@Geraldine *************

I haven’t been to Chiang Mai since 1992, maybe I should spend a few weeks up there. It’s probably changed a little 😊

@Todd ********

The queue reminded me of the Tutankhamen exhibition at the British Museum in 1972. I queued with my mum for four hour in the midsummer sun. At that age I could deal with it.

@Kool ******

Penang looks like a good option. I want to go there anyway. 😁🙏

@Jim ******

It’s normal government stuff I guess. Add in a language barrier and you’ve got the perfect storm. I did some immigration stuff for a Ukrainian teenager in the U.K. same stuff. £130 for an application and then it’s refused because I ticked the box that says she’s a refugee. I was expected to know that somebody fleeing a war in their home town is only a refugee if they’re not Ukrainian. 🤷‍♂️

@Jamie *****

I’ve been to the local immigration office and there is nobody to answer a question, just a 3-4 hour queue. I was expecting that but I don’t really want to queue that long to get an answer that they don’t issue that kind of visa at that location.

@Yuen ********

That’s a good idea to talk to my embassy. They will give me a hard time because they’re British 😂 But it’s certainly worth a try. 🙏

@Geraldine *************

Do you remember which office you went to? I went to the big government building in Lak Si, they sent me to IT Square and they sent me back to Lak Si. 😂

@Jim ******

The ‘retirement visa’ is an extension of the Non-O visa. The Non-O visa is a 90 day visa that allows you to open a bank account. There are few requirement for the 90 Day visa. Most of the requirements are for the extension. I have all of those things. Money, Insurance, criminal record check, condo contract etc.

All of the agents I’ve contacted want a lot of money and tell me that I don’t need this or that document because they will sort it out. It seems that that’s what they charge for because otherwise the procedure is quite simple and they can’t make a living out of guiding people through that.

@Graham *****

Thank you for your reply. No, I need the 90 day Non-O visa to open a bank account. I’m in Thailand on a tourist visa. These visas are normally obtained before leaving your country of origin but I know that they are available for people already in Thailand. I’ve been travelling for a year now and don’t really want to go back to the U.K. just for a visa.

What’s going on with the tiny leg on the table? Is he a contortionist or is there a missing child somewhere.