Getting address certified at Immigration office

[Somnambulist]

I let my five-year Thai driving license lapse but it's not that bad. I just need to take a one-hour class and get my address certified by my consulate or Immigration.

Anyway, my question is what's the process for getting my address certified at Immigration? Promenada or airport? All-day ordeal or simple in and out?

[jobin]

Got my Res Cert 2 days ago. Now office located in Prom Mall, immediately next to big Immig office, so no need to cross busy hiway or get lost.

I needed current lease, actually one month payment receipt as proof of address; copy of passport etc; and 2 photos. All the copies and photos can be made on the spot, but if choosing photos must take 6 and pay 200 baht.

And amazingly, signed and delivered next day, of course after payment of 500 baht.

A reminder, you will also need Med Report. I got mine at Ram Hosp, easy peasy at 150 baht.

[Lizard2010]

Got my Res Cert 2 days ago. Now office located in Prom Mall, immediately next to big Immig office, so no need to cross busy hiway or get lost.

I needed current lease, actually one month payment receipt as proof of address; copy of passport etc; and 2 photos. All the copies and photos can be made on the spot, but if choosing photos must take 6 and pay 200 baht.

And amazingly, signed and delivered next day, of course after payment of 500 baht.

A reminder, you will also need Med Report. I got mine at Ram Hosp, easy peasy at 150 baht.

Why a A reminder, you will also need Med Report.

Never heard this one before

Its only a Residence Certificate to confirm where you live

I thought only need for a EG: O A Visa when applying in Thailand?

[brommers]

I think he means that you need the Med Report for your DL application!

[NancyL]

The 500 baht fee at CM Imm. is not an official fee and you won't receive a receipt for it. The person processing the Cert. of Res. works for G4T visa agency, not Imm. Cert. of Residency are supposed to be given by Imm for free.

If you're an American citizen, don't want to support corruption and would like to receive your Cert. of Residency on the spot, rather than having to go out to Promenada Mall twice, you can go to the U.S. Consulate to get one. It is acceptable to the drivers license office. Yes, it costs $50, but you won't be encouraging corruption to continue.

[Sparkles]

I think he means that you need the Med Report for your DL application!

I got a DL renewal and the girl at the front desk put a line through the medical report on the list of document required."No need now" was her comment

Then again the goal posts keep moving so best to check. A Thai Clinic will provide one for 50 baht no need to go to a hospital

[Duvidl]

If you're renewing a 5-year DL, you don't need a medical letter. If you're renewing a 1-year DL to a 5-year, you do need one.

[jobin]

Well, Nancy this is what i found. When i went to Immig Office across the road from Prom (former Res Cert office) i was told by officer that the office moved to Immig at Prom. I went to Prom and asked at the Immig Information desk how to get the Res Cert. They directed me to the small office just nearby. I did the paperwork and paid the fee and got the Cert the next day.

Just now i looked at the RECEIPT given me by that office and yes, receipt from 'g4t.company'. So obviously some hanky-panky going on between this company and Thai Immigration. There was no alternative offered me.

500 baht at 'g4t' vs. 1750 baht at US Consulate? Just so i can push Thailand towards 'non-corruption' practices, when they themselves want it? As you like.

[NancyL]

For those of us without transport, the G4T corruption letter vs. the U.S. consulate legitimate letter are almost equal in cost. The cheapest transport I've found to Prom. is 200 baht one-way and usually it's 250 baht. So that 500 baht letter from G4T really costs 1500 baht by the time I figure in transportation.

I'd rather give the nice folks at the U.S. Consulate 1750 baht, get my letter on the spot, and know I'm supporting a Consular Services group that helps American expats when they get into trouble.

[Somnambulist]

Hi, thank you, Nancy, for the info about the corruption. But (and now I'm straying into a bit of a rant) 50 bucks for a simple stamped piece of paper may not be illegal but it is greedy. And to rant further, the U.S. is doing so much harm around the world that I will choose to support some small time under the table Thai corruption rather than the killing of more and more innocent people. Anyway, for those who are interested, here is what's necessary if your license has lapsed. Sorry for the upper case; that's how it came to me.

IN CASE OF FOREIGNER
RENEW THAI DRIVING LICENCE [bY YOURSELF]
FIVE-YEARS DRIVING LICENCE

HAVE TO PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS AS FOLLOW

1. ORIGINAL FIVE-YEARS THAI DRIVING LICENCE

2. PASSPORT WITH NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY)

3. ORIGINAL PRESENT RESIDENT ADDRESS IN THAILAND CERTIFY FROM EMBASSY / IMMIGRATION BUREAU (VALID FOR 1 YEAR) OR WORK PERMIT WITH ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY

PROCEDURE

1) CHECK THE DOCUMENTS

2) PRINT THE APPLICATION FORM

3) TAKE ONLY A PHYSICAL TEST

• -TAKE A TRAINING 1 HOURS
• -TAKE A PHYSICAL TEST
• -TAKE A THEORY TEST
• -TAKE A PRACTICAL TEST
• 4) PAY THE FEE / TAKE A PHOTO AND PRINT DRIVING LICENCE
• (FEE 505 BAHT AND PLASTIC SMART CARD 100 BAHT)

  ADDITIONAL (CHANGE NAME OR ADDRESS CHARGE 50 BAHT)

• REMARK :

  1) IN CASE OF DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRED MORE THAN 1 YEAR
  - TAKE A THEORY TEST

  2) IN CASE OF DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRED MORE THAN 3 YEARS
  - TAKE A THEORY TEST AND PRACTICAL TEST

[hml367]

Now I see...... 2 trips are required to get this letter?

EDIT AGAIN: I am sure glad I have not needed this letter! I think I would go the U.S. Consulate route if I did need one.. .but it would not be because of anything to do with corruption as I understand it at this time. I have never been in Immigration at Promenada yet, and I hope I won't have to do anything more besides extensions through an agent at Promenada.

Edited December 4, 2015 by hml367

[NancyL]

I didn't want this thread to go off into a discussion of all the harm or good that the U.S. does around the world. I have a pretty good idea where the 500 baht paid to G4T goes and I don't like it.

I also know that during the few times that U.S. Congress has one of their idiocy attacks and shuts down U.S. government, the U.S. Consulate Chiang Mai doesn't close down their Consular Services sections. Instead, the employees still show up to work. For most people the obvious signs of their work are the $50 stamps for income letters, certs of residency, etc. But for those in need, the less obvious signs of their work are their welfare services, helping those who are arrested or in hospital and notifying families and assisting in arrangements for Americans who die here. Those services continue during times when Congress shuts down the U.S. gov't.

Do you know how they do it? They hold back those $50 fees for notary stamps and use that money to pay salaries to everyone from the Thai guards up front to the electric company and they keep the Consulate open to continue to serve the U.S. citizens in Northern Thailand, even if U.S. citizens aren't being served by their gov't "back home".

[anon467848]

I didn't want this thread to go off into a discussion of all the harm or good that the U.S. does around the world. I have a pretty good idea where the 500 baht paid to G4T goes and I don't like it.

Nancy, on your next meeting with the Immigration chief, why don't you ask him why residency letters are not provided free of charge as per other provinces. Make sure you are wearing a flak jacket.