Address Certificate And Uk Embassy Problems

[Bingo66]

Not sure if this correct place to post the thread or not.

Well, I've been trying to get a drivers license for ages and this week I really needed to get one. So I need the address verification / certificate paper, I went to the British Embassy yesterday (closed) and today. Apart from being rude, useless and Thai (had to speak to the idiot in thai) she told me that it was 2800 baht .... my mate went to the Australian embassy, a few weeks ago and got one for around 500b ....

Can I get one from Immigration? and How much? Last time I did my visa, I asked and suprise suprise they spoke worse English on the info counter than a issan bargirl.

What do I actually need (in thai would be appreciated) and where / how much? Doing my head in ...

[Soutpeel]

How dare they not speak English in a country which doesnt have English as a first language, may i stongly suggest you contact your local MP in the UK and demand an explanation

[Bingo66]

How dare they not speak English in a country which doesnt have English as a first language, may i stongly suggest you contact your local MP in the UK and demand an explanation

On the info counter at immigration in the capital? Are you joking? You don't think they should speak English? A thai is going to ask them questions about immigration? It's like having tour guide that doesn't know where he's going ...

I can speak and read/write thai FYI, most likely better than you ..... so don't ruin and troll my thread because you want to insult someone it's not in general discussion. It's a legit question and I could use some real info.

[PoorSucker]

As always in Thailand, it's up to the local immigrations office.

Some do some not.

Some take a fee some don't.

Where are your local immigrations office?

[Mario2008]

An embassy letter costs what your embassy charges for it.

You can also get one from immigration, but it would probably require that you do 90 day reports. The letter from immigration is supposed to be free, but some offices seem to ask a fee of around 500 baht.

There is a form you can download: http://www.immigrati...p?page=download

Believe it is this one: http://www.immigrati...ad/res_cert.doc

[Bingo66]

Bangkok is my immigration - terrible queues

Thanks Mario, can I do it now? My report is middle of August iirc, but I really need to sort it out this week.

[Lite Beer]

You can apply for the document anytime.

[Mario2008]

You don't have to do it when your do your 90 day report, but most offices want you to have have made 90 day reports so they have proof of adress. Taking a utliltity bill or something like that in your name with your address might also be helpful.

[NancyL]

I've gotten letters of residency from CM immigration for 500 baht. We've rented in two different places and each time, the condo manager would give us a letter attesting to the fact that we're residents. These letters from the condo offices are free and the staff seemed to know what I wanted. They already had the form letter on their computers, they just needed to input my name, passport number, room number, etc. I took the letters to immigration for proof of where I lived. I also had utility bills and my rental agreement, but the condo letter is enough.

This is a much cheaper and easier than going to the American consulate and paying their much higher fee for a letter of residency.

[NancyL]

How dare they not speak English in a country which doesnt have English as a first language, may i stongly suggest you contact your local MP in the UK and demand an explanation

Normally, I would tend to agree with this sentiment, i.e. we're in Thailand; we shouldn't expect people to speak English. However, when one is dealing with a Embassy, it's reasonable to expect them to staff their citizen services desk with someone who speaks the native language of the population they serve, i.e. English in this case. It is a little less realistic to hope that Thai Immigration would have employees with a reasonable command of English, although it would be nice if they did. After all, they offer forms in English and seem to regard English as a type of "universal" language for the purposes of conducting business at Immigration.. Perhaps Immigration could follow up on the OP's suggestion and employ Issan bar girls as translators. It would make the place more interesting!

[Bingo66]

I went to immigration today (Bkk), took the form above all completed, they all had no idea what it was so they sent me to the tourist extension line.. I ended up getting the GF to go back, and check, they sent me then to a different one, which was the wrong one. So I then I got to skip the line and go back to the tourist extension line, but the elite card holder queue she wouldn't take the form and gave me pretty much the same form, but poorly printed and someone else details crossed out on the back. Had to copy the passport and take it back, 100bht for EMS and will have to wait 3 weeks, beats the jerks @ the embassy for 2800bht.

Yes Bangkok immigration is extremely <deleted> for a new flush complex, i'm hoping I can report at Hua Hin next month.

And yea you would think people on the info counter at the country's capital immigration can speak fluent English minimum and know their job. I know plenty of girls with ok jobs that went to a "low-so uni" in the NE that speaks far better and near perfect English. But of course, the Hi-So people that buy an education and get gov jobs because who they know, shouldn't improve their English, because it's already perfect.

[edwinchester]

When I first got my Thai driving license I got a letter from my local Amphur confirming my address in Thailand. Free I seem to remember and perfectly acceptable by my local Dept of Land & Transport. Worth trying for if only to save the exhorbitant Embassy ripoff fee or the trip if living outside BKK.

[tomallison]

I have in the past obtained this certificate easily, no waiting time, from both my local Immigration Office and the British Consulate. This was without any difficulty or necessity to speak Thai.

Could your problems be something to do with your approach to this matter?