My Recent Experience At Suan Phlu

[jackbox]

Sorry it took me longer than expected to post this but I have been busy this week. Here is my recent experience at Suan Phlu.

Last week I went back to Suan Phlu and got my first one year extension. Below I will detail what forms I brought and what the immigration officer kept. At the end I will give my overall impression of the officer's conduct, etc. During the interview we were constantly interrupted by people coming back with family photos, maps to residence in Thai, etc. I also saw two people whom the officer said their photo attached to the application was not acceptable (I am not sure of the reasons) and the officer told them to go across the street for new photos. If there were not these constant interruptions I think the interview and application acceptance would have taken half the time or less. Based on posts on this forum I was very well prepared and had everything, and then some, of what what needed to support the application. We arrived there after 9 a.m. and I think the wait was about 90 minutes for our turn to be called. When we got to the desk the officer still had another couple at their desk. The officer said something to my wife and my wife told me to give them everything I brought (application, supporting docs, photos, etc).

The documents I brought are as follows:

1. TM 7 application filled out with photo attached. In photo I am wearing a suit.

2. Copy (grayscale) of passport. I only gave the officer the info page, page with visa and page with current entry stamp. I also gave them a copy of both sides of my departure card. I brought a copy of all used pages in my passport (based on people on this forum telling me all pages were required) but the officer did not ask for them and I did not offer them. I was asked to sign the four pages they wanted.

3. Letter from U.S.A. embassy confirming income over 40k baht a month.

4. Copy of all used pages from bankbook with letter from my branch confirming balance.

5. Copy of wife’s ID. They also asked to see my wife’s original ID card. My wife had to sign copy.

6. Copy of wife’s family book. Pages had to be signed. Even though we obtained the original book from her father the immigration officer did not ask to see the original book. The signed copy satisfied them.

7. Copy of marriage registration and the two page abstract. My wife was asked to sign copies. I don’t remember if they asked me to sign them as well. I had the originals but they did not ask to see them.

8. Map to residence from Google Maps in Thai. One map showed Suan Phlu and route to our residence from the Immigration office. The other map was a closer up view of just the area where our residence is showing the major streets in the area. The officer seemed perplexed by having such an accurate map. I was asked to show where my residence was and explained that it was where I had already put the pink dot. I also pointed out the major streets with names in Thai. No more questions were asked about my maps.

9. Photos. I brought photos to cover every contingency they could possibly want. I brought two photos of me and wife outside building (one long shot and one closeup), photos of us together both in Thailand and abroad, photos of us inside the apartment and photos or our clothes in closet and drying outside. The officer leafed through the photos and took the long shot of us outside building and three shots of us together (two are of us outside Thailand but you cannot tell that from the photos). None of the photos kept was inside our residence. I was given back the photos of wedding, inside the apartment and the clothes. I was surprised that they did not keep a photo of the clothes as this was one of the examples taped to the officer’s desk. The officer next to us kept eight photos of the couple next to us (four similar to ours and then various photos of their clothes and inside their residence). I guess everything is case by case based on who accepts your application. Bring a lot and you should have no problems.

10. Copy of apartment lease. The officer immediately returned this and had no interest in it whatsoever.

The officer went over the application and seemed to be taking what documents were needed from a mental checklist. The officer was cordial to me and tried to speak a little English as needed. At one point I was asked to go sit away from my wife and the officer and they questioned my wife alone for about twenty minutes. My wife told me they asked her many questions about why she married me, did she trust me to take care of her, what I did to earn money, how much I made, etc. They also asked her if we made love the night before and how often we made love, etc. I believe my wife was uncomfortable with the scope of the questioning by the officer.

Just about the time we were finishing up all the employees started getting up and leaving. At this point the paperwork needed to be checked by a supervisor but none were to be found. The officer told us to wait until one o’clock. Just after this the officer noticed one supervisor came back to their desk. We were told to go over to that desk quickly. One couple beat us to the supervisor’s desk and we waited for our turn. The supervisor checked over the paperwork to make sure it was complete, asked me a few questions (one regarding income and what country I was from) and then initialed every page of every document copy that we submitted (supervisor did not initial original back letter or embassy letter). The supervisor handed us the file back and told us to go back to the officer who accepted our application. We went back to the officer’s desk but they had gone to lunch also. We sat down and waited for the officer to return. After about ten minutes another immigration officer sawing us waiting there. My wife was asked if the file in our hands had been checked by a supervisor. My wife told this officer it was and they told us to just leave the file on the officer’s desk and we could go.

After were were finished my wife told me something that made me worry a bit. After giving the officer all the paperwork, my wife was told that since my income was from outside Thailand that the officer thought I could not get the extension. My wife was told by the officer that on the first extension application the income must be from inside Thailand but on subsequent extensions income from outside Thailand was acceptable. The officer asked my wife to tell me this in English. My wife told the officer her English was not good enough and that the officer should explain this to me. After that the officer dropped the issue and never said a word to me about it. Around this time the officer did go over to a supervisor's desk and speak with them; so maybe they were checking and were told that income from outside Thailand was acceptable. I was unaware of this until after my application had been accepted. Since the supervisor who checked the paperwork saw the income verification from the embassy and even commented that my income was from the U.S.A. I was hoping I was okay on this issue but it did put a small doubt in my mind for 30 days. I am thinking maybe they made this comment to my wife because my application was so complete, thanks to this forum, and they had nothing to request I go get and come back. I think the officers enjoy the small power trip of making people go get more docs, photos, etc. and since they could not do this with me made a comment about maybe not being able to grant the extension just to show who was in charge of the process. Other than this comment the officer was professional throughout the process. In addition to the under consideration stamp, a small piece of paper was stapled into my passport informing me of the 90 day reporting rule and that my extension application was considered my first report. On this paper was stamped the date my next report was due, which was exactly 90 days from the date I submitted my extension application.

After the obligatory 30 day wait I went back to Suan Phlu without my wife. I went to the desk where you get your response. I paper clipped a number to my passport and placed it in the box. A summer intern (cute female of course) took my passport and looked in several books until she found my case. She then went into the back and came out with a file. She handed this off to someone else and I waited. About 20 minutes later I saw an immigration officer stamping in my passport and initialing things. This officer then placed my passport and file into a pile for another officer to review. I was about ten passports down in the pile. When this officer got to my passport they looked over every page of the application again, opened my passport, initialed the stamps and called my number. After a one hour or so wait, I was then the proud and happy recipient of a one year extension of stay. The extension was exactly one year from the date my current entry was ending (not the date I entered).

[antant]

6. Copy of wife's family book. Pages had to be signed. Even though we obtained the original book from her father the immigration officer did not ask to see the original book. The signed copy satisfied them.

Congratulations Jackbox! Well done and thanks for sharing.

What's a Family Book?? Does every family in Thailand have a family book?

[lopburi3]

It is the blue home register that every Thai needs to be listed on. Often children will remain on parents long after leaving the family home.

[RAZZELL]

6. Copy of wife's family book. Pages had to be signed. Even though we obtained the original book from her father the immigration officer did not ask to see the original book. The signed copy satisfied them.

Congratulations Jackbox! Well done and thanks for sharing.

Great post

RAZZ

[antant]

It is the blue home register that every Thai needs to be listed on. Often children will remain on parents long after leaving the family home.

Right... never seen one before in my country. Thailand is full of surprises, eh?

[Big A]

So...........did you give the missus one the night before or not?

Only joking!! Well done.

[TerryLH]

"7. Copy of marriage registration and the two page abstract."

What is the two page abstract?

Thanks

[jackbox]

When we registered our marriage at Bangrak (District of Love) they gave us two official documents (two certified copies of both documents - one for both the husband and the wife). One was the marriage registration certificate which is a very colorful, very nice looking document basically saying the names of both parties in Thai before being married and that the marriage was registered in Bangrak District. The other one is actually the more important of the two. It is a two page document with the terms of the marriage contract. In Thai it states that no person declared any personal assets, etc. and is signed by the offical registering the marriage and two official witnesses. It also has a clause that changed my wife's name. This was the only document that her local Amphoe wanted to change her name legally and issue her a new ID card. Also the Amphoe official wanted to see the original document. She checked the copy against the original and gave the original back. She kept a copy of this document. I don't know what the official name in Thai is so I refer to it as the abstract of marriage.

"7. Copy of marriage registration and the two page abstract."

What is the two page abstract?

Thanks

[bradda88]

What exactly is the Letter from U.S.A. embassy confirming income over 40k baht a month? How do you go about this?How does the embassy confirm your income?

thanx,

bradda88

[lopburi3]

For US it is a form that you will fill in your bio data and income, pay notary fee, and return to sign under oath that the information is true. At other Embassies it may be a similar procedures but will often also involve showing some kind of supporting evidence. As Immigration can always ask for supporting evidence even if you have the letter you should always have such paperwork with you when making extension applications but it is seldom required.

[TerryLH]

Thanks for the info about the abstract.

I didn't get anything like that, nor has immigration ever asked for it from me.

I guess I was married too long ago. They probably didn't have it then.

Terry

[worldfun]

very good description thank you.

I only got 1 question since I'm about to file for initial extension of stay based on marriage as well also with foreign income (Singapore - anyone got experiences how to get letter from that embassy?), but at the same time I also need to apply for initial work permit since I'm being relocated from singapore to bkk.

Now since extension application processing takes 30days at what time would it be useful to apply work permit?

Ideally I should have WP 1.april, but I guess I won't make that one & my non imm visa expires 3.may.

Any recommendations of which order to apply - I understand my visa can not expire during WP application process then it'll become invalid???

Thanks

[lopburi3]

I believe they had it - I did sign such a form in Thai - but no copy was provided as it was filed at office.

[naka]

That's a lot of hoops to jump through ... Too young for retirement visa ?

I assume you are joking about the sex thing as hopefully no official could be that boorish.

Naka.

[jackbox]

That's a lot of hoops to jump through ... Too young for retirement visa ?

I assume you are joking about the sex thing as hopefully no official could be that boorish.

Naka.

Nope, not a joke. They asked very intimate questions to my wife when they asked me to step away.

[worldfun]

Got another question actually - is there no requirement for medical certificate (doctor's certificate) for visa extension? or is that for work permit???

[Lite Beer]

Got another question actually - is there no requirement for medical certificate (doctor's certificate) for visa extension? or is that for work permit???

Not needed.

[Maestro]

It depends. With the new rules that took effect on 1 October 2006 the medical certificate is no longer required but possibly some immigration officers do not yet know this fact. Even the official website of the Immigration Bureau has not yet been updated:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?ac...st&id=54034

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Maestro

[frenchFARANGbkk]

Sorry it took me longer than expected to post this but I have been busy this week. Here is my recent experience at Suan Phlu.

The officer went over the application and seemed to be taking what documents were needed from a mental checklist. The officer was cordial to me and tried to speak a little English as needed. At one point I was asked to go sit away from my wife and the officer and they questioned my wife alone for about twenty minutes. My wife told me they asked her many questions about why she married me, did she trust me to take care of her, what I did to earn money, how much I made, etc. They also asked her if we made love the night before and how often we made love, etc. I believe my wife was uncomfortable with the scope of the questioning by the officer.

Private questions and photos are way too much!

How can you accept the officer ask private questions as these ones to your wife, and does he dare to do that because she is from any Isaan province? I would like to see his face when he would get the reply he deserves from my Chinese girfriend...

Has everybody been asked these questions? I don't believe and I hope not.

And do you have to go through the full process every year? Seems more convenient to get unlimited tourists visa from Laos.... without investigation into my life...

[jackbox]

The justification for personal questions is that they are attempting to substantiate that the marriage is real and not just for a Visa. I understand that the USA becomes even more personal in their interviews than Thailand does. Based on responses, reaction, etc. they try to determine if the marital relationship is a genuine one, and not for "convenience" only. Yes, you have to do the entire process every year. If you leave the country for a new Visa then the time you are in Thailand does not count towards applying for permanent residency or citizenship. So if one wants to establish permanent residency or eventually become a Thai citizen getting an extension every year and going through this process is necessary. Plus two days a year sure beats the ritual of border runs.

[venturalaw]

The justification for personal questions is that they are attempting to substantiate that the marriage is real and not just for a Visa. I understand that the USA becomes even more personal in their interviews than Thailand does. Based on responses, reaction, etc. they try to determine if the marital relationship is a genuine one, and not for "convenience" only. Yes, you have to do the entire process every year. If you leave the country for a new Visa then the time you are in Thailand does not count towards applying for permanent residency or citizenship. So if one wants to establish permanent residency or eventually become a Thai citizen getting an extension every year and going through this process is necessary. Plus two days a year sure beats the ritual of border runs.

Well done. Thank you very much for sharing.

[skydiver77]

Can confirm about the 'jig jig' question at Suan Phlu.

Except that I was not requested to sit apart from my wife.

The male officer conducting the interview, asked her if I could speak Thai. She said no.

This is what came next;

'Was your husband out late drinking last night.'

'Was he at home last night.'

'Did he sleep with you last night.'

'Did you have sexual activity with him.'

Much of this stuff went over my head, but I got the general drift of things.

I had to wait until later, before confirming it with her.

I wanted to pulverise the little runt, but of course they have you by the goolies......

[frenchFARANGbkk]

The justification for personal questions is that they are attempting to substantiate that the marriage is real and not just for a Visa. I understand that the USA becomes even more personal in their interviews than Thailand does. Based on responses, reaction, etc. they try to determine if the marital relationship is a genuine one, and not for "convenience" only. Yes, you have to do the entire process every year. If you leave the country for a new Visa then the time you are in Thailand does not count towards applying for permanent residency or citizenship. So if one wants to establish permanent residency or eventually become a Thai citizen getting an extension every year and going through this process is necessary. Plus two days a year sure beats the ritual of border runs.

Hi,

I could understand if it was to get a citizenship but I still think that it is way too much to just get a visa.

And knowing Thai perspicacity I'm not sure it can help them to understand if you are cheating them or not...

also maybe because I come from a country where just asking you about your religion wouldn't be acceptable.

Thanks for your explanation.

[PhiPhi]

Jackbox,

Just a quick thank you for a clear, comprehensive, well written post with some very useful information. Since I'm under 50 my supporting Thai dependent visa extension will not be possible this year and I will be going for the marrage/family extension so good to know this info.

I don't remember getting anything but the actual marrage certificate, my wife had to change her name as a separate application at her local amphur, does anybody know if this is a recent development?

PhiPhi

[soundman]

Thanx for the report.

I can understand the immigration officers trying to verify a legit marriage, however, if they had asked my wife such a direct sexual question six years ago when we did our initial one year extension, she probably would have sued them on the grounds of causing excessive public shame & embarrassment.

Off to Suan Phlu to do my annual this week.

Cheers,

Soundman.

[Spacer]

Excellent post.

I have a question concerning income. I work and earn all my income outside of Thailand. I do not have a work permit. When I an my wife went to get my one year multiple entry non imm O visa extended, they said I needed a work permit and a thai tax receipt. I had the letter from the american embassy and letter from our bank. but they still would not give the extension.

This was at mapthaput. Should I try another immigration office?

[jackbox]

Excellent post.

I have a question concerning income. I work and earn all my income outside of Thailand. I do not have a work permit. When I an my wife went to get my one year multiple entry non imm O visa extended, they said I needed a work permit and a thai tax receipt. I had the letter from the american embassy and letter from our bank. but they still would not give the extension.

This was at mapthaput. Should I try another immigration office?

Yes, go to Suan Phlu (off of Sathorn Road) in Bangkok. I only had a letter from the U.S.A. Embassy also with no work permit or Thai income. The officer at first told my wife I could not get the extension but never told me in English. They accepted the application and I got the extension with no problems whatsoever. I also bought new shoes and slacks for the appointment so I came across as professional. With Thai government officials appearance is everything. Good luck.

[Maestro]

...Should I try another immigration office?

Yes. The people working at that immigration office do not seem to know how to apply the requirement for “proof of other income from authority concerned” under paragraph 7.17 of the Royal Thai Police Order No. 606/2549 as applicable in your case. At every other immigration office it is the embassy letter, which you have.

--

Maestro

[soundman]

Update of one year extension "thai wife" or Non Imm "O" at Suan Phlu & I am posting here cos I'm too lazy to open my own thread.

Queue: Arrived just before 10am, 35 in front of me, saw officer at 2.00pm, finished and out by 3.00pm (one quick photo copy run included. )

Docs for 6th consecutive one year extension.

Copy pages from passport (same 90 day report + original extension stamp page).

Wife ID & tabien bahn.

Marriage Cert.

90 day report receipt.

Drivers License.

TM 7.

Map.

Photos.

Child's Birth Certificates.

Performed an experiment:

Put all income down coming from wife.

P.N.D. 01 - 3 months

P.N.D. 91 - last year

Nung seu rup rorng (Limited Partnership papers)

All photocopies, no originals & no-one in immigration batted an eyelid or asked any questions whatsoever.

Also had to sign a statement that basically said if the true reasons for your your extension were not the reasons you have stated, the extension may be revoked.

Apart from the lengthy time process, no dramas at all.

Cheers,

Soundman.

[Maestro]

…All photocopies, no originals & no-one in immigration batted an eyelid or asked any questions whatsoever.

Surely, you had to bring the original wife, hadn’t you?

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Maestro