bamboozled

Thanks CecilM! I've watched and photographed my QR code!

True, but it matters if I'm driving without a current and valid license and get stopped at one of the fairly common police check points. Plus, I'm not sure insurance covers an accident with an expired license. Plus, cannot use it as a valid ID, for instance, to board a plane. I don't foresee the boarding a plane being an issue between now and 3 weeks but it did happen to me very recently and I had to take a 10 hour bus ride because I was refused boarding. I didn't have my passport with me due to extenuating circumstances. I will feel better having a new license ASAP.

Thanks worrab! Appointments weren't available for 3 or 4 weeks and my license is expired already 3/4 weeks. So I will have to jump into the fray come Monday morn. I'm driving around on eggshells. Got my med cert. Captions on the vid. were in English so no worries there. Cheers!

There were captions in English. And at some point during the video, a test question will pop up. One must answer it within 3 minutes to continue with the video so careful with that cup of tea.

I'm happy to have the new TM30. I feel "legit", within the rules if ever asked, and fresh like a newly blooming daisy. So fresh and legit that the cert. of residence officer was all smiles when I presented my documents and request. I actually left Immi with a smile on my face. That's priceless, like Visa...or something like that. A visa?

Because I received a new extension which was switched from based on marriage to based on retirement. And I needed a cert. of residence. Maybe I didn't need to.... Nobody seems to really understand the mysterious, enigmatic, TM30. Not even Immi.

No official receipt, no.

Yep, I got that today thanks!

I watched the video. Actually learned a few things. It could use an update, I'd say. And starts out reaaaaaaal slow.

Awesome, many thanks!

Nova, did you catch what time it opens, please?

rent a bicycle and ride, baby, ride

Thank you, everyone. I started the video and might as well finish it for sheets and giggles, at this point. Just got my med certificate at Rajavej. 100 baht. Got two, for moto and car just in case. For 100 baht, no worries either way. No appointments available for 3/4 weeks so will walk in and try my luck. Novacova, did you just walk in?

Great, doing the test right now!

You're probably right. I'll give it a go. I always figure no one would ever answer. Thanks!

Thanks Poilu! Where can I access this online video?

To my chagrin, I cannot read Thai. How long ago was this, Tomaz? Perhaps they scrapped i/I hope they scrapped it!

Great, thanks guys. So it's not like the long test when getting the license the first time (which I'm sure I would have failed if I hadn't watched some tutorials online first...though I'm a good driver)? Also, no appointment necessary? I guess that went out the door with Covid?

If so, could anyone send me a link, please? Also, do I need to schedule an appointment or walk-in is fine (Chiang Mai)? The Land Transport website I found useless for this info. Much obliged, Bamboozled.

Reporting back that this morning I was at Immigration (small building in the back for TM30, next to copy shop) and renewed a TM30 from 3 or 4 years ago as I have a new extension (Non-O based on retirement). I was still residing at the same address. The officer looked at only my old TM30 and my passport and filled in a new TM30. That's it. The cost was zero. I had tried doing it online with no success that I could discern. I then went upstairs to the second floor of the main building and applied for a certificate of residence in order to renew my 5-year car and moto licenses. The officer wanted copies of my relevant passport pages, a photo, and to see my new TM30, which she gave back. She asked for 60 baht to mail the certificate to me on the 17th of November (today is 27 October). I asked if there was a quicker way and she said for 500 baht there is next day service which I opted for due to a rush on renewing my licenses. Since it's Friday today, I will pick it up 8:30 Monday morning. Note that I did not fill out any form. Sometimes the easiest and quickest method to get these things done is to roll up your sleeves, jump into the melee, and have at it. I've found, at least a few times, if not more, that I have hemmed and hawed and worried and searched myself silly about this stuff only to find when showing up that it was a easy like a hot knife through butter. Must be my good looks. That being said, I've also gotten shut down hard a few times at Immigration. Maybe I was having a bad hair day. Point being is that my/ones mileage may vary and we don't know until we try. The most well-meaning advice/info from the internet MIGHT not be relevant on a given day, reasons perhaps unknown. ...Fine morning to all!

No, closed down a good bit before Covid hit the shiit.

That guy on Chang Moi was named Stuart and he was from USA. Shop is long gone. I think it was called Mong bikes...something like that. I bought my bike at Chaitawat Bike Shop.

I had problems with two transfers from US. Both said they would arrive in seconds but after confirming the transfer the time for money to arrive changed to 15 hours. This continued for 5 days with Wise message continually expiring and reappearing with a new time/date. I called Wise and was told it was a hold up with Thai bank. I'm SURE this was baloney because no other evidence was showing and in fact Wise had sent a message at one point saying there was a slow down processing something or other. I was given a date two days later which was yesterday and it did finally come through. However, I am still waiting for another transfer which I did a day later. That is, last Friday. So a week has now passed and still it hasn't arrived. Usually, it takes mere seconds. To the point, I did another transfer today as I am in need of money and that one arrived in seconds. This slow processing did cause me problems as I had some bills to pay and they lapsed into overdue because the Wise money didn't arrive in its normal timely manner. Point being, one can usually, but not always, count on Wise to be quick. Plan ahead.

Got it, thanks for the input. I'm not used to doing extensions. I would get new, multi-entry, year long visas every year and do border bounces. I was never required to meet criteria such as funds in the bank...keep 800k or 400k or monthly transfers, etc... It was pretty simple. Now things seem less simple and I've got to up my game. There is a learning curve here.

That makes sense. In my view (which matters nought), what a PITA. I wonder if folks get called out on that.