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1happykamper
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Posts posted by 1happykamper
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Pattaya is a big mess Yes. If you think otherwise you're one of the apologist types.
Last week I wrote about my 4 trips to a very crowded Jomtien immigration office. An absolute mess
Yesterday I went for my first visit to the "local" Department of Land Transport... 18 km from Jomtien where I live. The area was absolutely packed!
I was there to renew both 5 year licenses.
I already knew that this trip was just to check my paperwork and get an appointment date. No online appointments possible. Why not? Moving on.... the earliest appointment was February 9. Oh come on! I figured 2 or 3 days later.. not 10!
Several posts have been on this same topic... and that is... Why are the government offices in this area so busy and simply chaotic? With hundreds of people OUTSIDE these buildings they are obviously not adequate.
It's no wonder that Thai people don't bother with getting a license... 2 days off work!
The respective DLT in Krabi and Chiang Mai are huge compared to here. In typical Thai fashion.... Thailand government wants more tourists/others but has no facilities to support those visitors.
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I'm moving from Pattaya to Chiang Mai in the next 2 months.
I already have 2 certificate of residency.. To renew my bike and car license... The certs were issued by Pattaya DLT
Will the Chiang Mai DLT accept the Pattaya certs?
Alternatively... I can renew my Licenses here in Pattaya before my move.. What hassles / legal requirements do I have by using a license to drive in Chiang Mai issued in Pattaya?
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On 1/27/2023 at 5:25 PM, James105 said:
Not a snowball in hells chance of getting it the same day. I renewed mine 3 weeks ago and it was a case of:
1. Going to immigration to get residence certificate (2 separate trips over 2 days as immigration was jam packed).
2. Going to DLT to make appointment. They only have 70 appointments in the morning and 30 in the afternoon. Note this is not an appointment to actually get the licence, it's just an appointment to get the documents checked and then make an appointment to get the licence. I got there about 10:30 in the morning and there were no more appointments for the morning so I was told to come back in the afternoon. Due to me not really understanding the process I asked her a few questions and the time it took her to explain why I needed to come back in the afternoon took longer than the 2 minutes it took to check docs and make appointment when I returned in the afternoon. During this part there was also lots of agents queue jumping so this can waste a lot of your time even if your number is next to be called you can end up waiting a long time as any agents will go straight to front of queue.
3. Actual appointment to do the colour test and reaction test was scheduled for about a week later. Lots of waiting around, but got the licence same day and took about 3 hours total.
On the bright side the girl who did the document check didn't realise I was only entitled to a 2 year extension with my visa and not a 5 year licence so I managed to swag a 5 year one.
You might be able to reduce some of the time wasting by using an agent, but the guy I was chatting to there who did use an agent said it cost him 5000. That cost provides the ability to queue jump the initial document check, but still requires you to make (I think) 2 trips to DLT, as it seemed the agent cannot get the documents checked and the actual appointment for the licence without you physically being there so not sure how much value they add other than a bit of queue jumping.
Did you get a medical exam cert?
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5 hours ago, CharlieH said:
Wonder if Agents rolling up with 20+ applications etc are causing a bottleneck ?
Just a thought.
Yes. Last week in Jomtien... Agents were almost as many as direct clients... and they had stacks of passports
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11 hours ago, liddelljohn said:
Residency Cert is only 200bt at Jomtien I did one 5 weeks ago you were scammed , also go in the morning not 3pm , avoid Bangkok Bank Go to SCB or Krungsri ,, they will open account easy peasy
Oh I know I was scammed for sure...it supposed to be FREE and i've gotten them for exactly that at other offices. The fact that I paid 300 and you 200 is hilarious 555. More proof that they are absolute crooks!
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17 hours ago, phetphet said:
I have recently had to stop using it due to constantly being asked to tick Captcha boxes with every search. I tried every remedy that I could find on the internet, without success.
In the end I changed browser search engine to DuckDuckGo.
That will happen if you are using a VPN
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44 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:My 33 years of experience here suggests otherwise.
The fact that the RTP will travel to Taiwan is indicative of the cops are not lying. Otherwise they would let a sleeping dog lie
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38 minutes ago, Klonko said:
I received my COR original from my embassy via online service. I copied the original on my color laser mfp and it is hard to tell the difference between copies and original. One original for proof of residence three times in December and January. I am pretty sure that I could have kept the original.
Well.. My COR include a frigging photo that glued to it! Why? It's stupid. No one really knows anymore
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2 hours ago, rankric said:
You were in no rush you said, clearly. Who arrives at immigration at 3pm. This story would never have needed to be written if you had planned your activities properly.
OK Einstein... When should I have gone? Monday and Fridays.. Stay away... This is basic. .. But I was there at various hours of the day AND I occasionally walk by that place.. It was always a busy mess.
41 minutes ago, kinyara said:I decided is was a good opportunity to open an additional bank account during COVID when business activity in Pattaya was at an all time low and immigration was devoid of tourists, there are ways and means of helping yourself minimise official hassles with a bit of planning.
I'd always recommend anyone going to be based in Pattaya contemplating retirement to ensure their initial Non O is obtained in Sep/Oct.
So you telling me to plan a pandemic to get in and out faster. Gotchya.
I agree on the visa timing. However these items couldn't wait... Licenses and new bank account.
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... I should add... That I STILL needed to return for FOURTH TIME to pick up the actual 3 certificates... and guess what... Immigration staff handed me just TWO! Another 15 minute wait while they fixed that cluster f. You can't hire writers to think up stories like this. 5555 Maybe old Monty Python writers would have done a fine job.
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This story was born all because of the idea of renewing my Thai drivers license and opening a bank account. Two items which are fairly easy to do in most countries that I have visited or lived in. I've lived in seven countries and visited forty... so I'm familiar with "change".
I've lived in Thailand since 2015 and Jomtien Beach since June 2021.
So the first step is learning about the requirements. What do you need for a driver's license and a bank account? Both had one thing in common, a "certificate of residency", which is only issued by Thailand immigration. I visited Pattaya branch of Thailand immigration for the first time. I only stayed 10 minutes because it was obvious, at 3:00 PM in the afternoon, that the office was chaotic and full. I planned to return a few days later when things would be calmer.
Certificate of Residency.. Thailand immigration is certifying my address. Remember this.
I returned a few days later at 1:15 PM. Things were far from calm... . maybe 200 people outside and god knows how many inside the building. Yes, I counted them. Approximately 200 people were waiting outside. 100 people in the same line as me. I call them Disney lines... the lines that weave up and down. I waited one hour and 30 minutes just to enter the building. Keep in mind that I'm 72 years old outside in Thailand steam bath. Then I waited another 10 minutes and a line to get information inside the office. I thought I had all the required documents, but they changed the requirement, instead of a lease agreement, now they wanted a TM-30 as proof of my address. An address which, by the way, I could move from tomorrow. They sent me to a room which would duplicate my TM-30. I waited 40 minutes for that duplicate. Right above the window where I collected this all important certificate was the requirements.... which offered a lease agreement as proof of address. Give me a break..
They sent me back to information, information, looked at all my documentation. They said everything was fine. It is now 3:50 and they sent me home. Come back tomorrow they said, even though I insisted I stay because they don't close until 4:30. Geeeeeez
I returned the next day. I returned this time at 3:00 PM. I went straight into the building this time since I had a fast pass now. Slightly less crowded now. I also needed a photograph of me for each certificate 555. One hour and 10 minutes of waiting and I was asked to pay 900 baht for the three original certificate of residency. No copies (could be different in Chon Buri) are accepted at DLT or the bank. One for my motorbike, one for my car, one for the bank. Then they told me they wanted money. And I said, oh, I'm in no hurry. I had read online that if you want to wait one or two weeks, then it's free. No, they stopped that I was informed. So I paid 900 baht and I asked her receipt. No receipt, they said go away! Seriously 555. Krabi.. completely free.. wait 20 minutes and no photo needed.
The first time I visited immigration here in Jomtien... the security man, a volunteer, prodded my chest two times. You, you. You wear your mask. I'm surprised I didn't break his f#cking fingers off. Very bad guy. If a Thai man did that to another Thai man... what do you think would happen? A big fight. Maybe death.
So now I have my residency certificate which was required by Bank of Bangkok.
I went to the bank... Confident I had the required docs.. Passport... Retirement stamp.. Certificate of residency. Easy enough. They wanted a letter from my landlord. Why I asked ? Then they said they wanted the original lease. I don't have that. You told me (a week earlier) I needed the certificate of residency. That confirms THAT! That's the whole point of the certification! I lost my sh#t in that branch on Beach Road. The woman was a complete c#nt. Very disrespectful. Other ridiculous questions and forms were required at 2 other branches! Finally got a new account. Funny thing is... I HAVE a Bank of Bangkok account.. In Chiang Mai... at a branch that was closed down!
This whole bureaucratic system in Thailand is a bunch of horse manure. It's absolutely ridiculous. Nobody in Thailand government follows the same rules.
In immigration this morning, for example.. and this is funny, I needed to use the toilet. An immigration staff pointed me to the door. Go there he said. Well. The door said "staff only".That's OK, the immigration staff said. So I went inside and a different immigration officer man kicked me out as I'm waiting inside to use the toilet! Funny but pathetic.
Foreigners in Thailand remember how well they were treated in their home country and there was.... Consistency.
Here in Thailand maybe those that smash up 7-11 shops, or get drunk and pick fights with 5 Thai men have had a tough day in Thailand... all they wanted was Certificate of residency but just never got it. Just guessing.
That's how bad the organization is. They don't know even who is allowed to use the toilet! I can see why people leave Thailand because it's a totally f#cked up, bureaucratic nightmare of a country. But I've been here eight years and I've stayed here 80% of the time. There are no better alternatives. Believe me, I've traveled to Bali.. Vietnam... Portugal... Spain... all the current hot spots. Mexico was good from 2012 until 2015... then the cartel threw away the rule book on leaving expats and tourists alone.
Thailand. A love hate, codependent relationship.
Next week... Renew my Licenses. What could go wrong! 5555 5555
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She said sorry for what? Strange indeed
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4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:
You have to go and get an appointment first. Apparently the depth perception test is broken or removed, for now anyway
and you know this because you last visited... Last week.. Or?
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Anyone got a new license or renewed in the past week?
Experience was? Walk in... Get license same day... Or?
Pattaya is one of few DLT that has a "broken" online appointment system
Thanks
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22 hours ago, mushroomdave said:
Did you try the Bangkok Bank branch across the road from Thepprasit Night Market
Yes I did. No they won't. I have a nonI visa AND BKK Bank account in Chiang Mai! Bloody idiots can't think logically
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So the cars parked next to all the construction ditches... Are not a problem? 555. Double parked cars next to all markets.. That's OK too. A sign next to the curb... Very very bad 5555.
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8 hours ago, Seattlite said:
Hua Hin Immigration has a separate window (behind the normal building) for creating these residency certificates. That window (and the next door copy and photo shop) are very efficient, and will have it all done within 30-60 minutes. Do you really need to stand in the usual line at Jomtien Immigration to get the Residency Certificate?
Incredibly... Yes! Just for a, simple certificate. Lots of 90 day reporters also in same linel. Like I said before.. >ts a mess there. Krabi immigration... 10 minutes and usually no waiting. Fortunately I'll be returning to Chiang Mai soon... It's little better there.
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46 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:That may have been good advice before the high season, now you'll just get sent home
Yep... Waited 2 hours...checked my papers... "come back tomorrow" 5555. You can't make this stuff up.
Many people for many years are often remarking how easy Thailand immigration is. Are they insane?
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4 hours ago, dddave said:
Just go to Immigration about 3pm. The lines are short by then and things get done more quickly.
Funny man 555. I've been here at immigration since 2pm... I did the same last Thursday.. 2pm...but quickly decided to return on a better day. Like today.
Jomtien immigration is a mess! I have to wait.. I need this... But I'm guessing.. Standing for 90 minutes. I'm 72 years old.. Fit. But still.. This is absolutely BS
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I need to open a Bangkok Bank account. Both branches in Jomtien area want a certificate of residency. Immigration is a crowded mess right now... Sooooo...
Who knows a bkk bank branch that will open an account with no residency certificate? Passport and non-O visa is what I have.
Thanks
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Thanks for your help everyone ????
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On 12/31/2022 at 9:07 PM, LaosLover said:
Even down by the night market, you can easily find side soi's with a sole proprietor papaya pounding station that feels like you're far away from modernity -even within any given 100 meters in the well-visited Old City. Compare CM to a place like Florence and it feels much more alive.
Morning! Great comments except for.... The quote... Can you please translate this into English?
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I need to renew my 5 year license. First time for me in Pattaya... Will I get my license on the first visit.... Or just an appointment to return? Is there an online appointment system?
I already have taken the online eDLT class.
Best kind of places for the medical certificate... I really want to avoid hospitals. Clinics?
Thanks for your help.
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Pattaya is a big mess
in Pattaya
Posted
Really? A friend who lives in BKK said last year it was a 3 month wait to get a license ?!