polehawk wrote:a GOOD experience at Nong Khai Immigration today when I went in to do a 90 day report. The senior official looked through my passport, spotted my non-immigrant O-A multi-entry visa that was issued at Washington DC Embassy last August 29th and remarked, "This is a good one!". I thought to myself, "Oh oh, what now?". An image of being force marched to the Friendship Bridge and put on one of the transit buses emerged. It turned out he meant it in a positive manner. He explained to another couple with us, my wife and I (in Thai and English) that all I needed to do was cross the border, re-enter Thailand and I would get a new 1-year stamp but it had to be done BEFORE August 28th.

I was already making some plans to go to Bangkok Immigration in SEPTEMBER to get an extension since we arrived in Thailand on Sept 21 last year. I got an income statement last Friday when the US Consulate made a visit and was preparing to transfer funds. Now it appears that I may not have to make these arrangements until next year. I'll believe it when they put the visa stamp in my passport but will file a followup when I make my trip to Laos and back if anyone's interested?

Author Message
Gdhm
Senior Member



Joined: 13 November 2005
Location: Thailand
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 588
Topic: Retirement Visa Renewal - Korat
Posted: 09 August 2007 at 20:31
Hi All,

Just back from Korat. Arrived during the lunch break and had to wait 20 mins for service, but the staff (there) allowed my wife and I to sit and wait in their office and were friendly.

All staff were friendly and some smiley as well. The admin section had a radio on in the background. Overall atmosphere was calm and relaxing.

My wife and I were there 40 mins processing our forms. The officer was also processing a re-entry permit for me and was not racing as there were no queues and we we attended immediately the clock showed 1pm.

The Officer used 68 baht to the GBP to calculate my pension income so my Bank letter was needed to top it up slightly (68.4 would have been OK without it). I had the bank letter anyway so I offered rather than try to get just my pension accepted.

Only one photocopy of anything was needed. The bank letter was kept (but I had 2 originals), the Embassy Original letter was handed back to me.

All photocopies were stamped by the officer I suspect "saying that the copies were identical to the originals sited by him" (logical).

As I am married and was with my wife he asked to see her ID and House registration Book (Tabien Baan) We were prepared for that possibility (May I suggest other married members ask their wives to take these two documents with them as both Korat AND Udon Thani wanted site of them. Indeed Udon Thani last year also asked to see our original marriage Certificate -but the Korat Office today did not ask for that). I did not have photocopies of my wife's ID and Tabien Baan (silly me forgot). No problem the officer took my wife to the office photocopier and that was that.


The Officer told me when I had to COME for my 90 reporting. I said I intended to post it as usual. He advised that Postal 90 reporting sometimes gets lost or does not reach them or does not get the highest of priority but said it is OK to post. He recommended 10 days prior to expiry date of the last 90 reporting slip and chase keep an eye if not received back when expected.

We travelled the Korat from KKC by air con coach (as suggested by members on another thread). Price for ticket on the day was 200 baht each with meal. We came back with 407 (air con) without meal 160 baht each.

It was obvious booking with a Company like NCA in advance for the full KKC to BKK price of 380 ish is unnecessary (unless a peak holiday time etc.) as there are several different company buses making the trip (via Korat) many times a day for around 160 to 200 baht (one way) and there certainly were spare seats all the way (even allowing for pickups on route.

All in all a happy, relaxed, painless experience and I was asked for what I considered was the correct official requirements. No medical certificate was asked for (some are reporting other offices are still asking for this despite the change in Oct 2006 that it not now required.

I intend to continue with Korat.

I was asked by 2 people (out of curiosity only) why I was not using Nong Khai and I told them that I had only ever visited Udon Thani (closed last month) and that Korat is only 14 kms farther away form KKC than Nong Khai and easier to find and get to from the bus station. There was NO concern at my being at the Korat Office.

Now I can relax for 10 months or so

Regards to all, and good luck to upcoming Visa seekers - hope as painless as for me.

Dave

Had Udon been open I would have gone there mistakenly thinking it was my best option as it was 2 hours travelling and Korat is hours 45 mins, Nong Khai by train was about 3 hours.

Udon closing however, did me a big favour as Korat was a much more pleasant experience AND Udon was only open 2 days a week and closed in the afternoon which meant, as my wife and I do not have a car, we had to stay at a hotel overnight.

Korat was done EASILY in one day. (reasonable hours too). Left bus station 9am KKC (arrived 12:15pm) got on bus 4pm, home by 7pm (could have left Korat 2:30pm home by 5:30pm but visited Big C first).

As others have reported Korat Immigration Office is 5 mins walk from the Korat bus station entrance along the main road (walk right from bus station entrance, past hospital entrance and then you see the Assumption school and a big sign NorthEast Immigration office on a white building (all same side or road as bus station) - could not be easier to find and get to.

Regards, Dave