dutch

I buy sambal badjak and sambal brandal at an online shop in Holland.

I used to buy locally "prit ta deng" which comes a little near to the taste of the badjak but it isn't the same.

I know it is expensive but why should't I ?

btw that shop also sells the sambal oelek.

Can pm you if you like but I think you will know already.

Don't know if this is the one that you are looking for.?

Main road from Korat to Bangkok around km 238/239 (take the frontage road) on the left a gigantic big place with everything that you can look for.It is open air.

(The neighbourhood is called Khok Gruad)

At the Immigration office Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) you will find the following letter:

(copies free available there to take home)

quote

To:all expatrates

As you were aware from various information sources.The Northeast Immigration Center was to close in early April 2008 and move to Bangkok.

The Northeast Immigration Center would like to inform you that the office is currently operating to all expatriates who live in the northeast area.

No closure of this office is expected in the near future.

In addition we will continue to increase the efficiency of our services to all expatriates.However, if there is any consideration as to re-structuring the Immigration Bureau's Office,we will present to our superiors the opiinions expresses by expatriates along with the statistics of expatriates showing the number of expatriates who submit their request for extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom at Northeast Immigration Center.

The Northeast Immigration Center would like to thank you all for expressing your concerns for the benefit of appropriate officials.

Yours Truly

Northeast Immigration Center

31 March 2008

unquote

obviously a polite petition was accepted in a good way

I tried Issan lawyers once, never again

I used Isaan Lawyers now on several occassions.

Translations-certifications-notary seal on life certifications -criminal case and I am in the process of my will.

It is very rare if there is no answer within 24 hour.

Also the staff is friendly helpfull and some of them speak English.

I hardly can understand the quote above mentioned.

If something wrong happened,you go to the boss and discuss but you don't publish such a statement

Sebastien's answer is clear but this is a reaction from a customer.

We received to-day the following letter.

Much more appreciation for the petition I would say

quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We received another letter, dated of 18th March 2008.

=========================================

To: All Expatriates

As you were aware from various information sources, The Northeast Immigration Center was to close in early April 2008 and move to Bangkok.

The Northeast Immigration Center would like to inform you that the office is currently operating to all expatriates who live in the Northeast area. No closure of this office is expected in the near future. In addition, we will continue to increase the efficiency of our services to all expatriates. However if there is any consideration as to re-structuring the Immigration Bureau's office, we will present to our superiors the opinions expresses by expatriates along with the statistics of expatriates showing the number expatriates who submit their request for extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom at Northeast Immigration Center.

The Northeast Immigration Center would like to thank you all for expressing your concerns for the benefit of appropriate officials.

Yours Truly,

Norhteast Immigration Center.

18 March 18, 2008

unquote

If you read the bold in the letter........please some reaction from the doubters about our initial information.

To-day we received the official answer.

(original post was in Thai language and this is an official translation)

quote

Here's a translation of the letter received today:

====================================

(-Garuda-)

At Tor Chor0029.511/1007 Northeastern Immigration Center

TOT pcl Building, 1st floor,

118 Moo 10 Kok-kruat Sub-District,

Muang District, Nakhon ratchasima 30280

12 March 2008.

Title: Possible closure of Northeastern Immigration Center

To: The Korat expatriate community

Reference: The letter from The Korat expatriate community signed on February 28, 2008.

We refer to your letter in reference asking the officials to reconsider the closure of Northeastern Immigration Center because many expatriates live in the area of Nakhon Ratchasima and it is essential to extend their temporary stay in the Kingdom and also make their 90 days report of extension.

The Northeastern Immigration Center would like to inform you that our office is still operating as normal. You may come and do your official business during official hours. There is no clarity that the office might close or move to another place. It?s because of the Royal Thai Police?s policy.

I still confirm that The Northeastern Immigration Center is presently operating at the same location and will increase its efficiency in service.

For information and kindly publicize this to all people concerned

Yours truly,

Police Colonel (-signed-)

(Banpot Kongkachan)

Deputy Commander Northeastern Immigration Center

unquote

To-day we received a phonecall from the Immigration Office.

They promissed to react (in written) to our petition.

As soon as we receive the letter we will publish.

I went on the 11th for my 90 day reporting. My Thai wife was with me we asked the question about the office closing and was told that there is no official comunication on this and they suspect it is a rumur. However they said if we were concerned we should get in touch with the imigration head office in Bangkok. My wife has done so and was told that there are no plans to close the office.

Who do we belive dont Know, but I do no one thing. Rumors on Thai Visa are rife.

Funny that they (immigration officers) supported the petition that has been on the visitors desk for quite some time

Spoke to them last friday afternoon and they were advised ( by fax from HQ Bangkok last monday 18 feb) not to speak with the visitors about this subject anymore.(too many emails at HQ )

Situation is still the same and we will have to wait.

We are prepairing a letter to MP's of Korat about this matter and we were advised to continue with that plan.

If it is not true,I enjoyed doing the things we did and nobody got hurt.

If it is true,we at least did our utmost to protest and also nobody got hurt

Yes this is thailand and as I said befor rumurs are rife on this site.

Read the main imigration one. How many rumurs I dread to think.

What you are doing is indeed good and for all our sakes lets hope it is not true.

I see even after the Fax from Bangkok they are still talking to you on the subject. As I said befor this is Thailand.

Realy plays about with the 90 reporting if the office closes.

Who is we are preparing a letter. I would like to add my support to any letter sent.

P.S. My previous post was not directed at you but at all the rumurs on this site maybe I should have opened a new thread for that particular comment.

My wife and family Know lots of people from Bangkok imigration and I am trying to get more information on this topic.

We = the people from koratfarangdotcom with support from KK forum and several others.

The letter concept is published in the forum and will be translated into Thai on Tuesdayy 26 febr.

This Thai letter plus the original English letter will be mailed to three selected Korat MP's with a copy to the head of immigration office Korat.

Enclosed will be 260 individual reactions and letters/emails that we received.All reactions with full name and address.

You still can email/pm me and I will print and add to the file.

My contact at the office requested not to name him anymore .I think he is a little surprised by the reaction from HQ in Bkk (caused by the direct e-mails )

I went on the 11th for my 90 day reporting. My Thai wife was with me we asked the question about the office closing and was told that there is no official comunication on this and they suspect it is a rumur. However they said if we were concerned we should get in touch with the imigration head office in Bangkok. My wife has done so and was told that there are no plans to close the office.

Who do we belive dont Know, but I do no one thing. Rumors on Thai Visa are rife.

Funny that they (immigration officers) supported the petition that has been on the visitors desk for quite some time

Spoke to them last friday afternoon and they were advised ( by fax from HQ Bangkok last monday 18 feb) not to speak with the visitors about this subject anymore.(too many emails at HQ )

Situation is still the same and we will have to wait.

We are prepairing a letter to MP's of Korat about this matter and we were advised to continue with that plan.

If it is not true,I enjoyed doing the things we did and nobody got hurt.

If it is true,we at least did our utmost to protest and also nobody got hurt

hi dutch, well i did say he was thai, he was also in uniform. seemed to understand me but i did /do have my doubts about that as i do with anything a thai tells me. including the wife.lol. hope my guy is right.

And.........did you sign the petition?

Well.....I wonder in what office you have been

I was there yesterday (friday) early afternoon and spoke to the officers.

At the same time I collected the lists with signatures to support the petition.

Immigration itself printed on the list (that I provided after their permission) in red "KORAT IMMIGRATION CLOSE"

Why would they do that?

We do have around 250 signatures/emails and letters in just a short period.These are mostly coming from people with internet connection and I suppose there are still a lot of people unaware of what might be happen.

It is the plan to hand the petition to 3 local politicians with a copy to the Immigration boss in Korat.

The 3 local politicians are aproved by The Korat Immigration Office ( I asked them )

Anybody else who want to support please send me a pm or an email

Thank you

A petition has been made by local farang in Korat. A copy is available at George and Dragon, Sports and Cocktails and Isaan Lawyers' office. If you can sign this petition as quick as possible, we were told by an immigration officer in Korat that this might help. We probably have only one week.

Since last Monday there is also a copy available at the Korat Immigration Office.

Can't ever see CM immigration closing. It's a major tourist hub and international gateway for starters. I'd say the Isaan lawyers are talkin balderdash

Have been to immigration office in Korat several times the last week.

(Don't know about CM tho)

Statement of Isaanlawyers is true.

I even got permission from the officers to have our petition request, to sign for visitors, in the room.

For many years some visa applicants have openly criticized the Immigration system here in Thailand, accusing officers of being incompetent and that Immigration deliberately gives applicants a hard time. Also the notices displayed in Immigration asking that applicants dress politely are widely ignored. I have witnessed many wearing filthy shorts and vests as if they had just departed from a drunken beach party, showing no respect for the system or the Thai people and yet they expect a courteous, helpful and sympathetic service from the officers towards those who do not qualify to be here and that the Immigration laws should be tailor made to suit their particular situations.

We are extremely happy with "our" officers in Korat.

They are strict and act according to the book , but.....they are also very helpful and friendly.

I really haven't read any bad comments since they started about 1 1/2 years ago.In contrairy many people from Khon kaen start to use their services too.In my opinion this is how an immigration office should look like

Spoke with the officers today after hearing the rumour that this office will be closed.

It was not yet 100% but.......if you look at the faces!!!!!

This is a wonderfull office with nice,friendly and always willing to help,officers.

Our next nearby immigration office will be about 250 km away.

We are intending to make a petition with as much signatures as possible.

Also individual emails will be printed and joined with the petition.

My dutch amex was printed in Amex office in Bkk.Written instruction was obtained from amex office Amsterdam.

My dutch masterdcard is posted to my home address in Thailand and will be activated after my phonecall.

SCB refused a credit card (I am retiree) without reason.

My monthly income is MORE than sufficient.

I like to have Thai credit card for big expenses and I really hate to walk around with big amounts of money.

I have to laugh when I see the Thais with an monthly income of 20.000 baht pulling the platinum visa that I am refused

I am coming to Coffeeworld (The Mall in Korat) on a regular base.

Black coffee (Americano) is always served with creamER and sugar seperately.

What I also do notice is that they very frequently change their personel.

Young girls without any knowledge of their (Coffeeworld's announcement on the menue) english menu.

Many times different bill (wrong price).

Look at that link under "Description Visa" and you will find the following:

quote

Requirements for the obtainment of a non-immigrant visum:The following has to be presented by you to us or has to be sent by registered mail to us for the obtainment of a non-immigrant visa:

A) A passport with validity not less than 6 months and contain at least one completely empty visa page.

one application form, filled in and signed by you. Always also fill in your telephone number;

C)Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full)

D) 2 equal, recent pass photos (black-white or colour);

E) the costs for a single non-immigrant visa amount to € 50,-;

E) 1. for a work / non-immigrant visa: letter of employer,

2. for a family / non-immigrant visa: copy marriage deed,

3. for a study / non-immigrant visa: study declaration,

4. for a retirement / non-immigrant visa: evidence of retirement,

5. for a training/apprenticeship / non-immigrant visa: letter of the institution where the training/apprenticeship will be carried out.

unquote

Josef,

I did the O-A in my country of residence too.

It is so easy to do all the paperwork in your homecountry,taking your time!

I entered Thailand with an one way ticket and got 364 days ( more to go) stamped in my passport

Nice to read the traditional "Merry Christmas" in stead of that "happy holidays"

100% agree with the OP (and sbk)

As I see it they want to make sure that your living expenses are indeed coming from out of the country. I used to use my Citibank ATM card for living expenses and used the embassy latter for proof of income. They didn't like that at all and came right out and told me the embassy letter may not be factual. This year I deposited the 800,000 baht in my Thai account. I did it for the required three months before my extension was due. I thought they would be happy with that and instead I got questioned as to where the money came from that I used to live on for that three months that the money laid there. They could save a lot of time by simply explaining what they are really looking for. This Thai style beating around the bush and changing rules like people change clothes SUCKS!

As I see it,you answered your own question

about 16.000 km/year

In and around Korat

And that's how simple it can (and will) be.

I will do the same for the 4th time next month.Never had any problem at all.

The raw material used for the production should contain a certain amount of UV stabilizer (umongst other chemical ingredients).

Unfortunately this stuff is expensive and the customers are most of the time not willing to pay the price.

Office from Immigration will move from Assumption school (in town)to the TOT office( about 12 km's outside town).

TOT office is located at the big road No. 2 from Korat to Bangkok.

At around km 244 take the frontage road and on the left side at around km 241 you will find the TOT building.

On the outside frontwall in blue letters" TOT public company Ltd"