Transferring stamps to a new passport

[Jellybean]

This topic will probably be of limited interest to most members, but it may assist one or two expat members or members and readers with future plans to settle in Thailand either full-time or, as in my case, part of the year.

Renewal of Extension of Stay permit and my Multiple Re-entry permit

The most dreaded day of the year for me, while in Thailand, is the day I renew my Extension of Stay permit and my Multiple Re-entry permit. It was never like this when I lived in Hua Hin and dealt with the immigration office there. It is only since I moved up to Bangkok that I have developed this irrational fear. That day usually falls in March, but in the lead up to the renewal I must write to the British Embassy submitting an application, my P60 [certificate of earnings in the UK form] and payment for a confirmation of earnings letter. This is done around 10 days prior to my visit to the Thai immigration office in Chaeng Wattana in Bangkok.

But last year I noted that my then passport ended in March 2018, during my intended three month, January to April 2018 visit to Thailand and would therefore have to be renewed in advance of my current Thai trip. It can be renewed 9 months in advance with no loss of expiry date, which remains March 2028.

New passport no longer contains the visa and permit stamps

Renewing my passport meant that my Extension of Stay and Multiple Re-entry permits would be in my old passport and would need transferring to my new passport. I was not familiar with this process and could not find much information on the subject. An American friend living in Thailand advised me I might need a letter from my Government in support of my application. Crikey! I had not thought to submit an application to Her Britannic Majesty’s Government prior to leaving the UK! I hoped his advice might not be relevant in my case (see below).

During the first week of my stay in Thailand I am invariably plagued by jet-lag and find it difficult to get up early in the morning, which is usually a must for any intended visit to Bangkok’s immigration office. But another friend informed me that he found it was less busy in the afternoons. So I set off for BTS Mo Chit on the sky train around 11:30am and on arrival looked for a taxi to take me to the immigration office. I found a line of taxis and a helpful chap directed me to a sign indicating that the cost of transporting me to Chaeng Wattana was 200 Baht. Blimey! I thought that was a bit steep and decided against using the service and flagged down a passing cab.

Previous trip to the Immigration Office in March 2017

My experience of taking a cab to the immigration office back in March 2017 was not a happy one. The idiot of a driver did not seem to know where the immigration office was and we seemed to endlessly circle the huge government complex, which housed the immigration office, other government departments and agencies. After complaints from me, he eventually entered the site and pulled up outside building ‘A’. This was the wrong building, it is actually building ‘B’ that we required and by the time we actually got there I deemed the cost to be excessive, caused by his indecisiveness and inability to find the appropriate building. In my opinion, such an important location should have been common knowledge to a taxi driver working in that area. I therefore reduced his fare to a figure commensurate with a journey from Mo Chit. And I made a file note of building ‘B’ for future use.

Visit to the Bangkok Immigration Office in January 2018 – Part 1

This time my taxi driver seemed to know his way into the government complex and that it was building ‘B’ he should take me to. However, the building is enormous and he took me to the wrong entrance, but was easily directed to the correct entrance by a helpful security guard. Despite this short detour the fare was only 117 Baht, well short of the 200 baht requested by the Mo Chit taxi cartel. I paid the driver 120 Baht.

At the entrance, I was asked for my passport, which was scanned and my rucksack was put through an airport style X-ray security screening conveyor belt. I arrived around 12:30pm, 30 minutes ahead of the one o’clock opening, following their one hour lunch break. The sign stated that they closed at 4:30pm.

Prior to my arrival I had copied all the pages of my old passport containing visa and permit stamps and the photo page. I had also copied the photo page of my new passport, the new, shorter, form TM6 [departure card] and the page showing my arrival stamp. Hopefully, this would be sufficient for their purposes. While waiting I wondered if there would be a specific section dealing with the transfer of stamps to new passports. From my experience of working in a Government Department in the UK this would have made sense to have an officer specialise in this process, either full-time or as part of some other duties. I was to be quickly disabused of this idea.

I joined the short queue around 12:50 pm and once the doors opened I approached an officer at the information desk. On being told the purpose of my visit, she handed me a form headed, Transfer Stamp To New Passport Form. It did not have a TM number. It basically asked me for my old and new passport details, together with the reason for the request. The final paragraph ended with the sentence, Please do it for me I appreciate, which I truly did. On the back of the form it listed the 8 requirements, which included the completion of the form and providing all the passport copies, which I had with me. Ah-ha! It mentioned that one of the requirements was a “Certificate from embassy (If it available)”. This must be the government letter my American friend was referring to. I assume such a letter would be issued by the embassy if the applicant had recourse to apply to his/her embassy for a new passport, or if it was lost or stolen while in Thailand.

After completing the form, I went inside to the larger area containing the various sections and made my way to the ticket allocation desk, where again I outlined the purpose of my visit and handed over the completed transfer form and passport copies . The helpful officer said that I would first have to attend section ‘L’ and have my Extension of Stay visa transferred first and once that was done I was to return to the ticket allocation desk and would be given a second ticket for section ‘C2’ to have my Multiple Re-Entry Permit transferred. This is exactly what is done when renewing my annual visa and permit, so no special or priority process had been set up for stamp transfers. I asked if I needed to complete another transfer form, thankfully I did not, the one application form was sufficient. The officer then handed me a ticket – oh, my God! The ticket showed the time as 13:08 and that there were 69 people ahead of me in the queue! In March 2017, at a similar stage, but in the morning, there were just 21 people ahead of me and it took around an hour to be seen. It was going to be a long afternoon.

Indeed it was, I was not called until 4:00pm and by this time I was starting to get worried that the transfers would not be completed before the office closed. My meeting with the officer was a short one. After noting the purpose of my visit, she told me to return to the seating area and wait to be called at booth L40. Ten minutes later I was called in to see the officer at L40. She browsed my old passport and made several grumpy noises and called a more senior colleague for advice. Having received this advice she processed my paperwork, which appeared to be in order after all. The senior officer kindly offered me a free pen, which I duly accepted. After around 15 minutes of watching the immigration officer she told me to return to the seating area and wait to be called. By now it was 4:25pm and I grudgingly accepted that a return visit the next day was now inevitable.

At 4:55pm I was called and handed both my passports back and told to return the next day and go to section ‘C2’. I checked my passports; both had new stamps indicating the transfer of the Extension of Stay permit.

Once outside I discovered the usual line of taxis was not there, no doubt due to the late hour. There was however two taxis and their drivers were busily chatting to each other. I approached them and asked if I could be taken back to BTS Mo Chit. I was told that it would cost me 300 baht. What? But there seemed little alternative, I did not know how to exit the huge government compound and I knew the traffic at 5:00pm would be horrendous. I offered to pay 200 Baht and the deliciously handsome cab driver said he would take me for 250 Baht, which I agreed to, otherwise I was never going to get back home.

The traffic was indeed horrendous, near gridlock. It took us 45 minutes to get to Mo Chit. By this time I felt exhausted and I appreciated that the driver had earned his money driving in such awful traffic. I therefore handed him the 300 Baht he had initially asked for.

Now I had to repeat the whole bloody process the next day.
.
Visit to the Bangkok Immigration Office in January 2018 – Part 2

Based on my previous experience I was now determined to push myself to wake up early and try and get to the immigration office as close to their opening time of 8:30am as possible.

Once again I took the sky train to Mo Chit and this time I decided to make use of the taxi cartel, figuring they, at least, would get me to the immigration office without delay or detour. This time however they wanted 300 Baht, not the 200 Baht as indicated on their sign. The reason for the increase was the heavy early morning traffic, which again looked to be near gridlock. I offered 200 baht and one very talkative and resourceful taxi driver accepted and got me to the immigration office in double quick time at 8:40am.

This time I joined a longer queue, but reached the ticket allocation desk at 8:50am. I was concerned that I did not have any paperwork, only my two passports. Others without paperwork were being referred back to the information desk. I told the officer about my visit the previous day and showed her the new stamps and mentioned I had been told to go to section ‘C2’. The officer accepted this without further explanation and handed me a ticket for section ‘C2’. Hurrah! The ticket indicated that there were only 11 people ahead of me in the queue!

Wow! Only 8 minutes later I was called. I explained my requirements and showed the officer the previous day’s stamps. She told me to wait outside in the seated area to be called. At 9:35am, only 55 minutes after I arrived, I was called and handed both my passports back with the new transferred Multiple Re-Entry Permit.

There was no charge for making the stamp transfers, but I shall have to go through the whole ghastly process again in March when I renew my permits. Apologies for the length of this post, but I hope that some members or readers have found the detail in my report helpful.

[gerefan2]

ThNk you for that. It confirms my policy of never using a stopped Taxi!

[Smiles]

DIRE WARNING: horribly off topic.

Dear Jellybean, I had no idea you lived in Hua Hin. Was it for a long time, or short?
We've lived here now for ten years (and would not live anywhere else) but have never noticed a stray red jelly bean rolling down the wildly not-level sidewalks of this town.
What made you abandon the joint?

https://image.ibb.co/hpmYib/jellybean.jpg

[Jellybean]

. . . Dear Jellybean, I had no idea you lived in Hua Hin. Was it for a long time, or short? We've lived here now for ten years (and would not live anywhere else) but have never noticed a stray red jelly bean rolling down the wildly not-level sidewalks of this town.

What made you abandon the joint?

Oh, I’m not one of those members who worries about going off topic Smiles. In fact, with my own topics I find it interesting to see where the topic ends up. And let’s face it, by my own admission, it is of limited interest, somewhat dry and there was not a great deal that could be added to it. Although, I did try to insert elements of humour where I could.

It did however amuse me that gerefan2 found something of value in my post unrelated to the main subject matter. So, all was not lost. Hmmm . . . but it begs the question, whatever happened to gerefan1? Ooops . . . but there I go, going off topic on my own topic.

Now where was I? Ah, yes, you had no idea I lived in Hua Hin and you asked what made me abandon “the joint”. Well, that troubles me a little bit, as I posted many times about my adventures and mishaps while in Hua Hin. I posted at length about my difficulties getting a 5 year Thai driving licence at Pranburi, caused mainly by my problematic left eye. I waxed indignantly about the trials and tribulations my neighbours and I had with our property developer. I posted about our four year drama, two of them in court, until we managed to achieve an out of court settlement with the developer. I posted about the difficulties of renting a property and getting repairs done while I was back in the UK. I posted about all the fun times I had over the years with different Thai boyfriends and their friends, spending long weekends or a week or two at my house. I mentioned how much I miss my early morning swims before breakfast. I posted about the time I woke to find a poisonous snake in my pool and having to get four gardeners from my rental agency to call round and beat the venomous thing to death. Crikey what a drama that was!

Clearly none of them were memorable, so I really must try harder and improve my writing and storytelling skills. Perhaps I could take lessons from poshglasgow and snotface. Hmmm . . . now there’s a thought.

Crikey! I’ve lost the plot yet again. Right, where was I? I owned a house in Hua Hin for around 9 or 10 years, but it was rented out for most of that time. In those days, I spent 6-7 months of the year back in the UK. But in 2007, I decided to buy an apartment in Bangkok while still maintaining the house in Hua Hin. I believe I appreciated Hua Hin more when I could drive down and spend extended weekends or a week or two when there were no rental customers staying at the house. I loved having, for me, the best of both worlds, experiencing life in the ‘Big Mango’ and being able to chill out in the lovely seaside resort of Hua Hin, only a couple of hours drive from Bangkok. But the renting side started to become a millstone around my neck and was causing me endless headaches. I was lucky though, apart from 1 year, I make a tidy little rental income profit, but that necessitated submitting returns of my foreign rental income to Her Majesty’s Revenue in the UK. So when we reached an out of court settlement with our developer, I thought the time was ripe for me to sell. I did not make much of a gain on the sale in Thai Baht, but when converted to GBP, due to the fall in the pound, I ended up with a handsome capital gain, which necessitated another return to my ever greedy and never satisfied former colleagues in ‘the Revenue’.

But importantly, I was never as lucky as you Smiles in having a long term, stable relationship. Had I been so lucky, maybe I would have been content to spend the majority of my time in Hua Hin. But alas, I was not, so having Bangkok as my home base worked out to my advantage.

And, to fully answer your post, you have reminded me that the one and only time I have fallen down walking on the pavements/sidewalks of Thailand was while walking down the soi where the formerly named Sofitel used to be. You probably recall from memory that they are, or at least once were, one of the worst health and safety risks for pedestrians in Hua Hin. Luckily, I managed to save myself and landed on the palms of my hands. It could have been so much worse and I could have put all those years of reconstructive surgery on my face at risk. Thankfully, I have never had another such incident, but just the other day I stumbled over a small child in Silom Complex. My left eye is, sadly, now next to useless and the upper eyelid was injected with Botox earlier this month, so I have a blind left side and the small child walked across and under me on the left and I nearly tripped over her. I don’t know who was more shocked, me or her. That’s why I take a particular interest in the reports of cdnmatt about his blindness. The thought of going blind horrifies me. When I return to the UK in April they are going to stitch my left eyelids together and, very worryingly, they are going to use local anaesthetic! Aaaaggghh! I’ve told them, they better strap me down like Hannibal Lecter as I can’t see how I’ll be able to lie still when they approach my eye with a needle! Oh dear, I hope I have not upset anyone of a nervous disposition with this last tale.

Well, it looks like I have drifted way off topic on my own topic. Naughty, Jellybean, I probably incurred a few penalty points for this serious rule break. Ah well, such is life, no one is perfect.

[arsenal]

Jellybean wrote.
"I probably incurred a few penalty points for this serious rule break."

Absolutely. Jellybean should be bannished for life, or even longer. His title, lands and deeds should be confiscated and given over to those loyal to the Politburo. A full example should be made in order to crush dissent amongst the hoi poloi.

Nice posts Jellybean.

[gerefan2]

It did however amuse me that gerefan2 found something of value in my post unrelated to the main subject matter. So, all was not lost. Hmmm . . . but it begs the question, whatever happened to gerefan1? Ooops . . . but there I go, going off topic on my own topic.

.

As you asked! A few years ago this board required everyone to re-register for some reason. The process was, to me, so complicated that Gerefan eventually gave up after numerous attempts.
So Gerefan2 was born. Gerefan lives on alive and well on the other boards as you have probably seen.

Seven years ago I decided to see about laser treatment having got fed up with glasses. I went to Moorfields Eys Hospital in London for a consultation and they told me I had cataracts developing in both eyes. And, in addition, my eyes were no longer suitable for laser treatment.

They offered what was then very new treatment. Replacement varifocal lens implants. The operation consisted of removing my lenses and replacing them with new plastic varifocal ones, made to order. They did one eye at a time, a week apart.

The whole thing was done under a local anaesthetic and took about 45 minutes. You won’t see anything much as they put drops in first to numb they eye before the anaesthetic, and that blurs the vision.

Before the operation, without glasses, I could not read a car number plate at more than 2 metres...Now I can read them at 65 metres, unaided! Also I can now read the smallest print, thanks to the varifocal lenses.

Anyway, you said you were happy to go off topic...

[newalaan2]

Well, it looks like I have drifted way off topic on my own topic. Naughty, Jellybean, I probably incurred a few penalty points for this serious rule break. Ah well, such is life, no one is perfect.

Enjoyed the posts jellybean. The OP of the thread can never go off topic as it's your thread to 'go' where ever you want it to as you started it, absolutely no 'rule' breaking' there.. Apart from the fact it is your thread....smiles has raised a point which has a general connection to you...Hua Hin.

I too am quite happy for a topic I start to go elsewhere if connected/associated in general with the topic, or even if its just a natural move in another direction. It's when the flooders, and those who interrupt the natural flow drag it off topic completely to simply 'use' it for their own personal banter with absolutely no relation to the topic and take over the whole thread spoiling it for the others who were engaged in the original topic. It then becomes a personal unfunny, uninteresting interaction between usually two members, which in turn bores the rest of the contributors and the topic dies because the original posters simply loose interest. That is also why it is so difficult to attract a wider range of interesting topics and contributors at times here on this forum.

This is an example where a topic can move in another direction and still be relevant and enjoyable, that and the fact the flooders have stayed out of it so far.

[Jellybean]

. . . Absolutely. Jellybean should be banished for life, or even longer . . .

I enjoyed reading your reply at post #5, arsenal and particularly liked the above extract. It appealed to my quirky sense of humour. :))

[Jellybean]

. . . The whole thing was done under a local anaesthetic and took about 45 minutes. You won’t see anything much as they put drops in first to numb they eye before the anaesthetic, and that blurs the vision . . .

Thanks for your detailed explanation of the origins of your forum name gerefan2.

And thank you so much for letting me know of your own experience of eye treatment at Moorfields Eye Hospital. You have helped put my mind at rest. The thought of getting my eyelids stitched together has made me feel really anxious. If it does not sort my eye problems out, then the only solution is the removal of the eye with no prospect of a prosthetic eye replacement due to my previous radiotherapy treatment. So, as you can imagine, I really do hope the stitching process solves the problem.

[Jellybean]

. . . I too am quite happy for a topic I start to go elsewhere if connected/associated in general with the topic, or even if its just a natural move in another direction. It's when the flooders, and those who interrupt the natural flow drag it off topic completely to simply 'use' it for their own personal banter with absolutely no relation to the topic and take over the whole thread spoiling it for the others who were engaged in the original topic . . .

Thanks newalaan2 for your very thoughtful and insightful post. I am interested to read your and other members thoughts on any of the issues I have touched upon. The subject of 'off topic posts' is, I believe, of interest to the wider membership and should, hopefully, provide other members a platform for contributing to the discussion. That’s what this forum does especially well. I was worried when I posted my OP that it would die a death and be of no interest to anyone. If it broadens out and is of more general interest, then I can say, in all honesty, that I am particularly satisfied that I achieved my object in broadening out my OP.

[cdnmatt]

I don't know about VISA stamps, but I can say thank fuck I'm not American. I have a passport application pending still, and I get responses from the Canadian embassy same day. I guess I'm getting a limited validity passport, so good.

If I was American and sent a message to the embassy, I'm assuming I'd just get an auto-reply saying they're not working or processing passport applications right now, because they don't have any money to pay their staff. heh, that's crazy for the world's most powerful nation.

[a447]

Jellybean, I just love your positive attitude and the way you face up to adversity - you seem to take it all in your stride without complaint.

You remind me of that song "Rubber Ball" - you just keep bouncing back!

[bobsaigon2]

If I was American and sent a message to the embassy, I'm assuming I'd just get an auto-reply saying they're not working or processing passport applications right now, because they don't have any money to pay their staff. heh, that's crazy for the world's most powerful nation.

US Embassies and Consulates operate on a separate budget so are not affected by the government shutdown. Business as usual for them.

[mahjongguy]

"US Embassies and Consulates operate on a separate budget so are not affected by the government shutdown. Business as usual for them."

That's true, and they may continue to offer temporary travel documents, but regular passports are processed in the U.S. (Atlanta, I believe) and that office will not be open during the shutdown.

[francois]

I know that Jellybean said it was ok to wander off topic but cdnmatt's post is way off topic. But what is new about that?

[bobsaigon2]

"US Embassies and Consulates operate on a separate budget so are not affected by the government shutdown. Business as usual for them."

That's true, and they may continue to offer temporary travel documents, but regular passports are processed in the U.S. (Atlanta, I believe) and that office will not be open during the shutdown.

Passport Services During Lapse in Appropriations

Emergency Alert January 20, 2018 Passport Services During Lapse in Appropriations


At this time, scheduled passport services in the United States and our posts overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits. This website will not be regularly updated until full operations resume, with the exception of emergency safety and security information.

[cdnmatt]

I know that Jellybean said it was ok to wander off topic but cdnmatt's post is way off topic. But what is new about that?


Oh, and eye surgery is fairly on topic to the OP?

[gerefan2]

Oh, and eye surgery is fairly on topic to the OP?

Are you referring to my post #6?

[Smiles]

I feel as if I've been horse-whipped by an out-of-control jelly bean. Now I know how the murderous monk in in the Da Vinci Code felt:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23M8WT_PS7E

I plead guilty Jelly-B ... apparently having forgotten the gist of so many of your posts. Hell, even how you are able to remember so many at your age of 106 is beyond me.
As for myself, early onset dementia might be suggested as a cause, but I have yet to be officially diagnosed.
Naturally, now I must make amends by bloody-well reading every single one of your posts since 1965. I begin tomorrow after my dental implant surgery at Bangkok Hospital [Hua Hin] :(.

As for you ... you still got it Babe!
Your prose in your/my 'Evisceration Post' above is absolutely formidable, and a pleasure to read ... so long as one is a closet masochist like myself.

[kkjason]

I don't know about VISA stamps, but I can say thank fuck I'm not American. I have a passport application pending still, and I get responses from the Canadian embassy same day. I guess I'm getting a limited validity passport, so good.

If I was American and sent a message to the embassy, I'm assuming I'd just get an auto-reply saying they're not working or processing passport applications right now, because they don't have any money to pay their staff. heh, that's crazy for the world's most powerful nation.

Actually - if you were American - you would just go down to the Pulman Hotel when they come - they process your passport application right there and mail it back to you. Does your embassy do that? Doesn't sound like it...All American Embassy services worldwide are self-funded by fees as of 20 years ago and are not subject to budget constraints by the government - i.e. no government shutdown. Perhaps you should check your information before you send it out on a forum.

[francois]

Oh, and eye surgery is fairly on topic to the OP?

My apologies, matt! Jellybean and his eye problems and etc, etc, etc, did lead me astray from the topic of his post, transferring visa stamps

[Jellybean]

I feel as if I've been horse-whipped by an out-of-control jelly bean . . .

What a deliciously funny image you conjured up in the above sentence, Smiles. It made me laugh out loud. Cheers! :))



. . . I plead guilty Jelly-B ... apparently having forgotten the gist of so many of your posts. Hell, even how you are able to remember so many at your age of 106 is beyond me . . .


Er, em . . . much as I hate to correct such an esteemed member such as yourself, but I’m 107 years old, actually. There will, of course, be doubters, but I have saved all the birthday telegrams from the Queen to prove it. :D

[Jellybean]

My apologies, matt! Jellybean and his eye problems and etc, etc, etc, did lead me astray from the topic of his post, transferring visa stamps

Oh-oh! It’s that damnably out-of-control rogue poster Jellybean to blame yet again.

It could all have been predicated, let him back on the forum to post again and there will be nothing but outrage and carnage as he upsets all the superannuated long term members and tears up the rule book on posting guidelines.

If I were you françois, I‘d take him out and give him a damn good flogging when you see him in Pattaya next week. But be careful, the wretched blighter might just enjoy it. ;)

[Marsilius]

...I did not know how to exit the huge government compound and I knew the traffic at 5:00pm would be horrendous. I offered to pay 200 Baht and the deliciously handsome cab driver said he would take me for 250 Baht...

After such a dreadful day spent at the government offices - combining repeated traumatic incidents with mind-numbing boredom - I'm pleased to see that you still maintained unimpaired the ability to check out and give the nod of approval to a handsome man when appropriate. You are a fine, upstanding member of this forum, Sir, who, by demonstrating the ability to uphold its fine traditions at even the darkest hour, certainly deserves to be reinstated for life (if not longer).

[arsenal]

Jellybeans recent posts have been interesting, useful, humorous, self-deprecating, relevant to many here, well written., not insulting and generally a bloody good show.

Therefore it is only apposite that the lifetime or longer ban be lengthened. Here here.

[Smiles]

Actually - if you were American - you would just go down to the Pulman Hotel when they come - they process your passport application right there and mail it back to you. Does your embassy do that? Doesn't sound like it ...
Please kkjason, speak kindly and gently to cdnmatt. He is a North Alberta Canadian (I should know, being one of 'em, but not from North Alberta of course) and speaks in childish cliches (kinda like your President).
Deep down (think "low bar") at heart he is a simple fool, posting foolish stuff here ... but we all put up with it (he said, rolling his eyes): Google "Comedy Relief".

PS ... I wonder: wouldn't it be sweetish if Cdnmatt was just like Jelly Bean? Talking about Jelly Bean that is.

PPS ... Off topic? Yep, I know. Shoot me.

[cdnmatt]

Actually - if you were American - you would just go down to the Pulman Hotel when they come - they process your passport application right there and mail it back to you. Does your embassy do that? Doesn't sound like it...All American Embassy services worldwide are self-funded by fees as of 20 years ago and are not subject to budget constraints by the government - i.e. no government shutdown. Perhaps you should check your information before you send it out on a forum.


Check your own information. Sure, you could still submit a passport application, but that doesn't mean it's going to get processed in a timely manner. And no, they don't print passports at the Pullman hotel on the spot.

Doesn't matter, US govt is back open until Feb 8th. Whoo hoo!

[christianpfc]

Jellybean, welcome back posting here!


Well, it looks like I have drifted way off topic on my own topic. Naughty, Jellybean, I probably incurred a few penalty points for this serious rule break. Ah well, such is life, no one is perfect.
Thread starters may derail their topics with impunity. (ChristianPFC the Moderator)

Never take a standing taxi. As for traffic jam, going slower than 6 km/h is charged at 2 THB/min, so traffic jam cannot be used as an excuse for a fixed price.

Getting to/from Government Complex by public transport and my various experiences extension of stay here:
http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2014/12/bus-station-at-government-center.html

[arsenal]

Christian wrote.
"Thread starters may derail their topics with impunity. (ChristianPFC the Moderator)"

Quite. A few more posts from those who do little but come in to a thread to 'av a go' or 'make jokes' about other members might be a good idea because in all probability those days are likely numbered.

[francois]

This is all Jellybean's fault for making an interesting post about his Passport and his eyes.

[arsenal]

Francois wrote.
"This is all Jellybean's fault for making an interesting post about his Passport and his eyes."

Now that's banter. See the difference?

[Jellybean]

This is all Jellybean's fault for making an interesting post about his Passport and his eyes.

Ah-ha! I knew it, I just knew it, that the disgracefully out-of-control rogue poster Jellybean would get the blame for this outbreak of serial rule breaking.

Any minute now there will be a poll calling for his permanent exclusion from this hallowed forum for the criminally insane. :crazy_mini:

[christianpfc]

Jellybean, welcome back posting here!

Thread starters may derail their topics with impunity. (ChristianPFC the Moderator)
I did not imagine what havoc this little joke will wreak during my absence.
Lang Suan and Hua Hin, of all places! I'm glad I didn't cross Smiles!

For all those who don't recognize a joke, here again:

Thread starters may derail their topics with impunity. (ChristianPFC the Moderator) :)):)):))LOL:)):))555:)):)):))

[Jellybean]

Renewal of my Extension of Stay Visa and my Multiple Re-Entry Permit

Following on from my OP about transferring my visa stamps from my old passport to my new passport, I thought some readers might also be interested in what followed next. I refer to my annual renewing of my Extension of Stay Visa (which I shall refer to as retirement visa from here on in) and my Multiple Re-Entry Permit here in Bangkok.

In years gone by, I chose the option of maintaining 800,000 Baht in my Thai bank account, which must be held 3 months before the visa renewal date. But in recent years I have been running down the assets I hold in Thailand and now I opt for the proof of monthly earnings of at least 65,000 Baht route. This means, in my case, applying in writing to the British Embassy for an official letter confirming my income statement in the form of a P60 (certificate of earnings in the UK). At one time, applicants could visit the embassy to obtain the letter, but now it can only be done by post. It takes around 10 days for the letter to arrive from the embassy, so I had to factor this in to the process. Rather helpfully the embassy allows payment by debit card from my UK bank and thereby saves me using up my precious Thai Baht. It cost £52.00.

Armed with a letter containing a copy of the photo page of my passport, my P60 and the completed embassy application form, I headed for my local post office. Luckily, it was not busy and I was seen promptly by a young male postal clerk. I explained I wanted the letter sent by EMS to the British Embassy, in Bangkok. But instead of simply sticking a stamp on the letter and charging me the fee, the postal clerk proceeded to ask me twenty questions, such as how long had I been in Bangkok and did I have a job etc. I thought perhaps it was part of some security protocol he had to follow. He then surprised me by asking if there was any way he could keep in touch with me. Hmmm . . . this just took a turn for the better, or did it? I handed him one of my cards with my address and telephone number on it, which I had printed at MBK shopping mall.

Later that evening, the postal clerk contacted me on facebook. I don’t think he is gay, just a Thai who wants to practise his English. We agreed to meet for lunch the following Saturday. We had a pleasant enough lunch and a very long chat, but nothing about him indicated he was gay. A friend said I should have asked him, but I don’t know why I didn’t ask. When the bill arrived, I naturally picked it up and paid it, something I normally do when eating with a younger Thai gay guy. But he wanted to pay his share and was quite insistent that we shared the cost. I said he could share the cost next time. And he said he would bring some Thai fruit for me at our next meeting as a thank you for paying the bill.

After lunch he wanted to do something else, but I was not really sure that I wanted to spend more time with him and, to be frank, I wanted to avoid any awkward moments. We did however agree to meet the following Saturday.

This time, I asked if we could meet an hour later to enable me to go to the gym and make it on time for our lunch date. We agreed on a 1:00pm meeting. He arrived twenty minutes late at 1:20pm and handed me the fruit he promised the previous Saturday. Rather oddly, he asked if I was hungry, “Well yes”, I said, “we are about to have lunch, aren’t we?” It turned out he was not hungry, because he had eaten at 12:00pm! Eh? What? Why had he eaten when we had agreed to have lunch together? He said he always eats at 12:00 and was hungry, so he had lunch. Well, no matter how long I live in Thailand I don’t think I shall ever understand Thai logic. We ended up in a cafe drinking smoothies.

He is 24 years old, quite attractive and speaks English very well and I do fancy him a little bit. He could turn out to be a pleasant weekly lunch companion, but I wouldn’t say no to a bit of, how’s your father, but doubt that is on the cards. He had a girlfriend, but she split up with him. He is currently single. It all seems very odd to me, considering our wide age difference and apart from my misjudged encounter with the Hua Hin pool boy, I don’t recall being in a similar situation in Thailand. We are due to meet again next Saturday, but I gently asked him to refrain from eating lunch that day so that we could eat lunch together. I can’t believe I had to even say that to him!

Right, I seem to have been side-tracked from the main thrust of my story. So where was I?

Ah yes . . . After receiving my official letter from the British Embassy I was considering going to the Immigration Office at Chaeng Wattana, in northern Bangkok on Monday. But I thought that maybe Mondays are busier than other days, so best avoided. I have no evidence to substantiate this assumption. And importantly, the Oscars were live on TV from 8:00am on Monday, so that settled it, I would go on the Tuesday. :D

Ah, but this post is turning out to be longer than I planned and I haven’t even reached the main part concerning my visit to the immigration office, so I think I shall split it into two and continue my story in my next post.

To be continued . . .

[arsenal]

What a lovely piece of writing. I am authorising myself to promote you Mr Jellybean to chief features writer.

[Jellybean]

What a lovely piece of writing. I am authorising myself to promote you Mr Jellybean to chief features writer.

Well thank you kindly Mr arsenal, since we are being so formal.

But I must respectfully decline your offer, as I do not consider myself worthy of such a crucial position on this, the most important of the gay Thailand forums.

If I may be so bold, I would humbly suggest you approach, snotface, a member whom I hold in very high esteem. With his proven and much praised high quality writing skills, he would almost certainly bring a considerable amount of authority to such a prestigious post.

Renewal of my Extension of Stay Visa and my Multiple Re-Entry Permit - Part 2

Before I go on to describe what happened on the Day of Days I should like to mention a conversation I had with an Australian friend a week prior to my visit to the Immigration Office in Bangkok. I told him how much I dislike and how much I fret about the day. He enquired if I had ever considered using an agent. I said I had given it some thought, but did not think the cost was justifiable. My friend thought the agent charged around 1,000 Baht. Hmmm . . . I feared it would be much more expensive. My friend got on his ‘phone and called the agent. Within 15 minutes he turned up and, just as I thought, his fees were, for me, excessive. He charged 6,000 Baht, which was more than the cost of the visa and permit, which would cost 5,700 Baht. I politely declined his offer of assistance.

The agents are all too pervasive at Chaeng Wattana, as they pop in and out of the booths with bundles of passports and supporting documents with, for me at least, an irritating air of entitlement. Being so important, they do not need to queue, use tickets or have to wait for hours on end like us mere mortals. Grrrr . . .

Day of Days . . .

The day of the year I most dislike had finally arrived. It did not begin well; I had not checked my file notes about my departure time from 2017 and left far too late at 7:15am.

At Mo Chit, the BTS terminal station in northern Bangkok closest to the Immigration Office; I decided to engage one of the local parked taxi drivers, knowing full well they were more expensive. But I was running late and I did not want to risk hiring a taxi driver who didn’t actually know the route to the Government complex at Chaeng Wattana, or the correct building within the site. I agreed to pay 200 Baht, although he had asked for 250 Baht.

The taxi pulled up at the Immigration Office at 8:25am, just five minutes before it opened. I had arrived too late, the previous year I had arrived at 7:55am, but then I had set off at 6:45am.

There was the most enormous queue! Once inside, I received a ticket for my Extension of Stay Visa ('retirement visa') at 8:55am showing there were 47 people ahead of me (there were only 21 in 2017!). I was not called until 11:00am and handed over my completed form TM7, with photo and supporting documents and paid 1,900 Baht. I knew then it was going to be a long day. I waited until 11:40am before my passport with retirement visa was returned to me.

The Immigration Office closes at 12:00 until 1:00pm for lunch, so I had to attempt a mad dash from the Immigration Office to the down escalator to the lower floor and endeavour to run, at intervals, which because of the bone removal from my hips, is not at all easy these days. It seemed to take forever before I found the copy shop, where I got my new retirement visa copied. Why-oh-why can’t they just copy the new visa at the Immigration Office, charge double the price if necessary? It would save so much effort on the applicant’s part. Grrrr . . .

I then attempted to sprint back to the Immigration Office before it closed for lunch. I made it back with 6 or so minutes to spare. My ticket for my Multiple Re-entry Permit indicated there were 50 people ahead of me! Oh my Lord! I should explain it was necessary to get the ticket before the office closed, otherwise had I waited until after lunch, a new lengthy queue of people arriving for the first time that day would form. So I wanted to avoid having to queue for a second time.

When I returned at 1:00pm, after lunch, I checked the electronic ticket display board and noted that there were only 38 people ahead of me. I estimated I had at least another 2 hour wait ahead of me. I was not called until 2:00pm. It took just a few minutes for the officer to look through my completed form TM8, with photo, supporting passport copies and pay 3,800 Baht. I then waited an hour and 25 minutes until 3:25pm before my passport was returned with the Multiple Re-Entry Permit.

I had been at the Immigration a total of 5 hours 9 minutes, compared with 2 hours 39 minutes the previous year, 2017.

But my bad day was not yet over. Outside, there was a queue of around 60 or more people queuing for taxis! There had been a thunderstorm and a huge downpour earlier in the afternoon and there was no line of taxis waiting. I got chatting with a very friendly American guy and his Thai wife. I said I was thinking about walking out of the Government compound and trying and find the main road. She advised against this action saying it was too far to walk.

And not for the first time did I scratch my head and wonder, why-oh-why had they placed this most important of government offices for foreigners in the middle of nowhere. A place where there are few taxis, a location so far from a Sky train station. A central location would have made more sense or at least a location near a Sky train station, or well serviced by taxis. I am sure if gaybutton was here, he would add it to his ‘I don’t get it’ list.

An occasional taxi did arrive, but the drivers refused to go to the nearest Sky train station, Mo Chit. The Thai lady told me that the immigration staff said no more taxis would arrive, so they were arranging shuttle buses to take us out of the gigantic government compound. The first shuttle-bus arrived at 3:55pm. I was glad I had not attempted to walk, it seemed quite a distance to the main road.

Once outside, I accompanied the Thai and American couple as I had absolutely no idea where I was or in which direction I was heading. Oh my God! To make matters worse, no taxis were stopping, they were all engaged.

I spoke with another two American guys; we spoke about sharing a taxi, i.e. if we could find one!

The Thai lady recommended I take a mini bus to the nearest Sky train station. I did not even know they were public mini-van buses, they looked like ordinary mini-vans and the signage on the window was in Thai script, which I cannot read. A mini-bus stopped, the two Americans boarded the bus, I went to join them, but the Thai lady stopped me, saying the bus did not go to Mo Chit. The Americans were already aboard.

Another mini-bus arrived and the very helpful Thai lady told me that bus would take me to Mo Chit. She spoke with the driver and asked him to let me off at BTS Mo Chit. I was amazed when the driver said the cost was a very low 25 Baht! I arrived at Mo Chit Sky train station at 4:25pm and got back to my condo around 5:20pm. Without the Thai lady’s helpful assistance, God alone knows what I would have done.

But what an exhausting day! Next year, I really must leave earlier at between 6:30 and 6:45am. I would absolutely hate to have to repeat the experience I had this year.

Again, apologies for the length of this post, I hope, at least, that some readers found it helpful.

[dinagam]

I'm not trying to be helpful here, Jellybean, but didn't you carry a cellphone for keeping your bearing on Google maps and trying out the services of Uber or Grab taxi?
Nice little writing though. I could feel the intensity.

[francois]

Jellybean, I suggest the next time you use an agent and skip all the grief. That is what I do.

[Jellybean]

I'm not trying to be helpful here, Jellybean, but didn't you carry a cellphone for keeping your bearing on Google maps and trying out the services of Uber or Grab taxi?
Nice little writing though. I could feel the intensity.

You must be a psychic, dinagam (see below).

What I did not say in my very long post was that after I was handed my passport at 3:25pm, I then went to the toilet. After the toilet I re-entered the Immigration Office and picked up blank forms TM7 and TM8 for use next year. So by the time I joined the taxi queue it must have been around 3:31pm or 3:32pm and bear in mind I was absolutely exhausted by this time.

It took some time to realise that the few taxis that were arriving were refusing to drive to the Sky train station at Mo Chit. And remember there had been a thunderstorm while I had been waiting to obtain my Multiple Re-Entry permit, so there had been some flooding, which had an effect on the supply of taxis.

And this is where your psychic powers come into play, dinagam, when it looked like I might be waiting some time, I did actually check Google maps on my mobile phone (cell phone), although I could not see it too well, since I did not have my reading glasses on. It was at that point I mentioned to the Thai lady that I might head for the main road and see if I could find a taxi there. As I said in my report, she advised against it, saying it was too far to walk.

And another thing I did not mention, it was at this point my thoughts turned to the SGT posts made by a former member, bruce-nyc, when he advocated the use of Uber taxis in Bangkok. At the time, I dismissed the idea as unnecessary in a place like Bangkok, where I could normally find a taxi within a few minutes. Now I had a change of mind and thought having the Uber app’ would have been very useful in the situation I found myself in. I therefore plan to have the Uber app’ in place by next year as a Plan ‘B’ option and, hopefully, understand the process of ordering a taxi, as I am not familiar with the process.

Another point I omitted in my report was that I noticed there were a few motorcycle taxis turning up. I thought about getting a motorbike out of the government compound and hail a taxi on the main road. I told the American guy what I intended doing and asked him to hold my space in the queue. I then walked across to the area where the motorcycles were pulling up. There was a small queue. I had hardly been there a few minutes when the friendly Thai lady approached me from the main taxi queue and told me the there would be no more taxis and the immigration staff were arranging a shuttle-bus to take us to the perimeter of the government compound. So I rejoined the main taxi queue. Shortly thereafter the shuttle-bus arrived and we boarded, although many in the queue did not realise what was happening.

This whole process took no longer than say, 23 or 24 minutes.

And once outside I simply followed the American and his Thai wife as we turned right outside the compound and climbed the stairs to the pedestrian bridge that crossed the main road, so that we were heading in the right direction. Almost everyone on the bus followed us.

Happily, I was in good hands with the Thai lady, who spoke excellent English, and did not wait too long before she arranged for me to board the mini-bus. I was at BTS Mo Chit an hour after obtaining my passport.

Grab taxi is a business I have not heard of, so will have to do some research, but assume it is similar to Uber. And I have no idea how quickly an Uber taxi would be available in such an out of the way place as the Immigration Office in Chaeng Wattana. I suspect only a member who has used Uber to pick them up at the Immigration Office can answer that question.

Lastly, the best solution for next year, as I see it, is to ensure I arrive at the Immigration Office 30-45 minutes before it opens and hopefully have both my visas sorted before the office closes at 12:00pm. This is what I did in 2017 and 2016, the two years for which I have been maintaining detailed records.


Jellybean, I suggest the next time you use an agent and skip all the grief. That is what I do.

You may have noticed in my preamble, in post #36, françois, that I did have a chat with an agent, the same one my Australian friend in Bangkok uses. I did say I thought 6,000 Baht was expensive, but I also think it is extortionate considering the two visas cost 5,700 Baht. And, besides, the applicant still has to be present. The only benefit for me would be a shorter waiting time and does not, in my view, justify paying a further 6,000 Baht on top of the 5,700 Baht visa charges.

Completing the paperwork is no problem, it is all very straightforward. It is the time taken that I found was a problem this year. I did notice that there was fewer staff on duty at the Multiple Re-Entry Permit section than I recall seeing in previous years.

And you are in the enviable position in Pattaya, françois, of having an immigration office situated in a location that is easily accessible by public transport. And, as you know, I had to use the Pattaya Immigration Office on one occasion, to carry out my 90 day sign-in. It was nowhere near as busy as the Bangkok office and I took a motorcycle taxi there and either took another motorcycle taxi back to my hotel or took a sxng-tєєo, I can’t remember now, but I found it very easy to return to my hotel.

As I said to, dinagam above, the solution is to arrive at the immigration office significantly earlier than I did this year and have an Uber app’ on my ‘phone in case there is a dearth of taxis. Then again, I may find myself living in Pattaya this time next year and all will be plain sailing.

;)

[bkkguy]

Grab taxi is a business I have not heard of, so will have to do some research, but assume it is similar to Uber. And I have no idea how quickly an Uber taxi would be available in such an out of the way place as the Immigration Office in Chaeng Wattana. I suspect only a member who has used Uber to pick them up at the Immigration Office can answer that question.

I haven't used Uber but I have used Grab in similar circumstances at the Immigration Office in Chaeng Wattana - late afternoon, no taxis arriving etc

the app showed many cars available and they allocated the closest who unfortunately was on the other side of Chaeng Wattana road and it took him 20 minutes in traffic to get to the nearest U-turn and get back and into the complex and down to Immigration but he did keep in contact to assure me he was coming and the rest of the taxi crowd were jealous when he turned up and I got in leaving them stranded with still no other taxis arriving

and like you I am usually not in a good mood after wasting/spending hours at the Immigration Office and I find the difference in price v's the difference in comfort and convenience for a taxi to Mor Chit then Skytrain to SIlom then a walk v's a taxi straight to my place in the Silom area makes the Skytrain option hard to justify - particularly as it is only once a year for the extension, but "your mileage may vary" and I am sure some here would not agree with this laziness and flagrant waste of money, there are after all non-air-con bus options that will cost less than 30 Baht for what could be a 3 hour journey during afternoon peak hour - at my age personally I just couldn't be bothered!

Grab, like Uber, offers many types of service, but one of their options actually uses licensed Bangkok taxis with licensed drivers if that consideration is important to you, and their corporate philosophy does appear to be slightly less toxic - but again "your mileage may vary" with that

bkkguy

[frequent]

I simply hire a limo and keep the driver waiting. USD90 for a once-a-year expense

[francois]

When I applied for an O visa and later retirement extension at Chaengwattan that is what I did.
Hired a car, had him wait, and took care of business. It did cost about 4000+ TB. Now just use an agent.

[Jellybean]

I haven't used Uber but I have used Grab in similar circumstances at the Immigration Office in Chaeng Wattana - late afternoon, no taxis arriving etc

the app showed many cars available and they allocated the closest who unfortunately was on the other side of Chaeng Wattana road and it took him 20 minutes in traffic to get to the nearest U-turn and get back and into the complex and down to Immigration but he did keep in contact to assure me he was coming and the rest of the taxi crowd were jealous when he turned up and I got in leaving them stranded with still no other taxis arriving

and like you I am usually not in a good mood after wasting/spending hours at the Immigration Office and I find the difference in price v's the difference in comfort and convenience for a taxi to Mor Chit then Skytrain to SIlom then a walk v's a taxi straight to my place in the Silom area makes the Skytrain option hard to justify - particularly as it is only once a year for the extension, but "your mileage may vary" and I am sure some here would not agree with this laziness and flagrant waste of money, there are after all non-air-con bus options that will cost less than 30 Baht for what could be a 3 hour journey during afternoon peak hour - at my age personally I just couldn't be bothered!

Grab, like Uber, offers many types of service, but one of their options actually uses licensed Bangkok taxis with licensed drivers if that consideration is important to you, and their corporate philosophy does appear to be slightly less toxic - but again "your mileage may vary" with that

bkkguy

Thank you bkkguy for posting about your experience of GrabTaxi. The information was very helpful and much appreciated. I shall have a look at GrabTaxi and Uber and download one or the other, or possibly both, apps.

Adopting a belt and braces approach seems entirely sensible to me, given my stressful experience at Chaeng Wattana this year.


I simply hire a limo and keep the driver waiting. USD90 for a once-a-year expense

Wow! I am impressed, frequent. A limo waiting to pick you up, was it a yellow Rolls Royce by any chance?

But do you think the driver, in my case, would have been content to wait over 5 hours to receive 2,818 Baht (US$90)? And, was that a standard hire charge, or did your chauffeur charge by the hour?


When I applied for an O visa and later retirement extension at Chaengwattan that is what I did.
Hired a car, had him wait, and took care of business. It did cost about 4000+ TB. Now just use an agent.

And françois, spending 4,000 Baht on a limo, in addition to forking out 6,000 Baht on agent’s fees. My, how the other half live.

And not for the first time do I feel like the poor relation on this forum.

;)

[francois]

.

And françois, spending 4,000 Baht on a limo, in addition to forking out 6,000 Baht on agent’s fees. My, how the other half live.

;)

It wasn't a limo, just a car!

No easy transportation from Pattaya to Chaengwattna.

The visa agent was a more recent happening. But then, when you are a millionaire, money is not a problem:mocking_mini:.

[Up2U]

After reading and having friends tell me the horror stories of Chaeng Wattana, I am happy with dealing at Pattaya Immigration. 90 day reporting, 5 minutes, retirement extension 30 minutes, and transferring stamps which I did two weeks ago was about 30 minutes because of a surprisingly long que. Pick up the passport the next day, no waiting. The stumbling block can be the American embassy since they reduced the number of Pattaya visits. If you are ignorant and don't do your homework (have documents, pictures, etc.) then any waits or problems are self-inflicted.

[Jellybean]

. . . If you are ignorant and don't do your homework (have documents, pictures, etc.) then any waits or problems are self-inflicted.

Let me make it absolutely clear, that at no time were any of the delays in my January 2018 and March 2018 visits to Chaeng Wattana, down to me having incorrectly completed the various forms or having incorrect paperwork.

All my documents were in perfect order. As described in my various detailed posts, once called by the immigration officers, I spent no more than a few minutes while they examined my documents and carried out their stamping, recording and other duties. The delays, as far as I could tell, were due to the sheer number of people present, or maybe due to not having sufficient staff on duty to cope with the high volume of applicants.

Of course, the process in Pattaya will be considerably quicker. And, as I mentioned at post #1 . . .


. . . It was never like this when I lived in Hua Hin and dealt with the immigration office there . . .

Then, on a good day, I could renew visa and permit in 20-25 minutes!

[frequent]

After reading and having friends tell me the horror stories of Chaeng Wattana, I am happy with dealing at Pattaya Immigration. 90 day reporting, 5 minutes, retirement extension 30 minutes, and transferring stamps which I did two weeks ago was about 30 minutes because of a surprisingly long que. Pick up the passport the next day, no waiting. The stumbling block can be the American embassy since they reduced the number of Pattaya visits. If you are ignorant and don't do your homework (have documents, pictures, etc.) then any waits or problems are self-inflicted.You don’t report online?!

[Up2U]

You don’t report online?!

I don't personally because some people here have had difficulties with the system and 90 day reporting here is so simple. Last visit took me two minutes.

The system here at Pattaya Immigration is well organized. First step is your documentation is given a cursory review then you are given a three digit number. The first digit tells you what desk number you go to. Desk 3 for 90 day reports, Desk 9 for retirement extensions, Desk? for residence certificates etc. and the desk numbers, que numbers are visually displayed and publicly announced. If you need additional copies there is a machine with attendant (2 baht/copy) within the office or you can step outside as use one of the vendors. From what I'm told the system at Chaeng Wattana is different.

[frequent]

I don't personally because some people here have had difficulties with the system and 90 day reporting here is so simple. Last visit took me two minutes.How long did it take for you to travel from your room to the office and back?

[christianpfc]

Sorry to hear about your (jellybean) troubles at the Immigration office. I had several extensions of stay there, and all went smooth. I used to arrive after lunch break, or during lunch lunch break to have lunch there, and always got out with extension before they close.

There are more options to get to/from Government complex:
They have a free shuttle service to main road (I did walk a few times, it's about 2 km),
[edit: less than 1.5 km to bus stop on main road]
there is a bus station that has buses to i.a. Victory Monument close (less than 500 m) from Government complex.
Details here: http://christianpfc.blogspot.tw/2014/12/bus-station-at-government-center.html

One can assume that when normal taxis are all occupied, Grab and Uber have only few vacancies as well. So you still would have to wait a while, but at least you know that someone is coming to pick you up.

[Up2U]

How long did it take for you to travel from your room to the office and back?

25 minutes

[Jellybean]

25 minutes

The member, to whom you replied, Up2U, is currently an unperson, so it may be sometime before you receive a response, if any.

For further, limited, information, all I am permitted to do, at the present time, is direct you to post #1 in the, I'm glad you seem happy, topic, in the Feedback forum.

Remember, Mum's the word and loose lips sink ships and all that.

Be seeing you!

;)

[francois]

Latest report, posted today, is the 90 reporting will be eliminated and extension of stay can be done on-line with payment made via a credit card. So all the delays will be eliminated.

[DaveyJonesLocker]

Latest report, posted today, is the 90 reporting will be eliminated and extension of stay can be done on-line with payment made via a credit card. So all the delays will be eliminated.

Where is this posted?

[Jellybean]

Latest report, posted today, is the 90 reporting will be eliminated and extension of stay can be done on-line with payment made via a credit card. So all the delays will be eliminated.

If only, françois, if only . . .

;)

[francois]

Where is this posted?

Can't recall where I read it.

[bkkguy]

Where is this posted?

more to the point is WHEN was this posted

good one francois - almost as good as the one a few years ago that 90 reports and extensions could be done at 7/11

bkkguy

[francois]

Mea culpa, Francois