US Consulate visit to Chiang Mai Expats Club reveals new fees for US Citizens Services

Michael K. Morrow, U.S. Consul General and Andrew Veprek, Consular Chief of the U.S Consulate here in Chiang Mai attended the Chiang Mai Expats Club meeting at the Shangri La Hotel on Saturday, March 27 to answer questions and let American citizens know some important upcoming changes.

US Consul General Michael K. Morrow joins Alan Hall of the Chiang Mai Expats Club at the meeting at the Shangri La on March 27.

Mr. Morrow talked to the crowd about the role of the Consulate in Chiang Mai, stressing its primary mission is to serve the growing American community in the North. There are currently around 7,500 American citizens living in the 15 Northern provinces served by the Consulate. Additionally, tourists are also helped when they lose a passport, encounter difficulties or accidents or death.

The Consulate also has 9 Drug Enforcement Agency representatives who work closely with the Office of Narcotics Control Bureau (ONCB) and the National Security Bureau (NSB) in fighting drug trafficking in Thailand. He said from the 70’s and 80’s when Thailand was one of the biggest heroin producers in the world, it now produces “virtually no illicit drugs whatsoever” and he praised the role of the Thai government in fighting drug production. However, Thailand remains a major transit point for drugs coming out of Myanmar and Laos and they continue to maintain vigilance in those areas. In fact, he added that in the first two months of the year more than 6 million yabaa pills were seized in Thailand.

Additionally, the U.S. Consulate works to support Burmese human rights activists adding that the U.S. is a major destination country for the resettlement with around 10,000 Burmese and Hill tribes being resettled in the United States in the past decade.

One of Mr. Morrow’s prime goals is to increase American investment in the I.T. economy in the North, noting that the government has realized it needs to diversify the economy in the North. The recent Creative Economy Conference was a huge success and IBM has recently opened an office in Chiang Mai.

Environmental concerns, deforestation and water issues remain a concern but additionally, public diplomacy is a key issue for the Consulate. Exchanging views, with educational and cultural exchanges taking place.

Finally, he announced the Fourth of July party will be organized by the V.F.W branch here in Chiang Mai and will be held Sunday the 4th at the Municipal Stadium.

U.S. Consular Chief Andrew Veprek made some very important announcements regarding American citizen’s services fees. Within a month, fees for notarial services are expected to rise to $50 and an $82 fee for additional passport pages will be instituted. Additionally pages are currently free. He encouraged everyone to get this done if needed. Stressing that an appointment must be made online to have pages added. You can visit the Chiang Mai Consulate website and click on American Services at http:// chiangmai.usconsulate.gov.

Additionally, the cost of a new passport will go from $75 to $135. He noted, however, that every passport issued out of the Consulate is the business size passport that holds additional pages.

The Consulate will be closed Songkhran week. However, Friday April 9 the Consulate will be open for drop in visits from 8 AM to 11 AM.

He encouraged citizens to register with the Consulate in order to receive warden messages, warnings and in case of emergencies it allows for family to be contacted for instructions. He also noted that there are no IRS services at the Consulate and there will be no visits from the IRS for taxpayer assistance.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are available for American Citizen’s services appointments and Mondays and Wednesdays are set for Visa services. Be sure to make an appointment before going.

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/community.shtml

-- Chiang Mai Mail 2010/03/31

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He also added that tickets for the last few chopper seats from the roof of the US embassy have been selling rapidly and it is wise to book early to avoid disappointment.

Due to cost reduction implementation Mr Quentin Quayle has announced that there are no arrangements in place for British ex-pats but it is planned that their bones will be sold off as fertiliser to a local agricultural conglomerate to defray embassy operating expenses. Embassy staff are expected to use Gurkha security employees as bearers to carry them to the safety of the Malayan Border where a nice cup of tea and tiffin will be available.

Unfortunately, it isn't an April fools joke, i heard of this elsewhere and plan to get pages added to my passport asap

He also added that tickets for the last few chopper seats from the roof of the US embassy have been selling rapidly and it is wise to book early to avoid disappointment.

Due to cost reduction implementation Mr Quentin Quayle has announced that there are no arrangements in place for British ex-pats but it is planned that their bones will be sold off as fertiliser to a local agricultural conglomerate to defray embassy operating expenses. Embassy staff are expected to use Gurkha security employees as bearers to carry them to the safety of the Malayan Border where a nice cup of tea and tiffin will be available.

I think its the other way now. The refugees from the financial are headed there by the plane load.

Unfortunately, it isn't an April fools joke, i heard of this elsewhere and plan to get pages added to my passport asap

yikes!!