Renewal is in July but I need to plan ahead to deal with worsening symptoms of Parkinson's. I cannot walk without assistance, can't go down steps or ramps without the help of a giant. I also, most of the time, cannot speak.

Would Immigration be helpful? Like, might they give me an appointment? Might they allow me to use a bank letter from the day before? Is there a phone number on which my Thai partner can ask them for suggestions?

Any other thoughts on this? Thx.

Are you on retirement or marriage extension ? an 'agent' might be able to smooth things over for you for a fee of course.

OP, your situation is one that should concern everyone.

When basic things such as mobility etc become serious issue then not many options.

To my knowledge Immigration does not provide "services" for those folk.

On the + side is that you deal with Jomtien and there are many good agents in Pattaya.

You could contact @ThaiVisaCentre

To check other options.

The cost of help is not an issue for me but how can an agent assist? I must appear in person; that is a cast-iron rule.

My friend ( now deceased) used an agent for his retirement extension he did not have to leave his chair at home..the agent came to him took photos and did everything else for him.

5 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

I must appear in person; that is a cast-iron rule.

Some agents "process" the application.

These are done upcountry and what @johng outlined above is correct.

I love the concept of staying home but I have never felt okay with handing over my passport to civilians.

38 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, your situation is one that should concern everyone.

When basic things such as mobility etc become serious issue then not many options.

To my knowledge Immigration does not provide "services" for those folk.

On the + side is that you deal with Jomtien and there are many good agents in Pattaya.

You could contact @ThaiVisaCentre

To check options.

They don't deal with Jomtien. Better to use a local agent in this case.

16 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

I love the concept of staying home but I have never felt okay with handing over my passport to civilians.

In that case you have a problem.

The term Catch 22 ... comes to mind.

17 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

I love the concept of staying home but I have never felt okay with handing over my passport to civilians.

Time to get over that issue methinks.

You can go with them, but that just leaves you in a similar position.

3 minutes ago, IsmeUno said:

They don't deal with Jomtien. Better to use a local agent in this case.

3 minutes ago, IsmeUno said:

Have no idea what you mean.

The OP deals with Jomtien.

He could use a Pattaya agent however he will need to attend immigration.

There are agents that have application processed in another province.

However that requires handing over your pp.

Something the OP is reluctant to do.

21 minutes ago, mahjongguy said:

I have never felt okay with handing over my passport to civilians.

I used to feel the same (all those years ago) when doing 90 day visa runs to Cambodia..the agent/driver would collect all the passports then a set of 'minions' did all the paperwork and disappeared for a while it was a bit disconcerting but there was never any problems and actually far less stressful than doing it all myself..once was enough for that palaver !

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Have no idea what you mean.

The OP deals with Jomtien.

He could use a Pattaya agent however he will need to attend immigration.

There are agents that have application processed in another province.

However that requires handing over your pp.

Something the OP is reluctant to do.

TVC don't deal with Jomtien.

So he may have issues with TM.30 and 90 day reports unless he pays TVC to take care of that too. They can, but it's a bit messier.

He wants to attend Immigration. With a local agent, he just has to show his face, once annually. Nothing else. Paperwork will be taken care of on his behalf. So may suit him better. Either way, there are options there for him to pursue.

Just now, IsmeUno said:

TVC don't deal with Jomtien.

TVC can obtain extension at another province.

I didn't mention Jomtien as the office they would use.

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

TVC can obtain extension at another province.

I didn't mention Jomtien as the office they would use.

Then he may have future issues with TM.30, Residence Certificates and 90 Days reports...

14 minutes ago, IsmeUno said:

Time to get over that issue methinks.

You can go with them, but that just leaves you in a similar position.

Definitely needs to get over handing his passport to an agent.

I've been doing it for a few years and never had a problem. Never need to go to an immigration office. Only time I deal with Immigration is to get a re-entry permit before I leave Bangkok on departure for Australia

31 minutes ago, IsmeUno said:

Then he may have future issues with TM.30, Residence Certificates and 90 Days reports...

Folk that obtain these extensions use agent for 90 reports.

Unlikely the OP would require a COR for example TDL etc.

The OP describes very difficult situation.

Also these things don't improve.

Having an agent handle it all will be necessary for some.

Sadly Thai immigration does not have adequate alternatives to attending immigration in person.

By way of example... I'm typing this 4 weeks into recovery from fractured vertebrae.

I'm aware of medical extensions however some situations are long term.

Suggest the OP bite the bullet and use agent to handle the lot.

Without attending immigration.

If you are on a retirement extension please turn over the form and read:

1. ผู้ขอจะต้องยื่นคาขออนุญาตด้วยตนเอง

APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT THE APPLICATION IN PERSON

เว้นแต่ ผู้ป่วยหรือผู้พิการที่ไม่สามารถมายื่นด้วยตนเองได้

WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF HANDICAPPED PATIENTS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

@mahjongguy I sent you a Private message.

1 hour ago, mahjongguy said:

The cost of help is not an issue for me but how can an agent assist? I must appear in person; that is a cast-iron rule.

There is an exception where an applicant is handicapped or disabled, allowing another person to submit the application on behalf of the applicant.

Are there no good Samaritan local expats that would assist in your situation?

30 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Folk that obtain these extensions use agent for 90 reports.

Unlikely the OP would require a COR for example TDL etc.

The OP describes very difficult situation.

Also these things don't improve.

Having an agent handle it all will be necessary for some.

Sadly Thai immigration does not have adequate alternatives to attending immigration in person.

By way of example... I'm typing this 4 weeks into recovery from fractured vertebrae.

I'm aware of medical extensions however some situations are long term.

Suggest the OP bite the bullet and use agent to handle the lot.

Without attending immigration.

How will he get the passport and documents to TVC? Pictures taken? He would still need to get that together and over to the Post Office.

It's just easier, with less possible caveats, to use a local agent that deals directly with Jomtien in that case, IMHO.

They are much better placed to handle it all. Taking photos, filling in documents etc

Immigration are often posting photos on facebook of them helping farang in wheelchairs, so something must be available

2 minutes ago, IsmeUno said:

How will he get the passport and documents to TVC?

Has been outlined in many threads.

In some situations the passport is mailed to agent along with anything else required.

After extension stamp is in pp it would be mailed out.

Reentry permit can be obtained at same time.

Can be do meeting the financial requirements yourself.

Which is what I will do when mobility necessities that.

Does not need to go to post office.

That's what others can do. Paid or otherwise

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Has been outlined in many threads.

In some situations the passport is mailed to agent along with anything else required.

After extension stamp is in pp it would be mailed out.

Reentry permit can be obtained at same time.

Can be do meeting the financial requirements yourself.

Which is what I will do when mobility necessities that.

Does not need to go to post office.

That's what others can do. Paid or otherwise

You are ignoring all of the paperwork involved before it even getting to the Post Office. Who then takes it to the Post Office?

We are not in disagreement. We are just putting our heads together to come up with the best solution for the OP.

It seems to me that a local agent would be best, as they can do everything. No need to even go to Immigration to have his picture taken if ever he is unable to attend due to ill health. That fits with his criteria. He can attend to have his picture taken if able. If not, he qualifies to not have to attend to have it taken there.

It's good that both processes are outlined in so that he can choose for himself.

Colin was unable to get out of his wife's SUV at immigration. He told us an officer would come outside and take his photograph whilst he was sat in it. Form filling his wife (or immigration) did. Passport style photos could be taken with a mobile phone and printed to size by a photo/copy shop. Bank statement could be ordered by post. My own immigration office doesn't insist that my bank statement is less than 7 days old. They say my passbook updated upon the day overrides that requirement. Otherwise, Thai Visa Centre require passport style photos plus passport sending via post and a selfie by LINE/email. No financial requirement hence no bank statement etc. required.

another issue is getting to bkk once every 5 years to the embassy for a new passport. this is the reason i gave up on thailand and cant envision coming back lest i can pay to become a thai citizen

13 minutes ago, mordothailand said:

another issue is getting to bkk once every 5 years to the embassy for a new passport. this is the reason i gave up on thailand and cant envision coming back lest i can pay to become a thai citizen

What does your country only issuing a 5 year passport have to do with Thailand?🙃

Just now, marin said:

What does your country only issuing a 5 year passport have to do with Thailand?🙃

it has to do with the difficulties of being handicapped in thailand,

i was referring to the 3rd post

"OP, your situation is one that should concern everyone.

When basic things such as mobility etc become serious issue then not many options."

furthermore, it is something to consider how youre gonna make it to the finish line,

if you cant afford hospital and elderly home etc etc

1 hour ago, mordothailand said:

it has to do with the difficulties of being handicapped in thailand,

i was referring to the 3rd post

"OP, your situation is one that should concern everyone.

When basic things such as mobility etc become serious issue then not many options."

furthermore, it is something to consider how youre gonna make it to the finish line,

if you cant afford hospital and elderly home etc etc

I suspect that the point which @marin was making is that you can't blame Thai immigration procedures for the fact that you have to make trips to Bangkok every 5 years for a new passport, as you appeared to imply in your previous post. Instead the blame for this totally unsatisfactory situation lies fairly and squarely with the incompetent idiots in your home country's government who are responsible for inflicting such cumbersomely ridiculous passport renewal procedures on you and your fellow countrymen who live in Thailand - all the more so in the case of those with severe mobility issues.

2 hours ago, mordothailand said:

another issue is getting to bkk once every 5 years to the embassy for a new passport. this is the reason i gave up on thailand and cant envision coming back lest i can pay to become a thai citizen

Which country is that? i thought maybe 10 years was standard, agents can help with UK passport, maybe other countries too