A new wrinkle with my 90 day extension

I went up to Nong Khai to do my 90 day notification and ran into something a little different. They noticed that all my yearly visa extensions had been done in Pattaya so they took my passport and made a copy of the picture page, original visa, latest extension, and entry card. There was no hassle and I only had to give them 10 baht for the copies but I'd never had that happen before. Even when I did it in Rayong. I did the last 90 day notice at AEK Udon by simply giving them the form.

While there I asked about a couple of things for my upcoming extension. They said the original of last year's income letter from the embassy was OK. I asked for a Proof of Residence Form and couldn't get them to understand what I was talking about. They said all I needed for the extension was the passport copies, letter from the embassy, letter from the bank, and a copy of every page of the bank book. but not something that said where I lived. But they were unhappy when I told them I brought money over every 3 or 4 months instead of every month. They said they'd have to look at it when I did my extension to see if it was there was a problem.

So, I'm not sure where I'll do my extension this year. It'd be less effort to do it here but I'm not sure I'll pass their particular requirements even though I meet Pattaya's. And what if I do get past them here this year but have trouble next year and decide to do it at Pattaya or Bangkok. Will I have to make promises like Val to do it there forever?

Sigh. Always something.

Proof of Residence Form.

I just wanted to re-register a vehicle

Just a letter that says Mr xxxx lives here, stamped and signed - end of story

Except as we now know those delightful people in our local office here (Udon and NK) don't do anything the easy way.

Step 1 - tried AEK Udon- failed
Step 2 - tried Nong Khai - failed
Step 3 - Give up and worry about it some other time

Although I have tried to comprehend and abide by the law and guidelines published - they still ask me to jump through 10 other hoops and its actually not possible to comply with their requests so I can go no further (even though I have tried)

Done this in other provinces and it was so simple and took just a few minutes.

Showing your Thai drivers licence with the new address presumably did not help or does it mean you can only change the driving licence after getting a form from immigration

I even had utility bills in my name to prove where i live but they have their own 'guidelines' and then some.......

Yes you need a proof of residency letter for your driving licence.

Paul, I managed to get my Thai Driving Licences in Udon, by presenting a Tabian Bahn (yellow house registration book) with my name in it. I didn't get or have a letter from Immigration.

But its a different department - not done at the licencing centre - this one is done on Dusadee Road in the city centre. Its a registration of a motorbike - nothing to do with my driving licence.

The mean man at AEK made me a proof of residence, at the same time I made the 90 days notification. Gf showed him her tabien bahn and told him I lived with her.

The #@#$#$ asked 1k baht, whilst at Nong Khai it's free....

Then I went to the Land and Transportation registration of Nong Han to obtain both drivers licenses (car and motorbike) costed me an other 1k baht scam money to get it done.

Not a good sign of things to come. I dont ever remember paying for that letter. But. it has been a long time since I had to get one. Maybe things changed

Immigration in Bangkok has never asked me for any proof of residence for any reason. From discussion on this website seems to indicate that the requirement for proof of address for reasons related to visas is an invention of local immigration officials.

Its too bad that the local immigration authority is so capricious.

No.
The proof of residence letter is required by other organisations (government departments) for such things as obtaining a driving licence or registering a motor vehicle. This 'letter' can only be obtained from the immigration department and who, in turn will not issue this letter until you have offered some sort of proof of where you are living.
It is clearly stated on the immigration website and is a standard form to fill in to request a 'proof of residence' letter. On the form you tick the reason why you want the letter (ie. motor vehicle registration or purchase, obtain a Thai driving licence etc.....), give them the request form with your proof of where you live and they 'should' write you out a letter to state/confirm where you live.

When I gave in my request form and ticked the box Reason:"To register a vehicle'
He looked at the form, looked at me like I was a piece of crap and told me he wasn't going to accept it - because (amongst other things) it was downloaded from the official Thai immigration website and was not their own (Nong Khai office) version which was exactly the same - just printed and written crudely on cheap non-official paper, by some girl, no doubt on work experience!
And it goes on...............

Outrageous.
Absolutely outrageous.

And frustrating.

The guy is a wucking fanker who is full of himself.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is just kissing his ar.se.

rickfarang wrote:Outrageous.
Absolutely outrageous.

And frustrating.

You said it all
and what can we do about it - absolutely nothing !

I know its wrong to refer back to your home country and how they do things but.... It was THE LAW that everyone had to be treated the same no matter who or where they came from and should that person make a complaint against you it was possible that it could have serious repocussions.
Yes TIT and we are stuck with things here (and I can't get my motorbike registered !!!)
I told them that if I was stopped by the police I would refer them to him and he should pay my fine

fremmel wrote:I went up to Nong Khai to do my 90 day notification and ran into something a little different. They noticed that all my yearly visa extensions had been done in Pattaya so they took my passport and made a copy of the picture page, original visa, latest extension, and entry card. There was no hassle and I only had to give them 10 baht for the copies...

I just re-read the OP. This bit with copying the passport and making the passport holder pay for the copies strikes me as a bit strange. Never heard of it before. Maybe just another case of somebody making up the rules as they go along.


Yep, always something, fremmel. Perhaps if you and enough othres join the ranks of us extending in Bangkok, perhaps Bangkok will take notice. And maybe that would have a positive effect.

It might be better to extend via mail when possible, thus avoiding contact with the local officials all together. Just a thought.

It is common practice for Thai Government departments to charge for photo copies. I have had to pay at Immigration and the licence dept and also once at the Amphur