Charged 1000 baht for Residency Certificate at Chiang Mai Immigrations

[Hanouf]

After deciding to get my Thai driver's license, I went to the Chiang Mai Office of Immigrations at the Promenade Mall to get a residence certificate. I have a tendency to put a lot of faith and trust in authorities, especially while in their offices. After arriving at Immigrations, I asked a young women at the outside Immigrations counter were I needed to go to get the certificate. She directed me to room 7, on the first level.

 

After entering the room, I noticed a young man in an Immigrations uniform sitting behind a small dest at the end of the room and an older man sitting at a table towards the entrance. As I approached the young man about the certificate, he waved me on to the older man. This man took and reviewed my documents, and then demanded 1000 baht. Something did not feel right. The older man was not dressed in an Immigrations uniform, so I asked for a receipt, and he refused to give me one. After leaving the office, he called me about a mistake he had made and needed another copy of my passport visa that I text to him. 

 

Today, while reading this forum, I have discovered that I was not only over charged, but blatantly ripped off by this person. I have been coming to Thailand for more than 10 years, but in the short time I have been here on this trip, I have been short changed at family style tourist restaurants and by landlords; I have had taxi drivers demand eye popping fees for tips less then a few miles; have been quoted dramatically inflated prices almost on a daily bases; and have paid for expensive services that were either not, or poorly provided. I think something is changing, it may be me?

[darrendsd]

23 minutes ago, Hanouf said:

I have a tendency to put a lot of faith and trust in authorities, especially while in their offices.

You do realize that you are in Thailand?

 

24 minutes ago, Hanouf said:

I think something is changing, it may be me?

It's never changed, it's always been like this

[elviajero]

27 minutes ago, Hanouf said:

I think something is changing, it may be me?

It's you, nothing has changed. Some immigration officers will use any opportunity to rip off visitors. You were unlucky to come up against one of the bad ones. IMO, most IO's are honest/decent people.

[poanoi]

i bought a pen video recorder myself for the specific purpose of punishing police in SEA

[saakura]

4 minutes ago, poanoi said:

i bought a pen video recorder myself for the specific purpose of punishing police in SEA

And where do you post them? Havent seen any in this forum, defamation laws?

[elviajero]

8 minutes ago, poanoi said:

i bought a pen video recorder myself for the specific purpose of punishing police in SEA

That's going to end well, not! 

[poanoi]

8 minutes ago, saakura said:

And where do you post them? Havent seen any in this forum, defamation laws?

i went to report them in pnom pen, but got stopped at the gate coz i had shorts,

and i didnt have any jeans packed. (it was the cambodia border scam demanding 2000 baht instead of the proper $20 fee)

i then went on about uploading on youtube, but the movie format was old and

my energy ran out before i had gotten to convert it and got the hang on how to upload

[darrendsd]

I got ripped off by them twice in the same day last month, at Hua Hin Immigration, 500 Baht to transfer stamps into my new PP and 500 Baht for a residency letter, both should be free

 

I was pissed off for a couple of days but in reality what can you do? Sure you can kick up a fuss and refuse to pay but what happens when you need your next extension? I think we all know the answer to that one

[phuketrichard]

51 minutes ago, poanoi said:

i went to report them in pnom pen, but got stopped at the gate coz i had shorts,

and i didnt have any jeans packed. (it was the cambodia border scam demanding 2000 baht instead of the proper $20 fee)

i then went on about uploading on youtube, but the movie format was old and

my energy ran out before i had gotten to convert it and got the hang on how to upload

Hasn't  been $20 for almost 3 years

[worgeordie]

Now we know why the Yellow book is not excepted as proof of

residence.

regards worgeordie

[roo860]

Now we know why the Yellow book is not excepted as proof of
residence.
regards worgeordie

In Chiang Mai?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Rama]

Room 7 is for express service. if you want the residency certificate for free go upstairs to the imm office there. free but it takes 2 visits and about 3 weeks. if you get frustrated with the program, maybe you shouldn't live here.

[poanoi]

39 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

Hasn't  been $20 for almost 3 years

its 3-5 years since so you are right about that.

the scam still goes on  however, they demand fee in thai baht and wont take dollar which is the correct currency

[Lungstib]

Different day, different officer, different treatment and cost. With Chiang Mai probably being the most difficult office in Thailand ( they hate having to answer to Bangkok for everything) and the most crowded its all a chance. I try to suppress my bad feelings by just imagining 1000b as a tank of petrol.

[ravip]

2 hours ago, poanoi said:

i bought a pen video recorder myself for the specific purpose of punishing police in SEA

How many Policemen has you punished up to date?

[stud858]

International Driver Permit may be a good option for you if you've got your own country's licence. Look into it.  But for now good luck with your thai license. Patience is a virtue.

 

[stevenl]

37 minutes ago, stud858 said:

International Driver Permit may be a good option for you if you've got your own country's licence. Look into it.  But for now good luck with your thai license. Patience is a virtue.

 

If living here not a good idea, Thai license required.

[Wallander4]

Chiang Mai Immigration is the worst corrupted rats nest

[stud858]

46 minutes ago, Wallander4 said:

Chiang Mai Immigration is the worst corrupted rats nest

There are ombudsman type offices in Thailand. Google them down. Maybe pointless but consumer protection won't happen unless reported to other authorities. In 1 out of a thousand cases justice may be done.  I know 1 falang that has achieved the impossible.  His name is Super Falang and I adore him.

 

[OJAS]

15 hours ago, ravip said:

How many Policemen has you punished up to date?

Or, to put it another way, how many counts of "clerks" in the RTP has he conducted since he acquired his pen video recorder?

[monkfish]

Needed to do it a few months back for renew my 5 year DL's in BKK
and was given two options.
1. 400B with docs take ticket wait about 3-4 hours and takes 3-4 weeks but they send to home for free by EMS.
2. 1000B no docs takes about 10mins no ticket needed
Took option 2 coz my DL's had expired and didn't want to wait 4 weeks.
Last time about 5 years ago I got 2 i seem to remember it was very quick and cheep can't remember how much though.
 

[moe666]

17 hours ago, Rama said:

Room 7 is for express service. if you want the residency certificate for free go upstairs to the imm office there. free but it takes 2 visits and about 3 weeks. if you get frustrated with the program, maybe you shouldn't live here.

Go to your friendly US Embassy and pay 50 dollars. Never hear anyone complaining about the notary service at the US Embassy which is way over priced

[anon789561]

22 hours ago, poanoi said:

i bought a pen video recorder myself for the specific purpose of punishing police in SEA

i would strongly suggest you don't do that in thailand if you like living here. but hey, up to you

[stud858]

27 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

i would strongly suggest you don't do that in thailand if you like living here. but hey, up to you

I Agree. Pen video recorder is way too noticeable. Maybe a more discrete item but not the pen.

[Just Weird]

On ‎2‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 4:37 PM, poanoi said:

i bought a pen video recorder myself for the specific purpose of punishing police in SEA

Based on your subsequent posts that wasn't the clever idea that you seemed to be suggesting it was, then, was it?

[Russell17au]

January, Khon Kaen, 1000baht in and out in 5 minutes

[Moonlover]

Udon Thani 1 years ago. 1,000 THB for residence certificate.

 

Udon Thani 2 years ago 500 THB for stamp transfer to new passport.

 

Seems to be pretty standard fare.

 

Don't know whether it's right or not. You just get on with life don't you.

[asiaexpat]

18 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Udon Thani 1 years ago. 1,000 THB for residence certificate.

 

Udon Thani 2 years ago 500 THB for stamp transfer to new passport.

 

Seems to be pretty standard fare.

 

Don't know whether it's right or not. You just get on with life don't you.

I have gone to CW twice for transfer of stamps (data) from old passport to new passport and never charged a fee. Last time was last December. 

[jenny2017]

On 2/24/2018 at 4:37 PM, poanoi said:

i bought a pen video recorder myself for the specific purpose of punishing police in SEA

Good luck with that. 

[jenny2017]

21 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Udon Thani 1 years ago. 1,000 THB for residence certificate.

 

Udon Thani 2 years ago 500 THB for stamp transfer to new passport.

 

Seems to be pretty standard fare.

 

Don't know whether it's right or not. You just get on with life don't you.

  Life was never free.