ChomDo

I was checking out the Fatboys service you mentioned and it does sound tempting if they could get a slot earlier than by me going to the DLT on my own. Not sure if they have that capability but if I can get the DL renewed before March 25 I would be willing to pay plenty extra just for the peace of mind. I will call them on Monday just to see what they say. It also sounds worth it if using them limits the trip to the DL to one as you said. But would I not have to visit their office or can the docs they need be sent to them by email? And after that just one trip to the DL on the appointment date. I guess the agents can also guarantee a smooth process and avoiding issues. When I went there with my wife, I had some sort of issue every time which is a real headache.

Yes but it proved to be quite useless. I registered succesfuly and you could book an appointment for DL renewal in the DLT of your choice but it shows "FULL" for all 3 DLTs in Bangkok until mid April. I think my only choice is to try the walk in first at DLT3 and then Chatuchak. It seems to be just a question of luck that some can do it and others get handed an appointment date. I'll have wife call them first tho if they could give some info.

I've just received info elsewhere what a few foreigners were getting the extensions done easily by using the DLT Smart Queue App. A few said they booked a time at Baan Khun Tien Bangkok (never heard of the place) and got it all done in 20 mins. Anyone used this system successfully? I'll give it a try but hope they don't require any of these pink, yellow etc coloured ID cards and booklets some expats talk about. Never had any of those. I would assume the DL number would do when you're extending and not applying for a new one.

Yes I read it all and some other posts and noticed that you have to be present. Then it just makes it pretty much the same as when I go with my wife who normally does all the talking and handling. I would be willing to pay extra to make sure I get it done within the coming weeks but I guess the agents can't help with that or get a walk in. My visa handling company can get me the certificate of residence in a week but what I don't understand now is how do I know when to order it if it's only valid for 30 days and I have no idea if I will get to do the DL extension within that time frame. I sure hope I can do it as a walk in but that's optimistic. I basically need to get it done before March 25 or my road trip plans are screwed. I can go to any DLT in BKK - whichever is quickest. There must be some way of booking the time online, no?

That's music to my ears! Hope I get lucky but knowing the DLT 3 I'm thinking of just going to Chatuchak instead eventho I live much closer to DLT 3. Can you tell me if your DL was close to expiry date? Wondering if that makes a difference. What I'm really trying to get at that is there no way to make that booking without visiting the DLT first? Just to go there and queue up to ask theses questions takes a few hours out of my day. Someone mentioned DLT's booking app which was only for Thais but seemingly was possible to have wife to book? I suppose on option is that I have everything prepared and then go and see if I can get it done right away or they will give me an appointment time. The problem with that is that the certificate of residence is only valid for 30 days so what if they give me an appointment time more than 30 days away. Well that would no be the only problem since I'm going to drive to the south of Thailand in about a month from now.

Any updates on this? How to book a time at BKK DLTs now in Feb 2023? So can I have my wife book a time from DLT Chatuchak for me?

Seems like nothing has improved then. I don't get it what they require now. The big question I have now is how to make the booking?? During covid times in 2021 I had to go to Bang Chak to pick up a queue number for a month ahead but there must be some easier way. Not that I have to go to that maniac place twice?

Thanks, so I have been hearing that Chatuchak is faster and more convenient. Do you mean that in any case I would need to make a booking for appointment. Can I really not get it renewed by walk in on the same day anymore? If that is the case, how do I make a booking? I read that the agent process requires you to go with them so in that case I don't see any benefit really.

Ok that's great and thanks for sharing. This would really save me from a lot of hassle and I guess they won't require an appointment for the agents so I could get it renewed in time? So then I would need to trust them with my passport and documents or can they get it done with copies or how does it work? If they get it done for me for 1800b without me having to step foot into the chaotic DLT, what would be well worth it :))

Hi, My driving license is expiring in April and I would like to renew it soon. I've had all sorts of complications at DLT 3 (Bang Chack) before so any advice would be great. So in my experience the requirements are different every time, but basically I will prepare a Certificate of address and take my passport (with business visa). Last time they wanted the medical certificate so I guess I'll just get that beforehand just in case. Anyway, my main questions is that does DLT 3 now work as a "walk in process" or would they turn you away and require a booking? I really hope I can get it done in one visit and not that they give me a booking appointment in a month's time or something. I have heard reports of both but thought that the booking system was only in place for Covid restriction times. Can anyone confirm this and give any insights if they now do it as walk in? I think this is my 4th DL in Thailand. I have had 1 year + 5 year + 2 year and now hoping to get a 5 year license as I have a proper visa (last time I only got 2 years because had TR visa). I'm also interested if there are agents who can do this for you? I would really not mind paying a few thousand to avoid a hectic half day at the DL or even worse, having to go there several times. Are there agents to do DLs?

That's interesting and might have been covid too because it often takes a few tests to show positive. For me it was the second test and for my mom the 3rd. Now it's been exactly 2 months and I'm noticing that I don't really have that slimy throat after any type of food. Still a week ago I would have to release some mucus after oily foods. I guess c19 gave me some gastric reaction (I do have that tendency anyway) that took long to get rid of. But still I'm glad I didn't have any other after effects like tiredness or loss of strength.

Thanks for the additional replies. Now after 6 weeks it's not totally gone but kind of slowly reducing. Now I get maybe one cough of mucus after breakfast and after that only if I eat something oily or spicy. Whatever it is, covid triggered it but I can't believe this has anything to do with the actual virus anymore.

Thanks for the advice Sheryl. Yes this issues is very minor to me as it now only effects me after meals. So just to be precise, I caught covid on my trip to Europe and the only two symptoms I had was dry itchy cough and a fever (max 38.5C) for 3 days. After that I felt pretty good but some mild cough left. Then a few days after recovering I started to have a lot of mucus coming out (up to this point the mucus is clear in colour). I would say that stage stage lasted about 2 weeks. During this time it was not just after meals but coughing out mucus throughout the day. I tested negative on day 10 and soon after that flew from Europe back to BKK. Didn't notice any change there. The same symptoms continued. At this point I started to take the combo of NAC+Mucoflux. After a while the actual slimy cough dissapeared and slowly the mucus issue was more and more related to eating. For the past week now, I only notice it after meals. The most significant mucus release is after breakfast and that's when I really need to cough it out a few times. When I eat during the day, I always have some mucus after but very much depending on the food. Anything fatty or oily is a problem. As I mentioned, it's not really effecting my daily routines but just wondering if others have had this specifically related to food. I know many have reported coughing mucus for up to 2 months after covid but not only after meals I guess. Just trying to figure out if this is still related to the virus or I developed a gastric issue afterwards. I do have some tendency to get slimy after fast food but not to the point that I need to cough it out like this. Well I hope it goes away by itself sooner or later so I will just give it time. It's been 5-6 weeks since I tested positive so. Just most curious about why it's now related to food only?

Thanks for sharing. You had quite some symptoms from c19 then. What's surprising about this is that the Omicron symptoms for me were very basic: fever and cough for 3 days - nothing else. I had none of the tiredness, headache or body aches. Now I've been totally back to normal condition for at least 2 weeks already and exercising, which actually feels like helping out too (I never feel slimy while swimming or doing exercise). The only real problem is eating. After every meal I have to spit out a mouthful of slime, more so in the morning. As the mucus is totally clear and transparent I would not suspect any bacteria or the need for antibiotics. I guess if this goes on, I might visit the doctor just to check but been reading that many people have had slimy cough for moths after. I'm more trying to focus on the after meals effect cos I have not heard of that specifically.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone here has experienced the same as I after having covid. I got infected in Europe 5-6 weeks ago and had fever and quite a cough for a few days. After that it seemed like it's all gone but then started the slimy cough that lasted for weeks. Now after over 5 weeks I don't have any actual cough but the mucus/slime still comes up especially in the morning and after meals. Somehow it seems to be mostly related to eating as I have to spit out mucus for quite a while after each meal - breakfast being the worst. Anything oily triggers a much worse slime reaction. I took NAC and Mucoflux for nearly 2 weeks and can't say that it helped at all. The mucus has been clear all the time so non of that nasty green stuff I had after influenza (indicating bacteria). Has anyone experienced this and any tips what I could do? Just keep waiting it out or is there reason to suspect that c19 caused some gastric issues? Perhaps @Sheryl would know? Thanks!

Thanks for confirming this. Seems like doing it in a mall is more convenient in terms of parking etc. I made a booking already so should be smooth. Let's see if they want to see a TM30 this time as it's the first time I actually managed to do one online.

Hi, I was making a booking to do my 30 day extension for my visa exempt stamp and from what I could understand, it should be done at IT Square Laksi. Can someone confirm that this is correct? Always been to Government complex or MTT for my extensions but maybe this has changed. Also, has anything changed with the papers required or is it just the normal passport copies and filled in form with 1 photo? Thanks.

I can't remember all the details but it did have some very strange and unreasonable requirements. Still, I guess many remote workers (as most people these days are after covid times) do work for the same company/client for at least 6 months and have the income to prove it. That was one of the requirements. The part that I found most ridiculous about the requirements tho was that you have to prove that you've been working for the past 6 months so at the same time you're revealing that you've been living in TH with some bonus visa but still working haha. I mean shouldn't matter if you work remotely for clients outside of TH but still that sounds a bit dodgy to me.

Sure that's true too. I've been considering getting it many times but then I always hesitate because I can't see myself living in TH or at least BKK much longer (been here 15 years and kind of tired of it all). Now I basically stay in Europe for about 3 months every summer so it doesn't really seem necessary either.

Well based on the details published it would be compatible for many of us, but yea again not designed for the best outcome. What's ridiculous about the Elite is that you have to pay 600k up front for the 5 years ahead. Who knows if you want to leave after 1 year. I'd rather stick to TR visas and regular travel then.

Just replying to some of the discussions above. Many people do leave Thailand for the more attractive and welcoming neighbouring countries and that's very understandable. I've just about had enough with all the visa nonsense. Lived here for 15 years now and always the same difficulty with visas. How long have they been talking about this Digital Nomad Visa now?? It's becoming a real joke. Sometime last year they confirmed it and approved the details and still nothing happening. What a lost opportunity to have all the high-earning digital workers head elsewhere instead of having a proper visa in place. That would just be a no brainer wiw-win for both sides.

Oh ok then it won't help me. If I remember correctly the starting date for the new 45 day entry stamp was sometime in October?

Well sure, I'm actually shocked it's still being offered haha. People always thought it's the last time since well over a year ago so who knows. Anyway, I'm not expecting to utilize that, but can someone confirm if the 30 day extension is going to be switched to a 45 day extension? I read news about exempt being 45 after a certain date but not sure if it was also for the extension. Just calculating when I would need to do my first trip abroad since I'll be arriving on an exempt next month.

Don't have recent experience but flying in from Europe with exempt next month and no plans on buying an onward ticket because as many of us do, we might do a land border crossing to Laos, Malaysia or wherever so a flight ticket should not be required. That was one of the main reasons I didn't bother applying for a TR visa cos they would need to see a paid onward flight which in my case is just a waste of money since I live in BKK. Once or twice I was asked for an onward ticket at departure and I just said I don't have one because I plan to continue travelling and perhaps exiting via land border and that was never a big problem.