connda

Maybe things like having Chiang Mai immigration kick you out of their offices to stand in the sun while you wait a few hours to get a 90 day report processed (without a workable queuing system) may just have a tiny effect on how I view Thais, and how I believe they view us Kwai farang.

There are a lot of folks with different opinions. Many of the pro-gold crowd also sell and trade gold. That's a built-in bias.

Also, what is really going on under the covers of the banks and regulatory agencies isn't something that you and I are privy to. That puts us at a disadvantage.

Check out Kitco.com for a pro-gold source of info.

Then check out someone like Harry Dent Jr to get the other side of the picture. http://harrydent.com/

Or just go out and buy a nice piece of gold jewelry that you like, plan to keep it for the rest of your life, and don't worry about the economics. That's probably the best advice.

In my youth they had drag strips and during the week their would be open drags. The vehicles would be safety checked, alcohol was not allowed, and these events were controlled and sanctioned.

Give Thais kids an option, maybe things would change.

Yet another move to benefit the elite, so the big hotel is exempt but the small cafe or shop that legally and in good faith opened within 300 meters is screwed.

See it as a good upgrade. Youth should not drink alcohol.

Got nothing to do with screwing the small sellers.

No one should drink alcohol. Nor should they take drugs. I suggest a ban on all drugs and alcohol. Ban Pharmacies. Buddha said life is suffering. Everyone should suffer. If you alleviate suffering with drugs, well, people will not want to die in agony like the present establishment in the LOS seems to wish them to die. How can the government convince you to aspire to be an Arahant without withholding drugs that will make you pain-free.

But, I'm HiSo. I'm a from a Chinese-Thai family with MONEY, I need help: Well, we'll make sure the limited amount of morphine allow in the country will be allocated to you and yours. The rest of the rice farming peasants and lower middle class can die in agony. It's their own fault. They should have aspired to be Arahants.

"Oh yeah, and all farangs should be banned from alcohol!!!"

We're working on it. But we need more provinces north of Hat Yai to become Muslin. Give it time.

The link to this article from my email said, "New booze ban could see Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Soi Cowboy go dry." Inaccurate! The topic links to

"PM Prayut orders ban on alcohol sales near universities and vocational colleges"

Well, first, that's not what the topic says, nor the content of the topic. So, why aren't the fact's straight? Why the disconnect. Why sensationalize?

Then, if true New booze ban could see Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Soi Cowboy go dry, then here's my humble opinion:

Going back a while it was indicated by some posters, who claimed to be in the know, that once a new office was created there would be more staff to handle all immigration matters.

It would appear from reports so far that they have simply relocated existing staff to Promenada and not increased numbers.In fact for extension of retirement visas there appear to be less officers

Nancy's comments regarding seating and waiting arrangements are relevant. Sitting outside, if it was in the hot months, would be unbearable. I don't think there is another immigration office in the country where this happens.

I know its early days but it appears to be a pretty shambolic effort from whoever is responsible for the move and its implementation.

Meanwhile the more people that do 90 day reports online or mail and get an online appointment for annual extension will obviously reduce the numbers waiting.That of course is a matter of choice for those who actually enjoy the experience and day out.

There is only 10 appointments a day available. You can book them up to 100 days ahead of time. Try doing it half an hour after midnight of the first day you can do it. Can't be done they are all gone. Besides it does not change the waiting time for the other people who were not LUCKY enough to get it.

What really would speed things up is if every one used an agent. Then their would be no delays while some one went and got a copy or signed papers or corrected mistakes on the application.

Defiantly the on line 90 day or mail in will help the line to get in for the 90 day. The more that do it the merrier it is for those who don't.

Just speculating.

Have you considered that perhaps what immigration wants is for all foreigners to work though agents in order make the visa agency services in Chiang Mai a multi-million baht business at the expense of expats and travelers, all of whom are rich, of course.

If you make the process hellish enough, then individual foreigners may decide their only option is to actively seek out visa agents just to keep from having to stand out in 40+ degree C. sun for multiple hours come the next hot season, no less being able to get a queue (that seems to be ignored now) either at the office or online.

By the way, does Lamphun still have an active Immigration Office or is that a thing of the past.

What ridiculously silly men like Cosby and Tiger Woods do not realize, is that it is far safer, more discreet, and far less expensive in the long run, to just pay a high priced escort service up front. That is what most intelligent celebrities and athletes have been doing for decades. It remains a secret, as they are paid to keep it a secret. Bizarre and sociopathic men like Woods and Cosby think they can stick with civilians, and for some reason, they suffer under the delusion that these women will just keep things quiet. Cosby even needed to drug these women into having sex with him. An escort would have been happy to do the deed. Or maybe the man was so psychologically bent, he had to force these women into submission, by using drugs. If that is the case, he was a serial rapist. Regardless, both of these men are damaged goods.

I wonder if it's a 'power' thing in some sort of way. I agree in more than one way. Most of these superstars have groupies who are more than willing to have a 'one-night stand' with their celebrity hero. Maybe if you're a rock-star you really could care less about your reputation, and having a new nightly groupie works just fine for you. Then, like you said, there are always the high-end escort services - discretion for a price - but we're talking about mega-wealthy folks with reputations and marriages. But then let's look at the use of drugs. I never personally liked barbiturates myself, but I knew plenty of people who did in the 1970 while at university. And at least half of the Qualude and Seconal users I knew were women. And is wasn't men forcing these gals to take the barbs, they were doing it themselves. So my question is, did Cosby drug them without their knowledge or were they aware of what they were taking, and then later decided to look for 'hush-money'. Think from a different perspective: your in Canjun doing Tequila shots with a group of co-eds and you end up in the sack with some woman who is drunk as you. They next morning she wakes up in a partial black out from drinking too much. Did you rape her because she can't remember the previous night? If it was consensual sex, even though you were both drunk, how the heck is that rape. It's a slippery slope and one that must give Western lawyers a wet-dream just to think about. I think it's about personal responsibility. If you willingly take a drug, especially barbs or barbs with alcohol, it's beyond hypocritical to claim that you're not responsible for your own actions, such as having sex.

No need to search for income letter info. Info here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/440413/Pension_01.07.15._Master.pdf

If immigration was to ask for a witness for my 8th extension which I will be doing soon my wife of almost 14 years would be the one raising hell with immigration about it not me.

We have never had a witness or home visit. Just letters from the local police that my wife took back to immigration a few days after they accepted my first application.

The first year we applied in Chiang Mai we supplied all the necessary documents, the village head came to the Amphur office to fill out a document stating I resided in the village that that document was witnessed by our Amphur officials, included in my document package is my personal Tabian Baan (Yellow), and they sent officials out to visit. The first year, I absolutely see no probably with doing this. But 5, 10, 15 years of marriage (in my case 8), yeah, it would be a problem. " You need to bring a village resident with ID and Blue Book from your village in SouthEast Lumphun Province with you to immigration in Chiang Mai. Of course I'd have to pay that person from taking a day off work. And like you Joe, it would be my wife raising holy hell (she ain't the shy type). Because this is purely harassment. And if this is the start of a new trend in nationalistic xenophobia, then sticking around may end up being problematic in many other ways too. <head shake> What do you really think this is all about?

Thanks for everyone's input.

Actually BritTim in post #9 was correct. The original SCB branch that I opened the account with has closed and everything transferred to a new branch. So only people who opened an account where I did would be affected. So I do apologise to anyone who was franticly checking their account numbers!!!!

The bank has given me a letter explaining the situation, which includes both the old and account new numbers. I have now passed this on to immigration (keeping a copy for myself). They seem to be happy enough with it, and it will be filed with the rest of my paperwork.

So, fingers crossed there should be no problems with my marriage extension......

555 Appreciate the clarification.

I've banked with SCB for 11 years.

Never had a problem, I hold saving, fixed depost, a mortgage and an unsecured credit card with them.

Customer service has always been fine. My account numbers haven't changed in that time.

I also got the email regards ATM's on August the 8th. - A whooping 6 hours without service 11pm to 5am - hardly a big deal is it.

Dear Customers,

Please be advised that Siam Commercial Bank will temporarily close its ATM system nationwide for upgrading from 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2015 to 5.00 a.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2015. The upgraded system will support the growing number of transactions and enhance security.

During the upgrade period, the following services will be temporarily unavailable:

1. SCB ATM / Debit / Speedy / MCMC Prompt cards will be unusable in all SCB channels and all other bank ATM machines.

2. SCB Credit Cards will be unusable for cash advances at all SCB channels and all other bank ATM machines.

3. Fund transfer to and from other banks via SCB Easy Net and Easy App will be unavailable.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

I'm talking about Kasikorn, unless SCB also follows suit and changes account numbers. This has tax implications for foreigners, and to just act like "Mai Bpen Freaking Rai" is not the correct answer.

So, from my perspective as a customer, the "We're sorry for the inconvenience" meme is, unacceptable. Does anyone in the Thai banking services know someone 'inside' who can clarify exactly what they are doing?

Immigration is your first problem. If you are a US citizen, the account number change is going to need to be reflected when you file you FBAR FinCEN Report 114 next year.

I'd fire them. Imho, Bangkok Bank provides more robust banking services for US citizens. If you're not a US citizen? I'd still fire them, pull my money out, and place in in to bank that has some customer service skills.

dont worry be happy i live in chiang dao 1h30 bus to come immigration 555+

You absolutely have my utmost respect and sympathy. It's not like Immigration couldn't have small offices in each province; it's they choose not to.

Which makes me believe we're on the social strata between dogs, buffaloes, and criminals. Well, unless you're a 'connected' foreigner.

Questions that still need answers to. Hope members will ask immigration for clarification

Mail in 90 day reports - old address or will there be a new one

Extensions based on marriage/work/academics/teachers - The new site says One Stop Service. Marriage is not but the others are one day service so are they all in the old facility?

Residency certificates - At Promenada mall or the location across from Promenada?

Transportation:

Promenada Shuttle Bus Service

Of course red songthaews, tuk-tuks, taxis, private hire are options.

Special Shuttle between old immigration office and new one.

Immigration Shuttle Bus service2.jpg

As I understand it the last shuttle is at 12 noon correct? There should be shuttles up until closing time at immigration but I guess beggars cannot be choosers.

t

Looks like the Promenada shuttle service starts as the immigration shuttle service finishes so not exactly a problem?

I don't think that very many folk have a reason to complain. There ain't no shuttle to my village 70 km South of the Promenade. Buy a motorcycle, bicycle, rent a tuk tuk, songtaw, start a car pool, make a meeting via Meetup.org, call Lanna Care dot Net. There is more than one solution out there. Especially for people not living out in South Lamphun or Lampang provinces or other places out in the rice paddies of rural Thailand nowhere-ville. You think you have issues? Think again. So "Don't Worry; Be Happy."

"But but, I live on Moon Muang and its like a major inconvenience to find transport to that 'way out of the way' Promenade."

ZZZZzzzzzzzz <falling of deaf ears; you have options that many of us do not>

I sent my 90 day report via EMS from Lamphun last Friday July 17th to the old Immigration address and said I'd follow up on the EMS tracking. My 90 day report EMS package was accepted with signature this morning July 20th between 9am and 11am at the old address. Now to see how long it takes to come back. I'll keep this updated.

If this happens, I'm leaving. Think - camel's back - and 'straw'.

I have nothing else to say on this, or any other subject regarding celebrities other than this:

Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

Seems like there is quite a queue of Puritans (of various religion biases) out there lining up for the honor of heaving the first rock.

To get around this problem, there have been suggestions that foreign tour guides be permitted to work legally as "Tour Coordinators", alongside Thai tour guides.

I already know what this means: the farrang guy is doing the job while the Thai guide sleeps in the bus until they stop at his contracted crap shop where he forks in by head count of potential customers.

The longstanding argument is that foreign guides might not know about Thailand, especially areas of cultural sensitivity, compared to local tour guides.

If a Thai tour guide should explain "Thainess" and do'd and don'ts to a group of let's say Dutch tourists in competition with a Dutch guide, I guess it's no secret who's the one to get a good tip from the group members...

To get around this problem, there have been suggestions that foreign tour guides be permitted to work legally as "Tour Coordinators", alongside Thai tour guides.

/sarcasm on

I've got a suggestion for the MoE. Have Native English Speaking Coordinators along side Thai teachers who speak rudimentary, grammatically incorrect, and mispronounced English. Pay the Native English Speaking Coordinators a (barely) living salary, like 10K THB per month, and shower accolades on the Khru Thai. I'm sure the body-pierced, tattooed, travelers sans degree of any sort would jump at the opportunity.

/sarcasm off

Fine sentiments but highly unlikely, since guides from other AEC countries may end up telling the truth about some cultural sites and past events rather than perpetuate the myths found in many Thai history books.

No kidding. Once ASEAN comes online, farang tour guides are the least of their problems. What then...a turf war after making a multi-nation trade agreement?

Then it's...he who offers the best service wins. Well, I guess Thai tour guides can take up machetes and start hacking their competition to death. But given this is ASEAN, my guess is that their out-of-country but legal competition can handle a machete just as well as any Thai, maybe better. It seemed Burma kept kicking the heck out of Thais historically. Win a few, lose a few.

He who offers the best Customer Services gets the customers.

Sure. Corrupt politicians and corrupt bankers should be tossed into jail, but only Iceland seems to be doing that at the moment.

In the US and London? S**t, launder money for the drug cartels, get caught, and get a wrist slap. And nobody goes to jail.

I'm way, way past be disillusioned with the status quo. Corruption in the West makes this petty corruption in the East look like child's play.

For those who understand, which is a fraction of a percent of TV member, do you realize that when the US passed the last budget, they assumed the responsibility for all the derivatives exposure of the 'To Big To Fail' banks. And for that fraction of a fraction of a percent of US TV members, do you even have an itsy-bitsy clue at to what the Glass-Steagal Act was, why it was repealed, and why it will never be reenacted again short of an economic collapse, and I don't even think that will be enough catalyst. But, but, Warren and McCain (in the middle of an election cycle) introduced the legislation to be reenacted!!!!!

Baaaaaaaa.

Hey, I have a bridge over the Kwai River that I'll sell you for satang on the baht.

Sheep.

I did my 6th renewal last month. We took a witness. I asked the usual lady if she wanted to speak with him, and she asked why I had brought him. I explained that I understood that a witness was now needed, and we had, in fact, phoned to ask, and were told that a witness was necessary. She told me that, as we have been married for 6 years, had a "blue book" with both of our names in it, a witness wasn't necessary !

I would go for the extension as early as possible ( 30 days before it expires ?), and see what happens. If they insist on a witness, you have a month to arrange it.

A bit off topic but when was it possible for a foreigner to have his name included in the tabien baan? I have been told by officials on several occasions that this is not possible so have applied for a yellow house book.

The exception is when the foreigner has PR (permanent residency) status, then you can be added to a blue book.

I have my own Yellow Book. Why the hell do I need to be in the Blue Book. My Tabian Baan is a Thai legal document no different than my families Tabian Baan. Sounds more like a shake down for tea money. Back to corruption.

MJCM, thanks for that thread. I actually commented on that thread back in February, so did you it appears. I think it was that thread that made me think I must check out what is going on with this nearer the time of my renewal in August.

No problem, back then I was still living in Pattaya but not anymore and I have moved to an area with an even more difficult immigration, so my extension days are over and I just went with my wife to Laos and got a Multiple Entry Non-O with no hassle. But this one suits us also as we are frequent travellers and leaving every 90 day is no major issue for us

Unfortunately continuing on that route you will never be able to apply for PR status and make the visa game a thing of the past. That is a question of curiosity I have for OP. You said you have been married for 13yrs, why haven't you applied for PR and retire from the visa game? If you could have done that after your 3rd year of marriage, you could be applying for your citizenship now. Like I said, just curious.

The last time I checked you needed a work permit to apply for a PR. Seeing that I'm not currently working, have no WP, than the PR is out. Also, it seems that PRs are something that are much easier to obtain if your residence is in BKK and not in an upcountry province where the immigration office flatly said that they don't process PR applications. You are basically a tolerated nuisance. I spoke to a well know legal office with branch offices in Chiang Mai, and I couldn't even get an answer from them.

After nine years of marriage, I would ask my wife to explain to the immigration official exactly what she will be doing after I buy a ticket and leave this screwed up country for good leaving her with a house and no income. Then they can hash it out Thai to Thai. Each year I get progressively more tired of this xenophobiac BS.

gun, a knife, two decks of cards, B500, several motorbikes and a small amount of kratom and cannabis.

You've got to be joking. Second highest death rate on the roads, and this is the focus of the BIB. Pathetic.

Yes, by golly, that is an answer!!! Yaba and alcohol. It's the yaba and alcohol that should be but on trial. The man himself is totally without blame. Without any responsibility for his personal actions because, we all know, Yaba and Alcohol are the culprits. The man??? A totally innocent victim of drug lords and distilleries.

Don't feed the aspiring troll.

Don't wake sleeping sheep.