yang123

Thanks to all for the inputs above. Renewal at Chaeng Wattana last week was quite painless.

My passport apart, I took the following documents:

a) Form TM 7 + photograph

copies of passport ID page & form TM6 (arrival/departure card),

c) letter from embassy certifying my pension income and nationality status,

d) copy of letter-headed invoice and receipt for condo annual service charge (as proof of address) and

e) 1,900 baht fee.

No fingerprints or letter from my Thai bank were asked for.

Queuing and processing time from entry to departure was 90 minutes: it would probably have been less if I'd arrived earlier, but morning traffic jams did for that. No complaints.

The aim of all terrorists, regardless of 'color', is to use violence to

- provoke a government into over-reaction (thus alienating the uncommitted),

- demonstrate a government's incapacity to manage security (thus prompting demands for change in government)

- increase external pressure on a government to make concessions.

All successful terrorists have had an armed wing and a 'nice to be nice' political wing to manipulate the media and public opinion. By those standards, the Reds are doing well strategically as well as tactically. The terrorist script calls for a huge outrage, and I'm not going to go into what that could be: stand back and use your own memories; Thailands heaves with targets for that.

Tiananmen 1989: remember 'the Chinese People's Liberation Army will never fire on the Chinese people'.....

[Ex-military and hate terrorists of ALL colors.]

I have to renew my Retirement Visa at the end of this month. What documents should I take? Thos already to hand are:

Passport & landing card + copies

Pension statement + copies

Embassy Certification of pension statement + copies

Photographs.

I think that's what I needed last year but can't be sure. No obvious answer on the Thai Immigration web-site and didn't have time on my last 90 day check to queue at the Info counter.

Many thanks

PS: Sticky fingers - retirement not retirememt!!

Did my 90 day check-in today. Arrived at Suan Phlu 0920hrs; out at 10.15hrs. Only two rather overwhelmed counter ladies and one checker on duty at Counter 3, but no complaints from me.

Thai Visa may not fit the bill - the blurb suggests it only provides ad novem coverage for those under the age of 60.