Wife rang up Chonburi DLT yesterday to try and make appointment to renew my 5 year licence and was told all foreigners must make appointment in person.

Off to the DLT this morning only to be told cannot renew without valid stamp, half expecting that, but wouldn't even make an appointment so looks like off to immigration on Monday and try a 60 day extension. Girl told my wife it didn't matter what immigration said or did, there had been no change to DLT regulations. Good job licence didn't expire a couple of months ago.

My wife also tried to make an appointment and was told no can do, she must use the app. She needs to surrender her lifelong licence for a new one, probably the worst penalty of changing her name.

 

Chonburi has a track record of obstructive practice and doesn't look like that has improved much with the rebuilding.

After the kickback from DLT it was a kickback from immigration, refused the 60 extension as it was more than 60 days since stamp expired, Plan B.

Back to immigration to do 12 month marriage extension, bit of a hiccup with the KR2 but eventually came away with an under consideration stamp.

Straight back to the DLT, guy on the desk outside sent us straight up to the 4th floor. There the guy on the reception desk checked my passport and yellow book and made out an appointment ticket. said to bring copies of yellow book and some pages from passport when I came for the appointment. All sorted, or so I thought.

Trotted off to DLT this morning and the woman on the desk outside said foreigners cannot use yellow book, only certificate from immigration can be used. My wife asked why that wasn't said when we made the appointment, she just shrugged and said people didn't know the regulations. Makes me wonder if she has come from the Pattaya office, I believe that is the policy there.

All a bit of a bureaucratic nightmare when you get different information in the same office.