From 1st Feb

https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/change-to-our-services-in-chiang-mai

It's almost as if they sit around a table somewhere trying to dream up new ways to inconvenience people.

So what is left for the Consulate to do, other than crisis and outreach work; I guess that needs about one person.

So the next stage will be to down grade to just an Honorary Consul like Phuket has.

Then following the UK Government's pattern with Passports, the next stage will be to offer no service at all.

Being British Overseas one now really has to get used to a third class/non existant service.

I heard a rumor that they were going to consolidate all of their services through a call center in India!

Well it's nice to know that, as a result of being relieved of these tedious chores, the Chiang Mai Consulate will now be able to concentrate fully on advising the local immigration commander on measures aimed at causing the maximum inconvenience to local British expats (as well as other nationalities, of course) at extension of stay and 90-day reporting time.

And don't be surprised if FCO's next wheeze will be to pull notarial and documentary services from British embassies across this great planet of ours altogether, and instead insist that we make a visit in person to a new office which they have opened in the Shetland Isles whenever we need an income confirmation letter, for example.

At the same time, HMPO will doubtless close down the With-It Towers operation and instead insist that we renew our passports in person at a new office located in the Scilly Isles.

Both measures designed exclusively, of course, at making life as difficult as possible for British expats intending to obtain an income confirmation letter at the same time as a new passport.