Greydog

In January 2015 and January 2014 I tried to get a queue number by turning up at Immigration at 1300 for Re-entry Permits. Both times I was told to come back the next day - in the morning. And both times Immigration was bulging at the seams with people both in the morning and at 1300. But I have heard that this year it's easier to get queue tickets for a Re-entry Permit - I think I covered this in my first post.

I am going for the same thing on tues or weds and i will go around 10.00.

my logic is that all the crazy early queuers have already gone, so there will be no one there......actually mid day seems a better idea.

I will let you know how I faired.

Good luck! I hope you get a queue number. I look forward to your update.

There were people in the queue being paid 500 baht to get a number, although one obnoxious guy said he was getting 1.000 and wouldn't do it for less.

Several people in front of me were wanting volunteer extensions and were turned away, having arrived before 5am.

Really! Well, maybe I was wrong - and you can pay a lackey to queue for you and get a queue ticket. But when I queued on Thursday my passport was requested and the passport photo checked/compared with my face. She even checked previous spousal extensions briefly before she handed me back my passport - why, I don't know. Maybe it depends on the individual Immigration officer how strict they are... TIT.

Is it possible to get a lackey to sit and wait?

That would be similar to getting an agent only a lot cheaper. 7:30 your lackey calls you and tells you approximately what time to come in.

I had to show my passport to one of the two Immigration employees before I got the queue ticket at 0700. They looked at the photo in my passport and then looked at me before giving me the queue ticket. So you would have to go with a Visa Agency to queue for you or get an appointment for you - is my take on this. I think that if you just got your maid to do it - even if she had your passport - she wouldn't be able to get you a ticket. But this is just speculation on my part.

Thanks for the reply, you've convinced me I was right.

Yes, you are right, in theory. But in practice you are wrong. "If everyone turned up at 0830..." indeed. That's a fantasy - a dream of yours. Unfortunately the reality is different.

If no-one was turned back, then that begs the question - why are you all getting there so early?

No one was turned back who queued in the 'Spousal Extension-Business-Other' queue. That's what I meant. Not that no one at all were asked to come back tomorrow. Sorry for the confusion!

The 'Teacher-Student-Missionary' queue was so long that many people had to have been turned back - but I didn't stand around to watch/observe, I walked straight into the waiting room just after getting my queue ticket.

If no-one was turned back, then that begs the question - why are you all getting there so early?

Here's an interesting thought - what if you all turned up at 8.30am, to get a number, what would be the difference?

Has this problem been created by the 'Me First' brigade, much like the old Benidorm dodge of reserving your sun-lounger by leaving a towel on it at 5am, which becomes, 4am, which becomes 3am, which becomes midnight, just so you can be first. Although I never made it to the Costa Del Sol, partly for that reason, it seems to have been common knowledge that this strange ritual was started by the Germans.

Easy. Because you can't know that the queue will be only this long or shorter every day. If someone had turned up at 0700 when the queue tickets are handed out (that's when I counted the people in the queue BTW, not at 0830 - sorry, my mistake!) every day for a week or two and then averaged out the numbers, then we would know. Any volunteers out there for doing this? Also, if you get a late queue number, you will have to come back in the afternoon. For some, that's not a problem. Me, I want to get it done in one sitting.

Also, if I had turned up at 0700 that day and the queue was too long, then I would have to come back again the next day. In order to be at Immigration at 0700 I would have to get up at 0530 because I need 30 minutes to drive there and 1 hour to shower, eat and brush my teeth (I don't like to hurry). And then the next day I would have to be at Immigration at 0630 or 0600 to make sure I get a queue number that day. What a waste! And it isn't beach towels we are talking about, but an extension of stay for 1 year in Thailand. So the stakes are a tiny bit higher.

Then it`s your choice if you think the stress, discomfort and inconvenience is worth it for the sake of an extra 3,000-5,500 baht once a year. No one else likes it either but that`s the way things are for the time being.

I used the word 'blackmail' in my original post. That was too strong a word. That was why I requested that a Mod remove it about 4 hours after I posted it - but it wasn't removed until 6 AM the next day, and 45 min before that you quoted the sentence I had removed. Bad luck, I guess. I will have to be more careful with my words in the future.

The Visa Companies serve a function for those who are willing to pay for it. And I am NOT saying it's illegal in any way - just that I am not willing to participate.

OP, how many people were in the spouse extension queue by the time immigration opened? Did anyone get told to comeback the next day?

I was busy snatching up my queue ticket and diving into the waiting room when Immigration opened, but I made time for a quick look backwards: maybe 15-20 people (with married couples counted as 1) in the spouse extension queue at the time. I didn't wait to see if anyone were turned back, but I don't think so. The really long one was the 'Teacher-Student-Missionary' queue.

Yesterday I got up at 0230. At 0340 I got in my car with my wife and drove to Immigration (old office). At 0410 I arrived at Immigration. There were 20 people there already queuing, total. But there were 3 different queues and most of the people were in the 'Teacher-Student-Missionary' queue. I was third in line in the 'Thai Spouse-Business-Other Queries' queue. For the last four years (since 2011) I have had an online appointment, but this year that wasn't possible to get because the Online Queue has been closed. Because of this I didn't know that there were chairs available around the corner to the left of the main building, but this was kindly pointed out to me by my fellow victims. At 0700-0710 or thereabouts two ladies from Immigration showed up and handed out queue numbers, real ones, not the plasic cards that I got last year (I had to queue early for a re-entry permit then) that were que numbers for que numbers. The waiting room was also opened at this time. In the waiting room I asked the guy who earlier was standing at the head of the 'Teacher-Student-Missionary' queue when he had first arrived. He told me: "Midnight". I almost fell off my chair. That's crazy, that he had to do that in order to make sure he got a queue number. Maybe next year we have to queue from 1700 (5 PM) when Immigration closes, and queue until the next morning. We should probably bring tents, sleeping bags and field rations - and plenty of mozzie repellent.

Immigration at the Old Office was a lot quieter this year - there were a lot less people waiting in the waiting room. If I had to guess I would say that at least 60% of all the "customers" were at the Promenada Immigration Office and less than 40% at the Old Office. The 2 guys in front of me in my queue were not there for a spousal extension, so I was called 1st - of everyone, including the other queues. I was called at 0840. Processing my paperwork and taking my picture took 20 minutes. Then I had to sit down and wait. At about 0910 I got called - and got my passport back. So I spent 5 hours at Immigration. That was actually fast for Chiang Mai Immigration anno 2015, I think. I had expected to be done by 1100, or after lunch if I was unlucky.

I was dreading to have to do all this again, queuing up at zero-dark-thirty at Promenada at the end of January for my Re-entry Permit (I don't get my spousal visa extension stamped in my passport until 22 January because my application has to be processed at the Head Office in Bangkok, and my old visa doesn't run out until 22 December) - but thanks to a post from NancyL I think I'll try to check in at the Prom at 0900 for the Re-entry -- because I REALLY HATE getting up at two o'clock in the morning! Thanks again, NancyL, you're doing an incredible job updating and helping us all with information about Chiang Mai Immigration on the ThaiVisa forum. And I agree with you that it is elder abuse to require seniors to stand in line from 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning just to get a queue ticket at Immigration. A disgrace is what it is. And please don't get me started on the Visa Companies.

That said the officers of CM Immigration in the Old Office were friendly and efficient, as they always are in my experience. It was the 4 1/2 hour wait before my number was called that was the problem.

I am doing my yearly extension based on marriage in about 3 weeks. For the last 4-5 years I have had an appointment via the Online Que, but this year that isn't possible. From what I have read in this thread/topic I should go to the Old Immigration location, right? But does anyone know WHEN I should be there - how early - to get a number for that day. I know it probably varies from day to day, but a "ballpark" time would be nice. 4 AM? 5 AM? 6 AM? I would hate to, for instance, arrive 2 hours earlier than nessessary... Thanx!

^ That's called doubling down. Except for the buffalo costume?

Given his arms' length comment I'm sure he can handle a little levity. Presumably you'll be posting something more helpful to the OP shortly.

A little levity, huh? You really are special, aren't you? Almost unique.

'Love At First Bite' is the best place in Chiang Mai for cake, they are head and shoulders above the rest.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293917-d942137-Reviews-Love_At_First_Bite_Bakery-Chiang_Mai.html

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If you like cakes made with margarine instead of butter and taste like it, then I agree.. If not, go to Charcoa House or Butter is Better or La Genoise.

I don't like cakes with lots of cake dough in them (they have to have some, of course) - so I guess butter doesn't matter that much to me in a cake.

I've been to Butter is Better and tried their cakes, and they were good but not great. The Love At First Bite cakes & pies are great. But this is all a matter of taste, of course.

'Love At First Bite' is the best place in Chiang Mai for cake, they are head and shoulders above the rest.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293917-d942137-Reviews-Love_At_First_Bite_Bakery-Chiang_Mai.html

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Is Koolpunt supposed to mean something? A pun or play on a Thai word or? Google does not link to anything else

I always thought it was just a very strange but not unpleasant type of utterance to associate with a Moo Baan, perhaps a failed attempt to invoke a feeling of Euro style or modernity.

I know these titles do not often mean anything other than just to sound pleasant certainly with a nice vowel to stretch out at the

end. as in "Nimana", "Promenada", etc..

Try switching the K and the P in Koolpunt. I drive past Koolpuntville 9 every day - and one day it sort of clicked in my mind.

And KP9 does have some pools in it...

Elected, yes, but many people would like a democratic elected government......Kim Jong-un was also elected....

And they want a corruption free (well everyone can live with a 10 % corruption, but not with what the Shinawatras took) that does not abuse power and don't shoot random people.

I am continually amazed that so many farangs in Thailand support military dictatorship for Thailand - but support democracy in their home countries. It's so schizophrenic.

I moved to Thailand from Scandinavia 12 years ago, to Chiang Mai. My father moved to Thailand 4 years ago, to Hua Hin. He loves the sea and beach life, so he didn't want to live in Chiang Mai. I go visit him 2 times a year and he visits me about 2 times a year. We each stay about a week. But only the first year did we stay at each others houses - and we both have plenty of room. But like has been stated earlier in this thread about guests and fish: after 3 days they start to stink! So for the last 3 years we each stay at nearby hotels when we visit each other. And we have a great time for a week in each others company: we spend the whole day together, but nights and early mornings/breakfast we spend apart. That works for us. My father is a great guy, he turned 75 this year and he married a thai lady in her early 50s three years ago.

I thought all the milk in supermarkets in Thailand was made from powder. If it's true that Meiji is real milk then I will start buying that brand only from now on. Thanx for the info. :-)

This reminds me of An English guy I met here once. He was complaining about all the immigrants in England.I asked him what did he think he was.His answer and belief was that he was an expat! Ahh I said, your an immigrant worker here.. If you work and live in a foreign country you are an immigrant.Ex Pat is a term that was used to seperate the notion of poor(often dark skinned immigrants) and affluent White people from the West. At the end of the day we are all immigrants and should show some compassion to other immigrants despite what colour their skin is...

Farangs living in Thailand are mostly Non-Immigrants (which is why their visas say so) -- very few have PR status or Thai citizenship. Only the latter two categories are Immigrants to Thailand. Non-Immigrants are in Thailand temporarily. And all three categories of farang are a financial boon for Thailand, unlike the Third World Immigrants and Asylum Seekers in farang countries who get PR-status and citizenship -- and as a group they cost Farang countries A LOT of money. And they almost never leave. They have migrated permanently. There is a big difference, don't you think? "At the end of the day we are all immigrants"... how very Politically Correct of you!

A map of the flood that hit Chiang Mai in 2007 - I don't remember the month... august, maybe?

The first time you apply for an extension of stay based on marriage with Chiang Mai Immigration, especially if you have never had this extension type before in Thailand, CM Immigration will almost certainly come and speak to your neigbours and ask "nosy" questions. They might also want to come inside your home and look around - and speak to your wife while they are there. At least, this was my experience when I first applied -- and I have heard about others in CM having this happen to them.

Now I'll have to share Prom with all the riff raff

Sad - but true....I was at immigration last week for the first time in a couple of years.....The way people dressed was appalling - even when you discount the flakey ones and look at the rest.....A minority of us were dressed in a presentable manner - clean/pressed/groomed nice casual attire....

The rest I wouldn't want to see in my neighborhood/area.....

Maybe I was there at a bad time but these people would NOT look good -or natural/in their element walking around a nice shopping mall....Possibly a Walmart in Reno Nev or Vidor/Beaumont Tex or border town somewhere.....

What is it with you people and your fashion fetishes? seriously, I have been here for years and been to Imm. too many times and can't remember more than a couple of people that badly turned out. The fact you feel the majority have it wrong reflects more on your fetish than on them.... oh well whatever it takes for you to feel superior to the unwashed masses... I think I understand, poor guy.

Could care less whether you comprehend or not.....We are in somebody elses "house"....And we are asking their permission to remain here.....As a matter respect and courtesy to our hosts we should represent ourselves accordingly while asking.....Not too hard to understand and no fetish required.....If that's beyond you so be it.......

You think only "a minority of us were dressed in a presentable manner". I disagree with you -- and agree with Daoyai: only a small minority are really badly turned out.

Evenstevens... I have heard rumors of the army doing that, but have not personally witnessed it. What I have seen are locals going up to torch the forests for mushrooms. Up in Mae Taeng right now, they are out trying to get 100% coverage so they are indeed going back up to light more fires. If the government is setting the fires, that would indeed be a travesty.

Just because soldiers are setting fires doesn't mean the Government is behind it. Thailand is run by clans and different clans control different parts of the military, the police, the bureaucracy etc.

I have lived in Thailand for 10+ years and never had food poisioning - therefore it is safe to eat anything anywhere in Thailand.

I have never been killed in a traffic accident, therefore it is perfectly safe to drive in Thailand - and people who claim otherwise are thai-bashers who should "go home" to their own countries.

Also, Thailand does not have any homeless people, because I haven't seen any around where I live and work.

Hello..... anyone home?

Call me a, bread head, wage slave, or corporate whore, it makes no difference.

For me personally, I would rather stick with the, final salary index linked company pension plan, free medical, and life insurance plan, free housing and kids schooling packaage, free flights from X to Y every year.

Not to mention the COLA, tax free salary, the severance package, free shipping costs, free company car.

Etc etc, please let me know where this can be had in Bkk at a salary of at least 300k per month?

Last one I was offered was for about 96/98k per month, sorry, no chance dont think so.

Anyway to answer your question, some of us guys have, qualifications, knowledge, experience and have held positions that pays a dammed sight more than a TEFLr wage.

If you are here teaching just to be with Little Lek from upcountry for 30k per month, best of luck to you.

If this is true, and you make a ton of money, then why are you so insecure that you have to mock a TEFL-teacher? It's almost as if you feel inferior to him. And in my opinion - you are.