Can a Visa Agency Expedite the Issuance of a Certificate of Residence in Chiang Mai?

I had exactly the same experience when requesting a residence certificate at the IO in Chiang Mai recently.. went to the 2nd floor as directed.. dealt with on a 1:1 basis by a very friendly lady.. was asked to pay 500 bht for it and was told it would arrive in the post 4-weeks later.. she even gave me the exact date it would arrive.. asked if there was an express service to expedite the process and offered to pay for it.. since i needed it urgently to open a bank account.. but was informed that there wasn't and i'd simply have to wait.. when i queried why the process took so long she was unable to offer an explanation and just said that was the processing time.. the letter/certificate arrived on the stated day and was delivered by courier.. not a day earlier or a day later.. this delay cost me the best part of a month seasoning my bank deposit and ate into my visa stamp.. i believe they knew this and contrived to ensure I'd have to pay for another extension before being able to submit my non-o visa application.. it seems other people have been offered an express service for the same 500 bht.. or weren't charged for the standard waiting time.. so it would seem to suggest that individual immigration officers can do what they want.. and may even vary their response dependent upon mood or the day of the week.. very frustrating if you're an expat thats arrived from a western country.. where govt agencies adopt a uniform practice across all branches and staff are not at liberty to do as they please!

Across from CM immigration is a place that will do your Residency Permit in 24hrs. 1000 baht though.....

lucky your not in Nonthaburi. Went yesterday to get it and was told they no longer issue them and that the TM30 will suffice due to an agreement with DLT. Went to DLT and they said go to immigration.

strange it should take so long - I recently went to immi Udon Thani - waited around 30 minutes then said I want a certificate of residence to open another bank account - waited around 20 minutes and got it (500 baht)

No need to renew the license before it expires, just because you meanwhile have a different passport number. May not even be possible - extension of drivers license only possible 3 month before expiry, I believe.

Does anybody know if I can get an extension as soon as I arrive? It is my first time in Thailand. 

take 0-3h . . .. at immigration 300b

Can get same day usually from immigration 300bht I paid last month it lasts for 30 days

Just wait until renewal. Why go through the extra drama?

The residence cert lasts for 30 days

Yes

Usually in Chiang Mai you can pay 500₿ at the residence certificate desk to pickup your certificate the next day.

Try to go early as they may have already accepted too many "express" certificates if you go later.

Also if there's a long line sometimes they will not offer the express.

Finally if there's another immigration officer standing in the room sometimes they will not offer it as well because it may be someone that would report them for accepting the 500₿.

Usually the easiest way to do it is have all of your paperwork ready and just hand it over with the 500₿ all at once so nothing looks unusual. Then ask them if you can pick it up tomorrow.

If they say no, check if any of the things I mentioned above seem to be the case at that time and possibly either wait until less people in line or the officer leaves the room and try again, or try again a different day.