paddlinsteve

Your concern is appreciated. However, five years ago when I converted my two-year licence to a five-year one, I was told by my local Immigration Office to get a letter from my local police station and bring it to them to issue a certificate of residence. This time, due to the nature of the Non-O visa, I'm not considered a long-term resident of the country. Thus, they won't issue a TM.30 or a CoR. I'll wait a few more days and hope that when I go again I'll be talking to a different officer who will listen to reason.

I went to our local police office here in Bang Yai (Nonthaburi) a couple of days ago and they brushed me off, saying that they don't issue certificates of residence for the purpose of driving licence renewal. It seems that either getting a "normal" Non-O or paying an agent are the only avenues open for me now.

Nonthaburi.

I tried contacting American Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy and they were kind enough to reply promptly but unhelpfully: Thank you for contacting ACS Bangkok, Unfortunately, ACS doesn’t provide certificate of residence. Regards, American Citizens Services Unit U.S. Embassy Bangkok (PP)

First, last July I was given a Non-O visa (marriage) at the Consulate in Savannakhet. Do I understand rightly that if I depart the country before that visa expires in a few weeks and then return while it is still valid that I’ll be granted a further stay of 90 days? If so, does it matter whether that return is done by land or by air? Second question: when my 5-year driving licence was due to expire, I went to my local IO to get a certificate of residence. However, this was refused as, the agent explained, my visa allowed me to stay only 90 days at a time in Thailand. Is there any other route to obtain a residence doc so I can renew the licence?

Having lurked in these parts since 2006 myself, the least I can do to recognize Joe's value to the community in general and to me specifically is to make an effort to tap out a tribute to him and his wisdom and clarity of perception -- qualities that lit up an area that can be daunting at best and threatening to people unable to see through smokescreens as easily as he. Requiescat in pace, Ubon Joe.

An American's experience: In 2006, I got my first Non O visa in Bahrain. It was a breeze with very little documentation required. This year I was returning to LOS after a year spent in the U..S. I tried to apply through the Royal Thai Consulate in Chicago. The list of questions had grown considerably, but the one that applied the coup de grace (or put paid) to this guy's application) was the one requiring me to take a photo of myself holding my own passport. Instead of continuing, I just came in on visa exempt, then applied at my local IO for the Non O visa and then got the extension three months later.