to come back after lunch.

My question is; why is there just one Immigration officer processing the paper work? There was one officer at each desk, processing 90-day reports, tourist visa extensions, and re-entry permits. Certainly Chiang Mai has more than four Immigration officers stationed here.

And the answer is: They want you to use their in-house visa agency and charge you twice.

Exactly, its all about money,and that's why it's never going to change for the better.

regards worgeordie

Yes there may or may not be money in it for them.

What I find strange is that the problem is they are understaffed and it is not them that do the hiring.

I get a kick out of all the people who think they are doing it on purpose to force people to go to the agencies. That would be a very good reason if it was up to them as to how many to hire and if they were the ones doing the hiring.

The fact is it is Bangkok where the decisions are made and the hiring done.

Several years ago the director who was getting ready to retire said Bangkok had allocated enough money to hire 15 more staff. The thing was that Bangkok be the ones that do the hiring.

Not saying who is at fault but being as to the best of my knowledge Chiang Mai is the only office in Thailand facing these problems and it has been the same under at least two directors there is more to it than the people you see in the office here in Chiang Mai.

I am quite sure that Immigration in Bangkok is well aware of what is going on. Unless they do some thing about it the problem will just get worse as people keep moving to Chiang Mai for one reason or another.'

edit

If Bangkok had nothing to do with it seems to me we would be hearing from other areas where they were getting the same run around.

Just a thought.

For the last couple of years I have done 90-day by post or, like last time, on-line (except the one before last that for one reason or another didn't come off). My solution for that one was to turn up at Promenada immigration at gone 3pm, when all the early birds and panic-merchants have been and gone, and the result was in-an-out in 10 minutes. For those that are paying attention, don't try this yourself, as it will only spoil it for me if I ever am so disorganised again as to have to go to immigration for 90-day.

It's good to see that using a 'ringer' might work. I'll bear that in mind for next year's 1 year visa. Maybe by then we won't even have to employ a ringer, we can just put our towel over the seat. If that were the case, I could do mine at 1am, on the way home from work (You know who you are guys - yes, I do have a work permit) !!

That always used to be my trick for 90 days. However this does not always work now and I suggest that you may have been lucky. I have turned up at 3 pm before and been told that all the tickets were gone and that I had to come back the next day.

If that is the case, it sounds like my being more organised may be the only alternative left. Failing that, I can see the situation arising where I may have to rise before noon.

To each their own. I have never had to wait more than an hour and a half and that was at the airport. I generally go in about 10:00 in the morning. If I went in there at 3:00 and was told to come back tomorrow I would probably go next door give them 300 baht and be done with it.

What I find interesting is the fact that the OP only needed 1 queue number for two people. Also Nancy didn't say it but kind of hinted that there were people in the line ahead of her getting more than one queue number.

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.

It does for most of us

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Yes, and most men don't realize this or that they should have their bone density checked periodically once they get to be over age 65. Many older men have brittle bones and vitamin D and calcium deficiencies and don't realize it. They think this is a "female problem".

Good point Nancy. I just read that Vitamin D has some thing to do with bone density. Vitamin D is in the sun light particularly the early morning I am told. I admit I don't get out like I used to and two months ago my Doctor did a test for Vitamin D and found out I was low on it. She also said it would help me get out and about a little more than I have been lately.

It is not a cheap test and from what I understand you have to get the Vitamin D on line. Not a problem with iHerb.

Yes, the test for Vitamin D deficiency isn't cheap and it's difficult to get enough from sunlight as you get older, even if you're in the sun a lot.

You can purchase tablets with Calcium and added Vitamin D here fairly cheaply. I get them at Peera Pharmacy inside the Old City, across from Hotel M, the first pharmacy a few doors down the street from Black Canyon coffee. The lady pharmacist in there sure knows her stuff.

Not 100% sure but I believe to much calcium contributes to Arthritis's.

I would imagine if you refused they would not accept you.

Once you are there, you are their responsibility.

I can understand your gripe with the weight and height issue, and when I go, I tell them my credentials, and they take my word for it, and do not bother actually measuring me.

Blood pressure is the important one, and it can change at anytime.

It is standard procedure in every hospital, and if it is excessively high or low, your life could be in danger.

I know of instances where people have gone for a routine doctor's consultation, for something that would appear not so important, and after the blood pressure test, they have been immediately admitted due to an unusually high or low reading.

These were in Government hospitals, so it would be unlikely they were admitted for financial gain.

And this is exactly why I don't want my blood pressure taken at the hospital. It's the biggest bs. Every time they take it is in 170 range. It seems like when they put a cuff on me I get extremely nervous and just coming from the outside hear sweating like a pig doesn't help.

I always insist to take it at the doctors office when I calm down and it drops to below 140. At home it's in mid 130 range.

I really hate this blood pressure nonsense.

When I go my doctors office there is always a little wait. I never have to walk over 30 meters to get there so the hot and sweaty doesn't figure in. I am always held for about 5 minutes. If doing it myself I will wait 10 minutes. I believe it is a universally known fact in the medical profession that a patient will quite often have a higher pressure due to being nervous in the Doctors office. They make allowance for it. I would be a little bit concerned if my blood pressure jumped that high. I have been known to be at 160 on the free machines back in Canada but when I saw the doctor he always took my pressure the old fashioned way and it was OK. My experiance3 in the hospitals has varied some times as long as a 15 minute wait generally about 5 minutes the time I check in and get seated.

my height has not changed since I was 18.

It does for most of us

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Yes, and most men don't realize this or that they should have their bone density checked periodically once they get to be over age 65. Many older men have brittle bones and vitamin D and calcium deficiencies and don't realize it. They think this is a "female problem".

Good point Nancy. I just read that Vitamin D has some thing to do with bone density. Vitamin D is in the sun light particularly the early morning I am told. I admit I don't get out like I used to and two months ago my Doctor did a test for Vitamin D and found out I was low on it. She also said it would help me get out and about a little more than I have been lately.

It is not a cheap test and from what I understand you have to get the Vitamin D on line. Not a problem with iHerb.

Gosh, if the doctor ends up needing to prescribe some medication they need to know your weight to ensure the dosage is correct...they need to know your weight accurately and not just a person's estimate which will almost always be low (most everyone likes to lie about our weight). And its important to know a person's blood pressure for many medical reasons and that is key indicator a person current condition. It only takes minute to take you height, weight, and BP and that nurse's fee is still going to be there since they are doing other things related to your visit such as processing your paperwork, working with the doctor, etc. And if it's like my hospital the nurse's fee is only around Bt200 for a visit.

Excellent explanation.

The doctor doesn't care what you think. He is there to do a job and that information may be crucial to what he needs to do.

I was wondering if the OP knew so much about what wasn't needed why did he go to a hospital?

It continues to amaze me the number of people who self diagnose themselves on Thai Visa.

could be worse could be next to an airport. Even there the people get used to it and learn to so to speak not here it.

The best way to keep on hearing them is to try not to hear them.

My Gf and I sat down with one of the guys. I just wanted to hear the shpeel.....The guy could talk. His approach just went from one angle to the next. I knew from the start I wasnt going to part with any cash. We had some time to kill before the movie. We were so luck as just the minute before we got there they had recieved two new products. And.....because he liked us so much we could have the dead sea mud for free. The manuka honey however was 20k for six oz. but if he could get my gf's line.....and she was willing to report to him how it was working. We could have it for 10k.....

Isn't that manuka honey supposed to bee the best honey in the world and comes from New Zealand and not at those prices.

It's just one department of the hotel; the restaurant manager answers to the same bosses and attends the same meetings as all the other managers, so there was never a separate restaurant owner.

Chef/owner of the business....whatever you want to call it. Doesn't matter to me.

It does to me, and I assume it does to others, too. Owner and employee seem like entirely different notions to me.

Indeed. Here in Thailand the employees changeover often.

The quality and quantity of food is quite good, as far as I'm concerned. However, at 12 noon it seems that a bus or two of tourists always arrive, and they're generally loud and not on their finest behavior.

The price Monday through Saturday is 189 baht. On Sunday it's quite a bit more, something like 300 baht or a bit more, but then they offer a lot larger selection including lots of seafood on Sundays.

I managed to find some information about their buffet on Bing.

To me it looked like it was mainly a Thai Buffet. Is that correct.

It's not in Chiang Mai (yet). I think it's in more offices than just Phuket, however. If it comes to Chiang Mai, I think you can just put down something, no matter how much sense it makes and give it back to them. I was at Immigration yesterday and someone turned up wanting a 30 day extension for a tourist visa. He was trying to explain to the interns at the info desk that he didn't have a local address because he had just arrived into CM from the overnight train and hadn't found a place to stay yet. Finally someone behind him in the queue said put down Chiang Mai Railway Hotel and let them look up something on their smart phone. They just need to fill in all the blanks on the form, whether or not it's true. (I'm not certain such a hotel even exists)

I wouldn't recommend this as a way to fill out your TM7 for a 1-year extension, but obviously they can't check every tourist getting a 30 day extension and I suspect they aren't going to check if any of us are using Sina Weibo or WeChat if that's what we list as the social media we use on that intrusive three page form.

I'm just one of a great many folk in Chiang Mai on a Retirement extension. - yet they ask the names of our mother and father. I was tempted to put 'mum' and 'dad', but put in their full names and made a note that they were both deceased. If they were looking for next of kin in case of emergency, that might have been more useful.

It's not clear if this form is needed on return from an overseas trip, or when applying at the airport for a re-entry permit. In fact it's not clear WHEN it's required. It also requires a recent passport photo, so I guess one must carry some spares of these also.

There is already a form handed out on arrival at Immigration on returning, with a hundred or more people looking for a place to fill in the form, most of which is already entered on the arrival form which goes into your passport.

Where are you coming into all this additional paperwork. Also what are you applying for that requires it?

It's not in Chiang Mai (yet). I think it's in more offices than just Phuket, however. If it comes to Chiang Mai, I think you can just put down something, no matter how much sense it makes and give it back to them. I was at Immigration yesterday and someone turned up wanting a 30 day extension for a tourist visa. He was trying to explain to the interns at the info desk that he didn't have a local address because he had just arrived into CM from the overnight train and hadn't found a place to stay yet. Finally someone behind him in the queue said put down Chiang Mai Railway Hotel and let them look up something on their smart phone. They just need to fill in all the blanks on the form, whether or not it's true. (I'm not certain such a hotel even exists)

I wouldn't recommend this as a way to fill out your TM7 for a 1-year extension, but obviously they can't check every tourist getting a 30 day extension and I suspect they aren't going to check if any of us are using Sina Weibo or WeChat if that's what we list as the social media we use on that intrusive three page form.

Reminds me of the very first time I came to Thailand. They asked me where I was staying. I said I didn't know I was going to get a taxi and look around. She immediately got a list and read some names to me to choose from. When My son first came to visit I told him just say Inn of the North. Noproblem

As for the form I think in is not mandatory. But advisable as they can at times get ornery. If I was asked to fill it out I would do as Nancy mentioned just put any thing in if I felt it was an inappropriate question.

I am betting they will forget it before it gets to Chiang Mai.

hotels are cheap. get a taxi to get you there at 4:30.

A dependable taxi that you can rely on at 04:30 with no recourse (when no one else is around) is a dicy bet when making the flight depends on it.....

No it's not; we do it all the time for guests departing at some crazy early flight. Also there's always some taxis/tuktuks around at any reasonably central place.

I agree with Oscar: hotels are cheap, get a good night's sleep and for a 6am flight I'd go to the airport at 4:30am.

PM me for a phone number of a reliable Airport taxi driver who will be on time. That early it'll be 500 baht though. If it was just me I'd just grab a tuktuk or red bus; markets get going around that time and I'm sure I can find something.

We're in an outlying area & not near a hub of anything.....We have gone to the airport & set up for an early taxi pick up before but have the back up of our car if needed.....If the taxi & parking costs are close it's easier to park....

Others might or might not have such options....All it takes is your one driver (source) predisposed or not wake up in time to wreck a trip....

I have to laugh at the get a hotel they are cheap. No mention of the taxi fare to or from them. Like you say not every one lives in a location where they have them hanging around 24 hours a day. If you are like Winnie you have many tourists and know where to locate the people for that kind of service and more than likely have phone numbers for drivers who have proven them selves to be reliable. It is part of his business to have that information.

As for the OP I was wondering if he was just coming of a flight and waiting for the next one with no idea where to go.

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?

I'm a lifelong allergy sufferer and like tpthai2 I too suffer year round. I have found Claritin (aka Loratidine) and Zyrtec (aka Cetirizine HCl) work best for me, and at different times of the year one of these two drugs will work better than the other. On really bad days, I find that one Advil (aka ibuprofen) taken with Cetirizine significantly improves the relief. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence that local Honey does lessen symptoms in people with seasonal allergies, but, according to the Mayo Clinic web site, these results haven't been consistently duplicated in clinical studies. I think I've seen Ambrosia Wild Flower Honey sold at "Tops",...I'll buy a jar next time I'm there,...it would be great if it worked for me too.

It is not as cut and dried as some people believe. There is over 1,000 different types of honey. Depends on where the bee's get the pollen. From what I have seen the best one comes from New Zealand.

Their is a store on Changklan in the Night Bazaar that sells many different kinds. Also and I am not sure on this but I believe you can get local honey at the Royal Project.

I strongly suspect that no two batches of honey, regardless of brand name, are ever identical; flowers, the source of honey, are not only seasonal, but also vary even within their own species from one location to another depending on many different factors such soil nutrients and water sources. These variations are the reason why proponents of honey usage as antiallergic therapy strongly recommend using LOCAL honey.

That may be I am not an expert on it. What caught my attention was the Mayo clinic tests. They admit they have had successful tests but are unable to consistently duplicate them in clinical studies.

In other words they have had successful tests. Was thinking with the way people differently handle different medical and natural products you throw in the factor of over 1,000 different type honey it is no wonder they can not consistently get the same results.

If I was to have allergies and try the honey method I would start with the honey produced in the local area. How ever there is a lot of talk about the honey from New Zealand. It would be a trial and error process with no guarantee.

Ubon Joe Is quite correct. He failed to mention it is the same requirements at any immigration office that does these things.

If you had asked about My Hong Son he would have said the same thing.

I have no idea why Bangkok has not offered enough officers to handle the growing population here in Chiang Mai. they are well aware of it. But the fact is they have made the decision to leave it that way and like Nancy said get there early. Yes there are agents who will do it for you. Probably starting around 5,000 baht just for their service.

If you look around you may find a cheaper one. A friend of mine had an agent converted his OP to married with a work permit for 3,000 baht plus the immigration fee.

Some will maybe mention the Agent a few doors down from Immigration at the Promenada I doubt they will do that. You can try.

I'm a lifelong allergy sufferer and like tpthai2 I too suffer year round. I have found Claritin (aka Loratidine) and Zyrtec (aka Cetirizine HCl) work best for me, and at different times of the year one of these two drugs will work better than the other. On really bad days, I find that one Advil (aka ibuprofen) taken with Cetirizine significantly improves the relief. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence that local Honey does lessen symptoms in people with seasonal allergies, but, according to the Mayo Clinic web site, these results haven't been consistently duplicated in clinical studies. I think I've seen Ambrosia Wild Flower Honey sold at "Tops",...I'll buy a jar next time I'm there,...it would be great if it worked for me too.

It is not as cut and dried as some people believe. There is over 1,000 different types of honey. Depends on where the bee's get the pollen. From what I have seen the best one comes from New Zealand.

Their is a store on Changklan in the Night Bazaar that sells many different kinds. Also and I am not sure on this but I believe you can get local honey at the Royal Project.

I just read where Subway now has the most outlets of any fast food chain in America.

World wide it is McDonalds.

I guess Americans have not been able to share the expertise found on Thai Visa.

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.

Suan Dok hospital is a big place. Where to go? To their blood bank on the second floor, just above the emergency room? Is that open on Saturdays?

Also, what are the age restrictions on donors?

Good point Nancy I believe it is 60 could be 65. Also what type blood is needed. I know mine is Type O RH negative. I have been informed from a reliable source that RH negative is a very rare type in Asia. Some thing like .03% Western world it is about 15%. I know it took them a week to get 2 units for me one from Bangkok and one here in Chiang Mai.

>>Maybe if you feel that strong about non buffet restaurants you could start a thread about them.<<

I now avoid any type of buffet .It tends to bring out the pig in people .If you go to any of those Thai buffet places ,notice the amount of grossly overweight Thais .

That is not starting a thread about non buffet restaurants.

I will bow to your expertise on the Thai buffets. I don't go to them.

You apparently you are an expert on them.

I await your thrilling thread on non buffet restaurants.

In the mean time on June the 3 there will be a great

western buffet at 9:30 in the morning at the River Market.

300 baht for non CEC members 250 baht for members.

Cheap for what you get.

I do hope you come so you can give an informed report on it.

Don't know if it will be any help for what you want but Star Visa just down the street from the American consulate heading away from the river on the same side do translation work.

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.