Citylife interviewed the Superintendent of Chiang Mai Immigration in the February 2013 issue in which we asked him whether our readers could do anything to support the Immigration office’s struggle for more funds so that it could run more efficiently. Here was his response:

“Yes, they can send letters to the Prime Minister’s office. That would be best. And don’t worry about visa repercussions. No one has the time or the energy to chase after a letter writer! I am retiring in two years so I really don’t care what they think of me. What can they do? I want to achieve something before I retire. I can sit here and wait for retirement or I can do something for my country. I want to reach a goal and I want to be effective. I want my legacy to be the man who cleaned up and improved Chiang Mai immigration; that would be a great exit for me. So I am going to give interviews to the media, I am going to keep lobbying the government, I want to ask your readers to get active and I want help from Bangkok. If we don’t start counting at one, we will never get to 10. At this rate we won’t have a new office for another 10 years! I have no power, I need the media, I need more voices behind me. The more ideas and suggestions we have to send to Bangkok the better. If you don’t get into the ring, how can you become a champion?”

So, please join our petition so that the Chiang Mai Immigration Office can become more efficient for all. We hope that we get significant numbers, and when we do, Citylife will make sure that the Prime Minister’s office hears from you.

The full interview can be read here: http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=3724

NOTE: If you reside in Chiang Mai, you can select your city under "Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand."