CMBob

No problem, and that's why you don't have to show medical insurance.

Not sure what you're talking about but apparently you have not watched them lay the individual tiles. For the most part, they are doing an excellent job lining up the tiles. After laying a concrete base, they then mortar in the larger yellow tiles. Then they mortar in the smaller sorta pink tiles with the redder tiles on the edges. As to the gaps on either side of the larger yellow tiles, I have no clue what's going in there as they haven't done that anywhere as yet that I've seen.

Unusual as everyone I know here in CM with a Non O-A original visa has needed the medical insurance to obtain an extension. I know less of them now as a few have intentionally exited Thailand without a re-entry permit to intentionally kill that status (then returned visa exempt, converted to a Non-O, and have since obtained annual extensions based on retirement - all done for the purpose to getting rid of the medical insurance requirement).

No problem with obtaining your annual extension but, as Red Phoenix says, your new extension will only be given until May of 2024 when your passport expires (and your annual renewal date will change to that date). You might want to ask as soon as you get in the UK how long it will take to get your new passport because, if it can't be done easily within the time you are there, you might want to consider just waiting until you're back here in Thailand to renew it. Also, presuming you get your new extension and a re-entry permit before leaving and you do get a new passport in the UK, you'll need to present both old and new passports when returning to Thailand (and be watchful that the immigration officer stamps you in to the date your new extension expires).

Back to the topic somewhat, they are (slowly to the max) installing the new sidewalks which likely will be pretty nice when finished (this year?). They are using rather small tiles and different colored tiles as shown in the attached photo. They are filling in the two gaps you see with mortar but leaving about a 3/4" depth and I presume the final deal will be another thinner tile of some color.

While you may exercise legal rights, it would seem to me that a friendly (or non-hostile) neighbor is somewhat desirable. So, why not ask again (If you are willing to pay some or all of it, maybe that makes the neighbor more agreeable).

Would appreciate if if you could post an url to an article about that topic. I've been watching them tear up and now installing the new sidewalks for quite a stretch of Huay Kaew (mainly the north side west of Maya Mall) and I haven't noticed any burying of electrical wires under the new sidewalks. And haven't seen any activity on Nimman regarding sidewalks or anything else of note.

About 7 years ago, had hernia surgery at Chiangmai Ram hospital (private), they used open surgery (doc told me it was just as easy to do it that way in my case), and the total cost was 58,497 baht. In by about 9AM, home by 5PM. A mesh was installed and they used glue to close the incision (since after about a year later, I can't visually even see where they did the deal). Simple procedure, painless, and OP's fear of some "big scar" is simply silly (and incorrect) in my opinion. The quoted price of about 300k baht seems way out of line to me.

Do you intend to ask the condo office if it's okay to do this? Or, if not, do you intend to advise the condo office that you've had an extra keycard made? If I owned a unit in that condominium, I certainly would want the office to keep track of all keycards out there simply for security purposes.

Does the statute prohibit owning shares in a "registered media company" or a "media company?" Could be a difference.

You can get a living will (called Advanced Directive) via the Chiang Mai Expats Club website (Resources tab, then CEC documents tab). While technically allowed under Thai law I'm not too sure how effective they are (meaning whether local doctors will or won't follow instructions from your health care representative).

Checked it out, attaching photo of part of the water tank and pump (the cover is off the pump when the landlord did a repair a few years back....as the pump was leaking a bit). The pump is (according to sticker on the cover) Hitachi GX Series, WT-P 250GX (don't know what that means).

Actually don't know. All the townhouses around here have them. If it's important, I'll go look and see if there's a brand and other info on it.

My townhouse gets PWA water on the west side (off of Sirimangkalajarn). As for water pressure, I'm a bit puzzled by your complaint as I thought everybody/most had a water tank and the bulk of the pressure is provided by the pump next to the water tank. If that pump didn't work, I have no idea what the water pressure would be but clearly a lot less than what we get. Showers and sinks on all three floors have plenty of pressure (in fact, we have to be careful to not fully open the tap at the kitchen sink on the first floor as it would blow water all over the place).

The US embassy here stopped providing the standard "transfer letter" only 2-3 months ago.

Unless you qualify (see US Embassy website for info), you can only obtain a new US passport via the mail. While in the recent past the process took less than 3 weeks (in December, 2021, I mailed mine from Chiangmai and the new and old passport was in my mailbox 11 days later!), I've heard it's now taking much longer. When you get your new passport, take new and old along with info mentioned above to Immigration and they'll transfer what's necessary. I'm doubtful anyone but you can do it but don't know about your B visa. Here in Chiangmai (obviously different elsewhere), they wanted the Transfer form, photocopies of every stamped page in the old passport (including non-Thai stamps), and a copy of the photo page in your new passport. There was no fee for this in Chiangmai.

Mea culpa, missed that part. Nevertheless, nice to see the embassy be so accommodating.

Puzzled how you still have your old passport. When I got a new US passport a year+ ago (mail deal to Bangkok), I had to send my old/current passport in with the application papers. Edit: Just checked the forms I used and see that they require you to send in either your "current passport and/or card." So presume OP sent in the card.

You're free (well, not really "free") to use an agent but it's rather perplexing to me why you suggest people who do it themselves are somehow not as smart as you??? To the contrary. When you use your agent, you first go see your agent to pass over the documents you have obtained. Then at another time/date, you either go to your agent's office where they haul you out to Immigration or you meet them there. What's all that take, a couple of hours in total? And what's it cost? Handling an annual extension based on retirement is easy. Schedule an appointment, gather the required documents, and you'll not on average spend an hour for that at Immigration once a year. For my last annual extension 6 months ago, I had an appointment at 10AM and was out the door with the new extension at 10:25AM. Many can easily handle that and don't need somebody to hold their hand to get it done; but, as they say, it's up to you (whatever floats your boat).

If your theoretical person got a re-entry permit, wouldn't that preserve the Tourist Visa (or what's left at time of re-entry of the 60 days)? Other than that, have to agree that the OP's theoretical plans seem silly.

The online 30-day extension deal (which I think started earlier this year as a test program) was originally only available for those visiting Bangkok Immigration. Whether it's been extended so as to be available elsewhere, I don't know (if somebody does know, time to post your info).

A few comments/corrections regarding death of a US citizen here in Thailand: (1) Have had a few expat friends die here in Chiangmai and in each case the body remained in the hospital morgue until released (by approval of the applicable embassy/consulate and payment of the hospital charges); (2) Whether a not an autopsy is required depends on the circumstances (it's not automatic) and, even if the death occurs outside a hospital, that doesn't mean an autopsy is done (again, circumstances). (3) If you have a Will in English (or Will in Thai translated into English) and (1) the Will names "X" as the executor, (2) contains language that "X" has full power to handle funeral arrangements, and (3) "X" presents the English version of the Will to the US Consulate (or Embassy as the case may be), they will promptly cease their "next of kin" search and issue their letter okaying the release of the body to "X." Having a proper Will (in both Thai and English) facilitates both release of the body and handling of the probate procedure.

The new bivalent Moderna booster is available for free for everyone (including expats) at the CM Neurological Hospital (open M-F, 8AM to noon, walk-in basis). They (and other places) also offer a Pfizer booster but I don't believe it's the newer version.

I am presuming you are on some type of annual extension which expires in July and you will be applying for a new annual extension. To my knowledge, there is no rule requiring you to have 1 year left on your passport to obtain an extension; HOWEVER, your extension will only be granted to the expiration date of your passport (thus effectively changing your annual renewal date). Presuming you want a full one-year extension, time to obtain a new passport ASAP.

A CM friend, who's been here for 10 years on O-A annual extensions, just did a border run in February for the very purpose of killing off his O-A (returning visa exempt, converting to a Non-O, and getting his annual extension just this week). No nonsense about being denied leaving. Think the guy was confused (and KhunBenq has likely guessed the reason).