vitp4145

Thank you very much for your help, CLS.

Hello all,

I am getting ready to apply for my state pension in the UK. They require evidence of my marriage to a Thai lady (November 1989). They also require evidence of my divorce (May 1999). My ex-wife and I went to a Thai office, paid 50 Baht and it was all done and dusted in 20 mins. I don't recall ever having been given a divorce certificate. All I have is this document, which I am pretty sure is the marriage certificate from 1989. Would anyone be kind enough to confirm this for me? Many thanks in advance.

I would like to express my deep appreciation for all the posts in reply to my original post. Many thanks indeed for the contacts and advice given to me. In particular, offers of aid to get this sorted are especially appreciated no end, as is the practical help already given to me by elgordo38.

Thank you one and all.

I have tried online from my tablet, but it does not work. On my PC it will not go past the first page. As for mailing it in, I cannot get to a post office and in any case to arrive within 7 days of the due date, it would have get to immigration by Saturday (is that possible given there is only two days before that date?)

My problem is that I am new to the area I now live, and do not really know anyone close who I could ask to help.

Hi everybody,

I am hoping that someone, somewhere can offer me some good advice.

On 5th July and 27th July I had a stroke and a minor stroke, respectively.

My 90 day report is due 9th August, but my physical condition is such that a trip in person to immigration is simply beyond my capabilities at the moment.

Does anyone know of a visa company that would help me in this set of circumstances. I cannot travel around chiang mai itself, so I would be looking for a company that would pick up my documents from where I live and act as a third party to do my 90 day report.

Anyone know of a reliable and reputable company that could assist me with this problem?

Many thanks in advance for any recommendations given.

Did you have a OA visa you obtained at an embassy or consulate?. Or are you calling a one year extension of stay you applied for at an immigration office a OA visa?

If you had a OA visa and you tried entering after the enter before date you needed a re-entry permit to keep you last one year entry valid.

If an extension you needed a re-entry permit to keep it valid.

This is of interest to me.

I have a one-year O-A multiple-entry visa issued at London on 6th August 2014. The use before date is 5th August 2015. I used the visa to enter Thailand on 13th August 2014.

I left the Kingdom on 4th February 2015 to visit Vietnam, returning on 17th February 2015. I was admitted to 16th February 2016.

I intend to take a trip to Laos in July 2015, returning 3rd August 2015. I anticipate being stamped in (all being well) until 2nd August 2016.

As my visa will expire on 5th August 2015, I understand I will need a re-entry permit if I leave and re-enter the country between 5th August 2015 and 2nd August 2016.

Have I got this correct? I really do no want any unforseen surprises at the airport when I re-enter Thailand on 3rd August 2015.

Many thanks for any clarifications on this matter.

Hi there

I am in Chiang Mai and am on the lookout for a joystick/flight controller so that I can run my flight sims and space sims.

I have tried Siam TV and Pantip Plaza here in Chiang Mai, but no luck.

Does anyone know of a place where I can buy a joystick/flight controller here in Chiang Mai?

Many thanks to anyone who can help ...

The income of equivalent 65,000 baht per month does not have to be shown in a Thai bank.

I tried to edit my OP so as to include this qualification, but the Edit links seems to have gone.

Many thanks

I think you pretty much nailed it. A minor quibble in that you can get a re-entry permit at the airport (not just your local Immigration Office) but other than that your outline reads as an accurate description. I've done much of what you've postulated with differing dates (obviously).

I didn't include the option of getting a re-entry permit at the airport as I read somewhere on this forum that no reports of anyone having done that had been posted, so I thought it better to omit that one.

But I am grateful for affirmative feedback (both replies) as it can be confusing. It's welcome to be able to think I've got it squared away.

Forgive me if this post elicits groans along the lines of "oh no, not again", but I have read many posts concerning multiple entry Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay) visas, extensions of stay and re-entry permits and they have engendered a sense of confusion in me that gives me the motive for this post.

Undoubtedly, my circumstances may not fit all, but I would wager they fit many and so I would like to present my understanding of the issues, with a later edit to account for any inaccuracies I may be labouring under, so that anyone new to this will be able to get a clear overview of what is what.

I am a UK citizen, 58 years of age and have entered the Kingdom on a Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay) multiple entry visa.

My visa was issued on the 6th August 2014. It is required to be used by 5th August 2015.

I arrived in Thailand on 13th August 2014 and the stamped entry in my passport states that I am admitted until the 12th August 2015.

It is my understanding that if I choose to stay in the Kingdom - no leaving and coming back in - then I must apply for an extension of stay in a 30-day period ending on 12th August 2015.

Given that it is a multiple entry O-A visa, should I leave and re-enter the Kingdom on any date before 5th August 2015, I will receive a stamp that states I am admitted for a further year from my date of re-entering. For example:

1) I leave the Kingdom on 5th February 2015, returning to the Kingdom on 19th February 2015. My passport will be stamped as admitted until 18th February 2016.

2) I leave the Kingdom on 31 July 2015, returning to the Kingdom on 3rd August 2015. My passport will be stamped as admitted until 2nd August 2016.

So, if I were to do both 1) and 2) or just 2) above, I would be admitted until 2nd August 2016, with nothing more to concern myself with but the 90-day reports and ...

... TWO months before 2nd August 2016 I would have to have funds in a Thai Bank to meet the requirements relating to an extension of stay (i.e. B800,000 or an income of B65,000 per month, or a combination of the two). In any case, I would have to apply for an extension of stay in a 30-day period prior to 2nd August 2016 (in the above example).

However, I would not have to concern myself with obtaining re-entry permits as long as I left and re-entered before 5th August 2015.

Further, from the date my O-A visa expired (5th August 2015), even though I may be stamped as being admitted until August 2016, should I wish to leave the kingdom anytime between 5th August 2015 and 4th August 2016, I would need either to obtain a single-entry or multiple-entry permit at my local immigration office.

Following the above logic, with a stamp in my passport stating admittance until 4th August 2016, come what may, I would then have to apply for an extension of stay.

I apologise if this post is not set out as clearly as it could be, but that is likely the result of my own confusion ...

Please, folks, wade right in and point out any misunderstandings that I am labouring under, so that I may edit the above and - hopefully - provide a measure of understanding, not just for myself, but for all others who may be in doubt, just exactly how this whole shebang works.

Santander, UK ...

What a bank! I do so regret not changing banks before I moved here to Chiang Mai. For anybody in the UK about to go through the process of obtaining a non-immigrant O-A visa with a view to moving here to Thailand, a cautionary tale ... a head's up, so to speak.

Whilst getting my documentation together for the visa application, I requested a bank statement so I could show evidence of funds. No problem said Santander, only it can take up to three weeks to arrive. Well, in the end it took four weeks before they concluded that the statement "was probably lost in the post". In the end, I had to get a mini-statement printed out at my local branch and get it stamped and signed by the manager.

Prior to flying out of the UK, I was told that transferring funds to my Thai bank account here in Thailand via telephone banking was "no problem whatsoever". Ha-ha, when I tried it I was told that for security reasons they had to phone me back on my number here in Thailand. "No problem" I said, "I'll hang up and you can ring me back." ... "Oh I can't do that. Your telephone number you've just given me has to be on the system for 30 days before we can do an international transfer to you via telephone banking." (Had I been told that when I enquired about the procedures for telephone banking transfers abroad, I would have registered my telephone number with them as soon as I had it, i.e. August).

They refused to allow me the use of my ATM card for longer than eight weeks, so here I am with what's left of the cash I brought over here with me, and I cannot make a transfer until after November 14.

People, if you are with Santander UK, beware ... IME, they don't make it easy for you to get at your own money!

I have often wondered about this one myself. As a prudent fellow, I would ask:

"Where can I get a list of Budhha Days, Royal Birthdays and any other day where alcohol might not be for sale to cover 2014/15?"

Then I can make sure I do a double run the day before.

You have received some very good advice here.

The only thing I would add is get a guest house for a couple of weeks so you can search all of Chiang Mai. A lot of the areas that have been mentioned can be noisy.

As elgordo38 says his unit is in the back. It is much quitter than the front. I believe they have a construction project right across the street from the front units. Some of them may also have bars that can be loud at night.

Good advice also. Thank you. I'm in a hotel at the moment - until the end of September. Time enough to have a look at the serviced apartments and their surroundings.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the advice/responses above. Thank you all.

I was in the same position like you 4 years ago, starting my retirement life in Chiang Mai. Yes, buying and/or renting with a real estate agent will be more expensive that doing with the help of interested Thai local people. In my opinion, the best move is to rent a very nice furnished studio on one of the many Condo-Hotels, called Service Apartment, In a good location will be from 6000thb to 8000thb/month for at least 6 months contract. Many in Neeman area, Doi Suthep Road area, and close to the Chiang Mai University....very easy tuktuk acces to all the city. That rental agreement is good enough to prove local address for immigration. That will give you time to look for a more permanent place, to meet helful local friends, and make your mind about your final destination. In my case..I started in Chiang Mai and ended in Lampang, close enough to Chiang Mai and other nice cities, and was the best move at that time. Buy?...only after you really know that Thailand will be your permanente residence and exactly where and why....Drive?..never....specially in busy cities. Found friends with transportation to tour you around, and do not take the risk of an accident..Needs referrals?..let me know.

Thank you indeed for a sensible slice of advice. That would give me time to avoid making any "newcomer mistakes" and would indeed give me the opportunity to recon the areas of Chiang Mai. I have googled serviced apartments in Chiang Mai and will pop out and have a look at some of them over this coming week.

Anyone got any recommendations for a decent place, say in the region of THB 8,000 or so a month?

Hi folks,

Not long arrived in Chiang Mai. This September I am looking around for a permanent place to live. As a new arrival, I don't know anybody really and so thought I might get some advice here.

I see many blogs and youtube videos that say it's much better if you can get a Thai friend to help out when searching for rental accomodation, as the cost may be less than if a real estate agent is used. That isn't an option for me as I don't have any friends here at all, let alone Thai friends.

That being said, I have had a look at several websites advertising houses and condos for rent. As I have no transport, living aways out of town in a house is not really doable I think. Thus I'm thinking it would be best to look for houses/condos for rent that don't require I have a car or motorcycle/moped to get around.

Is it safer to rent a condo than a house? By this I mean from the viewpoint of the safety and security of one's belongings. In other words, is burglary a concern here in Chiang Mai?

Would I be advised to use a real estate agent? By all accounts I would end up paying more, but I don't see I have any real alternative option. Are the real estate agents here in Chiang Mai reputable? Could anyone recommend a good agent based on their own experience?

Any advice in respect of the above would be sincerely appreciated.

By the way...get the biggest screen you can... you will need the salesman to turn it on and show you. The keys are easy on the cheap Nokia, but the visual screen turned out to be smaller than the size I thought it would be....even though the actual screen was large. There are similar phones..but my Nokia is just plain and simple. No swiping and no choosing through tons of options. Turn on and use. I like the annoying SMS ring in loud, obnoxious Morse Code. Makes me feel every bit the Cheap Charlie I am. One look at that phone and the bar gals just move on down the line.

Also enjoy the look of disdain on the salespersons face when you point to this model.

I went to the Electronic Plaza on the main drag south of the Moat. I picked up a Samsung (call and text only) for B567. The young girl did look at me kinda funny when I indicated that was the one I wanted. Still, if it does the job that is all I am concerned with. That the locals will think me a Cheap Charlie ... I can live with that.

I just bought a 600 baht blue Nokia that texts and does voice. My computers and cameras are doing their own work..and do not need replacement. If I get mad at the phone, I just toss it. Also, can leave it anywhere...nobody wants to grab it. LOL. Love it.

That would do me just fine. Where would a new arrival in Chiang Mai go for one of those?

Any nearby Big C, Mall, market area, Tesco Lotus.... pretty much any cellphone shop. Where do you stay?

I am staying at a hotel on the south side of the old city ... Waluai Road ... I've looked around at the local cell phone shop, but he was selling new ones at B3,000 and second-hand ones at B1,250. I don't need to spend B3,000 on a basic phone, though I would want a new one as at B600 it's not the end of the world if it goes wrong. Do these places sell SIM cards as well?

I just bought a 600 baht blue Nokia that texts and does voice. My computers and cameras are doing their own work..and do not need replacement. If I get mad at the phone, I just toss it. Also, can leave it anywhere...nobody wants to grab it. LOL. Love it.

That would do me just fine. Where would a new arrival in Chiang Mai go for one of those?

Hi all,

This might seem rather old hat to most of you, but at the tender age of 58 I've managed to avoid owning a mobile phone. However, now that I am in Thailand for retirement, I think I need one. Googling shows me a plethora of options for buying one. I basically want a phone that makes phone calls and has a SMS text capacity, but that's all. I have my laptop and tablet for all my internet and game needs. I don't want any complicated plans and stuff, a top up via card from 7/11 would do just fine. It would be neat if I could get cheap rates on phoning home to the UK.

Would it be best to head out to the Central Mall or should I pop down to Pantip Plaza? Or doesn't it make any difference?

I have just arrived in Chiang Mai on a long-stay visa, intending to spend my retirement in Thailand. Before I left the UK, I enquired about using my debit card to withdraw money here from the ATM's. My UK bank charges me about £4.50 per every £100 I withdraw, so with Thai banks hitting such a withdrawal at B180, that equates to about £32-£33 charges were I to use an ATM machine to withdraw my monthly pension.

With Thai banks charging expat cards, and the greed of my UK bank, that is a route I shall not be taking. Once I have a Thai bank account, I can have my teacher's pension paid in directly to my Thai bank account. The charge for that is £1 per month, as they don't operate with the greed of the banks in the UK, who would charge me £25 for transferring my pension from my UK bank to my Thai one.

I will work out how much I need to supplement by pension with on a yearly basis, and just make the one annual transfer.

Hi all,

In a few days I will arrive in Chiang Mai to start what will hopefully be a long - and hopefully glorious - retirement. I'm 58 and fairly fit. However, it seems prudent to be insured against accident/illness. Does anyone have any recommendations as regards local insurance vs global insurance companies?

Many thanks for any assistance here.

After much trials and tribulations, I am now in possession of my Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay) Visa.

As I prepare to book a flight, I thought I'd check here first. Would I be correct in assuming I can enter Thailand (UK-Bangkok and then on to Chiang Mai) having purchased a one-way air ticket? It is significantly cheaper than a return fare and I would be looking to stay in the kingdom for a long time to come.

Any comments gratefully welcome.

The OP states that 3 visa application forms and three photographs are required ... but the requirements posted on the Thai Consulate website cite only one visa application form with two photographs.

Could anyone with recent experience of this please clarify the contradiction? I'm due to hand in my visa application tomorrow.

I am not sure but it seems they sort of said yes. If you can get the mini statement stamped and signed by the bank that should be alright.

My bank are none too co-operative, in that today I was told I could have a mini statement, but they would not sign/stamp it. Looks like I am going to have to wait until the printed regular statement arrives in the post.

I find it incredulous that it takes them between 2-3 weeks to furnish a customer of 20+ years with a printed statement.