NancyL

Another successful mailed report less than five days to report.

What no drink to celebrate? It's 5 o'clock somewhere in the world.

I will probably have users come out of the woodwork to disclaim what I'm about to say. I used an agent for the first time due to processing my district office divorce in the morning and changing my marriage extension to a retirement in the late aftternoon. I found, in my situation, that the visa service was well worth the price I paid. They even came out to the district office in pouring rain to pick up the dicorce document they needed in the afternoon at immigration.

I showed up at the appointed time, was told to wait and then called straight in to the guy doing the photos. I said where is my paperwork and when do I interview. The rep said i was all done and could wait an hour or hour and half for my passport or pick it up the following Monday morning as it was about 445 PM on a Friday.

The reason I said all this is from my observations, it is my sense that they have one or maybe two officers in the back, totally unrelated to the officers working in the front doing the visa service paperwork. I do not believe they have anything to do with the appointments at all, but have an agent working full time on processing the retirement visas, etc.

For what its worth.

I think you're right. So much for the assertions that the visa agents are somehow hogging queue appointments that should go to us "retail" customers

They have a very extensive menu, you know. It seems it would be fun to go with a group of at least 6 people and order a number of items from the menu and have your own made-to-order buffet. That way, you'd get naan and hummus and all your favs.

Their chicken dishes on the buffet are very good. The chicken is nicely grilled, very tender and the sauces very tasty and complex. I'd like to enjoy these dishes freshly prepared.

^ You only joined the forum in September 2008. And the post that got little traction was on finding a condo to rent, not meet up for beers!

My husband has been a member of this forum much longer. Actually he was the one who posted in 2006 suggesting a meet-up with resident expats.

While we enjoyed meeting Thai people in 2006, what we really needed then was the opportunity to talk with other people from our own country who had made the retirement move just a little ahead of us so we could learn from their experiences. You know -- visas, opening a bank account, transferring funds from the home country, Social Security, medical insurance, mail forwarding, good places to live, local drivers license, what to bring, what to leave behind, etc. This is not the stuff that local Thai people know about -- really best gleaned from discussions over coffee or beer with people who have had this same experience in the past year or two.

We didn't actually retire and move here until 2008. That's when I joined ThaiVisa, while looking for a condo to rent -- and (as they say) the rest is history!

Hubby and I came here in 2006 for a month to evaluate if Chiang Mai was the right place for our retirement. We'd hung out on this forum for a while before we came, posting a few times. We put out a similar appeal to meet folks for coffee or a beer and got ZERO response. I hope Allan and Lynda are faring better.

We found our best way to make friends was thru the expats club. It's even easier to meet people now since they have now informal Coffee Mornings twice monthly in addition to the more structured General Meetings in the hotel meeting room. Plus, there are many clubs-within-a-club, special interest groups, some that meet frequently and are another good chance to chat with people. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chiang-Mai-Expats-Club/286223608211692

Some of the people we meet via Expats Club in 2006 are still our best friends today.

Maybe you should post in the Chiang Mai forum. I know at least three people in their 80s who have self diagnosed themselves as having Meniere's disease via Dr. Google (and been ignored by real doctors) when it seems that this may be more their problem.

This has been covered in much, much detail in the Chiang Mai forum. Registered letter not EMS. Yes. definitely do the 90 day report by mail, be sure to mail in 14 days in advance of the due date. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/557382-90-day-report-procedures/

I saw Dr. Philip Parry in November at Rajavej Hospital. At the time he was coming to the hospital two weekends a month. I just checked their website and they haven't updated with any clinic hours for him in December, but he was busy when I saw him in November. I very much like the way he "prescribes" exercise and yoga, with specific demonstration as a way to solve my problem rather than just "cracking" my back and telling me to come back next week like they do in the U.S. His method is much better.

The counter for getting a re-entry permit is in operation any time they are handling international check-ins. These are the same staff people who take in the fines for overstays. You know they aren't going to let someone check-in for a flight who is on overstay without collecting their fine!

For me, the biggest shortcoming with planning to get a re-entry permit at the airport is the fact that you can't do it in advance. You have to have your boarding pass and be checked in for the flight. In Chiang Mai, the counter is just to the left of the security screen and just before the passport check. I don't know about others, but there's always a gazillion things on my mind when I'm hustling to get on an international flight (did we close the windows in the condo? are the medications in our carry-on luggage? where are the boarding passes for our connecting flights, etc.) that I'm afraid I'd sail on thru the security and passport check without actually buying a re-entry permit.

If you take a number on one day and they don't get to you, do you still have the same number the next day, or do you have to pick a new number?

They will just hand out a set number of queue tickets each day for each service and then they will stay at the office until they serve everyone who received a queue ticket that day. So, if you get a queue ticket, you'll be served that day.

But, just because you're in line before they open, you can't be assured that you'll get a queue ticket. Some services, like retirement extensions, have a very small number of queue tickets each day and if you join the line "late", like after 7 am, you'll probably be told to come back the next day when you finally get to talk to an immigration officer at around 8:30 am. You won't be given a queue ticket for the next day, either. You'll just be told to come back. They won't tell you to come back earlier, but you should have figured that out by then.

Went yesterday for lunch and really enjoyed the buffet. Many interesting dishes not found on the standard buffets here -- you know, the Grandview buffet-type of places. This mall has really needed a good alternative dining location. Finally someplace with interesting food when we want to enjoy a meal and movie.

I was surprised with the lack of hummus and flat breads, but these can be ordered from the menu. The menu is large with many choices not on the buffet. Ordering off the menu would be a good option if you want a small meal and not a big buffet pig-out.

I didn't find anything wrong with the atmosphere. The place is clean and well-lighted. If you're alone or just with another person you could sit and watch the mall traffic. The problem is that this mall still doesn't have a lot of foot traffic, even on a weekend.

No telling what kind of toilets they have, but likely disgusting.

The toilets are fine.

Yeah, I've seen worse, but sometimes the toilets can be problematic. Better bring your own tissue in case you have to do an emergency clean-up of the facilities and don't wait until the last minute. Usually they lock one of the two toilets (staff keeps the key for themselves), so the teaming masses have to share the other.

The real issue here, and one that someone on the forum might have the "in" to address is: How to actually make things better?

Obviously, the folks working there are all just worker drones; they do not set policy nor do they have the power to reorganize in an attempt to streamline the system (even though doing so would ultimately make their jobs easier).

Someone from the foreigner masses needs to put the evidence together with reasonable solutions and present this to whomever is in the right power slot to actually make some changes. I don't know who that person is or how to uncover this, but I suspect someone out there does.

It is worthwhile to make complaints, but more so to outline what should be done (at least for now) to make operations better for everyone.

Who among you has the connections and commitment to take on this challenge?

The "right" people to make the changes aren't here in Chiang Mai -- they're in Bangkok. As with much in Thailand, this problem is much more complex than we imagine and we're just caught in the middle. Reread post #52. There are several truths in it.

No one mere foreigner in Chiang Mai is going to "solve" this problem.

No 14 days out will definitely not work. Not by mail. Not in person. You'll have to pay a fine. Sorry. Better buck up and plan to spend the time at the Immigration Office on Thursday. The "grace period" is 7 days out for in person reporting.

Post #75 indicates this is no longer the case. Perhaps someone can get the "official" answer and post it. This would be an important change if it is indeed a change.

I am not saying one way or the other, but this post and post #75 are directly contradicting.

No they're not conflicting. If you're past the due date for your 90 day report you're going to have to go into the office to file. There are some reports that you can "get away" with mailing it a day or two after the due date (i.e. the 90 day date), but it's not a good idea.

The seven day "grace period" for filing after your due date without a fine is for filing in person. After that, you'll have to file in person, pay a fine and get a receipt. There is no "7 day grace period" after the due date if you think you can leave the country with an overdue 90 day report or mail-in a 90 day report.

I don't really see how this is so confusing.

No 14 days out will definitely not work. Not by mail. Not in person. You'll have to pay a fine. Sorry. Better buck up and plan to spend the time at the Immigration Office on Thursday. The "grace period" is 7 days out for in person reporting.

As you are planning to travel overseas urgently you would not need to do a 90 day report if within the time, 15 days before 7 days after due date?

And you can get your reentry at the airport.

Don't know if anyone has replied to this yet but there is no longer a grace period. If you're even 1 day late, they charge you.

Why do you say no "grace period"? There is no grace on mail-ins, yet I believe in person or another person reporting for someone still has the 7 days after grace period. Or is this something new that you have direct knowledge?

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=90days

There is no "grace period" on mail-in reports, nor is there a "grace period" on having filed your 90 day report before leaving the country. Don't know if you're fined when you leave, however, if your 90 day report is a few days overdue.

In the case of the OP, he later clarified that he was leaving overland, so he couldn't get a re-entry permit at the airport and it probably wouldn't be a good idea to risk being overdue for a 90 day report if leaving by land, either.

Good towels, shower curtains and bathmats cost a fortune here. Be sure to keep them away from bathroom cleaners and wear old clothes, and eye protection when using the products mentioned. (ever gotten toilet cleaner splashed in your eye? it's no fun) I have a "special" housedress I wear for cleaning. It has 3/4 length sleeves, a fairly high neck, long length and has been splashed with cleaning products before so I don't care if it gets a new bleach "stain" .

Oh -- don't mix up your own concoctions with anything more than one product and water. I'm cringing at some of the suggestions here, especially those involving cleaning product mixed with acid (like lemon juice).

The thought of leaving bleach solution in an unmarked spray bottle is a concern also, but I guess the cleaning products here don't exactly have child-proof caps, do they?

What with these cleaning products, the lack of motorcycle helmets and other hazards, it's a wonder anyone makes it to adulthood in this country.

OK, Ill tell you what NOT to do as i did.

I started mixing toilet cleaner with Mr Muscle Bathroom cleaner. Cleaned the grout back to a brilliant white in no time.

But the fumes were horrendous, then the grout dissolved and all the stainless steel fittings went black, never to return to silver colour, and the white paint on the door went dirty brown.....god knows what i did to my lungs....anyway

DONT DO THIS !!!

PS Baking soda, lemon juice vinegar and rub hard ? waste of time, doesnt get stains out and is just 'natural health forum' nonsense........

You had what we used to call a "chlorine release" back when I worked in a chemical plant. At least you didn't have to write up a bunch of safety reports afterwards.

As for your lungs -- when you breathe chlorine gas, it combines with hydrogen from the water in your lungs to form hydrochloric acid. Can do some real damage to your lungs at certain concentrations.

They sell some household cleaning preparations here that wouldn't be allowed in the U.S. I used to bring 'em back with me from Thailand back when we traveled between the two countries. Always good for conversations starters at the safety meetings at the chemical plant when we had programs on "household safety".

Mr. Muscle Bathroom Cleaner. Orange spray bottle that shows a shower nozzle (not a toilet). I use this in the kitchen to bleach wine stains from glasses, etc.

Promax Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Royal blue squeeze bottle with red top. Real thick product with 3% sodium hypochlorite. This is great stuff for cleaning grout because it's thick and stays in place.

Really all you have to do is take along a magnifying glass to read the small print on the back of the bottles. All the ingredients are listed in English.

Oh wow! I'm glad we got our curtains cleaned a month or two ago. Hubby says they've had a For Sale sign on the building for a while. Should be interesting to see what goes into that block. Perfect place for another new condo building.

I think that place at the Orchid Hotel is just a drop-off point with staff that has no clue. Not like the folks who owned and worked at Washy Mashy. They knew their laundry!

What if your visa has long since expired (and actually is in an expired passport). What number do you write on the TM6? Do you put your re-entry permit number? The number written in the upper left of the extension stamp?

For some reason, this form always throws me for a loop. Maybe because I know I'm going to have to hold onto that little card for the next several years and it will be copied, removed and restapled into my passport numerous times. A lot rests on that one little staple. (can you tell I don't leave and re-enter Thailand very often?)

I, too, have written here in Thailand and had material published overseas without any ill effect. Right now, I'm using my laptop in plain view of the open screen door of our condo. Anyone walking by the door on the way to the condo's pool will see me typing. Am I posting on ThaiVisa or working on another book about gardening in cold climates?

FYI, it's my understanding the U.K. Consulate/Embassy charges something along the same lines as the U.S. Consulate/Embassy AND they make their citizens jump thru hoops to "prove" their income via documentary evidence, which would probably cause individuals like Mr. Pig Farmer to scream about invasion of privacy.

Mr. Pig Farmer, I think I'm able to "call you names" as you put it ("clown" is a rather mild "name") because you're slowing down the process for those of us who are waiting in line behind you; those of us who are willing to play by the rules; those of us who realize we're guests here and while the rules may not make sense, we've made a point to understand the requirements and fulfill them without comment or making a scene.

You're entitled to your opinions, Mr. Pig Farmer, but you're not entitled to slow down the process at Chiang Mai Immigration. That's what I object to.