I think we shall just have to agree to disagree on this. ;-)

I'll make three points and then drop it: 1) the only other alternative available to me is an expensive and time-consuming trip to Bangkok to visit the US Embassy which is never an enjoyable experience for me and pay $50 for an affidavit that can be used in lieu of the Certificate of Residence. 2) Unlike the 90 Day Report which is required, the Certificate of Residence is an extra service that I don't believe should be free, although I recognize that there's no officially established charge. 3) There are immigration offices that do not provide the Certificate of Residence, ones that provide a free one that you must wait weeks to get, and ones that charge 500 baht for expedited service if you want one while you wait.

I'm OK with you not paying for the Certificate of Residence, and from your own experience immigration is OK with you not paying for it. What I'm not OK with is making a big fuss about it, as some media organizations are wont to do, such that Phuket Immigration stops the status quo and adopts one of the Certificate of Residence policies mentioned in 3), and I end up having to do 1). Paying 300 baht as requested satisfies my concern in 2) and makes it less likely that 3) happens and I end up having to do 1).

@Jeff *********

If you have done a TM-30 there and are current on your 90-Day Reports, that's it. Otherwise, you will likely have to do a TM-30 and have evidence of where you're staying, like a lease for instance.

@Alessandro *********

If you have an International Driver's Permit (which is a translation of your driver's license into English and other languages) you don't need to get translations.

@Frédéric ****************

I am extremely cheap (or as I like to say, frugal) but even I would blanch at driving all the way to Phang Nga or Krabi to save 300 baht. ;-)

I would find it strange that Phang Nga or Krabi would allow me to get a driver's license with my Phuket address on it.

No, I don't know all immigration offices, but I do know the one I use. ;-) People don't seem to be comprehending that Phuket Land Transport Office insists on the Certificate of Residence from immigration or a letter from your embassy. Getting a letter from my embassy would cost on the order of 20 times as much as a Certificate of Residence and would waste an entire day of my time if not more than a day. When I can save 20 times what I would otherwise have to pay, I call that a bargain.

@Frédéric ****************

Indeed. There are pluses and minuses to living in Phuket and I'm going to put this one down as a minus. ;-)

I'd be even happier if Phuket Land Transport Office would accept as confirmation of my address any one or combination of the following that I do have in lieu of the Certificate of Residence:

1. Yellow house registration book

2. Thai driver's license

3. Pink ID card

4. Utility bill from CAT for internet service

5. Utility bill from PEA for electricity

6. Green motorcycle registration book

All of which show my name and address. But they don't. ;-)

@Frédéric ****************

When the only alternative is paying 50 USD (1,561 baht) plus the cost to travel to Bangkok from Phuket (airfare), hotel, appointment at US Embassy, a complete waste of at least one day. Yes, 300 baht is a bargain. I'm well aware of immigration offices in Thailand that do not provide the Certificate of Residence at all, or provide a free one if you don't mind waiting 1-3 weeks for it, or charge you 500 baht for expedited (while you wait) service. So given that, yes I don't mind paying 300 baht for a CofR while I wait. I don't expect it to be free. I wish there was an official charge for the CofR but TIT, there isn't. You don't have to pay the 300 baht if you don't want to (you will most likely still get your CofR). Me, I'm happy to pay for one every 5-6 years when I renew my driver's license.

Given that Phuket Land Transport Office only accepts Certificate of Residence from immigration or letter from Embassy ($50 + cost of trip to Bangkok), 300 baht seems like a bargain to me.

@Steven *******************

Yes, I've had both, along with yellow house registration book, CAT bill with my name and address, PEA electricity bill with name and address, and they still wanted to see a Certificate of Residence from immigration. Happy if it worked for you. ;-)