earlofwindermere

Thanks BarnacleBob.

I am assuming that it is a Non-O Visa and then you purchased a re-entry stamp?

I guess that there are too many options. The OP needs to tell us more details before we can suggest. I always thought that Non-O visas were all 90 days. The visa then had to be extended to one year and then the 90 day reporting started.

Edit: Nevermind. I just found a link about the Non O-A visa. I was mistaken. Apparently holders of this visa are given one year right away. LINK

While the above is correct as far as the location of the immigration office, some people on non immigrant visas most certainly do border runs. For example suppose you got a double-entry non immigrant visa. When the first entry is used up, you need to go out of Thailand and cross back in to use the second entry.

Also: 90 day reporting is separate from extending your stay. If you're on a one year extension then you don't need to extend your visa every 90 days obviously, just do the 90 day reporting. Note that you don't have to do this in person, and it may even be possible to do it onine. (not sure)

I was under the impression that ALL Non-O visas were single entry. I know that Non-B visas can be multi-entry but the OP says that it's a Non-O. Does anyone actually have a multi (or even double) entry Non-O visa? I wouldn't recommend a border run on a Non-O as your visa would be invalid afterwards (unless I'm told otherwise about the double/multi entry).

Immigration Office in Chiang mai is outside the Airport.... You dont do border runs. Only people on tourist visa do border runs.

Along with reporting to Immigration.. you need the required papers to extend your visa. Whatever paper work you sent in to get your O visa... you'll need a new set when you report.

http://www.thaivisa.com/278.0.html

As Yunnie mentioned, you must have your visa extended first. The link provided has some of the ways to extend a Non-O visa but there are many other ways as well. From what I've seen, most people on Non-O visas extend their visas based on retirement or as a volunteer.

After your visa is extended, you start to do the 90 days checkin. If you have not extended your visa, the 90 day checkin is irrelevant because your visa will expire.

There is a hotline for excessive burning. The number is 1362. I believe that this number is to report people who are burning their fields but it could also be for rubbish like you mentioned. However; I have called and reported people several times and have yet to see any official come and check into it. Good luck.

While I am not sure of the differences, and IDL and and IDP are not the same. Neither has helped me at all but apparently an IDP is considered more "genuine."

Incidently, I was "suckered" into buying an IDL from the company in Phuket who sells them. At the time, I didn't have enough time to get an IDP in Chiang Mai (it was during the time when you had to mail to Bangkok). I took the IDL to Canada and the US. Both countries told me that neither the IDP or IDL were required. In the minds of the rental car companies (and the BC Registry office in Canada), both do the same thing: provide a translation only.

I was always under the impression that the IDP was basically a translation of your licence if it wasn't in English. Since the Thai licences are now in English, I didn't think that there was any reason to get an IDP anymore. I've used the new licences in the US and Canada without any hassles at all (including renting).

Then again, perhaps other countries require an IDP. It would be good to know which countries require this for reference.

I use the Caltex on Mae Jo Road almost exclusively (they accept American Express). I've never had a problem there and am a bit surprised by the accusation. If it is true, I would say that it is not typical for this location. I've also been ripped off at a different gas station in Chiang Mai so regardless of where it is, it's always a good thing to double check.

I believe that it was only 200 baht. This method of crossing the border is what nearly everyone does if they go to the casino at the Golden Triangle as well.

I have a Non-O visa and a work permit. Mine is not based on retirement. I've also been able to extend it for the past 5 years without much difficulty.

I assume you have it extended to a year based on marriage.

If you have a non O visa, and have it extended based on marriage, then you do not need to change to a B visa, and indeed loosing your job will have no effect on your visa status.

As the OP did not mention him being married to a Thai national, he will not have this extension and will e on the 90 days given on arrival in Thailand based on the non-O visa he was given at the embassy/consulate.

If he wishes to extend those 90 days to a full year based on his working (and NOt married to a Thai national) then he will have to concert to a B visa. And this extension he will lose on the day his employment ends.

I am not married to a Thai. I am a 33 year old Canadian married to a Canadian. I have been in Thailand for 6 years on a Non-O visa and have had a Work Permit the entire time as well. I have extended my visa every year without much difficulty. I know many people in Chiang Mai who do the same.

I have a Non-O visa and a work permit. Mine is not based on retirement. I've also been able to extend it for the past 5 years without much difficulty.

send a PM to Brennanstimpy. He has been involved Muay Thai for some time now.

With risk of being accused of making up more info.....

I just got back from City Hall again. It seems like they are tightening up things even more. In addition to all the police (and now soliders), they are now screening everyone.

Everyone must have ID which they record. They then take a photo of you with your id. They then screen you with a metal detector.

I was under the assumption that things were starting to cool down. Apparently the government does not agree.

This was just posted on The Nation website....

Chiang Mai Hall to be closed at 6 pm following threat of bloody protest

Chiang Mai - The Chiang Mai provincial administration will close the gate of the Chiang Mai Hall at 6 pm to prevent red-shirt protesters from coming inside to pour their pooled blood to protest the government.

Chiang Mai Governor Amornphan Nimanan said the hall would be closed from 6 pm to midnight.

Earlier the day, red-shirt leaders in Chiang Mai said they would collect blood from protesters and pour them inside the compound of the provincial hall in parallel with the blood pouring outside the Government House by the red-shirt protesters.

The Chiang Mai red-shirt leaders started collecting blood from supporters in front of the Grand Waroros Hotel since in the morning.

Source: Nation

I would like additional clarification on this...

If a staff member is paid a monthly salary, would you calculate the DAILY pay and then pay them 90 days of pay? Or, would you pay them 3 months of their monthly salary? Since most people do not work 30 days per month, the amount can be quite significant.

The law says 90 days of severance should be paid but I am assuming that most would assume this to be 3 months as this is what everyone usually says.

Volunteer work also requires a work permit! If anything happens and you havn't got one, you could be in serious trouble.

This doesn't answer the question.

However; perhaps the poster could be a bit more specific on the type of volunteer work that they were looking for. ie ESL? kid's programs? religious? etc.

I never said that there were soldiers. There was definitely barbed wire and concrete blocks. Are you sure you went to the right place? The main building is solidly surrounded.

I just got back from City Hall. The place is barracaded with 1.5m barbed wire fence and concrete blocks. Glass is all taped up and they were trucking out boxes of documents. Hopefully they are overreacting.

To be fair, wasn't the discussion about the PM-10 levels and not the AQI? I am assuming that it is not the same thing.

They're almost the same thing. The AQI is not a linear representation of the PM<10 level though, but "classifies" it according to a risk evaluation. Built on the Thai system a PM<10 level of 0-40 µg/m³ corresponds to an AQI of 0-50 and is rated "Good". A level of 40-120 corresponds to an AQI of 50-100 and is rated "Moderate". A level of 120-350 corresponds to AQI 100-200 and is rated "Unhealthful". A level of 350-420 corresponds to AQI 200-300 and is rated "Very Unhealthful" and a level over 420 corresponds to AQI 300+ and is rated "Hazardous".

More interesting may be the USEPA descriptions in terms of who needs to take extra care, and in what way (see the attached table in my previous post). Hence my statement about Chiang Mai air up to the day before yesterday having "Moderate" pollution. The AQI is, as far as I know, an EPA invention intended for communicating pollution and its risks to the general public.

/ Priceless

So the disagreement among many people could be based on which system they are using and on which country's classification of that system they are basing it on. For me, I've always looked at the PM10 levels and not so much the AQI. When I check the standards of this system, many countries have limits of 50 µg/m³ for no more than XX days per year. So, to me, when we are reaching the 100 levels, it seems quite high.

I'll let the experts debate this because I certainly am not.

To be fair, wasn't the discussion about the PM-10 levels and not the AQI? I am assuming that it is not the same thing.

Hello Nakachalet

I guess that I've worked in the rural areas too long. I had assumed that most people would know most of the points that you made.

It astounds me on how much money poor rural farmers can borrow from government programs. Every few years, there is a debt forgiveness or moratorium program. It's no wonder that debt is a major problem with many Thais. (Gonzo - I'd agree with you if the money came from the moneylenders or "helmet men" as they're called around here. Two helmet men with thick jackets ride on one motorbike. They are the collectors and scare people because they never take their helmets off so you never know who they are).

In any case, it disturbs me that financial services and programs are used for political gain. Both sides are guilty of this. Short-term gains have shown to cause long-term problems for the same people.

My staff just returned from Chomtong. Apparently Seh Daeng was in Chomtong today recruiting people to head to Bangkok this weekend. He told the people that if Thaksin is Prime Minister again, he promises that everyone will get a 150,000 baht loan from the government. I'm sure that this would be incentive enough for many people to make the trip.

Qualitication: This information is verified by my staff only. I trust them but I would understand if others choose not to.

I manage a charity (foundation) here in Thailand as well as one in Canada. We have looked into this matter. Both countries have rather strict rules on what charities can invest their funds in. For example, we have been told that Thai foundations cannot buy stocks. They can be given stocks but they cannot buy. There are many other restrictions as well.

Thanks for the info. I guess I booked my trip down south during the wrong week. I'm back tomorrow so let's hope that the air quality stays relatively good.

I'm sitting in Hua Hin enjoying a week of fresh air. Like many people, we planned to be away from Chiang Mai during much of March because of the air quality.

I just checked the readings back in Chiang Mai and they are surprisingly low compared to neighbouring provinces. How can it be 212 in Chiang Rai, 146 in Mae Hong Son and only 86 in downtown Chiang Mai? Is it really not that bad this year?

In previous years, the readings for the northern provinces were similar. If it was high in Chiang Rai, it was also high in Chiang Mai. This year seems different. Are the numbers being fudged or is it really not that high in Chiang Mai right now?