true blue

3 hours ago, NancyL said:

How do you explain the fact that it's not necessary for retirees to employ visa agents in other provinces in order to receive service in a timely fashion?  That it seems to be a situation unique to Chiang Mai.

 

It's not a "way of life" that we should accept as a cultural norm when it's specific to just one province.

Surely there must be agents in other provinces advertising there products including visa services.can not see the Thais not utilising a cash cow situation and pushing immigration help.if not cnx is lucky to have choices.

14 hours ago, NancyL said:

There's a difference between multi-tasking and cross-training.  What's needed at CM Immigration is more cross-training.  It doesn't make sense for one officer to be working his tail off at a task while others are sitting around playing with their phones.  Those with nothing to do should put down their phones and offer to help the guy who is having a busy day.  

 

I managed a customer service center for a large corporation for a time.  Every CSR had their desk laid out the same way, ie. with the forms kept in the same places on every desk, with the documents flowing the same way, tasks done in the same order, key phone numbers posted by their phones, etc.  Any of the reps could step in to do the other's job and one could answer the overflow phone calls for the other and input orders outside their zone without any service interruption.

 

When I came on board, however, there was one big exception -- the three ladies who handled the Canadian business had some additional tasks related to cross-border trade and they had made it all seem very mysterious and special, like no one else in the office could be dealt into the mysteries of the North.  As a result, sometimes the Canadian customers had to wait longer than the norm for the U.S.   It was a matter of performing some "cross-training" so that everyone in the office was able to process the couple extra documents necessary to ship our stuff across the border.  It really wasn't a big deal and it improved service levels.  However, the three women who had handled the Canadian customers forever didn't like the idea of having the share their holiday maple candy treats and other swag with the entire office, but oh well......

Walter mitty is alive and well I see.

48 minutes ago, lordblackader said:

 

City Hall, Mae Rim Road turn left at Highway 3029, you literally can't miss it. Amazingly efficient as well, took my Mrs out there 2 weeks ago, whole process took 20 mins and the passport arrived 3 days later (they promise 7 though), 1,000 baht for 56 pages vs my Australian passport which is 10,000 baht for 42 pages.  The office is on the ground floor, you can't miss it. 

Agree with most posts a very efficient service pity immigration could not take a page out of there book.

1 hour ago, sanemax said:

Yes, I think she had nothing to do 

It was 4 PM and there was only one other foreigner there at the immigration building .

Quote.note in dairy Friday 17th Feb 2018 imm quite.go for extension.

2 hours ago, Mark123456 said:

Have you never stopped to think that it might be because there are more foreigners in Chiang Mai than these other provinces of which you speak, especially the retired variety, which I believe is where the longest delays are occurring? Speaking to a friend of mine in Bangkok recently, he surprised me by telling me that there are often early morning queues in Chaeng Wattana these days too so it isn't just in Chiang Mai. You might think you're doing the local expat community a service but you could be doing more harm than good with your constant stirring.

 

Whether the situation is due to real problems or, as you claim, imagined ones that are used to steer people toward a certain agency, tea money is a fact of life in Thailand so there's no point getting worked up about it. If you wish to take it as a personal affront you can but it happens between Thai people far more than it does between Thais and foreigners. It makes me wonder who you think you are, to come to a foreign country and think you have some God-given right to tell them how to go about their business. I remember when I was in the oil & gas industry, doing business with arabs was a constant pain because they  always wanted backhanders from our chosen suppliers. However, that is the way that they do business over there, they don't regard it in the same way as we do in most Western countries - it's perfectly acceptable in their culture. Much the same situation exists here, although not quite so bad, but it isn't a concerted effort to rip off one particular group of people, it's the way life works in Thailand. You either deal with it or, as you are doing, you leave. But ranting and raving about it on public Internet forums does none of us any good.

Most sensible post so far on this subject.very intelligent assessment of people's gripes.you would think they would get a life.there so boring. And full of themselves

12 minutes ago, Bill97 said:

You are in the wrong country if you need definitive information.

Did my ext of stay last week.never a mention of tm30.

1 hour ago, Sparkles said:

The site is the size of a postage stamp, can't have both an extended office and high rise parking,won't happen..

Be nice if it did though.

6 hours ago, mduras01 said:

This is the guy that looks like a tall, deranged old bird that just woke up off a park bench somewhere? He is always around the KSK area and tried chatting up my gf until I told him to take a hike, which he did. Mental ill? Looks it, but smart enough to scatter.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

There's plenty of that type around ksk.seems to be some sort of magnet.that attracts so many weirdos to one place.

6 hours ago, Lizard2010 said:

I have heard that there will be parking in or under the building

We will have to wait till it is built before we can comment more

Belive there building a large multi story car park building there.

<<<<Removed post edited out>>>>

Renewed my ext of stay today

Nary a mentioned at all of this mythical troublesome.tm 30.wanted a copy of my last 90 day report

Otherwise everything honkey dorey. Quoted 44 baht to sterling for income letter.???

2 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

Please note that the interns are also not paid. If I am correct, the interns are there to gain some real-life experience.

 

This is entirely voluntary, all the foreign retirees get is maybe some free plain water or free rides to Promenada. 

 

Or free ride to immigration detention

9 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

There is nothing 'ludicrous' about this. They are there to help out fellow foreigners.

 

Some foreign retirees who has been living in Thailand for umpteen years like NancyL has tons of information and can explain the procedures better than those interns and with shorter time.

 

Of course, immigration must choose suitable retirees carefully. Maybe they can have the same benefits as the interns.

 

Find it middling

9 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

There is nothing 'ludicrous' about this. They are there to help out fellow foreigners.

 

Some foreign retirees who has been living in Thailand for umpteen years like NancyL has tons of information and can explain the procedures better than those interns and with shorter time.

 

Of course, immigration must choose suitable retirees carefully. Maybe they can have the same benefits as the interns.

 

Find it midingly amusuing a person can arrange a passport get a few bob together.travel a long way to Los then if want to stay can not fill in simple tm form and a few photostats to extend there stay.they must be either mentaly challanged or uneducated yanks

5 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

There is nothing 'ludicrous' about this. They are there to help out fellow foreigners.

 

Some foreign retirees who has been living in Thailand for umpteen years like NancyL has tons of information and can explain the procedures better than those interns and with shorter time.

 

Of course, immigration must choose suitable retirees carefully. Maybe they can have the same benefits as the interns.

 

Ye but would they give u a work permit.after taking a job of a Thai

After a visit to imm today.with all that flotsam walking around its a wonder they give out visas to half of them.there is plenty of notices in view explaining in detail all the necessary criteria for each application one needs.thats of course if one can read english.

3 hours ago, Lizard2010 said:

I just use the Bangkok Bank link as below

I believe most Banks rates are within a few baht

 

http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/WebServices/Rates/Pages/FX_Rates.aspx

 

Cheers for info.i use Bkk bank as guide.but I wondered what imm use do they have a fixed figure or go by a daily rate.suppose will find out tommorow.im okay up to 42 baht but it's hovering around that now.could get branch letter but bit late for that.

Slightly digressing.any knowledgeable person let us know what exchange rate mechanism imm use for income letter ext of stay.as rate are varying daily.

35 minutes ago, Lizard2010 said:

ES

You do realise that there has been many changed at Immigration

This a fact

You may not know this AS you use G4T

Everyone to there own choice

Always had been always will

Unless things change in Chiang Nai immigration

So stop going on flogging the dead horse

This would put anyone of coming to Chiang Mai After reading all this bickering

This a true fact

Hopefully in future people can state Their experiences

This a New Year

Hopefully not to many complainers

I see a pattern going on now

IMHO

Going Wednesday to imm for my one year sabbatical.see what all the fuss is about.

22 minutes ago, NancyL said:

How true.  Some of this may be deliberate on the part of Imm. to push the customers into using agents, some just may be due to lack of time or English language skills, some may be due to the higher ups changing the rules and procedures so often that the lower level Imm. employees aren't up-to-speed.  

 

The people staffing the "information desk"  at Imm. Prom are college interns and not the best source of information.  And as Konini says, Imm. Prom. has steadfastly refused to produce a document of sufficient detail to explain EXACTLY what is needed for common reasons to visit Immigration.  

 

I understand the Imm. officers in other provinces are kind, caring and take the time to answer questions properly.  Not so here in Chiang Mai.

And why is that.pray tell me.there must be a compelling reason.why they are so indifferent apart from executive reasons.ive always found Thai people to be reasonable accommodating and pleasent.

As cyber farang says be careful of travel agents in cnx about 5/6 years ago there was a a big con perpetrated by agents in chaing mai just be careful.

4 hours ago, NancyL said:

I can read and understand Thai, esp. someone speaking Bangkok Thai.  I can write (or rather turn out Thai with a keyboard, as in sending emails).  My speaking is bad.  Never had much of a chance to practice conversation.  I use it primarily when I'm assisting older foreigners at the hospitals -- listening to what the staff is saying, reading reports, signs, etc.  I studied with a private tutor for many years and the emphasis was on what I called "Lanna Care Net Thai" -- I know the Thai words for body parts and diseases, for example.

Shame your not living in Bangkok.l

52 minutes ago, Jeddah Jo said:

 

That's not true. They will post it anywhere. They only need to see a copy of tabian baan and ID card.

 

When wife got here's about 5years ago they would only post to her village address not here cnx address.maybe changed.now.

They only post to your birth address so it means a visit to your village if it applies.

26 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Oh dear god, as someone who has a user name that's pretty darn close to her real name, and has stood up in front of a public meeting every month in Chiang Mai for three years now where anyone on Thai Visa could track her down, based on her own posts about her activities,  I must admit that your paranoid is overrated.  No one has ever attacked me in person as a result of my Thai Visa posts.  Maybe I'm just not as young and attractive as I once was and just don't attract that type of attention. 

 

I remember when I was in my thirties and gave a talk about the tensile strength of glass fiber composite resin composites at some conference or some such nonsense that I used to know something about and someone from a competitor's company came to my hotel room at 2 am, knocking at the door, saying all he wanted wanted to do was to talk about my company's latest development in vinyl ester resins. Yeah sure.  Sadly, he didn't have a bottle of champagne in his hand.

 

Nothing that exciting has happened as a result of my Thai Visa postings.

 

 

Another Walter mitty mumbling post.

8 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

This has carried on too long (what a lightning strike of a surprise)....

 

Don't count on RSVP's from this group.....

 

Pick a place & set a time - those that show can exchange pleasantries & carry on....Those that can't be bothered, or too hung over, won't.....

 

Possibly a mid to late afternoon....Some will come to eat, have a brew, & chat - for some it will be afternoon breakfast time to start a new evening's adventures into the late hours.....

 

What started as a nice thought by the OP has gotten over thought/complicated.....

 

There's all different sorts/types here.....Just set a time/place/date & let the cards fall where they may.....

 

Trying to get a collective Amen only works at church & funerals....

Just wondered about this post the reason really and for what purpose.not to bring a warm and fussy feeling to all cnx  tv posters I'm sure propally some ultra motive at the end of the day.

49 minutes ago, true blue said:

Because they will f__k it up for genuine people.and another benefit will be withdrawn.

Be nice if you could get trump  to sign a executive order to stop yanks leaving America.think the world would be a safer place then.

12 hours ago, amexpat said:

Why?

Because they will f__k it up for genuine people.and another benefit will be withdrawn.