007 RED

Upset hiso in BMW with an Uzi

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

The CoE is acquired via the RTE of the country you are applying in. My experience with Seoul and Kuala Lumpur earlier this year was approval within 24-hours. They have the hot-line with the MFA. Last year's slow and tortuous two-step CoE application process with the local RTE and the MFA has gone.

 

So nobody will be arriving on 1st July. So what?

I'm aware that the Thai MoFA 'streamlined' their CoE procedure earlier this year for most types of visa entries and glad to hear that you got confirmation within 24 hours, but when you applied for your CoE you were not required to provide proof that you had been fully vaccinated with a vaccine which has been approved by the Thai MoH. 

Full vaccination, with a vaccine approved by the Thai MoH, is now a fundamental requirement of the Phuket Sandbox Scheme.  As a result potential visitors applying for a CoE (under the Phuket Sandbox Scheme) must now also submit the QR code on their certificate of vaccination to their local Embassy.  The QR code will will then be forwarded to the MoFA in Bangkok (together with the other required details).  The MoFA will then authenticate that the applicant has in fact been fully vaccinated.  Obviously this minor additional entry requirement will take time to verify with the original government body that issued the vaccine certificate bearing in mind time zones etc.

Hence given the fact that Embassies are unable to process CoE for the Phuket Sandbox Scheme until Monday 28th at the earliest, it is highly unlikely that anyone will get their CoE before the 1st July.

I would love to be a fly-on-the-wall at Phuket airport on the 1st July when the PM, the Governor and 'uncle tom cobbly and all' are their waiting for the non-arrivals.

9 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

Speaking about snake - anyone knows what snake this is? 

 

There are 2 possibilities, as their longitudinal body markings are very similar, namely: A Striped Keelback, or an Indo-Chinese Sand Snake. 

Both are fairly prolific throughout Thailand.  Both considered harmless to humans.  Both tend to be terrestrial, but are more than capable climbers.  Main source of food are frogs/toads and lizards.

He obviously had not made the standard contribution to the local 'cop shop tea fund'.

Yesterday mid-afternoon I walked along Sukhumvit Road from Asok to Nana (on the right hand side).  I lost count of the number of ‘table shops’ that where setup on the pavement openly selling sex toys and ED meds etc.  I would estimate there was one ‘table shop’ about every 50 meters.

If I recall correctly there is some local regulation which prohibits traders from ‘setting up’ their stalls on this side of Sukhumvit Road until after 6pm, apart from the fact that selling sex toys is apparently illegal in Thailand.  Obviously, the local authority street officers and the local cops are ‘turning a blind eye’ to this blatant trade.

Crazy!

OP... As has been already mentioned, there is no desperate rush to have your 'stamps' transferred to your new passport.  You just need to keep both your old and new passports together.  That said, it is best to get the transfer done as soon as convenient.

VSF will give you a proforma letter which you will need to fill in the details and give it to the IO when you go to your local office to request the 'stamp' transfer.  Note:  Some immigration offices will also require you to complete their own 'stamp' request form as well.  The transfer should be done free of charge.

Below is a copy of the letter I got when I recently (April) collected my new passport from VFS.

Below are the collection of 'stamps' which the IO put into my new passport.  As you will see they cover 2 pages.  The top left stamp is the 'transfer stamp' which shows my old passport number (redacted) plus my original visa (Non-o) and arrival date.  The smaller 'stamps' below indicate where and when I arrived on the original visa and the last date I arrived on a re-entry permit.  The large 'stamp' on the right shows the status of my current permission to stay plus the normal reminder 'stamp' to notify every 90 days.

FYI..... As well as notifying immigration of your new passport number don't forget that there are a number of other organisations that you may also need to notify.  For example:  Your bank (most accounts are linked to your passport number);  Your hospital(s)/doctor who no doubt have you logged by your passport number; etc.

Good luck

OP.... As you have discovered, the Rolex authorised dealers here in Bangkok only sell new watches and they do not carry any spares or undertake any service work.  They send all service work to the main service centre located on Wireless Road.

For some strange reason the main service centre only advertises their phone numbers, even on their receipts.  When I had my Air King serviced by them a few years back they sent me an email quote and subsequently a confirmation that the watch was ready for collection.  I just looked up the email address and it appears to be the name of the receptionist @rolex.com   I'm not sure given the passing of time that the person may or may not still be working there.  If you want the full email address to try PM me and I will let you have it.

FYI.... Their phone number is 02 650 9118.... the people there speak very good English so you may get some assistance with a phone call.

As an alternative I would recommend Watch-Expert who have several shops mainly based in the malls in Bangkok.  I have used the one located in Central World and have to say they were very helpful and gave excellent service.  Their website is 

https://www.expert-watch.com   Again, for some strange unknown reason they don't have an email address (Line address and phone numbers only).  Again, my dealings with them by phone in English were helpful and positive.

FYI.... Both the Rolex main service centre on Wireless Road and Expert-Watch shop in Central World can easily be reached by BTS.

Hope this helps.

12 hours ago, Genix said:

 

Perhaps it's not about what others think but rather for your own pleasure.

 

Update regarding the situation... Rolex ADs are not allowed to verify if a Rolex is original and you have to go to the service center and say you want it serviced (if you ask to verify, they won't).

 

Seller did not want to do that, which was suspicious. Suddenly replies got slower, excuses due to "covid" risk  and store standards, despite wanting to do it a week ago for another watch. Told me to buy it and go to the center right away after to verify, comes with a moneyback guarantee.... SURE LOL, more like a "runaway" guarantee where seller runs with your money.

 

Went to the AD and bought a new authentic one. 

 

As I indicated in my earlier post, if the seller is unwilling to go with you to Watch-Expert or other reliable servicing facility, at your expense, to have the watch authenticated then the alarm bells should start to ring.  The total walk away indicator was his/her suggestion that you should buy the watch and then have it authenticated.  If the watch is fake the chances of you getting your money back would be extremely slim.

You made the right decision to walk away and buy a new one from an AD.  You won't regret it.

I purchased my Rolex Air King 53 years ago in the UK for the princely sum of £47 (equivalent to 1,974 THB at todays Xrate).  Its been on my wrist almost continuously ever since and been serviced about 4 times.  Apart from a few minor scratches through normal wear and tear, its functioning perfectly and only gaining a few seconds per week. 

The only down side of owning this wonderful time piece is the cost of the servicing.  The last service I had done was at the Rolex Service Centre on Wireless Road 3 years ago and that cost 34,000 THB.  Unfortunately it stopped working after a few months and then after a warranty repair started gaining time.  Despite going back several times the problem progressively became worse and I was then informed that it was out of warranty and would have to pay to have any further work done on it.  I ended up taking it to Watch-Expert (Central World) who identified/rectified the problem very quickly and only charged a minimal fee.  As I said earlier, its now keeping perfect time for an old watch.

I would recommend Expert-Watch (https://www.expert-watch.com) as they offer a watch authentication service (cost 1,000 THB).  They have a number of small shops based in many major malls  within Bangkok where you can get the watch checked/serviced. 

Not sure how the process works.  I assume that the vendor is not going to hand the watch over to you for you to have it checked before you pay for it in full, which could be a bit late if its a fake.  I would presume that you and the vendor will have to arrange to met at one of the shops.  Obviously if the vendor declines, that will be a fair indication that the watch may not be all its made out to be.

FYI - I had my Rolex serviced by the main Rolex service facility located in Wireless Road (Bangkok) a few years ago.  Cost me 34,000 THB.  A few weeks after service it started gaining time (1 minute/day) and after 6 months it just stopped.  Took it back under warranty but afterwards it still kept gaining time.  To cut a long story short, after several return trips to the Rolex service centre it was gaining 3 minute/day and the 2 year warranty had expired so they wanted to charge me for any additional work.  I took the watch to the Expert-Watch shop based in the basement of Central World last year and they fixed it for a reasonable charge.  It is now running like a dream gaining only a few seconds a week.

19 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It is very easy to have your stamps transferred from you old passport to a new one.

I would endourse ubonjoe's comment. 

I got my stamps transferred last Friday at Nakhonpathom Immigration office.  Arrived at 1pm and out the door with 4 stamps in my new passport in about 10 minutes.

No request form to complete but l had letter from Embassy plus prepaired copies of old & new passport pages.

Stamps = A transfer stamp detailing old passport number; A stamp indicating original visa type & date; A stamp indicating last entry; A stamp indicating current permission to stay.

Best of all NO FEE and nice smile when the IO handed my passports back.

The hard work now starts notifying all the other government bodies & organisations who have my old passport number as ID.... e.g. banks; driving licence; doctor/hospital; mobile phone provider; BTS & MRT card; local Amphur (yellow book & pink card) etc.  etc.

5 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

I'm in the same position, also rather impressed by the speed between application and delivery.Could you very kindly let me know which days and between what times the new passport can be collected.Is an appointment needed?

 

I've looked on line and there's some conflicting information.My present understanding is Mondays or Wednesdays, between 1 pm and 3 pm no appointment needed.Is that right?

As Safarimike11 above said, you can collect your new passport on either Monday or Wednesday and no appointment is needed.... but note the collection time is between 1:00pm and 2:00pm only.

Please be advised that VFS is closed this coming Wednesday (14th) because of Songkran holiday. 

2 hours ago, LivingNThailand said:

This is excellent advise.  

Does anyone know if you can just get a replacement driving license with same expiration date?  Or have to go and apply for a new one with all the paperwork.  That brake test really stresses me out! haha!

No tests required... you will just need to provide copies of your photo pages from your original and new passport.... they will then update their system and issue you with a new driving licence.

Note:  The replacement driving licence with your new passport number will still have the original licence expiry date. 

20 minutes ago, siftasam said:

Thank you for all the excellent  information and advice. I am very nearly 75 so please excuse any confusion.

 

My 90 day renewal is on April 21st.

My Retirement Extension renewal date is June 25th.

My UK Passport expires on June 21st next year.

So, when ideally should I apply for a new Passport in this Covid world? Any advice please?

Will I have to obtain a visa for the gap of 4 days next year? Is this a problem?

 

 

 

No problem.... Do your extension as normal this year.

Because your passport expires on the 21st June 2022, lmmigration will only extend your permission to stay until the 21st June 2022.  Effectively you just lose a few days extension, but that's not the end of the earth.

Once you have got your extension (until 21 June 2022) you can then apply for a new passport.... do not leave it until the last minute... l would suggest applying 6 months before your passport expires e.g. January or February because of unknown delays resulting from the new Covid world.

When you eventually get your new passport go to lmmigration and get them to transfer your extension stamp over to the new passport (21 June 2022).

So from 2022 you will need to do your extension on, or prior, to the 21st June as oposed to the 25th.

Hope that helps solve your confusion.

OP.... Once you have obtained your new passport you obviously need to notify Immigration and get them to transfer your 'stamp(s)' over from your original passport to the new one. 

Having notified Immigration, there are a few more businesses/organisations that you may also need to inform as your information is/may be linked to your passport number, for example:

1.   Banks - for each account that you have including credit card(s).

2.  Land Transport - Driving licence/vehicle registration.

3.  Local Amphur - Yellow Book/Pink Card.

4.  Hospital(s) and/or local Doctor/Clinic.

5.  Mobile phone/internet service provider.

6.  BTS/MRT travel card.

No doubt there may be others....  All good fun.

Re: #4 Hospitals.... FYI.... There was a case recently in Pattaya of a Brit who had renewed his passport but not informed the hospital that he normally attended.  He was taken ill and admitted to the hospital under his original passport number but unfortunately passed away.  The hospital would not release his body because the passport number they had did not match that provided by the British Embassy e.g. his new passport.  It took a lot of negotiations to get the hospital to eventually release his body.

14 minutes ago, dabhand said:

 

Looks like your recent application hit the sweet spot for completion.

 

I submitted mine, again via VFS Bangkok, around mid January and received the new one in early March. A turnaround of close to 7 weeks. HMPO initially advised a likely 8 week period for completion, not too far off the actual date.This matched with a few other posters in the same time frame. So, I was not surprised to read that article indicating a potential 10 week period for current applications.

When I submitted my application last month the VSF officer advised me that the turn around time was 4 to 6 weeks, so I was pleasantly surprised when I got an email from VFS Bangkok advising me that my passport was ready for collection approximately 3 weeks after making the application.

As I mentioned in my previous post, my current passport still has 11 months to run before the expire date (February 22), also there were several pages free, so there was no real urgency.  However, I decided to do the renewal early to avoid any potential problems (like a long delay in getting a new passport because of the Covid situation) as my current extension of permission to stay is due for renewal in early September and that would mean that immigration would only give me the remaining 6 months validity left on my passport for the extension.

The next big task is notifying all those that need to know that I have a new passport number e.g. Immigration; banks; credit card; driving licence; phone service provider; hospital; local clinic; amphor (yellow book & pink card); BTS; MRT etc. etc.  Thank goodness I'm retired and time is on my side.

12 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Haven't read the Guardian article in question (can't open the Yahoo link provided by @safarimike11 earlier on), but it would not surprise me in the least that HMPO are expecting - and may, indeed, already be experiencing - a rush of new passport applications domestically in anticipation of an imminent relaxation of the current well-publicised COVID-19 ban on foreign travel from the UK. A ban which does not, of course, affect those of us living in Thailand at the present time.

Having read the article from the Guardian again, I must admit that I missed the point which you have quite rightly made regarding the fact that the UK government's proposed lifting of the current overseas holiday travel ban might create a sudden upsurge in demand for new/renewed passports.  Hence, with the rules/advice concerning Covid-19 within the workplace, delays in processing applications might take longer.  That said, 10 weeks compared to the normal 3 weeks turn around for application within the UK does seems rather excessive.

I'm glad that I've done my renewal and pleased that HMPO only took 15 working days from time of submitting the application through VFS in Bangkok to collecting the new passport, not that there was any urgency as there was still 11 months to run before it expired..

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I suspect that is for those applying in the UK.

I appreciate that the Guardian article is aimed at the UK audience, but that does not explain why it may take 10 weeks to renew a passport when the application is submitted in the UK as opposed to only 15 working days when a renewal is submitted from Thailand.   That is crazy.

On 3/20/2021 at 9:01 PM, jaiyenyen said:

Thanks 007 Red for your informative post. It's very useful. I need to get the information page of my passport translated and legalised, for my Yellow Book application.

Do you know if it's allowed for me to send my wife to do this, and once completed, get it posted to my home? or do I have to go in person.

Glad the original info is useful for you.  Sorry for the delay in getting back to you as l'm not 'glued' to TVF every minute of the day.

As far as l am aware, there should be no problem with your wife getting things done for you.... she will be acting in the same role as an 'agent'.  What she will need is a letter authorising her to act on your behalf, which obviously should state her name and id number, maybe also need a copy of her id card attached.... lf l recall correctly the MFA form you need to submit to get the translated document legalised has an option for using an 'agent'.  See the MFA link l originally provided for a printable copy of the form.

Regarding the qustion of getting the Legalisation Department to send things back to you by post (EMS) again l think you will find a space on the form l've mentioned requesting this.  Of course there will be a fee for this service 60THB or thereabouts.

Once again l hope this helps & good luck.

15 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

@007 RED thanks for your suggestion re having the fans plug into GPO instead of hard wired. Can take down in 10seconds.

No problem... that's what the forum is for, to help one another.

I find the high wall mounted power supply socket enables me to remove/replace the fan for cleaning very easily/quickly which I need to do about every couple of months because we live in an area that is susceptible to a lot of dust produced by a nearby coffee factory when they roast the coffee and the wind is in our direction.  The fan seems to attract the dust like a magnet.

16 hours ago, Daffy D said:

Block off the signal with your other hand while pointing at the fan you want to control.

 

Good one.... Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most effective.  

On 3/15/2021 at 1:58 PM, DrJack54 said:

Thanks for your post. As I type this post the electrician is in the process of installing 8 of the remote Hatari fans as per your pic. So to the issue. There are 2 in the living meals area. Of course each came with a remote, the issue is (same as air con) the remote is operating both. Turn one off they both close.

Any suggestions from anyone? 

Sorry to hear about your slight problem of both fans reacting to one controller.  As I only have one fan per room I was unaware of this problem.

I've just tried  pointing my controller at the ceiling and in the opposite direction to the fan an it's possible to get the fan to switch on/off/speed control etc.  It appears that the controller is infrared and the signal beam bounces off light colour surfaces back to the fan sensor.  Not sure how you can resolve the issue.

Bannana7…. The address you have given in your OP is the main diplomatic HQ of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and they don’t do any translation or as you describe ‘guarantee’ services there.

You have used the term 'guarantee' but given the context which you have described I think you mean having a document translation certified as true/correct, which is known as legalisation.

Another TV member has mentioned that the MFA has an office in one of the MRT stations in Bangkok.  In fact there are a number of MFA offices located in various large shopping malls in Bangkok but as far as I am aware (and I stand to be corrected) they do not deal with Legalisation of documents, they only deal with Thai citizens who require for example a new or replacement passport etc.

The ‘branch’ of the MFA which deals with legalisation of documents is the Legalisation Division, Consular Department of the MFA which is based on the Northern outskirts of Bangkok at 123 Changwattana Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10210

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Department+of+Consular+Affairs/@13.890213,100.567067,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xb74260a43a82bb1e!8m2!3d13.8902134!4d100.5670667?hl=en-US

GPS co-ordinates 13.890723339234587, 100.56716355952292

Their website which provides very comprehensive information on how to get documents Legalised is found at https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/page/cate-6441-%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3?menu=5d68c88b15e39c160c008184

Please be aware that the Legalisation Department does not do translations, they will only check the original document (e.g. English) against a copy which has been translated into Thai that you have provided.  If the translation is all correct they will then certify the copy as such.

That said, there is a translation shop on the 2nd floor of the Consular building at the top of the escalators.  The bonus of using them is that the staff are all current or retired employees of the MFA Legalisation Division (current employees apparently do translations after office hours).  Because of their knowledge base, they have a large library of document templates at their figure tips so can produce standard document translations fairly quickly.  They can also arrange for the document(s) to be submitted for you (for a small extra charge). Also in the remote possibility that there is an error within the submitted translation, they will get it corrected very quickly at no extra cost.  Their charges are similar to those found outside.

You can get your document(s) translated anywhere, but the translator must put their business stamp on the translation.  Current translation costs is about 400THB for page of an A4 document but may increase if there is a large amount of text on the original documents.

Depending upon where you get that translation done, the translator may well be able to arrange for the document(s) to be Legalised, obviously at an extra cost.

I have been to the MFA Consular Division on a number of occasions in the past and found it to be quite a laborious task getting there and then having to hang around if you need to use their 'same day service'.   Personally, I would suggest using their 'postal' option if you have already had the document translated.  Using EMS post takes all the hassle out of the process and is very reliable.  Details are found on their website link which I have provided above.

Hope this helps.  Good luck