Nibor1945

...From Saraburi it's on the first Roundabout you meet...

Please check here on Google Maps if I put the marker for the Lopburi Immigration Office on the correct building:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&sou...fa4a9af0b9417b4

Thank you!

--

Maestro

Maestro.

Correct roundabout but location looks wrong, will go and take another look this afternoon, this time taking a compass and leaving the wife at home! Correction to my directions from the NW. it's the 2nd Roundabout after the Monkey Temple.

Nibor!

I can confirm that the Lopburi Office is operating (just completed a 90 day report there), contact on Phone number 036-424686.

For directions see post on Central Region Forum.

Nibor.

Just to confirm that Lopburi Immigration is open for business, I got the wife to phone and get directions using the number supplied by BAYBOY 036-424686.

From Saraburi it's on the first Roundabout you meet, past Big C, Lotus and Carrefour. The turnoff into the Police station is actually on the roundabout just past the first turnoff on the left, if you imagine a clock face it's at about 10 o'clock.

if your approaching from the North it's the roundabout after the Monkey Temple roundabout, and using the clock face again is situated at 4 O'clock.

The entrance takes you into the Police station carpark, the Lopburi immigration building is (as you look at it) off to the Right (about 50 meters) and set back a bit. It does have car parking in front of the building and the building is clearly marked "Lopburi Immigration".

The office is on the first floor, top of the stairs, turn right and it's on the left, There were no other customers when I arrived at 1430 hrs and the officers (5 in all) were relaxed, friendly and helpful. If I had not lost my prepared 90 day report form, we would have been out in less than the 15 minutes it took to complete the process.

Nibor.

I was told at the begining of December by Ayuttha Immigration that the Lopburi Immmigration was now opened and it is next to the Lopburi Police Station.

Phone number given was 036-424686.

BAYBOY

Many thanks for that BAYBOY, I'll check it out.

Merry Christmas and/or (as applicable) a Happy New Year.

Nibor.

Thought I'd ask this on the local forum, has anybody heard when the Lopburi immigration office is opening? I asked on my last visit to Chaeng Wattana but only got a vague "in the New Year" answer, I have a 90 day report to do in the first week of the new Year and Lopburi would be much more convenient than the trip to Bangkok.

Regards Nibor

I drove down from Saraburi, the new place is easy to find if you follow the directions given on the main thread.

Parking was no problem, for those of you who used room 509 & room 507 in Soi Suan Plu the office is now located on the third floor of the new building. Of course this only applies if your designated local office is not operating yet, as the Lopburi immigration office is not yet open for business I had the choice of Ayuthaya or Chaeng Wattanna.

This was my second 90day report in 14 years and having previously paid my fine all was well, the 90 day report only took 10 minutes and I was out again.

I had several of my Thai family relatives with me including my wife and children, They (the relatives) wanted to apply for Thai passports for a trip to Hong Kong. I drove up to the front building nearest the main road, parking was horrendous and the place was very busy. However they were processed in an hour, and promised delivery by mail of their new passports within 3 working days!

Traffic on Chaeng Wattanna road was bad but once clear of that, the trip was easy. departed Saraburi/Lopburi border at 0830 and home by 1430. Overall impression of the New Building was favourable, but what a huge area of wasted space!

Beacher and Chiang Mai.

When the usage of regional offices became compulsory I changed from downstairs to room 509 in Suan Plu for my non-imm extension, there they stamped my passport with a reminder that I must do the 90 day report.

If I had continued to use the downstairs office I suspect I would have remained "below the radar", however as I had no wish to push my luck further I reported to room 507 for the 90 day report 90 days after my previous extension expired.

My wife (Thai) complained that nobody in 13 years had mentioned 90 day reporting downstairs. She was told that downstairs they worked on the principle that people must read it for themselves, but that they (downstairs) do not liaise with counter 3 ref 90 day reporting.

So I am now legal after "being on the run" for 14 years, and the moral of my story is "Maintain a low profile".

Nibor

I did my first 90 day report yesterday and was fined 2000 Baht for being late, however as I was 14 years late I have no complaints!

Being from the Central region I now have to use Ayuthaya or continue at Soi Suan Plu, As I am familiar with Suan Plu I opted to use that when the change to regional centers was introduced. So I now use room 509 for my Non-Imm O extention and room 507 for 90 reports, after having paid my fine I asked if I could do my next report by post. I was told that I must report in person or authorize another person to do the report for me but that doing the report by post was not an option.

As I don't work and am for all intents and puposes Retired, this is no great problem but I am curious to know if anybody else from the 9 Changwats around Bangkok had a similar problem? Can 90 day reports be done at the Ayuthaya office by post?

Nibor

Yesterday (9-4-2009) My wife and I traveled from Saraburi to Soi Suan Plu to submit my 14th application for extension of my Non-Imm O Visa, based on marriage to a Thai national.

Having read the relevant posts on TV, I took all the original documents and Photo copies that were required for a first time extension. On arrival I collected my ticket number and went to the ground floor office, The lady who we normally see gave us a Form headed 13 years (in Thai) and directed us upstairs to the 5th floor, room 509.

There it was explained that the Central districts other than Bangkok itself are now dealt with in that office, however while waiting I did overhear a couple of first time applicants being told to use their nearest Immigration office in those cases it was Ayuthaya. Other "regulars" were told they could use their nearest office or continue at Soi Suan Plu in room 509. The officer went through all the documents very carefully and asked for photo copies of both the Thai marriage documents. The marriage certificate "Kor Ror 3" and the accompanying details document "Kor Ror 2", which fortunately I took but haven't been asked for in the last 13 years!

Due to the falling value of the Pound sterling my pension income from the UK had also fallen just below the B40,000 level,

however the wife had made some phone calls and said providing we showed a certified bank balance of (in our case) B150,000 as well as the letter from the British Embassy certifying my UK pensions income there should not be a problem.

needless to say I was not my usual calm and collected self during the proceedings!

When all the documents had been inspected my wife was given the form headed "13 years" to sign, she noted that my income had been entered as B50,000 a month. My passport was stamped with the usual "application under consideration" and I have to return in Mid-May for the outcome (either refusal or Stamp).

Whether I have been "Grandfathered" in this case I don't know, Next year I'm also eligible for the UK State pension so hopefully I wont drop below the requisite B40,000 again!

I would however urge everybody to take all the required paperwork, Maps and photos, and be prepared to jump through the hoops with a smile on your face! Do that and you too may find the the hard pressed Immigration officers are not inflexible.

Other things of note on my visit to Soi Suan Plu, we sat next to Jonas (the singer) and his sister Christy in the waiting area, so even they don't get preferential treatment! Also we arrived at the Victory Monument for our return journey, just as the Red shirt Taxi drivers blockaded the roads there (No comment).

Hi. Just to let you know:

I have now received my extension stamp in my passport, I reported to Soi Suan Plu and was directed upstairs again to room 509. Presented my passport and received an extension stamp for 11 months as my passport expires next March!

For some reason I thought that having over 6 months validity to my passport would be OK, and that I could transfer the remainder to my new passport when I renewed this one. Not so, I learned to my cost. I was told that if I presented a new passport within the next 2 weeks I could have the extra month, but as the new date gets me clear of Songkran I'll leave it as it is.

Hi Tutsiwarrior.

Like everything in Thailand there are regional variations, I can only go by my personal experience with my two children in the Saraburi area (Farang male married to Thai national, our children are Thai nationals). After they were born most of the extended family visited to see the new arrival, however the the baby was not taken on any journeys other than to the clinic for the first month. After the first month was up then the baby was considered old enough to travel, and the first journey was to see the maternal grandparents (Tar and Yai).

Most of the extended family had gathered for the occasion, Tar and then Yai blessed the baby and tied the usual white cord around the wrist. A lock of hair was cut off (I was not very impressed with the usual head shaving), and this along with some other "ingredients" were wrapped in a banana leaf and given to my wife and I. After that there was an informal party, as my wife has seven brothers and sisters there were a considerable amount of people there.

On our return home, the banana leaf bundle was placed under the village/estate "spirit tree" which is the oldest tree in the village (usually decorated with multi coloured ribbons of material). From what I can gather in Thai animist beliefs, ancient trees develop a soul and become a focal point for the spirits of the village, and this is to notify them that someone new has joined the community!

I try to keep an open mind to most things Thai, after all I'm a guest here and providing it poses no risk to to my family I go along with most things here. I cannot recall any specific Buddhist ceremony for the children.

I go along with your sentiments about MIL, a good "Yai" is worth her weight in gold (providing she doesn't actually cost that much)!

It's my duty and an honour to remember them, for the ultimate sacrifice they made for us.

Lastly your wife needs to accompany you for the initial application plus your children if you have any.

Wife needs to be with you for all applications for extension of stay based on marriage. Believe you mean wife does not have to be with you for pick up after 30 day under consideration stamp?

Correct, your wife needs to accompany you for the initial application of each annual extension at Soi Suan Plu, if at another office then she would be required for the 2nd interview as well. She would not be required to attend when you go for the final extension decision Granted or denied. Sorry for any confusion caused,

Nibor.

As Lopburi has already said, different offices require different paperwork. However, if you were to amass all the following (twice outside BKK), you should be OK. This is based on B400K in the bank:

TM7 application form & photo

B1,900 fee

Passport & Arrival Card (TM6)

Signed copy of passport & TM6 (all pages and both sides of TM6)

Marriage certificate

Signed copy of marriage cert (all 4 pages)

Tabien Baan (all pages)

Signed copy of Tabien Baan

ID card

Signed copy of ID card

Signed copy of wife's passport (data page only is probably ok)

Bank letter (dated on day of application or 1 day before)

Savings book (no joint a/c; B400K in it for the past 3 months; balance MUST match letter)

Signed copy of savings book

Signed map of address

Photos of house (you and spouse in and around the house preferably different days; different clothes)

I really can't think of anything else required!!

Hi 2008bangkok,

This is a pretty comprehensive list, if you have children then birth certificates would be required. If the marriage was registered in Thailand then you would have got two marriage certificates (Kor sor 3), and one "details of marriage form" (Kor sor 2). You will need to take one marriage certificate (Kor sor 3), and it would be advisable to take the "Details form" Kor sor 2 . I was asked for this form last week, the first time in the last 13 applications for an extension. Lastly your wife needs to accompany you for the initial application plus your children if you have any.

Good-luck, Nibor.

If the address you are looking for is indeed in Saraburi, then the address would be more likely Amphur "Phra Phutthabat" which has its own post office.

My children are Thai, this is where the majority of their family are. Thailand is undergoing growing pains which in time will pass, for all its faults it's still their country! We live out in the country where sanity still prevails to a large extent, and "Blue" would be the colour of choice with the Royal crest on of course! For the foreseeable future, this country holds more promise than my own westernized country with its Nanny state Mentality and failing economy. If I lived in Bangkok then perhaps I would think differently, having said that I will still "hedge my bets" by obtaining UK passports for my children, and Pray we do not have cause to use them.

Nibor.

So, room 509 doesn't affect those who live in BKK city and extend at SS Plu?

Correct, those people who live in The Bangkok metropolitan area continue as before, as I said in my original post room 509 deals with the 7 or 8 Changwats of the central region as listed in Soi Suan Plu and various posts on TV.

Nibor.

It was and still is considered improper for a male to have physical contact with a female other than his wife/immediate family in public, although this attitude is lessening amongst the younger Thais, it still applies to most adults. Certainly "out in the sticks" in mainstream society that rule still applies equally to Thai or Farang males, and in this respect women seem to have more freedom than men. It's their country so I personally play it by their rules.

What is this '13 years' form? Never heard of this before!

No I have never seen anything similar before, the wife has had to sign a form every year to the effect that everything is OK on previous extensions but I would have noticed if it had been headed with the number of years!

In retrospect I suspect it may be some sort of "Handover certificate" from downstairs to room 509?

Nibor.

Yesterday (9-4-2009) My wife and I traveled from Saraburi to Soi Suan Plu to submit my 14th application for extension of my Non-Imm O Visa, based on marriage to a Thai national.

Having read the relevant posts on TV, I took all the original documents and Photo copies that were required for a first time extension. On arrival I collected my ticket number and went to the ground floor office, The lady who we normally see gave us a Form headed 13 years (in Thai) and directed us upstairs to the 5th floor, room 509.

There it was explained that the Central districts other than Bangkok itself are now dealt with in that office, however while waiting I did overhear a couple of first time applicants being told to use their nearest Immigration office in those cases it was Ayuthaya. Other "regulars" were told they could use their nearest office or continue at Soi Suan Plu in room 509. The officer went through all the documents very carefully and asked for photo copies of both the Thai marriage documents. The marriage certificate "Kor Ror 3" and the accompanying details document "Kor Ror 2", which fortunately I took but haven't been asked for in the last 13 years!

Due to the falling value of the Pound sterling my pension income from the UK had also fallen just below the B40,000 level,

however the wife had made some phone calls and said providing we showed a certified bank balance of (in our case) B150,000 as well as the letter from the British Embassy certifying my UK pensions income there should not be a problem.

needless to say I was not my usual calm and collected self during the proceedings!

When all the documents had been inspected my wife was given the form headed "13 years" to sign, she noted that my income had been entered as B50,000 a month. My passport was stamped with the usual "application under consideration" and I have to return in Mid-May for the outcome (either refusal or Stamp).

Whether I have been "Grandfathered" in this case I don't know, Next year I'm also eligible for the UK State pension so hopefully I wont drop below the requisite B40,000 again!

I would however urge everybody to take all the required paperwork, Maps and photos, and be prepared to jump through the hoops with a smile on your face! Do that and you too may find the the hard pressed Immigration officers are not inflexible.

Other things of note on my visit to Soi Suan Plu, we sat next to Jonas (the singer) and his sister Christy in the waiting area, so even they don't get preferential treatment! Also we arrived at the Victory Monument for our return journey, just as the Red shirt Taxi drivers blockaded the roads there (No comment).

Wyeth -26 is the same as SMA in the UK ,can get it most supermarkets.

i use it too

Hi silentnine.

Like mearkat75 we raised our 2nd child on S26, it is available at most local shops which is a great bonus when your waay-out in the countryside. Infants do not seem to like change in feeding habits (as we found out with our 1st child), so continuity was an important factor in our choice. 5 years on she certainly seems healthy enough! Just remember to check the "Use by" date in some of the more remote shops!

Enjoy every moment you can with your baby, they grow so fast.

Fess up!

Who among you is really there for the culture and only masquerading as a monger?

Me! Me! I am, The wife and kids don't allow me to be a monger (Fish, ho or other) so it's culture or nothing!

I took the family to visit the Grand Palace this year, only took me 13 years to get there. OK, one down what's next on the list?

In the area I live in there is a "regular Dustbin/waste disposal route", whenever we want anything out of the usual removed we just contact them and for a couple of hundred Baht they make a special trip. We have used them for tree felling, house clearing etc, if you live way-way off the beaten track then head for the local "Tethabaan" sounds something like that! which is the local council office to contact the waste disposal guys. Failing that then your local "bodgit the builder" will undoubtedly be able to arrange something for you, however don't be suprised if the local farmer turns up at your house complaining about the pile of your household rubbish that appeared in his paddy field. I have not seen or heard of any skip hire firms, as most builders rubble etc is normally taken away by small lorry and used as landfill on another job.

goodluck with your search.

Nibor.

I'm in central Thailand, Lopburi, and apart from the monkeys, I like it here. It has only been 5 days, but first impressions count for a lot!!

I just moved to Lopburi a few months ago too.

I was previously in Phitsanulok.

garro.

You seem to be on the same path as myself, spent 8 years in Phitsanulok before moving down here. We now have 3 of the 5 central inhabitants who have voted so far

kato.

welcome to central Thailand, and don't let the monkeys steal your sun glasses.

Regards Nibor.

Hi Garro.

My 2 children Thai/Brit are now 12 and 5 years old, the youngest seems to be following in her brothers footsteps as regards being Luk Kreung. To start with of course they both attracted more than their fair share of attention, whilst they were under 5 they enjoyed the fuss and attention. At age 7 or thereabouts my son went into denial, he tried to ignore it all and made a point of telling people he was/is Thai. Now at 12 he is trying to find a balance and has become more interested in things non-Thai, at school he likes to be considered (like KhoaNiaw's Child/young lady) as a Thai with a father who happens to be English. I try to avoid comparisons between the different cultures (but fail miserably when I'm behind the steering wheel) and let them find their own balance. When my son is Old/mature enough I'll send him to England for the summer holidays so he can gain some first hand experience of "things foreign" and improve his language skills. They are both Buddhist but my son has attended a Catholic "Bilingual school" so has knowledge of other religions, something else I try to let them find their own way in.

Having "Luk kreung" children is as much a learning curve for parents as it is for the kids so enjoy it and just point them back to the middle path if they veer to far off course.

Regards Nibor.

PS just read through this and found I had not made one mention of my Thai wife! It does help if the wife shares the same outlook on rearing the children, and we both had to "strike a balance" when my son reached his "denial phase". if you're not working in unison then it can get a little more complicated.

Yes I have registered my family, Thai wife and our 2 children. In my case with the British embassy, I have received various letters from them when unusual circumstances have arisen. I make a point of confirming my address and details every year. Having witnessed the occasional hasty re-patriation of Brits and their families from various countries in the course of a previous occupation, I know for a fact that simply registering with the embassy can make the difference between safety for your family or waiting in a panic stricken line at some overcrowded airport/docks. Yes I know it's all a bit "doomsday scenario" but then so is life insurance!