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“Last minute” motorists inundate Transportation Office
Many wait until last week to apply for permanent driving licenses
Nuttanee Thaveephol
Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transportation Office last
week was inundated with hordes of people demanding permanent driving
licenses before the new driving license regulations went into effect.
Beginning in August, drivers can no longer receive lifetime licenses.
 Hordes
of people wait to register for their permanent driving licenses, and this
just to check their documents. They needed to return the next day to receive
their driving licenses.
A Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transportation officer
informed Chiangmai Mail that more than 800 people came into the
office last week alone to apply for a permanent driving license.
“Sunday, July 27, was the cutoff date for motorists to
register for a permanent license. People passing the transportation training
course and receiving their licenses after this period will be required to
renew their license every three years,” the officer said.
The long queue at the Land Transportation Office meant
all these “last minute motorists” had to wait at least 45 minutes to
register. It also affected people visiting the office for other purposes,
and many gave up and went home to try another day rather than wait.
Patcharin Kampang, a customer who came to apply for an
international driving license, said that she did not have enough time to
waste. She only needed to have her personal documents checked, and decided
to return the next week.
Each person, on average, spent an hour completing the
process. But take heart, now that this last minute rush is over, the number
of people visiting the office, and therefore the amount of time each needs
to spend there, should return to normal.
Beware of floods and landslides
Department of Mineral Resources and Meteorological
Center warn of heavy rains in late August
Nuttanee Thaveephol
The Department of Mineral Resources and Meteorological
Center are keeping an eye on a tropical cyclone in the Western North Pacific
Ocean that may move towards the South China Sea, causing the Southwest
Monsoon over Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand to strengthen, and an
increase in rainfall.
There are high probabilities that some tropical storms
will move near or pass northeastern or northern Thailand, so the community
should follow the weather news carefully, a spokesperson at the Northern
Meteorological Center said.
The Department of Mineral Resources has also issued a
“watch” for people living in risky areas, such as watershed areas, near
streams, and near steep mountains, to particularly be wary of landslides and
forest floods. Northern provinces at risk include Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit,
Phayao, Chiang Rai, and nearby areas.
The middle of the rainy season brought a severe tropical
storm, “Koni”, to upper Vietnam and Laos, which resulted in very cloudy
skies and scattered showers this past week.
Tropical Typhoon “Imbudo” moved past Luzon,
Philippines, and the South China Sea, and continued to the eastern side of
lower China July 23-25, resulting in increased prevailing southwest monsoon
rainfall over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, with many isolated heavy to very
heavy rain and gusty winds.
For the month of August, the Northern Meteorological
Center expects normal levels of rain in the beginning, and increased levels
towards the end of the month. Many days this month will have mostly cloudy
skies, scattered to almost widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy
falls and very heavy falls on some days, maximum temperature 31-33ฐC,
minimum temperature 22-24ฐC, relative humidity 75-85%, rainfall
210-260 mm, southerly to southwest winds 8-18 km./hr. and 20-25 rainy days.
“During this time, people living in the heavy rain
areas in Thailand should be wary of flooding conditions and should proceed
with caution. Travelers who intend to visit Hainan, upper Vietnam, Hong Kong
and/or the Philippines should obtain updated weather information before
their journey,” a spokesperson at the Northern Meteorological Center said.
Railway improvements on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun route will be finalized in 8 months
Roadway will also be improved
Metinee Chaikuna
The governor of Lamphun announced that improvements to
the railway along the Chiang Mai-Lamphun route will be finished in 8 months.
Using an allocated budget of over 188 million baht, improvements in
passenger convenience will be made, and the possibility of accidents will be
decreased.
Governor Thawat Satiennam told Chiangmai Mail that the
project, which is one of the prime minister’s projects, is progressing
well.
Director of Public Works Department and Town and Country
planning Sawang Srisarkun promised that he would accelerate the project so
that it can be finished in 8 months, so that people would be able to use the
improved services as soon as possible.
The Chiang Mai–Lamphun road construction, next to the
train route, will also sport a bicycle lane, 2.50 meters wide. Work on the
overpass in and around the Northern Industrial Estate will start next year.
This heavily used area is a major accident spot, and it is expected that the
construction of an overpass will significantly reduce the accident rate.
APEC SMEs Business Forum to be held in Chiang Mai August 4-7
400 APEC executives expected to attend
The APEC SMEs Business Forum 2003 is scheduled for August
4-7 in Chiang Mai, with the theme, “Strengthening the APEC Entrepreneurial
Society”.
It is anticipated that the Business Forum will attract
about 400 executives from APEC member economies. The main objectives of this
Business Forum are to provide a platform for SME entrepreneurs to share
their views and experiences in order to cope with the rapid changing of the
world market, and to strengthen capacity building for SMEs within the APEC
region.
Any results and recommendations made by the Business
Forum will be subsequently reported to the APEC SMEs Ministerial Meeting.
In addition, the business matching service will be also
arranged upon request made by interested participants.
To obtain more information on the Business Forum, visit
the website www.apecsme-businessforum.com
5 million fish released into Mae Ping River
Fishery Office hopes to revitalize Mae Ping River
Supatatt Dangkrueng
Chiang Mai Provincial Fishery Office has launched a
project to release millions of fish into Mae Ping River in an initiative to
recover the river and it’s tributaries, and to encourage communities
located near the riverbanks to watch over their river of life.
Sompotch Tempium, administrative head of the Chiang Mai
Provincial Fishery Office, said the office recently released millions of
fish and aquatic animals into Mae Ping River in a combined effort by private
and public sectors. 3.7 million prawns and 1.3 million fish were released
into the Ping River from the pier in Hod District, Chiang Mai Province.
The event was publicized to help the community realize
just how important it is to preserve water resources. As such, the fishery
department wants to maintain a stable number of aquatic animals in the
natural environment, and aims to sustain a balance between fish caught and
fish left in the river.
Generally, Mae Ping fishermen catch around 28,000
kilograms of fish per day in the area between Chiang Dao District and Hod
District.
Fishermen and people living on the banks need to care for
the natural balance, and need to be informed of the ecological impacts if
the equation becomes unbalanced. When a discrepancy occurs, it is usually
due to local peoples’ lack of understanding. Therefore, the fishery office
has applied a strategy of establishing a community network to preserve
natural water resources and animals. Through this strategy, they hope people
will realize that the river must be preserved.
Uttaradit to Phrae highway to be widened
Two-lane highway will soon have 4 lanes
Nantanee Jedsadachaiyut
The Joint Public and Private Sectors Consultative
Committee (JPPC) agrees with a proposal to expand the highway between
Uttaradit and Phrae provinces from 2 lanes to 4 in order to provide more
convenient modes of communication and transportation.
The highway-widening project would cover an area about 50
km long, from Uttaradit Province to Denchai District in Phrae. Most of the
rest of the highway running all the way from Bangkok to Chiang Rai is
already 4-lanes, except for this dangerous portion of the roadway.
Thai Chamber of Commerce committee member, Suwit
Wongworakul said that a group of representatives from 4 northern province
chambers of commerce proposed the highway extension project. Phrae, Nan,
Phayao, and Chiang Rai chambers coordinated the proposal.
However, the committee still needs to submit their plans
to the Highways Department for consideration and approval of a construction
budget.
The two-lane section of the highway from Uttaradit to
Denchai is dangerous because it contains steep slopes, dangerous curves and
some sections are badly in need of repair.
Suwit said that if the 4-lane expansion is approved and
finished, the route would become much safer for travel. “Accidents and
corresponding loss of life would be reduced,” he said.
He also said that it would improve tourism to the area,
as it would be safer and more convenient for tourists to get there.
Members of the corresponding chambers of commerce said
that the highway-widening would increase economic development in the area.
The government has already approved a budget for constructing a road from
Tambon Huay Kron in Nan Province to Pak Beng in Laos in order to improve
economic conditions between the 2 countries and the northern region of
Thailand.
Committee members feel that China, as an economic partner
of Thailand, might change their main transportation route from the Gulf of
Thailand to this new roadway, as it would shorten the distance traveled by
800-900 km.
The Highways Department has hired a company to study the
impacts of the highways construction project, and on August 7, a project
seminar will be arranged at the Agricultural and Technology College in Phrae.
Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Thailand to be enhanced
MOU signed to promote business relationships
Nantanee Jedsadachaiyut
A significant business trip from Chiang Mai to Chittagong
City in Bangladesh, led by Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantiphat, was
considered a great success, as a signing ceremony was held to establish the
Joint Chiang Mai - Chittagong Chambers of Commerce and Industrial
Federation.
Governor Suwat and 66 eager participants from northern
region government and private sectors, including the Department of Export
Promotion, Northern Center, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Region 1,
Economic Investment Center, Board of Investment (BOI), Chambers of Commerce
from the upper northern region, Chiang Mai Tourist Business Association, and
Thai Airways International visited Chittagong from July 16-20.
The trip had been arranged to create economic and social
relations to promote business and tourism cooperation between Chittagong and
Chiang Mai. Many feel this will help realize the government’s policy on
promoting Chiang Mai as the region’s aviation hub for the north.
Rachan Weeraphan, president of the Chamber of Commerce,
Region 9 and the Committee on Joint Quadrangle Economic Development and
Cooperation, said that the party was warmly welcomed upon arrival to the
Chittagong airport by ministers of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Tourism,
as well as high-ranking officials from both Dhaka and Chittagong.
“From this trip, we now know the potentiality of
Chittagong, and that entrepreneurs from northern Thailand will be able to
enhance economic partnerships with businesspeople there, especially those
involved in trade and tourism. ... Some business sectors in Bangladesh need
investment from other countries in areas such as construction, business,
hotel, and fisheries,” said Rachan.
However, at present, some of the problems that effect
business have not been solved; for example, fruit exports from Thailand to
Chittagong have been stymied by Bangladesh’s high import taxes and
departure taxes. Private sectors plan to propose solutions to these problems
to the governments for further talks between the two countries.
A foreign affairs official from Bangladesh said that the
two business communities should be urged to take a more pro-active approach
in fulfilling the existing economic potential.
To create a concrete cooperation for growth, development,
and promotion of bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Thailand, the
signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the Chittagong
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce and
Federation of Thai Industries was organized to institute the Joint Chiang
Mai-Chittagong Chambers of Commerce and Industrial Federations.
Our longans have to be chemical free before export
Official test kits to be used
Nuttanee Thaveephol
Longan producers have been advised to use test kits for
their products to show that the longans do not contain banned chemical
residues. Export stickers must show that this has been done.
 Surapoj
Nimanon, head of Chiang Mai Provincial Agriculture Office demonstrates how
to use the test kit.
Surapoj Nimanon, head of Chiang Mai Provincial
Agriculture Office, stated that all the packages that are to be delivered to
other countries have to be checked by the Department of Agricultural.
At the beginning of the year, China banned all Thai
longan imports due to toxic residues found in some products.
Surapoj said that 500 groups in Chiang Mai and 100 groups
in Lamphun will be established as longan product development groups. There
must be 2 representatives from each group participating in a toxic substance
examination training course, and they will also receive test kits for their
groups. Only after the products are checked can the groups attach guarantee
stickers on every package.
“It is imperative that 100% of the products must be
examined before being exported, but only 10% of all packages will be
randomly examined and checked,” noted Surapoj.
The Provincial Agriculture Office said that at first the
groups will receive free solution and test kits, but would have to buy
refills for the next time, at a price of 300 baht per 10 samples, and 800
baht for 30 samples.
Surapoj said that longan fruit harvesting this year is
down by about 30-40% in Chiang Mai, and 40-50% in Lamphun, because gardeners
still use chemical substances and try to harvest half-ripe longans to sell
out of season. However, to harvest during an inappropriate period can affect
the long-term production and the quality.
Phrae businesses to band together to compete with international mega-store
Local government officials to train them how
Nantanee Jedsadachaiyut
It’s inevitable - an international “mega-store”
will soon be built in Phrae, and local commerce officials are encouraging
owners of smaller businesses to band together so that they might compete and
ultimately survive.
Phrae Chamber of Commerce, Phrae Municipality, and the
Office of Commercial Affairs are spearheading the movement, and plan to
organize training courses and seminars for local business entrepreneurs to
help them compete with this, as yet, unnamed international corporation.
Minister of commerce secretary, Dr. Tossaporn Sereerak on
July 21 presided over the opening ceremony of the first training program,
arranged by the Phrae Chamber of Commerce and Phrae Municipality and held at
Mae Yom Palace Hotel in Phrae.
Officials hope to organize small local entrepreneurs into
what they are calling the Entrepreneurs Potentiality Development Program, to
improve business relations amongst them, as well as increase their chance of
competing with the international company that plans to establish a mega
store in Phrae.
“The training program is aimed at helping the local
business sector become stronger and confident enough to compete with this
overseas entrepreneur,” said Dr. Tossaporn.
According to this program, more than 100 participants
would have a chance to receive more information and gain a better
understanding of the commercial situation in this ever-changing world, which
would encourage and support them to run their appropriate business
strategies in order to compete at international franchise standards.
Dr. Tossaporn Sereerak also said that, due to free-trade
competition regulations, it wasn’t likely that the establishment of the
mega store would be banned, even though many smaller storeowners disagree
with the concept. “Therefore, local businessmen should work hard together
to stay in business,” he concluded.
THAI promoting Chiang Mai as regional aviation hub
To increase flights to neighboring countries
Nuttanee Thaveephol
Thai Airways International Public Company, Ltd. (THAI)
plans to improve Chiang Mai’s position as regional aviation hub by
creating more traveling needs and increasing international charter flights
originating in Chiang Mai.
 Veerapong
Kranlert, station manager of THAI, announced plans for developing Chiang Mai
as the region’s aviation hub.
According to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s policy
on developing Chiang Mai as the aviation hub for the region, THAI, in
cooperation with government and private sectors, is finding new ways to
create more traveling needs. Part of their plan is to focus on specialized
tourism target groups, including health, medication, trade and industry,
agricultural products, and garments.
Veerapong Kranlert, THAI’s Chiang Mai branch station
manager said that THAI would improve services and increase flights during
the 2003-2004 winter season, starting in October this year. The flights
being increased include Bangkok - Hong Kong - Taipei - Hong Kong - Chiang
Mai - Bangkok to 3 flights a week. THAI will also begin flights from Chiang
Mai to nearby cities outside Thailand, such as Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and
Yangon.
“The company is surveying the possibilities of
establishing a regional budget airline for both domestic and international
flights. There has also been negotiations with allied domestic airlines to
consider establishing code-share agreements or creating joint services to
provide flights from Chiang Mai to neighboring countries,” said Veerapong.
Currently, THAI provides round trip flights from Chiang
Mai to Kunming twice a week, Chittagong three times a week, and is holding
talks with Bangladesh’s domestic airline to increase charter flights to
and from there as well.
Cross Thailand road rally scheduled for end of August
Touted as “Auto Venture - Unseen in Thailand”
Nantanee Jedsadachaiyut
The Tourism Authority of Thailand Northern Office Region
1 and 2 plan to launch a tourism campaign called “Auto Venture - Unseen in
Thailand” from Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai to Phuket this August
28-September 2.
Chalermsak Suranan, TAT Northern Office Region 1
director, notified Chiangmai Mail that the tourism campaign was created with
the intent to promote the 10th APEC Finance Ministers Meeting, which will be
held in Phuket this September.
Moreover, this “Unseen in Thailand” project is meant
to encourage Thai and foreign tourists to explore Thailand via what is being
hailed as a tourism route from northern to southern Thailand (Chiang Rai -
Chiang Mai - Phuket).
To join the trip, it will cost participants 8,000 baht
for 2 persons and a car. This rate will include accommodation, food, and
insurance for the entire trip. However, participants are responsible for
their vehicle maintenance and fuel.
For more information, contact Anan Sideng at the TAT
Northern Office Region 1, tel. 053 248 604, 053 248 607, or Ms. Yureephan
Sanjaiya or Mr. Chulaphan Sithiwong at TAT Northern Office Region 2, tel. 01
951-9924, 053 740 442.
Chiang Mai Gate Market to go ‘back to the future’
To be refurbished in old Lanna style
Metinee Chaikuna
The Chiang Mai Gate Market is currently undergoing
renovations, and when finished, the new and improved market should resemble
an ancient Lanna style marketplace.
The market, one of the oldest of its kind in Chiang Mai,
is being renovated under the Ministry of Public Health’s “Attractive
Market project” promotional campaign.
Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn said that the
Chiang Mai Gate Market has been set up for 30 years, and it is time its
standards were improved to national and international levels. Therefore, it
has been designated as the pilot project in this campaign. The major theme
of the upgrades will be to transform the market into a local style similar
to Lanna markets in the past.
The mayor went on to say that not only will the entire
inside of the building get a new look, but also the quality of the food
inside will be upgraded and checked regularly to ensure it is in line with
the Ministry of Public Health’s policy. Regular checks will include
calibrating scales, checking for chemical substances in the food and keeping
an eye on prices.
The mayor also said that the project is receiving
cooperation from all merchants at the market.
“This guarantees that the Chiang Mai Gate Market will
achieve a very good level of ‘Attractive Market’ standards,” the mayor
concluded.
The market development is being supported by the Chiang
Mai Provincial Agricultural Office, Chiang Mai Provincial Commerce Office,
Medical Science Center, Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office, Northern
Weight and Measure Center, and the Sanitation and Environmental Division of
Sriwichai Municipal District Municipality.
Sunday walking street to move
“Walking” down to Ratchadamnoen Road
Supatatt Dangkrueng
Chiang Mai’s Sunday walking street is going to be moved
a little bit further from Thapae Road, to Ratchadamnoen Road, due to the
ongoing water pipeline modifications and the work being done to bury
electric wire and telephone lines.
Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn said that the
government is giving financial support to the projects hiding electric
cables and telephone wires underground in the area of Thapae Road. In order
to accomplish this, of course some parts of the road have to be dug up, and
while this is being done, Chiang Mai Waterworks is going to take the
opportunity to modify expired pipelines along this area.
Therefore, the Sunday walking street has to temporarily
move to Ratchadamnoen Road until construction is completed. The first Sunday
in the new, temporary area will be Sunday, August 31.
The underground wire installation will be launched at the
end of August, and is due to be finished within 8 months, using a total
length of 1,055 meters of cables (from Nawarat Bridge to Thapae Gate).
However, before the new location for the walking street
is finalized, the municipality will arrange a public hearing to gain input
from residents to use in their feasibility study.
Three foreigners and 6 Thais arrested for drugs
Two Germans and a Scot among the arrested
Metinee Chaikuna
Two Germans, a Scot and 6 Thais were arrested last week
for using drugs during a party at a Chiang Mai hotel.
Police had earlier learned of the group from an
undercover agent, and that the group would hold their drug parties in
different hotels around Chiang Mai.
On July 22 police received a tip-off that the group had
congregated again for another party, and with a little investigative work,
police also found out where the party would be held.
At 1 a.m., a police team stormed the hotel, and with the
help of hotel management unlocked the door where the party was going on and
put a quick end to the festive part of the festivities.
Six Thais were arrested: Arisa Thewata, 30, Weerasak
Sathorn, 25, Duangduen Mahoi, 21, Sanran Janpen, 32, Ithipon Youngyen, 32,
and Neeraj Korana, 30. In addition, 3 foreigners were arrested, 2 Germans
and a Scot.
Police found 6 ya-ba pills on the bed and 3 tubes of
heroine, as well as 1 set of instruments for using drug, lying on the floor.
One of the Thais, Arisa, confessed that she rented the
room and persuaded her friends to use the drugs she bought from a woman
named Tukkata and a man named Boy (she did not know their full names).
She said the ya ba cost 200 baht per pill, and the
heroine 1,200 baht per bottle. She also said that they had been careful not
to hold their drug parties in the same place, and would move around the
city, renting different hotel rooms each time they wanted to get stoned.
Interior Ministry to “do whatever is necessary” to suppress dark influences in the north
Government will continue “war on drugs”
Supatatt Dangkrueng
Interior Minister Wan Muhammad Nor Matha said that the
government will do whatever is necessary to help suppress dark influences in
northern Thailand.
 Interior
Minister Wan Muhammad Nor Matha, who chaired a conference at Lotus Pang Suan
Kaew Hotel, said that the government will do whatever it takes to suppress
the country’s dark influence problem.
The Interior Minister said that the government already
has over 2,800 names on its blacklist, and he believes that with a bit more
investigation, the number could reach as high as 5,000.
His remarks were made during a conference he chaired last
week at Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel. Officials from the 8 northern provinces
of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Phrae and
Nan attended the conference.
MOI officials expect to be able to suppress all dark
influences and will begin with those suspected of operating within
government offices. Anyone who comes forward to fight against these dark
influences will receive full backing from the MOI, the interior minister
said.
In the northern region, Wan Muhammad Nor said that the
effort should be focused on four major problems: forestry trespassing, the
underground lottery, gunmen and human traffickers. He said officials will
need to work very hard to bring the situation under control within 2 months.
The interior minister also said that there are hopes that
this campaign will be helpful in winning the “war on drugs”. Over
400,000 drug addicts are currently undergoing treatment in rehabilitation
centers, and 90,000 drug dealers have surrendered to authorities.
However, the fight against drugs needs to continue, as
the northern region is regarded as a gateway and transit area for drug
trafficking to other parts of the country. “The drug problem and
influential figures problem are interrelated,” he added.
ONCB and CMU discuss narcotics
Academic network to assist in solving drug problems
Supatatt Dangkrueng
The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Northern
Region and Chiang Mai University (CMU) cooperated on creating a narcotics
academics network conference held at Chiang Mai Hills Hotel. It was hoped
that development of their academic network would assist in solving drug
problems.
Pittaya Jinawat, director of ONCB, northern region,
presided over the opening ceremony of the seminar, saying that drug
suppression has faced some difficulties through lack of the academic
information.
To assist, a center was opened to look at problems
associated with the drug industry. It was established on August 23, 2001,
and called the Northern Substance Abuse Center, which is located on the
second floor of Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai
University. Its framework covers investigation of the number of drug users
every three years and evaluating the drug situation and operational process
of drug suppression.
This seminar was participated in by 50 participants
including lecturers, academics, officers and authorities from Chiang Mai
University involved in the narcotics action project.
Burmese laborers arrested for illegal immigration into the country
Police still looking to break up smuggling network
Metinee Chaikuna
On July 23, the police in Kaengpantao village, Chiang Dao
district, arrested a group of aliens from Burma that had entered Thailand
illegally.
During a routine check, officers from the police box at
Kaengpantao village, Maena sub-district, Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, checked a
minibus running the Chiang Mai-Fang route, finding some suspicious looking
passengers inside. The suspects tried to escape from the police; however,
the fleet-footed officers were able to apprehend them.
During their interrogation, police learned that 8 of the
passengers were Burmese. The guilty confessed that they had been staying in
Thailand for 2 months, and that they entered Thailand after paying a Thai
agent 3,000-4,000 baht each.
They said they had been staying in an orange orchard in
Pangkwai village area, Fang district, and would be sent to work in Bangkok
at a later date. While working as orange workers, they received 30 baht
wages per day.
Apparently the agent booked them to go to the city by
minibus, and they had to change busses in the area next to the police box in
order to continue their trip to Bangkok.
They are all now incarcerated at the Chiang Dao police
station.
The police continue to investigate the case and hope to
break up a network which may be behind the smuggling of alien laborers.
Chiang Mai Immigration Office announces rise in visa fees imminent
Prices for all immigration services to rise under new immigration law
Phitsanu Thepthong
Pol Lt Col Kanokpun Roobkajorn, inspector at the Chiang
Mai Immigration Office told Chiangmai Mail that fees for visas, visa
extensions, re-entry permits, resident permits, in fact all immigration
services are scheduled to rise significantly on August 26.
 Chiang
Mai Immigration Office inspector, Pol Lt Col Kanokpun Roobkajorn said that
it looks likely that immigration service fees will nearly quadruple on
August 26.
“As soon as we receive official confirmation from
high-ranking officials, we will inform you immediately, so that you may
inform the public,” she said, adding that for over 10 years, the Thai
government has not increased service charges.
“The fees may be changed later on, and then an official
announcement from the Chiang Mai Immigration Office will forthcoming,” the
police inspector added.
Under the new regulations, the application fee for a visa
extension, for example, will nearly quadruple, going from the current 500
baht charge up to 1,900 baht. Although the increase at this level is not
insignificant, the nearly quadrupling of immigration service fees escalates
as the length of stay increases, and will hit especially hard people
applying for resident permits. The fee to submit a resident permit
application, currently 2,000 baht, will rise to 7,600 baht, and the fee for
receiving a residence permit book will go from 50,000 to 191,400 baht.
The increases are a result of a new Ministry of Interior
regulation, signed by Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha.
Immigration services most commonly used by foreign
visitors and residents will be provided under the following price structure:
Single entry transit visa 800 baht, single entry tourist visa 1,000 baht,
single entry non-immigrant visa 2,000 baht, multiple entry non-immigrant
visa (for use within one year) 5,000 baht, application for visa extension
1,900 baht, application for a single re-entry permit 1,000 baht, application
for a multiple re-entry permit 3,800 baht, application for a residence
permit 7,600 baht, approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of
residence book) 191,400 baht, approval of a residence permit (payable on
receipt of residence book) for a foreigner married to a Thai, the spouse of
a resident, and any of their children who have not reached the status of a
Thai juristic person (i.e., unmarried children aged below 20 years) 95,700
baht.
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