CMBob

Glad you got it done, Dave, but your story is why I'll continue to use an agent once a year for an annual extension.  There simply is no way I'll arrive at 4:30AM (let alone 6 or 7AM) and then hang around there for 10 hours.  I continue to hope that they'll bring back the online queue or that they will add an officer for annual extensions so people don't have to go through what you just did.  

My 90-day Notice came back today (Dec 6th) and it was received via EMS by Immigration on the morning of November 24th.  12 days....a bit longer than usual....but it sure beats going out to Promenada to get it done.  Like many times before, I tried doing it online but it's never worked for me (not sure why as I've had recent entries into the country and was careful to use IE to attempt it).  

13 minutes ago, andersonat said:

My (Thai) wife and I were told the *exact* opposite in Chiang Mai, ie that it was *my* responsibility to report, and that *I* would be liable for a fine if I didn't report within 24 hours.

 

This comment relates to CM Immigration only. You might want to distinguish between the original TM30 and updating (when you re-enter the country to the same address as reported on a prior TM30).   For some/most/all (it keeps changing) things, you need to have the original TM30 filed for an address and, frankly, CM Immigration doesn't care who does it (technically the owner/landlord/possessor is liable under the law to have it filed) and will hit you (or whoever shows up for Immigration service) for the 1,600 baht if it isn't filed.  With respect to updating (and presuming you're re-entering the country to the same address), typically the possessor (you) is the one who does that and, again, it's whoever shows up needing some service from CM Immigration who gets tabbed with the fine (i.e., you don't get any service unless it's paid).  I should note that some condominium offices do take care of this for their falang residents.

With respect to the time for updating, multiple CM Immigration officers have said that updating within a week or so is fine (i.e., you don't have to be a slave to the 24-hour law).  I've updated several times 3-5 days after re-entering without a problem or comment from them.

16 hours ago, Mahseer said:

These are the rules Chiang Mai adhere to:

 

TM30 to be updated after overseas travel only.

Once registered you have 7 days on return to update.

 

Fine for failure to comply is 1,600baht.

I did tell a CM immigration officer I was confused because some of the CM officers were saying you only "update" when re-entering the country while other CM officers were saying you must "update" even if returning to the same address when you're gone within Thailand for more than 24 hours.  She acknowledged that different officers were giving different answers and, when I asked "well, what should I do?", her exact answer was "up to you!"  I only update when re-entering the country and, so far, no problem.

This question....have you eaten yet?....confused me during my first year or two in Thailand....and it took me a while to understand it was just a way to ask "how are you doing" or "what's up" or something similar.  

But I still have not fully learned what the correct reply to this should be.  I'd appreciate it if anyone (Mole or others) would suggest a proper (as in appropriate, not formal) reply would be (presuming the responder is "fine" or "okay").  

4 hours ago, JimGant said:

The other interesting tidbit from this post is that Immigration knows your every move by airline, including trips within Thailand. I find this somewhat questionable, since I don't recall having to furnish my passport info when buying a domestic ticket. 

I don't update my TM30 for any trip within Thailand, regardless if I'm gone a couple of days or a week or two.  I do update when re-entering the country and they've never said anything about the domestic trips I've taken (even though I presume they can see on their computer the multiple TM30's that domestic hotels have filed for me in the interim). 

As for the airline tickets, I've never gotten a ticket for a domestic trip within Thailand without having to provide my nationality, passport number, etc., and I'm doubtful you have either (I've had to do that for 17+ years).  Just got another ticket on AA to Bangkok and had to provide the same information on their website and the last ticket I bought at CM's Bangkok Airways office required me to provide my passport so they could insert that information in their computer generating the ticket.  

1 hour ago, VBF said:

Unusually, UJ I am going to respectfully disagree with you (shock, horror!) but being pedantic, on the latest form, (being the PDF that mentions disabilities) the photo box is exactly 3.5cm W x 4.5cm H (printed at 100%) so my pictures are still larger.

BUT, as you say, they will probably "accept a photo that covers the frame on the form" - mine are bigger so should be OK, wouldn't you agree?.

The Chiangmai Immigration office at times has been a stickler about the photo being 4 x 6 cm.  Obviously it would help if the form's box was 4 x 6 but it isn't and the smaller size of that box is what causes an occasional problem.  Safest bet - get your photos 4 x 6 CM and they'll be accepted everywhere all the time.

Edit:  As for color, sometimes (not all that often, I'm told) an Immigration Officer up here will require the blue background.  Probably safest way to go.

As Ubonjoe said, Chiangmai re-entry desk is always open if there is an international flight leaving.  Once you go upstairs and go through the passengers-only entry, the counter is on the left.  Of course, make sure you have your documents and photo (I have no clue if they can take your photo there but I doubt it).  Documents needed in CM:  TM 8 completed (print your telephone number and address somewhere near your signature), photo,  passport pages all signed (photo/name page, current visa/extension, entry stamp page, and TM6/Departure card). Typically takes about 5-7 minutes in CM.

You're correct, Ubonjoe, CM has it's own form (I completed the one you linked but they made me fill out an almost identical one which refers to CM versus Bangkok near the top).  

I just did this last week (although my deal involved transferring an annual extension and re-entry permit).....look for the other post as it answers your questions 2 and 3.  I can't seem to correctly attach the url to that other post....but it was titled "Transfer Stamps to New Passport" and posted in the Chiangmai Forum on September 11, 2017.  

For me, I went last Monday and arrived about 1:30PM and was finished about 3:15PM.  I even had time to go upstairs and update my TM30 (which took less than 10 minutes).  I know that Mondays and Fridays aren't usually the best time to go out there but it worked out for me.  Good luck.  

8 hours ago, gobs said:

Hi CM bob,

Thanks for your input. But maybe things have changed or evolved...

I did yesterday, the 3rd of August, my 5 years to 5 years DL extensions (report below) with a 14th August expiring date (in fact my birth date), and my new DL cards show now the 14th of August 2022 as the new expiring date (not the 3rd). So I think there is no more "prejudice" doing it before in the 90 days time frame...

Well, I suppose

You missed my point.  Yes, going in on or prior to your expiration date will result in you getting 5 years from your expiration date and you'll get the same 5-year time period (starting from your expiration date) regardless of how many days prior to your expiration date/birthdate that you go in to get it done.  What I was pointing out was that you get 5 years from your next birthday if you go in after expiration.  That's what I (and many friends) have done in CM and we've essentially gotten an almost 6 year license (6 years less the number of days since your expiration/birthdate).  Maybe that's changed in the interim (it's been a year or so since I pulled that trick).

On ‎7‎/‎27‎/‎2017 at 8:11 AM, gobs said:

...... each time I’ve been told “better to do it a little after the due date has expired” (but no explanation, just no worry). 

 

Others had explained to me that there's no problem in going in after expiration (although I was unaware of the 3-month time limit for renewal) and, in fact, they advised me to do it as the new 5-year time period would run from my next birthdate.  And that's exactly what happened (went in two days after expiration and got a license good for 5-years, 363 days).

13 hours ago, NancyL said:

Yet, when I went to 2nd floor Prom. Imm. after a recent trip to Bangkok where I know for sure the hotel input a TM30 for me, I was told "no need" to report.  I asked them to look in their computer and see what address was on file for my TM30.  They did and said, yes it was the hotel's address.  Why then did they say, no need to update after travel in Thailand?

As I've mentioned before, they confirmed that different officers were saying different things (some saying you only need to "update" when returning to the country and others saying you need to "update" when simply being away from CM for 24+ hours).  And, when I then said "well, what should I do!?!", the response I've gotten from two different officers was "up to you!"   So I only update when I'm returning to the country.  And I've had stayed at hotels in different parts of Thailand in between updates (where surely they filed TM30s for me) and nobody at Immigration has made note of that to me.

By the way, others have confirmed that Building 3 (old Immigration site) is still open for business and will do the usual update in their usual 5 minutes or so.  Much easier choice than going through the Promenada queue process.

I'm essentially in the same situation so would ask guru Ubonjoe (if he knows) the following:

(1)  There's a form online (which doesn't seem to have a TM number) titled Subject Transfer Stamp To New Passport.  I'm presuming that's the right form to use?

(2)  Are you aware of any time limit (from the date of getting the new passport or returning to Thailand if obtained elsewhere) for getting the transfer of the stamps accomplished?   

7 hours ago, Bill97 said:

Get it before you go. Just think about how screwed you would be if the AP office were closed, employee sick, toilet break, snack break or any number of reasons.

I have walked through there when there was no one at that station.

It's open if there is any international flight leaving so I wouldn't worry about it being "closed."  I've gotten re-entry permits there even just prior to an international flight departing at one minute to midnight.

An immigration officer sometimes is not hanging around that counter (although normally there is an assistant there) and, in those cases, one of the immigration officers at the immigration/passport lanes ahead will come back to the counter to complete the process.

But I do agree that the only people who should plan on getting re-entry permits at the airport are those who are fully aware of how to do it (have already properly completed a TM8 form, have the proper photo, and have the proper passport copies, etc.).

58 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

What it the cost?

1000 baht for a single entry, 3900 baht for a multiple-entry (as Bill said, the usual costs).

You mention "day of departure" and I'm hoping you mean right before you leave on an international flight.  The re-entry desk/counter is to your left as you pass through the final passenger line upstairs (i.e., you need a valid boarding pass to get through there).

9 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

 Would that mean that my body would be rotting away in the coffin until they had contacted my daughter in Germany to get permission from her to allow my son (10 years old at present) and my partner to cremate me ?

If you've done nothing to avoid that, sure, that could happen.  And, in that case, a simple phone call to your daughter isn't going to do it....she'd have to sign a form or two, have it notarized (and/or certified by somebody at the governmental level), and return it to your local embassy/consulate before they are going to give any permission for release of your body.  You can check with your local embassy/consulate website to see if they lay out the what happens when one of their nationals dies here, procedures for locating a next-of-kin, etc.

Presuming you want your "partner" to handle proceedings (cremation), you ought to make a Will here and specifically make some provisions about that issue.  Your local embassy/consulate will honor a valid Will made here (although they may require it to be translated into your native language).  And, obviously, your Will ought to state who gets what from your estate and other usual provisions (and, presuming you're not married to your partner and you want your partner to be the executor or receive any of your estate, you really, really, need a Will here badly).

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

    We were there less than ten minutes to renew TM30 and whilst there i asked them about the '24hr' rule and also about renewing if away from home but only in Thailand.   I was informed by a senior officer that as long as we report within 7 days of arriving back in the country there will be no problem.  He also said there is no need to report if we are only travelling within Thailand.

I've been told the same thing more than once by that office - that reporting within 7 days was okay and it's only necessary to  report (update) when re-entering the country.  That's what I'm doing now although I am aware that at least some (but not all) of the officers at Promenada don't agree with this interpretation of the rules.

A month or two ago, I visited the old immigration site to see the status of construction.  While there, I noticed that Building 3 (the building in the back where you previously did TM 30 reporting amongst other things) was still apparently open for business so Trainman obviously did his updating there without a hitch.  It never took more than 10 minutes to update my TM30 there so it's good to know it's still open for business. 

39 minutes ago, grin said:

.... they did check my papers and said they would not accept my pre-filled and printed TM7 and TM8 forms. The only difference I could see between the forms they gave me and mine was pagination.... 

Would appreciate it if you could be a little more specific as to the problem with the forms you first presented (as your info might help some others avoid the same error.

(1)  With respect to the TM 7 form, did you print yours out on one page (front and back)?  Was that the problem (if not, what was it)?

(2)  The TM8 form is only one page so I'm totally confused as to why you thought "pagination" was the problem with that form.  Can you advise?

13 hours ago, terminatorchiangmai said:

Update ; just came back from Immigration and they confirmed what my assistant told me already last year September when i re-entered Thailand.

You need to go to Immigration within 24 hours to update your old slip !

Even when you go on a holiday in Thailand and stay at a hotel / resort or guest house for only a few days

These places have to report you ,so when you come back to your living town just go to immigration with your passport and old slip and new departure card if applicable,then they will make an update and give a small stamp on your slip.

No need to fill in all the forms if you are already in their system.

 

Cheers

As I noted earlier in the thread, I complained (politely) several months ago as to why some officers are saying one must update when one is gone anywhere for 24 hours or more and other officers are saying one only needs to update when re-entering the country.  The Immigration Officer acknowledged that there are two different stories emanating from their office.  When I then asked the Officer what I should do (whether I should only update when re-entering the country or update even if I spend a night or more in another Thai city hotel), the exact answer I got was "Up to you."

If anybody has been fined for not updating after spending a few days outside Chiangmai (but within Thailand), hopefully that info will get posted so others are aware.  Pending that, I'm only updating when I re-enter the country.

For the record, I'm back in the US for a couple of months and I renewed my passport by mail to Philadelphia.  And, regardless of what anybody says "ought" to be the number of pages, what I got was a new passport with 17 "usable" (meaning blank pages usable for visas and sundry stamps and three pages at the end for endorsements).  And, yea, I can count.

But....looking at the order form again, I now see that one can mark a box for a "Regular Book (Standard)" or another box marked "Large Book (Non-Standard)."  I marked neither box (only a box above those two options for a US Passport only) so it seems I ended up with the dinky 17-page "standard" passport.  Damn (oh well, hopefully somebody will read this and avoid the same mistake). If I'm lucky, I'll actually remember what to do in about 5 years when I have to renew again (there's no way 17 pages is enough for 10 years with various travels in and out of Thailand).

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You will get a 52 page passport. The fee is is $110.

No big deal but I just got a new (renewal) US passport two weeks ago and there are only 17 usable pages in the new passport.  I was rather surprised it was so small (and there's no way it'll last me 10 years before I have to renew again).

2 hours ago, c0der said:

...The operators have been clever enough to set the fee low enough that most people won't question it much.

 

But obviously not clever enough to prevent some people from attempting to make it into a major issue and repeating the claims ad nauseum.  

34 minutes ago, rawhod said:

...or you can do it on-line.

On-line 90 day reporting site is up and running again.

https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn90online/online/tm47/TM47Action.do

Appears to be working although my Google Chrome browser won't let me open that site (some type of safety issue) and my IE browser gives the same security warning that it used to issue when visiting that site in the past (but, with IE, I can at least choose to proceed to the site).  In any event, it appears that the online reporting is back in business.  Good. 

I presumed (incorrectly, perhaps) that Suvarnabhumi, like the international airport in Chiangmai, had a government desk to purchase a re-entry permit.  Is that true or not (or, as this story suggests, there is only one option and that's to use this private service for an extra 200 baht)?

At CNX, one can easily and quickly get a re-entry permit at the large counter immediately to the left of where ticketed passengers (only) go through the last security line upstairs....and just before hitting the exit Immigration booths.  The service is open any time (including midnight) that an international flight is departing.