kiaora1968

On my phone (Android), I'm using a free app, Pure Tuber, which acts as a YouTube mirror app. You can connect to your YouTube account through it, and you keep all your playlists. Not only does it remove the ads, but you can also continue listening to the music with the screen turned off, or while using other apps, with Pure Tuber in the background. 

I downloaded a similar app for my Android TV, SmartTube Beta, but installation is trickier. I first had to download the APK on my phone, send it to my tv via another app "send files to tv", and install it there...

I've done it solo several times already and the online booking system for appointment makes it now so easy and fast.

Be prepared in advance and all will go well. This is what you should prepare:

-TM7 application for extension of stay

-STM.2 acknowledgement of terms and conditions

-one pass photo (didn't really matter anymore if blue or white background)

-passport: copy of front (photo) page. Copy of last entry stamp (with TM6 if you got one when you last entered Thailand). Copy of first non O visa. Copy of last extension. 

-copy of last 90 days report (if applicable)

-copy of TM30

-copy of updated bank passbook showing one year of transactions (updated on the day you apply for the extension) and copy of the front page.

-original bank statement, done on the day you apply for the extension

-1900 baht

All copies must be signed.

I went to my bank in the morning of my 2pm appointment to get the bank statement and update my passbook. I received it immediately (100 baht, Bangkok Bank).

I was at immigration at 1:45pm and gave all the documents at the information window, by the entrance of the main building. They were checked and the immigration officer kept everything by his side until...2pm, time of my appointment. I saw him go to the "retirement" counter at exactly 2pm, with my passport and documents.  5 minutes later I was called for the photo.  Another 20 minutes wait and the extension was ready. 

Smooth like a breeze...

I did just that last year and wrote about my experience here:

I should just add that, in Belgium, they cut the corners of every page of the old passport. However, I explained that the relevant "Thai stamp" pages (conversion to Non O, last extension, re-entry permit...) should be left intact, I clearly marked them with tape, and they accepted without any question.

On 9/8/2022 at 1:35 PM, earlinclaifornia said:

I warned others go right to the window three and no waiting the info line

The info line I mentioned was the one inside the building. There was nobody queuing at all, as I said. Loads of people were waiting outside though, under the covered space in front of the building, to have their documents checked... I didn't lose a single minute so no big deal ????

This is my experience at Chiangmai immigration, to transfer the stamps (I am on a Non Immigrant O extension -retirement- since 2018) from my old passport to my new passport, renewed in Europe prior to coming back to Thailand.

I entered Thailand last June, with my new passport, showed my reentry permit from my old passport (with cut corners) to the immigration officer, and my new passport was stamped with permission of stay until the expiry of my last extension (somewhere in November 2022).

2 months later, today (!), I decided to take the trip to the Chiangmai immigration office by the airport.  No remark at all that I was late...

I arrived at immigration at 12:50pm, during lunch break.  I filled in the "transfer stamps" document (Chiang Mai version, don't download it from online, it would be useless) and went to the copy shop (they are also closed between 12pm and 1pm (I had to wait 5 minutes outside their doors) to copy the following:

Old passport:

-Photo page;

-All pages containing "Thai stamps" since my last TR visa from 2018, that was converted to a Non Immigrant O visa (90 days) before being extended yearly.

-I didn't copy every page from my old passport, even the ones with old TR visas or visa exemption stamps, prior to 2018...

New passport:

-Photo page;

-Arrival stamp page with my TM6 card.

TM30

As I had received my new passport in my country of residence, I didn't receive an embassy letter of course, and I wasn't asked for one either.

And as I came back to Thailand 2 months ago, I didn't have to produce any 90 days report.

I signed all copies.

I went to the info counter inside the immigration building at 13:05pm. They checked my copies and I was directed to counter number 3.  New quick check of all the documents/passports, and I received a queue number. About 5 minutes later, my number was called at counter number 3, I gave everything to the immigration officer and I sat down until the transfer was ready.

I was out at 2:15pm.

The transfer was completely free of charge. Damage: 18 baht for the copies.

I think that I could have skipped the info desk check, by going straight to counter number 3, but there was no queue at all, so no time lost.

You can't bring meat products into Thailand, that's sure. On my flight to Bangkok, last week, Etihad made an announcement that bringing meat products into Thailand is subject to a fine of maximum 200k baht and a 2 years jail term... 

I would say good luck for obtaining an import permit for private import/consumption. 

Yoghurt, cheese, biscuits etc shouldn't be a problem though.

I second islandguy with his preference for Street Pizza. But although they have many decent Italian style pizzas, the ones that I prefer are the ones that you won't find in any other restaurants. The Chiangmai style, Nar Wad, and my favourite ever: the Sri Racha pizza, where the tomato base is replaced by Sri Racha sauce, a little bit spicy. So, if you are after real Italian (or American style) pizza, there are dozens of alternatives that might please you more. But if you fancy to try something a little bit different, have a go at this place! Oh, the owner is also visiting my table every time as I am a very (very!) frequent customer, but I've never been pushed to buy something in any way. Just the opposite in fact, as I was offered a free glass of wine many times!!!  

In an older building in central Chiangmai, but very well built and in good condition, 20.5 Baht per sqm. The building has two lifts, both with regular maintenance, but no pool nor fitness... Hasn't gone up at all in the last 7 years that I live here.

My gym at ratilanna hotel still mentions "closed until 31 May". However, if they open on the 1st of June as expected, will we be allowed to use all equipment such as treadmills or elliptical, or only weighs, I don't know. 

Index Living Mall has a quite extended choice of computer desks, you can see them all online. None of the very cheap stuff, but some of them are of very good quality.

https://www.indexlivingmall.com/category/furniture/home-office/working-and-computer-table.html

I live in ChiangMai and registered on the TM30 app early July. I received the link to confirm my email address the same day, and since then... nothing.

Yesterday, back from a little trip outside the ChiangMai province, I went to immigration by the airport to update my TM30. It was done in one minute, no queue, and I explained to the very friendly young officer that I was still waiting for the password and username to do it myself online, next time. 

He looked in the system and told me that my request had been accepted a while ago already. He put the username and password on a little piece of paper, told me to change the password on my first connection... Job done ????

18 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Every office makes up its own rules on how the TM-30 is enforced, and these have changed over time.  Thanks for letting us know what they are saying (currently) at the Chang Mai airport office - which could help others in the same situation.

This was the purpose of my post ????

I am living in Chiang Mai, where I own my own condo, and I used to do my TM30 registration at the Promenada immigration office every time I had left the province or the country.  Today, I went to the new immigration office next to Chiang Mai airport, with my passport and the old TM30 registration slip stapled in it.  Counter number one is now dealing with the TM30.  I asked the officer there if there was a queing number (the machine by the entrance was out of order) and she asked to see my passport.  I gave it to her, she looked at the last visa (valid until November), and told me that I had already my TM30.  I explained that I was away from the province the last 5 days, in Bangkok and on a road trip, and she answered that I only need to update the TM30 if I am coming back from ABROAD, not from a trip within Thailand.  This is new for me, does anybody have had the same experience?  I was in and out in less than 3 minutes.  This would really be a big improvement if they keep it this way.

My tourist visa was going to expire on 3 March so I went today to immigration at promenada to have a 30 days extension. 

I bought some 4x6cm passport photos in the city, with blue background, for 100 baht (You can also get them for 200 baht at the copy shop next to immigration).

I arrived at immigration at 12:45 (their lunch break is between 12pm and 1pm, also for the copy shop), picked up a TM7 form on the empty desk outside the office, and filled in the paperwork. The copy shop opened at 12:58pm and made 2 copies of my passport pages (4 baht). At 1pm I was in line outside the office. By 1:02pm my paperwork had been handled by a lovely helpful immigration girl, and I had paid 2000 baht. She asked me to wait inside for my name to be called.  At 1:25pm I was called to have my picture taken and at 1:30pm I received my passport back with the 30 days extension and the 100 baht change. 1:32pm i was on my bike again. 47 minutes in total ?

For the last 3 years I had always my extensions handled by an agent after a very "muscular" interaction with an immigration officer at their old office next to the airport. He shouted at me because I hadn't written my phone number on the application form. I promised myself not to deal with them in person again.

But nowadays, the paperwork is handled outside the office by truly lovely helpful people. And I've never seen this officer again. 

A big big thank you to them. You rock !