Ombra

You might think it is worse, but when I am driving I can stop and walk around and get my circulation going. I can also lie on the back seat and raise my legs for a while, which is something that doctors recommend as a way of avoiding blood clots.

I have about a two-hour drive and I am hoping to be at the bank by 9 a.m. and then at Immigration by 10. I did think about leaving later and submitting my application in the afternoon. Perhaps 2 p.m. would be better.

Last year, I was in Nakhon Phanom and I waited for more than two hours in a quiet office. When I changed my address to Prachuap Khiri Khan, that took nearly two hours in Hua Hin. As someone said, what takes time is waiting for some senior person to sign off on the paperwork.

I buy wax ear plugs from Boots when I am in Bangkok, but even they are not enough to block the sounds of motorcycles or the bass sounds.

That is a good idea. I think that their English is very good, but a letter might be useful just in case. When they look at me, they won't need much persuading that I am in poor health.

I will use an agent next time, but I have left it a bit late this year. I am in an isolated area and haven't searched for a local agent, but it is clearly necessary for the future. Thanks.

That is amazing! And it is great to hear. Thank you very much.

Thanks a lot. I hadn't thought about that. It is in the officers' interest to have few people in the office. Submitting my papers and returning later would suit me fine.

Thank you very much. I agree entirely about the helpful nature of the officers and about their professionalism. I should just speak to them, as you suggest.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I was thinking of going on a Friday and returning on a Monday rather than travelling on consecutive days. My physical problem is poor blood circulation, so that I need to walk around a lot. I can stop when I am driving and do that, but it is not normal to get up and move around in the immigration office. As for hotels, I have tried that and just slept badly because people go to Hua Hin to have a good time, which generally involves making a fair bit of noise.

I am 76 years of age and I am getting noticeably weaker by the year. Next month, I have to make a 260 km round trip to an immigration office, which is as much as I can drive in one day. As I shall apply for permission to continue living in retirement, it is likely to be a long day. Would they allow me to submit it one day and the return another day to collect it so that I can avoid sitting for two or three hours in the office? I am asking this question because there is no-one I can turn to for help. With thanks.

P.S. If you use a bank letter, you need to submit the letter plus a photocopy of it. I didn't have a photocopy and that wasted time.

I got a statement of my account from the Kasikorn Bank. For 100 baht or 200 baht (I don't remember which), they will type your name and address in English.