marcusmarsh

On 01/03/2017 at 9:32 AM, ubonjoe said:

It may be the education ministry office in Surat Thani that is requiring it. It certainly is not a requirement to get a non-ed visa or extension at immigration.

Yes I believe that is the case. 

It seems that from today, at least here on Koh Phangan, that when applying for  a Education visa I need a criminal record check document from my UK embassy.

Cant see any thread on here about this but would appreciate being pointed in the right direction if there is one.

Has anyone ever had experience getting hold of one of these ?

How did you do it please ? Managed to get one by calling or emailing embassy ?

Any help is much appreciated.

Apologies for what is a bog standard question.

My visa needs it,s last extension on Octopber 16th which has now been cancelled (yes ED visa - got a email from my school a couple of days back saying immigration will not extend) and so I have to leave the country and get a new visa. Ive come to terms with this. I had a wonderful run so no complaints. Thing is although visa now expires on 16th Oct - the 90 days reporting page in my passport says I must report on the 5th Oct.

What is the latest date I can leave the country without being fined for overstaying my 90 days report please ?

RPCVguy,

on the 29th when you went there but was too late for a number, what time did you get there please ?

Im very curious at what point, which time, is it too late to get a number for that day.

So a report on how it went.

Bloody brilliantly !!! Cant remember the last time I said that about CM immigration.

I had actually paid 500 baht for someone to queue for me so do not know what time they actually arrived there unfortunately.

I picked up the number at 8pm. When I arrived at immigration I couldnt quite believe what I saw - empty seats, no mass of humanity inside or out ! It just felt surreal.

Got my extension and then did my 90 days and was out at exactly 10.30am. Result.

Thank NancyL, so basically, as long as I get given a queue number I will be processed.

I am due to get an extension for ED visa and am going on the last day before being an overstay. I dont like doing that usually but thats how it is this time unfortunately.

All should be fine as long as they do indeed give me the extension on the day I turn up. I hear the queue starts at around 4am so am wondering what time do you need to get there to make sure you get processed on that day ? Is it feasible I could turn up at 6am or 7am and get a queue number so large that it actually doesnt get processed that day ?

All answers appreciated.

I have to go get my ED visa in Vientiane this upcoming Monday ( I realize to many on here that makes me scum ). Although I have done this a couple of times in the past I just wanna make sure of a few things. I did try and search for this information in other threads with no joy.

1,

What time does the queue form outside the Consulate/ embassy ? It says the office opens at 8.30am. Do people start queueing around 7am ish ? Any tips appreciated.

2,

for the next day pick up of passport with visa what time do people start queueing then also please ? It says collection time is 13.30 until 15.30. Best time to get there in anyone,s experience is ?

3,

Also, for the first time, I am flying to Udon Thani from Chiang Mai. Once arrived at Udon airport how much, just very roughly please, should I expect to get charged for tuk tuk to the friendship bridge ? Or do people use another form of transport ?

Any help, as always, is much appreciated.

I appreciate every single answer above. The ER6n idea is out of the window. To be honest I THINK it (changing bikes) was just a wee thought process that might pass soon enough. I do like the idea of the extra power of the CB650f and im convinced in no time id grow to love the bike. But I dont quite fancy it (the look of it) if you know what I mean...

Still wanting to hear more replies, particularly for ideas of different bikes (no drop handle bars) that offer more oopmh without being too expensive.

There is a Yamaha big bike showroom or two Ive noticed around town and out near me (Lanna golf course). They got any 600cc bikes worth checking ?

Hi all,

Just over a year ago, after many helpful comments on here and lots of research, I bought a new Honda CB500F. It was the first time Id ridden a bigger than 100cc bike in maybe 15 years, since the days of my Suzuki Bandit 600cc back in the UK. All the joy of motorcycling came back in floods - honestly I was like a kid again. Couldnt sleep at night ? No problem - just go for a 2am spin on the empty roads for an hour or so - loved it I can honestly say to this day, about 14 months later, I still get a big buzz from riding it.

BUT....... theres always a but eh...

lets just say that I have started the very early thought process about which next bike to get ? I know I know... but lifes short and money is not a major issue (though thats not to say im loaded - but am fairly comfy - for me at least - and happy to spend a couple of grand on something bigger/faster).

I would like a bit more top end speed plus a tad more 0 - 100kph speed though am in no rush to go out and buy something. Thing is Im a bit lost with the process of selling and buying 2nd hand bikes here in Chiang Mai. I actually dont know where to start or who to ask. So Im gonna just blurt my early thoughts/ questions out in the hope that some of your answers (should anyone bother to reply) help me in some way. Any answers are sincerely appreciated as always.

1, I bought the Honda CB500F for 205 or 210k (baht) brand new and its in good condition.

any idea how much this would sell for in the current market ?

2, If I wanted to buy a 1 or 2 year old 2nd hand bike (perhaps a Kawasaki ER6i though im not at all sure yet) where,s the best place to start looking for decent 2nd hand bikes that are no more than 2 years old ? Also the best place to sell my current bike ?

3, Lets say I end up buying a bike from a different province than here in Chiang Mai (where I live) is that a issue ? Do I need to change registration to Chiang Mai ? Easy enough to do or do people recommend to buy within the province I already live in in the first place ?

4, is it even feasible there is somewhere I could take in my CB500 and trade it for different make of bike ?

5, any recommendations other than what I have asked above are welcome.

Ideally id like to sell my bike add a further 75k (perhaps 100k max) to what I sell it for and get something bigger and faster. If there are any suggestions for what bike that might be im listening.

I do not want a out and out racing type with the drop handle bars as thats not my cup of tea. The bike would be the only bike I ride and I like to pop into town a fair bit. The CB was perfect for this, nipping in and out of and being a nuisance to cars etc I want a bike thats good for town and good for long cruises but with more speed than the CB. Its actually possible I will stick with the CB for a fair bit longer yet BUT early doors feelers have begun....

Appreciated

Marcus

Fell of a bike offroading a few weeks back and, though I seemed fine at the time, my wrist has gradually been playing up bit by bit. So I just want to get it checked out by having a x-ray.

Any idea what the price of a wrist x-ray would cost say in the Ram ? Lanna ? Just rough prices would be fine (I did try googling this without joy). My friend recently paid 17,000 baht for one night in the Ram (no minor op or anything) so thats put me of going there.

Any other suggestions as to where I could get this done without TOO long a wait. Normally I wouldnt mind waiting at all but the up coming world cup see,s me in my busiest period in 4 years with work so ideally wouldnt want to wait for hours - though up to an hour would be fine.

Im wondering if that Dr Surgery in Loh Kroh road might have a x-ray machine anyone know ?

Suggestions please.

Appreciated as always.

FolKGuitar - I honestly might do that. When I see the sign I have sometimes thought 'why not' ?

What time does it happen from and to on a Saturdays? Saturdays are actually my busiest day work wise so another day would be more preferable but still Id genuinely like to take a look.

Id be utterly amazed if you were positive but if you are worried then its worth testing for peace of mind.

I once had a test in the Ram hospital and would not recommend it at all. Once it got from the labs to the nurses on the desk where I was waiting, the envelope was open and the nurse called me out, then she took a cheeky look at the result before handing it to me. Didnt like that at all though enjoyed the negative result somewhat.

Good luck to ya bud.

yes, unfortunately FolkGuitar that is the school I ride past.

Did you find a school ? I happen to ride past a fencing school regularly so if you need details let me know and I,ll tell you where etc.

Seeing a 3 page thread on the price of eggs certainly got my curiosity peeked. I did, I admit, immediately think words to the effect of 'oh <removed> come on, 1 baht here 1 baht there could it REALLY matter "?

Now I have a wee one man internet 'business' that is doing well I must admit I do not even notice the price of eggs. But then I remembered me and my then girlfriend when we lived in Pai around 7 years back. She had a small paying job and I was just living on savings that were constantly moving one way = down. I had no idea how to make money out here and loathed the thought of teaching English so did not have much in way of future money making scheme,s planned. Plus I did not wanna go back to Europe so spending money was becoming a wee sore point.

I now remember actually enjoying shopping at the different shops to save a few baht here and there. I remember we both used to laugh at discovering a new few baht savings by shopping here instead of there. All done on push bike and so not more expensive to get to certain shops. Sometimes its the very small things in life many of us enjoy.

Good luck to all bargain hunters out there. May you find bargains a plenty.

So they open the doors at 7am now? Thats good. What time did they start processing extensions?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Maanoi, they certainly opened the doors at exactly 7am on the day in question though not sure if that is the new norm everyday from here on in or not.

The processing started at 8.30 am I believe.

I once left Pai on my motorbike, where I used to live before Chiang Mai, a week before Songkrang for a visa run to avoid the water throwing.

Well I never... there I was with my girlfriend of the time on the motorbike and suddenly got slaughtered by some younguns as we turned a corner. I took 95% of the hit. Wasnt happy but oh how the girlfriend enjoyed that ! Laughing like a hyena. I turned around , with the hump, and her face was lovely to watch as she cracked up big time. God she LOVED it

But now I was looking for any others and sure enough I spotted some kids so slowed down as they ran out and I ducked at the perfect moment so my girlfriend took the whole lot.

To this day I still sometimes think of the two differing looks on her face

One - utter joy.

Two - humpy as <removed>

Nowadays I hibernate I must admit as It aint my cuppa tea.

Oh also I remember, with same girlfriend, getting slaughtered by a guy hiding behind a wall on the way back from the cinema at 10pm. I stopped but my gf talked me out of returning by calmly saying 'come on luv, lets get home.' If that happened to me now there is no chance Id calmly go home. Snipers, and I mean this (should you do it late evening time), beware !

Thanks for the above replies. I thought id quickly report what happened in case it helps someone.

Got there to do my visa extension about 5.50am. I was exactly 8th in the queue. Left the building at exactly 9.50am.

Points of note;

The guy who was first in the queue did not actually leave the office any earlier than me - we got our passports back at the same time. Perhaps he had a hold up with his - not sure. Just noted we left together.

The guy, a nice fella, who was 4th in the queue went for a piss and the doors to the office opened at 7am, yes 7am, to give out queue numbers and cos he was not there he got given number 88 instead of his true number which should have been 4.

That fella taught me a lesson in taking life easy - he was very chilled about it which actually did get me thinking about the things I take a little too seriously.

The things I would do differently, only minor stuff,

1, id take mossie repellent. BIG mistake taking none/ not putting any on. Absolute murder at that time in the morning. The one farang girl I saw put some on looked so unhappy I didnt have the front to ask her for a wee pinch.

2, id take a wee flask of coffee.

I still find it strange that no-one has sussed to get down there with some bacon sarnies and hot coffee early doors everyday. Id certainly part with a 120 baht for a fair sarnie and a coffee when everything is closed.

Thats about it. Like most people I do the 90 days procedure in the afternoon and it only takes me about 20 mins. I could not believe there was a guy in the queue before me who was there JUST to do the 90 days !!! I tried to tell him but he didnt want to hear what I was saying which is fair enough - to each their own. He was a very pleasant guy too. That was the nicest thing, having some older farangs that are able to smile and speak in more than 1 word sentences and able to smile a little.

Some people I give a 'good morning' too look at me as if I am about to mug them.

Cheers.

Hi all,

I have go to go to CM immigration tomorrow or Thursday for visa reporting (Education visa.) Its been a while since ive done anything other than 90 days reporting.

1,

Is it still the case that the queue forms outside the office at around 6.30am ?

2,

Then, a list comes out at some point where people in said queue write their names on list to determine your place ?

3,

Then at some point, when office doors are opened, we all shuffle into the office like cattle where the guy calls out names on that list to determine our number in queue to see immigration officer ?

If the above is no longer correct and there are changes id be most grateful to read about them.

Appreciated in advance.

My TOT line can be slow at times and devilishly slow when I use my proxy server.

Could I in theory get, say for example, a different ISP in the house, a 2nd one, obviously paying the two bills, and then if one is slow just use the other in the hope thats quicker and vice versa ?

cheers macknife. A man that knows how to answer precisely.

is having insurance for a bike here in Thailand a legal necessity ?

(by the way I am insured for a year - got it when I purchased the bike)

After riding around for 8 years here in Chiang Mai with no bike registered in my name, no valid tax, insurance, license etc Im gonna go straight ! I recently was fined for no license as all I have is a 4 years out of date UK license. Plus what with having a brand new bike for the first time in my life it will be nice to relax approaching road blocks and whatnot.

I think Im nearly there. But just wanna make sure and this forum has always been rather helpful for me so here goes...

Tomorrow Im off to take my bike 'test'. I have checked everything and I have all necessary paperwork for that so no advice needed there thanks.

Ive just looked at my green book and that is in my name already. I assume the Honda people did that when I purchased the bike and picked up the number plate a few months later.

What I need to know is tomorrow, once I have my Thai License (if indeed they give that out on the same day), and now that I have a green book in my name plus the fact I have a tax disc (if thats what it is - the 2557 dated piece of paper)

Am I 100% legal ?

OR

Is there something else I still need to do ? I do not need to register the bike right as I assume, though admit I do not know for sure, that thats what happened when the green book was put into my name ?

Appreciated.

I am currently in Vientiane after getting a visa sorted. Tomorrow I would like to start my journey back to Chiang Mai. Even though I have done this journey before I cant remember for the life of me how I went about it.

The bus I came here on from CM to Udon was a 24 seat 850 baht (or something around that figure) ticket and was excellent. But I purchased that in advance by going to the bus station in CM and can not do that going back or can I, perhaps by phone ? Doubt it.

Also I do not know the times of the buses from Udon to CM - anyone know the daily times ?

And lastly, If I just arrive at the correct Udon Thani bus station tomorrow, is there anyway I can be sure there will be any tickets available ? Because I havent (perhaps cant prebook) then it means turning up on the day and hoping there are some seats available.

Any tips appreciated.