Dipterocarp

You can see them every afternoon at the food court at Kad Suan Kaew mall in Chiang Mai listening to the the Philipino band drinking beer and snack food they brought in from outside.

 

The cheapest guy in America I knew was making about US $180k per year and hardly spent a dime of it.  He owned multiple rental properties. A Surfer, lived in a small car, took free meals at churches and homeless outreach points and showered at the beach.  Supposedly he rented a car to exchange the tires with his worn ones which surely is criminal.  Something always not right about these guys

On 12/28/2017 at 1:05 AM, Danielsiam said:

They can remove the page where it have the stamp & visa, when they're already arrived in SA, then they can ask a renew of the passport ( lost, deterioration )

Most countries consider alteration of a passport to be a serious crime, not a good idea.

Chiang Mai immigration haphazardly stapled a TM form in my passport.

One of the staple holes went right through an active QR code in my passport for Japan.

I carefully removed the staple but there is a one tiny hole now in the sticker.

 

Is is still usable?

 

BTW They  said they would not staple but did it anyway (irritating). 

 

Looks a lot like this.

 

Chingmai, is this Chiang Mai?

I own my own condo but I am at Promenada almost every month when I return from work abroad.

 

From what I understand once you pay your fine and register a TM30 signed by the landlord a renter can do “updates” on their own to the same address. Notification is required within 24 hours of returning to Thailand but there is a 7 day grace period.

 

 

 

Never good idea to overstay, even a few days. How many hundreds were rounded in Phuket lately? I can speak for Chiang Mai when foreigners drive a motorbike around town center in high season you could be stopped by police three times a day. (Ok don’t ride a motorbike, are you going to hole up in a guesthouse then, in recent years coworking spaces and bars also got raided). If caught in overstay you will have major problems. If you get an overstay stamp in you passport other countries you may apply for a visa might reject you.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

In these cases I may contact the relevant senior Director, sending a letter via courier to head Office so at least it gets read. About 12 years ago I went to look at a Toyota in Orange County, California. Some saleman came out and almost immediately wanted a phone number. I told him I was “just looking today” however I would like a RAV-4 brochure. He then proceeded to follow me around at arms length as I looked at cars in the lot at an unnatural proximity. I asked him if he had to stand so close to me? He said if he didn’t he would “get into trouble”. I then let this pervert trail me inside for the brochure where I was shown a computer and told they were “out” of brouchures so I had to order one online. Again the form asking for all my details so I rolled my eyes and left.

 

At the door I was blocked by a large frowning salesman with a suit and mustache loking like some kind of a Mafia bodyguard with crossed arms without the slightest smile of courtesy. “Is there a problem sir? What would we need to do to get you into a new car today?”

 

Well they got my personal details alright. I sent a letter to the President of Toyota North America (FEDEX) detailing this situation and got an apology! Then sombody from the dealership sent me a partially hostile email asking “what I wanted from them?” These animals actually think they can intimidate people out of their money with thug tactics.

 

Ended up with a Honda CR-V from an online broker, You get the best price available in the area and go in with a sales order. Of course they try to upsell you on some overpriced options and other ripoffs but you tell them to get stuffed or you are leaving. Watch them cry boo-hoo.

 

Car salesmen are completely useless parasites in this day and age. Other than the maintenance guys they should just have pretty girls to take your money and hand you the keys.

 

In Thailand I have given my email and mobile so may times for point cards it is silly. What do I get but nuisance SMS messages daily, Thai emails I can’t read. Bought tiles from COTTO they must email me weekly though I have unsubscribed many times. AIS robocalls me, I not to answer any calls I don’t know most friends use SNSs anyway.

 

Total waste of marketing never convince me to buy anything.

 

Although it perhaps doesn't state it, the PE (I believe they are not longer referred to as TE) visa is in reality a long stay tourist visa, as, apart from the year long entries and extensions, it is the same as a tourist visa, i.e. it isn't a non-immigrant type, so you cannot work here whilst holding this visa for example.
Although, it should still be perfectly possible to get a yellow book, open a bank account, buy a vehicle and get a 2 year driving license as a PE visa holder.

They don’t call it a tourist visa but PE visa is not, a non-immigrant visa, then by default it is a long-stay tourist visa.

3 years ago in Chiang Mai the transport office issued me 2 year drivers licenses, but said they would not issue the 5 year upon renewal. Well this year they DID issue me 5 year licenses and supposedly did for other Thailand Elite members. I was told amphur muang Chiangmai will not issue me a yellow book for the condo I own but I might try again.

Based in Thailand but not working here, not yet 50 I got the Elite about 3 years ago and do not regret it.

There is no feasible way for me to get tourist visas. I fly in almost every month and with all my possesions in a Chiang Mai condo I felt as if I had little choice. Read now some stories on this site of people with valid tourist visas turned back anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Does Chiang Mai does not require it for 90 day reports? (I don’t do 90 days reports).



Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

I don't recommend overstay even one day

It remains on your permanent record.

If you get a stamp in your passport, other countries you might apply for a visa

might not like that and not understand how minor is a one day Thai overstay.

Worst is the remote possibility of a police check before you get to airport.

If caught on overstay you will have problems.

 

 

 

 

 

21 minutes ago, Thai Ron said:

Perhaps but if you get injured or or fall sick here without insurance, you'll find yourself being ferried around to hospital after hospital in the back of a pick up truck until one of them agrees to treat you.

At least in most parts of the West, you'll get treated at the first hospital you arrive at.

In the US there is Medicare (not free care there are uncovered costs)  for the aged and veterans hospitals, The homeless don't get much care until it is too late, then you're dead anyway. After stabilization care they get dumped in a park or bus station in their same stinking rags. Prison is better for some.

17 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

Couple of thousand bucks a month and living on the streets would be a lifestyle choice which is suprisingly popular

That money would get you a bunk bed at a back packers or nice room shared accommodation with plenty left for food and booze

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk
 

Just came back from business trip to  Denver. I had not been there in 33 years. The growth there has been incredible but the homeless situation very shocking. Hundreds of people camping by the S. Platte river, hundreds.  I'd say for many of the younger set it is a lifestyle choice. Not all the older people are psycho druggies but there is no place for them in the information economy,  $500,000 condos, and craft beer bars. (Way cheaper than Thailand actually!)

 

Doubt once  getting into that situation many would have money for plane tickets, passports, 800,000 visa/extension deposits an emergency fund, etc. No way out....

In the U.S.A. now many people are on the street even though they might have  a couple thousand bucks per month coming in with SS and small pensions. Living in absolute filth. Exposed to the elements and crime. Hard for many to keep a roof over head unless they get into a spot at a group home(veterans, etc.) Just too expensive these days.

 

I'd rather survive on limited budget in Thailand. A decent room with fan, toilet, shower.

13 hours ago, donnacha said:

The citizens of some very poor countries, such as India or Nigeria, are required to apply for Thai visas from their home countries but that does not affect the majority of travelers, especially from the West. The OP is a US citizen, so, we're covering the options available to him and most other users of this forum.

I'm not sure what you mean about employment certificates. We're talking about 60-day tourist visas, you just fill in a form, attach a photo and hand them your passport along with $40, you get it back with the visa later that day or the next day, no need for anything else. I have done this in embassies and consulates throughout Europe and Asia, always fast and easy. If you get asked for ridiculous documentation, that is the staff's indirect way of saying "We don't like the look of you, so, we're just going to make it impossible rather than actually say No". 

If you have a valid tourist visa but get stopped by immigration due to "coming too many times", the real reason is that they have taken a severe dislike to you for some other reason. If you have too many entries into Thailand, the embassy or consulate would have already rejected your visa application.

Immigration have the right to refuse entry people with visas, but they only do it in exceptional circumstances, it creates far more paperwork and possible repercussions than refusing someone depending on the visa waiver.

Sorry I thought the letter of employment is Required for the SETV it is only required for the METV according to the Los Angeles Consul website. I still could not see any practical way (for me ) to apply for Tourist visas to Thailand without applying for a second US passport and doing it by mail. With the crackdown on visa exempts,  I ended up going for the elite program to tide me over until I make it to 50. 

 

 

16 hours ago, donnacha said:

Instead of wasting $60 and a day of your vacation on getting an extension after 30 days, why not simply spend $40 on a 60-day tourist visa before you leave, so that the onward travel requirements simply won’t apply to you?

 I don't work/ live near a country having a Thai consul/embassy that will issue me a visa

due to residence requirements. Can't mail a passport anywhere due to constant international travel.

Getting a Tourist visa is impractical.

 

Also the retired and idle rich, who can't get a tourist visa as they cannot provide an employment certificate  Then there are the stories of those who arrive with a valid tourist visa to Thailand and are refused entry due to "coming too many times". 

 

You will have no issues with Immigration in BKK Suwarnabhumi airport when you arrive. Actually on an O-A, as I understand,  you will have no reason to attend Chiang Mai Immigration for a long while unless you need to do a 90 day report. As for me I don't do 90 day reports, but from what I hear they will likely require TM30. At that time you could be fined for not having done it within 24 hours of arrival at your residence in Chiang Mai.

 

Chiang Mai Immigration started with the TM30 last year. (Check the TM30 thread on the Chiang Mai subform It has been a nice little earner for them). I am based in Chiang Mai A TM 30 is required (there) every time you re-enter the country within 24 hours.  That does not count Immigration closed days.  I just heard from a Japanese friend/ long stay couple there is  get a 7 day grace period. I would not count on that courtesy applied to Farangs. 

 

So, If I were you I WOULD go to Chiang Mai Immigration and lodge a TM30 report as soon as you arrive in January. Then when/if you do a 90 day report in Chiang Mai they will not be able to fine you 1600 baht. 

Check a HiFi shop like Piyanas Audio (BKK) that deals in such items. They may have proper boxes for speakers that they throw away. I kept all the boxes and foam packing for my Boston Acoustics Reflection series speakers for several years in a closet, anticipating overseas shipment. They are now in place, in one of my Condos. Sorry I disposed of the boxes.

 

The towers are over 1m and weight about 15kg each. They would be hard to pack properly otherwise.

22 hours ago, keeniau96 said:

The problem with med certification is the three infections, of which one (leprosy) is very rare and unfamiliar to USA medics. Cannot just do Thai style mai pen rai so they admit honest lack of knowledge.  

Would the Royal Thai Consul (Los Angeles) accept a medical certificate from 

a hospital in Chiang Mai? I usually attend Chiang Mai Ram when anything comes up,

or the one near the Transport office for driving medical certification.

In my case application I applied on a weekend, clearance was quick and by Friday I was flying into BKK (Suwarnabhumi Airport) for 

VISA affixation, which only took a few minutes.

 

Was mail correspondence with "Mike" made to "name"@thailandelite.com? There ARE a few Western named persons in the contact center. Before I wired money I confirmed independently the target account was held in the name of Thailand Elite Plc, forget which bank.

 

The staff signature line also always has their family name abbreviated in emails such as 

 

Regards

Piyachat T.

Thailand Elite Member Service

 

 

 

 

A few years ago If you had proffered a TM30 to do an extension or 90 day report at Chiang Mai Immigration

it would have been refused or you'd been told "not needed." That is the problem with suddenly enforcing an 

old law without a warning period. Everyone who had business with CM immigration was guilty of a 1600

baht offense, unless a brand-new arrival. Must have added up to quite a stack hope it is going to 

someplace worthy like the new building fund. 

 

A nice little earner.

 

Some other provinces appear to be catching on.

On 9/14/2017 at 1:32 PM, JackThompson said:

If Chang Mai is enforcing (I think they are), then - yes - do it to avoid a fine in the future - IF you plan to use that immigration-office for anything, ever.  You could avoid the office by simply leaving every 90-days (no extensions) - which is one benefit of a Non-O-ME Visa.  But if you go in for a "visit wife" extension, they have the opportunity to stick-you - even if you live the same place - and even if you put that address on your TM-6 form (making the exercise rather pointless).

 

You may not (do not, in my experience) have to supply new docs - I would bring the same ones you used the first time, along with your passport + new-TM-6.  They should "update" your TM-30.

Chiang Mai Immigration started with the TM30 sometime last year as I remember.

 

It was the manageress who filed TM30 as paperwork  when I bought my condo years ago but was told it was only required "once" .I have a couple years left on my elite card. I don't do 90 day reports (work travel), so I don't have any business with Chiang Mai Immigration actually but may in the near future. Then when Immigration came round to the Condo last year, advising the management to get everyone reporting,  and knocked on doors. I was not in town but then no question about what is now required.

 

So  I went in and had to pay 1600 baht. Have a receipt for the "offense". Now I go in every time I return it never takes more than a few minute to "update" but there is always somebody there who has business with Immigration held up because of the TM30. Last time I was only in Thailand for 3 days due to a Thai funeral. An angry Farang was in Promenada making a fuss. They actually let him cut the line "queue" but after he frittered off the IO let me know what he thought of him.  

 

In a good guys in bad guys out Kingdom it is nice to be told I am one of the "good guys". Really made my day.

I had a recent experience at a pizza restaurant at The Mall in Korat where a young lad, perhaps 7 or 8 years old, came up to my table and started conversing to me in English.  My two daughters, who are only a few years older, were also at the table and were amused by this.

 

I forgot the name of the school the kid goes to, but nevertheless it would appear that he is receiving an excellent education.  The boy's father is Thai, and did not speak any English whatsoever, so I have to assume the kid learned his second language from school.

 

Anyhow, I would never expect all children to act in a similar manner as the one I met.  Everybody is different, and should be respected for such.

I met one of these Kids

Friend of a friends son, 8 or 9 years.

The parents do not speak much English. They have him in an international school.

He sounds exactly like a little American kid (no accent, unless you think Americans have an accent).

 

 

I think there is something to this. The OP said nothing about approaching children and talking to them. Japanese and Thai no interest or hiding behind mothers skirts, even recently when I had a dinner at a CEO's vacation home. The kids who have education at the best international schools have to be prodded to say hello. Contrast recently I was in my condo elevator with a Korean lady and her small son. I'm pushing a wheeled cart with my purchases from supermarket. Suddenly the kid is showing off "Hello!, Where did you go? What is that? I LIKE TOMATO JUICE" The woman just starts laughing, I don't think she speaks English much.

Have had recent experience of being accosted by Chinese kids as well.

 

Perhaps a difference of indoctrination to be meek and conformal to inquisitive and assertive.