Tracyb

8 hours ago, Thailand said:

Toast?

Toast-ed! And certainly hope he’s toast.....  if not we may see a violent insurrection.

Shouldn’t “he” be more concerned about how the man escaped from the IMM holding room?

I'd cross them off my list of vendors and move on down the road to a store more savvy in customer service.

21 hours ago, Lungstib said:

All’s well that ends well..... at a price!  I'm assuming Tracy that you are a bona fide, all documents in order type of stayer in Thailand. But you used an agent, and one assumes that this came from the necessity or desire NOT to spend all day hanging around at Immigration. And for that you paid a decent fee that we can assume was shared between that agency and Immigration. And such is the situation at C Mai immigration that we are pleased at having resorted to unnecessary payments to get a service completed that should be a simple formality.

You are correct in your assumptions.  I’ve done my past four extensions in Bangkok, on my own, with no help from agents.  Then, I moved to CM and opted not to sit outside immigration from 2 AM onward to wait for a queue number.  

I wouldn’t say that I’m pleased at having paid an agent.  I WOULD, however, say that I have more respect for my time and gratefully, sufficient resources, to enable my finding a workaround the current situation irrespective of the reasons for which they exist.  I try to find serenity by simply accepting the things I cannot change.

If you pay it off get your name on the chanote.  Agree that the best interim option seems to be ......make the payments directly to the bank for the time being and then see how things “flesh out” in the future.

On 9/16/2018 at 11:14 AM, Tracyb said:

Hi...  This was an agent in CM.  In BKK I always did the ext. of stay myself at CW.  This is the first time I used an agent, mostly because I was just not interested in queuing up at 2am or hiring a line sitter.  The CM agent was clear that IMM would want to interview me.  They elaborated further and explained that CNX IMM have begun this inquiry process in the past month because they have found applicants in CM with Previous BKK extensions who were not “entered into the computer system.”  I got the impression after further conversations with agent that IMM was more interested in whether or not I actually did live in BKK on the date of my last ext. of stay.  Apparently some unscrupulous agents have been using someone with a stamp from the BKK jurisdiction for fake extensions. 

 

I guess they’ll look me up in the system and when they find my info they’ll approve my extension.  I also have some documents that can substantiate my prior residence in BKK.

 

 My tm30has been in place since I relocated here several months ago.  When I filed it I also tried to file the tm28. They told me that I didn’t need to and just took my tm30.  That was at the end of 2017 so I can’t vouch for what they may be asking for today...  

 

I am using income.... not seasoned funds.   I did provide further documentation to verify that my income is legit along with the consulate letter.  Everything went to immigration office for “processing” and I’m now waiting to hear back.  I’ll keep you posted as this develops.

Here’s my update...

I recd a call from my agent on Monday telling me my extension was approved.  I met my agent this afternoon (Tuesday) and recd my extension.  No interview required.  No extra documentation needed beyond my pension statement attached to my consulate affidavit and a copy of a chanote for a condo in BKK with my name on it.  All’s well that ends well.

If you’re coming from the USA, check out Capital One online banking and open a checking account there.  They do not charge an International transaction fee and they offer a daily limit of US$1000.00 for withdrawals.

Transfer funds (via ACH transaction online from your bank by initiating the transaction with Capital One. ) into that account to use for converting via ATM on this end.  They will send you a DEBIT card via FedEx and you can use if here without transaction fees.  That’s the route I use!  You have to do this before you leave home tho.   They won’t send the card to an international location.

4 hours ago, tdah said:

Yep, its going to be the same 6 months every year, we leave OZ in November, and come back the end of April, get out of our hot summers in OZ and get out of Thailands hot summers. I already have a bank account in Thailand, so will have money in that, Thanks again for the advice.

Just want to be sure that the bank account is in your name only if you plan to “season the funds” and use that for your “proof of income” on an extension of stay for retirement/marriage....  800k vs 400k respectively. I don’t think Immigration will accept a joint account for this.  Agreed that the retirement route is easier than the marriage route.

On 9/14/2018 at 6:17 PM, scottiejohn said:

Not only that but I assume a TM28 has also been done prior to the TM30.

If so my comments in my previous post re funding etc mean there should be no further "proof" required.

I am still interested to know if this is a CM agent or perhaps an agent at the previous "address" making this claim of "proof".

Hi...  This was an agent in CM.  In BKK I always did the ext. of stay myself at CW.  This is the first time I used an agent, mostly because I was just not interested in queuing up at 2am or hiring a line sitter.  The CM agent was clear that IMM would want to interview me.  They elaborated further and explained that CNX IMM have begun this inquiry process in the past month because they have found applicants in CM with Previous BKK extensions who were not “entered into the computer system.”  I got the impression after further conversations with agent that IMM was more interested in whether or not I actually did live in BKK on the date of my last ext. of stay.  Apparently some unscrupulous agents have been using someone with a stamp from the BKK jurisdiction for fake extensions. 

I guess they’ll look me up in the system and when they find my info they’ll approve my extension.  I also have some documents that can substantiate my prior residence in BKK.

 My tm30has been in place since I relocated here several months ago.  When I filed it I also tried to file the tm28. They told me that I didn’t need to and just took my tm30.  That was at the end of 2017 so I can’t vouch for what they may be asking for today...  

I am using income.... not seasoned funds.   I did provide further documentation to verify that my income is legit along with the consulate letter.  Everything went to immigration office for “processing” and I’m now waiting to hear back.  I’ll keep you posted as this develops.

I talked to an agent today about getting my Extension of Stay - Retirement.  Since my last Ext. was done at Chaengwattana, Bkk, I was told I would need to be examined by IMM to prove why I moved to Chiang Mai.  Anyone else have this experience?

In and Out burger 

On the outside chance that you might be inclined to do so, Do NOT get a tattoo.  very, VERY high risk of disease regardless of anyone’s recommendations.

How can this happen?  Oh, wait.....  ya, TIT.   SMH.

Congratulations!  Now, be mindful of how much time your wife spends outside the USA from now until when she gets naturalized.  I don’t have the exact info on this, but I do know that if she goes out of the country for a certain period of time, and I thinks it’s cululative, she may be denied naturalization at the end of the five year period.  Worth investigating if you don’t already have this information.  Best wishes for continued happiness.....

I use a mail service in Seattle for the same reasons you used your MFS. Wanderer’s Mail Service has been around since the Alaskan Gold Rush. They have a web site that you can link to by googling them.  I’ve been using them for 5 years now.  I highly recommend them. 

Really!  Yes, really.  I live in CM.  My expat friends have had to endure the extension process here and I’ve been keen on watching them as my time is coming in a couple of months.  

Scenario One:  Friend went to Promenada where Immigration is and got in line at 2:30 AM.  He was number 10.  By 3:30 AM there were 30 people in line. IMM offers a very limited number of queue numbers, hence the need to spend the early morning hours in line.  

Scenario two:  A second friend followed our first friend’s example and went to get in line at 2:30 AM.  He and several others were escorted from the queuing area by security guards at 3:00 AM and the place was locked down.  No one was allowed to re enter.  At 6:30 AM, the guards reopened the queuing area to accommodate a bus filled with Chinese that had just arrived.  They took all the queue for the day, forcing our friend to leave and return another day.

My plan is to use an agent when I need my extension of stay here in CM.

When I lived in Bangkok, I had no problem going to CW for my extensions every year.  I won’t be going to Promenada to sleep on the floor anytime soon.  I’ll pay the extra for the agent to arrange my stamps.  I see at as a cost of doing business in CM.

Well, maybe they could mail your check to a friend or relative living in the US, and assuming you have a bank account over there... your friend or relative could deposit the check into your account for you and you could initiate your own TransferWise transaction.

Of course, they were all wearing helmets.......  or were they?

Seems like your ex employer should either perform a domestic wire transfer or....an ACH transaction.  They’ll need your banks routing number and your account number....all of which are printed on the bottom of any checks you might have ( if it’s a checking account you want it deposited to).  Or just contact your bank and get the necessary info.  Good luck!

I HATE it when that happens!

13 hours ago, Mattybyrne88 said:

Haha cheers pal

Actually, we’re not kidding about bringing condoms with you.....  you may not find your preferred style....not to mention size....here in Thailand.  Worth thinking about and....not kidding!  Have fun!

here's why.....

Signs and symptoms[edit]

If symptoms of histoplasmosis infection occur, they will start within 3 to 17 days after exposure; the average is 12–14 days. Most affected individuals have clinically silent manifestations and show no apparent ill effects. The acute phase of histoplasmosis is characterized by non-specific respiratory symptoms, often cough or flu-like. Chest X-ray findings are normal in 40–70% of cases.^[5] Chronic histoplasmosis cases can resemble tuberculosis;^[6][7] disseminated histoplasmosis affects multiple organ systems and is fatal unless treated.^[8]

While histoplasmosis is the most common cause of mediastinitis, this remains a relatively rare disease. Severe infections can cause hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and adrenal enlargement.^[3] Lesions have a tendency to calcify as they heal.

Presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS) causes chorioretinitis, where the choroid and retina of the eyes are scarred, resulting in a loss of vision not unlike macular degeneration. Despite its name, the relationship to Histoplasma is controversial.^[9][10] Distinct from POHS, acute ocular histoplasmosis may rarely occur in immunodeficiency.^[11][12]

Complications[edit]

In absence of proper treatment and especially in immunocompromised individuals, complications can arise. These include recurrent pneumonia, respiratory failure, fibrosing mediastinitis, superior vena cava syndrome, pulmonary vessel obstruction, progressive fibrosis of lymph nodes. Fibrosing mediastinitis is a serious complication and can be fatal. 

Good job!

Good for them!  The seeds of political action have been sown in their minds.  Their voices mattered!