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American Living in Thailand - well done accounts and diary

Comprehensive Info - very extensive - Voice of Thailand...

Thai-Blogs - blogger bonanza, BUtiful site, a MUST C... stories and photos about life and culture in Thailand...

Paknam Web Network - Superb! - nothing can top Thai-Blogs, but this is good. Extensive list of top Thai websites

Chiang Mai Expats Club - Next door to me, LOTS of friendly, helpful Thais... Below is from online Xpat Newsletter

Update from Chiang Mai Immigration office from January 15th, 2009:

Foreigners who are residing in the area of Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lampang, who wish to submit their application for a long term extension, for example, marriage to a Thai spouse, retirement, education or business purposes, are able to submit their application at the Chiang Mai Immigration office. However, foreigners who are not residing in one of these three provinces and wish to apply for the extension must contact the nearest local immigration office in the area of their residence, for example applicants who are residing in Chiang Rai or Payao can submit their extension application to the Immigration office in Mae Sai, or Chiang Khong.

For more information contact immigration call center at 1178 or the Chiang Mai Immigration Office at 053-277-510.

Clarification to other readers for extension of tourist visas. There are two groups of tourists;

1. Tourists with a tourist visa.

This group of tourists have applied and obtained a tourist visa from the Thai consulate/embassy before arriving in Thailand. The period of their stay varies with the type of visa they applied for; for example, they may have a double entry visa good for 60 days total or a single entry good for 30 days. If they wish to extend a visa, they may apply for the extension at the local immigration office and receive 30 days on each extension. Extension fee is 1,900 THB 

2. Tourists without a tourist visa

This group of tourist had no visa before entering Thailand; however, they will be granted permission to stay under what is called a visa-on-arrival if they are entering the country by land. For example, if arriving from Mae Sai or Nong Khai they will be granted 15 days, but if arriving by air, permission will be granted to stay up to 30 days or more, depending on the agreement between the Thai government and the country of citizenship. However, if they wish to extend their stay at the immigration office, they will get only 7 days extension, or they could do another border run and get 15 days on the way back. An unlimited number of border run extension is allowed.

3. Retirement visa

How much money do I need to show for the extension?
All applicants with a retirement visa who wish to apply for an extension and entered the Kingdom after 1995 must show financial proof that they:
 1. Receive an income of not less than 65,000 THB a month. The income must be certified by their consulate or embassy in Thailand, or
 2. Savings in a bank in Thailand with a minimum deposit of not less than 800,000 THB. (the applicant must prove the money has been deposit in an account not less than 90 days before the application date)
 3. Show the combination of income and saving in Thai Bank, not less than 800,000 THB a year
However, applicants who wish to change from tourist visa to a Non-Immigrant-O for retirement are not required to have any money on deposit in a bank in Thailand for the period of 60 days before the day the application is submitted.

For the Press: Applicants who wish to extend their stay to work as the press in Thailand must have received a letter of certification from the local Public Relation Department or the office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.