Taffyfromflint

Went today to C Mai for another extension of my Non-o. Told to come back with a bank statement as they wouldn't accept copy of bank book ( as I have done for the last 6 years) Bank statement for a savings account does not show running balances as it matures every 90 days. Now have to go back and get a bank statement for my ordinary account, which does show running balances. My deposit account has been active since 2015. Bah humbug.

As everyone else has commented bringing your car and a LHD one is the worst moove. I bought a new Toyota pickup here when I arrived 7 years ago. You can get a really good deal from Toyota or Mitsu dealers on new vehicles. Driving, my wife does it and that in itself is cause for a heart failure. And I used to tutor safe driving in the oil and gas industry. Tools, didn't bring any, all brands are available here and that includes household appliances. I did bring my Macbook and iMac. Elec supply here is 230v @ 50Hz. I had an almost new cruiser motor cycle and to ship it plus 300% of its' value, plus, plus  tax I gave it my son as a parting gift..Wouldn't ride a motor cycle here in any case, too bloody dangerous. Happy days
 

I recently applied at the Australian consulate in Chiang Mai for a new Australian passport. My old passport had five months before it expired but as my retirement visa expires at the end of February I decided to apply for an extension using my new passport. I have read conflicting accounts about how IO just extends the visa as you cannot transfer the original from one passport to another. This is essence is correct, however there is a slight twist. On 5th February, I visited the refurbished IO near the airport as Promenada is now closed, this was my experience, and it was extremely easy.

Documents required:

- New passport,

- Old passport,

- Bankbook ( and copies of all pages) plus letter of confirmation from bank,

- Copies of old passport and new passport (old passport has official stamp from Australiam embassy noting transfer of details and new passport number),

- Completer TM7 form (Extension)

- Completed TM8 form (Re-entry permit)

- 2 x photos (as per Thai immigration specification)

- Form for transfer of visa information to new passport (these are available at IO )

Process: 

1.  09:00 - Arrived at IO office with my documentation, Information counter checks and issues ticket number. (first ticket is for transfer of visa details)
2.  09:05 - Proceeded to correct counter number where IO checked document and form. IO stamps new passport with extension stamp and enters previous details from expiring stamps out of old passport, also stamps details on Non O visa and previous extension dates. (This is in fact a duplication of the stamp and details which were in my old passport)
3. 09:25 - Take passports (get a copy of stamp details page from new passport) back to information desk and have TM7 and corresponding documents checked and receive new counter ticket number.
4. 09:50 - Called to counter and present documents, have photo taken by IO, new passport stamped paid fee 1,900 Bht, and asked to take a seat.
5. 10:20 - Called to counter and given new passport with visa extension stamp inside,
6. 10:25 - Proceed to information counter and present TM8 and passport, issued new ticket counter number,
7. 10:30 - Called to counter and present TM8 and passport, had photo taken, paid fee 3,800 Bht, and asked to take a seat,
8. 10:40 - collect complete passport and leave Immigration

Total time at immigration 2 hours and 45 minutes, all the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. Overall experience, 10/10.

Note: Apparently the office operates from 06:00 - 16:00, no need to get there at dawn and queue as has been in the past.

The previous day my wife went to the same office ( upstairs) to have my confirmation of stay at her house re-issued, (no forms to fill in just issued new insert for passport) Time at office, less than 15 minutes.

Thanks for the timely advice

My last 90 day report was submitted by mail after arriving from O/S in September. I have never submitted a TM30 after living here for 5 years with my Thai wife in our home. Now the visa extension and re entry permit is up for renewal and the agent advised that a TM30 will be required before submitting a new request for another visa extension. Interestingly the CM immigration office didn't ask me for a TM30 when I submitted my 90 day advice. Should I proceed as normal or just fill out the TM30 and take it to imm before my application.

On 5 January 2017 at 4:12 PM, Taffyfromflint said:

Great luck here. Just before Christmas I copied my passport pages and together with the TM47 sent EMS to CM from Sansabai post office together with a pre paid reply ems envelope. I week to the day the 90 day form came back acknowledged. Whoo hoo

On 3 December 2016 at 5:32 PM, ubonjoe said:

I would yes you could do it online or by mail but I think not for CM. They have gotten overly strict on TM30 reporting and want you to them every time you enter the country. If they don't a recent one on record they may not do your report.

Great luck here. Just before Christmas I copied my passport pages and together with the TM30 sent EMS to CM from Sansabai post office together with a pre paid reply ems envelope. I week to the day the 90 day form came back acknowledged. Whoo hoo

I had my extension and re entry permit in February 2015. Since then I have been on various overseas trips and not had the need to submit a 90 day report. My question, as my 90 day expires in late December can I apply by post / online or do I need to go into Chiang Mai imm?

Bugger me, had the stair treads and risers replaced, and guess what the little sods were spotted scaling the concrete walls in the corner next to a door frame (didn't attack the wood) again the pest company came out and swamped the intrusion then drilled the floor inside the house and pressure fed deterant. Fingers crossed this works (this time)

A total waste of money as not suited to Thailand's high humidity.

They will only make it worse.

Quite correct on this one. In arid areas such as the inland regions of Australia these are a godsend as these area are dry and hot with zero humidity. What these units do is add humidity in the form of cool water vapour so as far as Thailand is concerned the above thread is spot on.

They can easy eat your ceiling rocksheets, staircase, laminate, furniture, doors and so on. Make sure you get rid of them totally.

They especially like abandoned houses which are quiet.

Do you guys also spray the chemicals under fruittree's in the garden? I wonder if that's smart to do or not. Last time they sprayed our garden against termites the lizzard came to drink the drops of the lawn

Same problem here. Saw tell tales on the bottom riser of a laminated clad staicase. Striipen the risers and tread and the buggers were there in the thousane. The pest man came out and informed us that the pipes under the house rarely work propery. House only three years old. Long story short the pest company owner came and confirmed that the problem was the storeroom under the stairs, exterior access. Wif uses it to store her sons boxes of sh#t. Piping funtioning ok so driling the store floor and swamping then replaceing the damaged laminate which only goes up two treads. lucky this time. Borax is a sure killer if you can buy it in TL.

Yes, fiancé was listed in the sponsor letter. I thought this might raise a red-flag, but I thought with our business and other ties back in TH that this would not be as big an issue. I guess I will read the posts here on how to get a fiancé visa now. My fiancé is still crying. What a disappointment, but I am not completely surprised from reading previous experiences posted here.

Thank you for the advice.

You stated the on your fiance's police report there was a DUI. In the States (as with many countries) this is classified as a criminal offence. I had a friend travelling as a member of a sports team to the States and was rejected on entry owing to his previous conviction in Australia for DUI. I would look into this. My wife didn't need to get a police report for her U.S. visa. Worth exploring further maybe but be advised if the question on the application asks if there are any convictions for criminal offences then you have to state it. That's the keystone in this matter.

Having just returned from 3 weeks in the US I can say non of the perceived problems noted by your friennd was experienced. Thai ie name different to mine. Just ake sure her full name as is on her passport is reflected on her ticket

Not so hot if you are in Chiangmai trying to do a retirement visa renewal....anywhere else, yes, but Chiangmai immigration is a nightmare

I have previously done 3 Non O myself while in Oz. This time I went for an extension (CM) I was told by three different officials what I needed to do, this was after waiting hours in the Q. One told me just do a visa run to Mae Sai.

My decision then was to seek out various agencies and do a comparison. The one I chose checked my already completed forms and make a few changes. Later that day I got a call from the agency to report at immigration at 9 the next morning. At 9:05 I was shown escorted by the agent to a desk and the formalities were completed in less than 5 minutes. I was then asked to report back the following morning for my RE permit. Same thing 5 minutes in / 5 minutes out. 7,000 Bht plus government fee. Not back considering the run around I got before. methinks agents have the inside info with some officials. My extension and RE permit were also dated from the expiry date of my non o. In CM it pays to use a service, at least the first time.

Thanks for the info...

My non o imm has expired and I have my extension and re entry permit. Do I continue to use the non o imm visa number on my arrival card or should I use the number on the extension?

Took my Thai girlfriend to Singapore last year with no problem. In fact immigration there were so surprisingly friendly, polite and welcoming. The complete opposite to the miserable and surly Thai immigration at BKK.

Ditto, went to Sind 2 months ago with my wife, who has refained her pre marriage name. No problems at all.

Is there any restrictions on time between 3 month visits.Eg,quick trip to NZ.

Once you leave Australia e.g. for a quick trip to NZ, then when you return from NZ as long as your Aust visa has not expired then you will be granted another 3 months from the date of entry from NZ.

Lots of differing comments here, but the underlying theme seems to be cost restraints in the "west"

I worked in Australia until I was 67 but came to LoS 4 years ago.

1) my house was rented out, but negative geeing doesn't do much good with no income.

2) Australian pension sux

3) Private funds depleted following divorce

4) Rising cost of living in Australia (as many will testify)

Since here have built a house, which would have cost 5 times as much in Oz. Continue to travel. Cashed in old house.

Can live on 50k Bht pm.

Since the OP seems to have unlimited funds, he has the choice that few can afford. Good luck wherever he chooses to plant himself down. I'm happy here but must admit if I had that kind of $$$ it would be 6 month in TL and travel for 6.

No complaints, just don't try and tell your Thai wife how to drive :-)

With that kind of money try north Queensland Australia

Weight up and down like a brides nightdress for 50 + years,( 68 next birthday) don't drink as much here as in Oz, gave up smoking years ago but still have a hankering for a drag now and again, The upstairs "gym" keeps the exercise regimen on track. healthy outlook, keep away from fast women and slow horses.

You can apply for the extension during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries from your visa.

Thankx for the info

I think an extension of stay is well worth going for but you really don't need an agent. The application process is fairly straightforward.

You can get re-entry permits that allow you to exit and re-enter whilst keeping your stay alive. Single re-entry is 1,000 baht, Multi re-entry is 3,800 baht. So you can come and go as much as you like.

90 day reports can be done online or by post if you don't want to report in person so shouldn't be a concern. You can even pay someone else to do the report for you.

If you continue with the multi entry visa you can extend each of your 90 day stays by 60 days (1,900 baht) as you are married. This means it's only necessary to do a border hop every 5 months.

If you can meet the requirements I would recommend a 1 year extension of stay.

Thanks all for the info. Just one other ??. How long in advance can I apply for an extension?

I am on my third non imm o based on marriage which expires January 2016.

In the past getting a new non imm o annually wasn't a problem as I was frequently returning to Australia. Since I am no longer travelling back and forth is it worth applying for an extension, using an agent as I am in CM, or going to the expense of returning to Australia to get another non imm o?

Of course the 90 day run vs 90 day reporting is a consideration as well. What are the pro's and cons?

Please no BS artists.

thanks in advance for the advice.

I've just had a passport renewed which was completely blank. As long as you submit your old passport along with the necessary forms and fees, than you will get a new one issued.