1happykamper

Yes. Last week in Jomtien... Agents were almost as many as direct clients... and they had stacks of passports

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!

That will happen if you are using a VPN

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

Well.. My COR include a frigging photo that glued to it! Why? It's stupid. No one really knows anymore

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. 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.

... 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.

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

She said sorry for what? Strange indeed

and you know this because you last visited... Last week.. Or?

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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

Thanks for your help everyone ????

Morning! Great comments except for.... The quote... Can you please translate this into English?

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.

Thanks OP

Pattaya is a tidal wave of broken humanity. Happy New year everyone! ✌️????????????????????

Beer with an English breakfast is disgusting. Yeuk 5555

It gets a bit warm and muggy here in Thailand. That said...not including about 8 hours of nightime sleep...how many hours do you normally spend inside your home? More than 10? Less than 3? Or......?

Hi. Not my intention to hijack this thread... Just to add info from others along the same topic... Which is cost effective alternatives... My quote today was 8k for a root canal on the back molar. 3k for a post and 10k for porcelain over metal crown. I'm 72 years old... So... I checked a few threads from 5 years ago... where the prices stated were HALF today's prices.... Is this about right? Extraction seems OK.. If I knew I would be dead soon 555. Otherwise...