siftasam

I must congratulate sarahsbloke for a great post! We went to Chiang Mai Immigration this week for a 12 month marriage extension (my first). I had been seriously worried about what documentation I would need but in my case sarahsbloke was almost spot on. The only difference was that the Immigration lady was not at all interested in the Kor Sor 2 document (whatever it's called). Unlike sarahsbloke I had obtained this and the bank letter the day before we went because I wanted to be first in the queue. We arrived at 8.15 Tuesday (it 'opens' at 8.30) to find about 30 people there already queuing by the ticket machine. We were interviewed at about 10.00. The Thai lady was very 'brusque' but (mercifully!) also brisk. The paperwork took 35 minutes, then we waited for the checking and return of my passport in a side room for another 30 minutes. She stamped my passport for a month and told me when to return and which window to report to.

I went for the 40,000 baht a month route and she took a. a letter from the British consulate stating that I received an occupational pension of 'x' pounds The letter cost me 2480 baht (ouch!) b. a letter from my home branch of SCB stating that I've received at least 40,000 baht a month from England since I opened my account 13 months ago c. the same letter stated how much I had in my bank account that day (the day before we went to immigration - it was nowhere near 400,000 baht. The SCB letter cost me 200 baht. I had two photocopies of every page in my SCB passbook and she took those.

The only extra unexpected thing I was asked for was 2 copies of my tabien baan Yellow Book. I showed her a Letter of Residence from the British Consulate but she wasn't interested in that. I had my Yellow Book and had to dash out and get two copies from the very helpful photocopy ladies just outside the door. (2 baht a single side - 4 baht double side - also take your photo if required!). While I was there my wife obligingly handed over all the other documents I had taken including originals about my UK tax and pension which I need to keep. I had to retrieve them from the lady and dash out to the photocopiers again.

The lady gave a cursory glance at the photos of my wife and I at home (taken only a couple of hours before after I suddenly remembered!) and kept only one - of us in the dining room. She perused the map and told us to expect a visitation.

Good luck to all who apply.

Having spoken to her on another matter concerning property, I think that Miss Nittaya Wangpaiboon of 168/48 Chang Klan Road CM 5000 would be very good. A very pleasant and obviously very knowledgeable lady with adequate English - recommended too by the British consulate.

i've just been to Homepro where BP Guttering sell fibre glass guttering. It seems expensive but is quite heavy and strong looking. Is fibre glass a good option please?

I think the Nittaya mentioned in one post might be Miss Nittaya Wangpaiboon. She is recommended by the Consulate and I had a very helpful (and free) 30 minutes with her - her English is adequate.

She is based at 168/48 Changklan Road, CM5000. I phoned her in the morning and she saw me that lunchtime. She seemed very well acquainted with the perils for farangs when it comes to land and house ownership and 30year leases etc.

The topic of who 'owns' purchased land and property is difficult enough but my Thai wife will receive the land on which we are building our house in her mother's will when that lady dies. This will was made just before I married her daughter.

Therefore, my now mother-in-law still owns the land and the plans for the new house are registered with the local amphur in the name of my wife (again before we were married).

In return for the will being made I volunteered to build my now mother-in-law a new house.

We are all very pleased and happy but I have no idea how secure my position is. I have no usufruct, no 30 year lease, I do not know if my new house (to be finished in October) will be counted as communal property (because although it will be completed after our marriage the plans were registered before our marriage. We have no blue book for it yet.)

I appreciate that I must take legal advice but I would value any comments and advice.