Just renewing my Thai Driving Licence ( 4th time, been here 15 years) - and near the end of the process, to be tripped up. Applying where I live and work Pathum Thani. The Road Ministry is asking for a certificate of residency despite having copy and sight of my original blue and current work permit & valid visa in my passport. These used to be additionally authenticated by a letter from Immigration to Road licence. Patum Thani Immigration has recently decided not to do these letters and advises they must be issued by the Home Embassy, in my case UK.
UK embassy used to do an "Affirmation of Residency". visit to the embassy 50 pounds signed and stamped. UK embassy no longer doing this or offering an explanation or, more essentially, a public written notice (Thai & English) that could be passed to Thai authorities to establish a " Certificate of Residency - Not available from Embassy". (UK only, or are other ambassies able to do this still?)
Checking with Chang Wattana Immigration, they apparently still issue letters of confirmation. Pathum Thani do not, just last few months?
Need to break this impasse. UK Embassy has gone very corporate (not in a good way) - Call the .local number and click to consular call service takes you to a UK 24 hour call centre. Their primary advice is everthing is solved on thier web site from UK.GOV. hmm we wish - and from there on in not overly helpful with advice - than filling in a web form to complain. UK Gov websites are a complete mess. Google UK.Gov surely leads you to a Thai list of consular services which no longer include service of "Affirmation of Residency despite this being an income generation exercise. Google Search Thai Affirmation of Residency certificate leads you to UK Gov site where you can actively book an appointment at the embassy down load the self fill Affirmation of residency & a booking form - to be then let down with no accsses to payment. Yes, I had a booked and confirmed appointment on the UK system before falling at this last hurdle.
OK it is in an ongoing impasse and a long story. Hope to get a breakthrough.
Am I alone in this wilderness?