I applied on Monday for the 90 Visa so I can get the extension for Retirement Visa.  Today, Wednesday I got a call from a Lady saying she was the immigration officer and wanted to meet with me at 2pm afternoon.  She showed up at 3 pm with another lady officer who was filling in a form, and another tag-along girl who seemed to me to be a trainee.

 

They interviewed me in the lobby. Took photos of my rental contract, and got the building manager to sign their document. Supposedly it was the building manager confirming she knows me, and I was a resident. Then they got me to sign, but it was all in Thai so I couldn’t understand anything. Then they took a photo of me in front of the building sign, went upstairs, took a photo of me in front of my door, then another photo of me in my apt sitting on my couch. All photos were accompanied by the Lady who called me in the first place. They took a photo of my passport, but rejected taking a photo of my bank account book after I showed her a copy of the Certified letter from my Embassy for retirement income.

 

They were all very polite and friendly, and at no point did I feel threatened. Seemed like a random check to me. In the evening I told my Girlfriend about it and she is worried that they might be trying to pull off a scam.

 

Does this all sound normal? Should I be worried?

Imm offices have come under some pressure to keep tabs on/know where the foreigners in their area of responsibility live.

 

Home visits have been the norm for extensions based on marriage for a while. Not as common for retirement but does happen, especially for initial extension.

 

Don't worry about it.  They just need to have documentation to show that they did their due diligence.

 

 

Thanks for that Sheryl.

 

That's what it seemed like at the time. Nice ladies, we chatted as much as my Thai allowed. It was like getting pulled over for extra inspection at the airport.

 

But then I started to worry. Should I prepare for a shake down? 

 

Now I know it's ok.

 

????

What province? Never a good idea to sign a form that's presented in a language you can't read. You should have asked to have time to get it translated and ask where to bring it later -- ie. gotten their business cards. Then go to see a visa agent or lawyer.

BKK (Yanawa). Yes it was lame of me. No business card even. My GF says I should get a copy of the building’s security camera recording. And you are correct, never sign something you can’t read, I should’ve gotten a translation, at least a photo form my phone! It all seemed so normal - that’s exactly how con-artists get you. But after all I think it’s all legit.  

 

I offered my bank info and she refused it, so that's a good sign. ????

51 minutes ago, NancyL said:

What province? Never a good idea to sign a form that's presented in a language you can't read. You should have asked to have time to get it translated and ask where to bring it later -- ie. gotten their business cards. Then go to see a visa agent or lawyer.

Thousands of expats sign forms in Thai in hundreds imm offices up and down the country almost daily (except weekends).

 

If we all demanded a translation every time the system would soon grind to a halt.

 

This is Thailand, just go with the flow.

There is a new boss at immigration and there have been ongoing issues of people falsely claiming to live in Bangkok in order to change visa status for extensions of stay and this proves you are not one of them so expect it is indeed legit and nothing to worry about. 

 

Believe all should be doubly advised to avoid using any gray methods or visa agents that might be using them. 

4 hours ago, Moonlover said:

If we all demanded a translation every time the system would soon grind to a halt. 

 

The forms I fill out are all in English.

 

It would be foolish for immigration to print their forms in Thai only for obvious reasons.

In situations that seem odd or extraordinary, whenever an official officer asks to see your Id, passport, or to sign documents, ask to see their Id, and take a photo of them, their Id and the documents with your cell phone, and also ask to see their badge and business card. Also ask for their reasons for the request, what is their office address, and their department or division. If they object to your photos, tell them you want to seek legal council before complying because you unaware of these requirements.

12 hours ago, Khun Roberto said:

Should I be worried?

 

Can't see why. Two ladies and a girl...

11 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Thousands of expats sign forms in Thai in hundreds imm offices up and down the country almost daily (except weekends).

 

If we all demanded a translation every time the system would soon grind to a halt.

 

This is Thailand, just go with the flow.

 

7 hours ago, ukrules said:

 

The forms I fill out are all in English.

 

It would be foolish for immigration to print their forms in Thai only for obvious reasons.

My comment was about signing forms, not completing them. For instance, when applying for a marriage extension, the applicant has to sign a declaration. That form is in Thai only. 

Did you apply in-person for the extension, or use an agent? 

While the Bangkok office would have no motive to block the extra-income from non-Bangkok resident agent-applicants, they may object to non-local applicants using their office in-person, as that circumvents agent-money for everyone in the chain.  Therefore, it would be logical if the bosses are ordering visits of in-person applicants.

 

By checking only user-submitted cases, they could craft a sample which assures results indicating they are primarily processing applications for those in their coverage-area, while simultaneously weeding out non-local applicants who are avoiding agents.

 

When I was considering moving to Bangkok, to allow me to obtain a Non-O stamp and Marriage-based visa (unavailable in-person where I lived at the time), I planned to stay in a Bangkok-apartment for the duration of the process.  It appears this will be a necessary step for those served by dishonest offices, if they wish to apply in-person.

 

12 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

There is a new boss at immigration ...

 

If he forces all local-offices to follow the written-requirements for in-person applicants (including Non-O stamps) - and only the written requirements - as is reported by applicants using Chang Wattana - he should receive a medal. 

How many Thai people need to do business at Immigration offices?  Most surely are foreigners, and it would appear totally stupid for forms, notices of opening etc to be all in Thai.

17 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Thousands of expats sign forms in Thai in hundreds imm offices up and down the country almost daily (except weekends).

 

If we all demanded a translation every time the system would soon grind to a halt.

 

This is Thailand, just go with the flow.

 

What forms are you referring to? I've never seen an Immigration application form only in Thai.

5 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

 

What forms are you referring to? I've never seen an Immigration application form only in Thai.

I refer you to my post #11 above.

So random checks by immigration, checking and rechecking facts, with the assumption that a retired person is hiding what?  Moved somewhere else and didn't report like a good ol' boy?  The very reason I changed from a marriage to retirement extension was to avoid immigration's annual visit where I have to point to my clothes and  my wife and I have to sit on the bed for the sick entertainment of some immigration big shot.

14 hours ago, ukrules said:

 

The forms I fill out are all in English.

 

It would be foolish for immigration to print their forms in Thai only for obvious reasons.

 

Because all foreigners are English speakers?  

 

Forms that require you to fill in blanks do usually have English and Thai to indicate what information is required, but there have been several forms that one needs to sign that purportedly acknowledge that you are aware of rules, for example the consequences of overstay, that are only in Thai.

 

Pretty sure in most cases only the Thai versions of documents would be legally enforceable if it ever came to that.

Banana 7,,,,,, are you paranoid or just have something to hide ?

Marriage visas have come under extra scrutiny of late due to both the naughty  applicant & Government Officers issuing certificates for people that have not even met $$$

19 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

There is a new boss at immigration and there have been ongoing issues of people falsely claiming to live in Bangkok in order to change visa status for extensions of stay and this proves you are not one of them so expect it is indeed legit and nothing to worry about. 

 

Believe all should be doubly advised to avoid using any gray methods or visa agents that might be using them. 

I still don't think anybody should sign anything they do not understand, if the system grinds to a halt because they have to transfer to English, that's their fault, they get more than enough money of us anyway.

59 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

they get more than enough money of us anyway.

 

Just about every country wants to attract visitors or long stayers who have money to spend. That doesn't mean every road sign or store label or immigration document has to be printed out in Chinese or Russian or Korean or German or whatever.

 

If you refuse to sign something  "because they have to transfer to English," everything won't grind to a halt for US because it would only be a matter of YOU being uncooperative, not the rest of US. But it could grind to a halt for you  if you want an extension or whatever.

 

People really need to get over the idea that Thailand needs to kiss your derriere because they get "money of us anyway," (whatever that means). You're spending money because you want a bed to sleep in or a beer to drink or someone who is way out of your league to spend the night with you. It isn't an unrestricted gift from you. I expect the country would manage to soldier on if you took your pittance elsewhere.

 

The sense of entitlement that some people carry around is sometimes ridiculous. And I imagine the majority of them would see things in an entirely different light if they were talking about foreigners who come to their home countries.

 

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

 

Just about every country wants to attract visitors or long stayers who have money to spend. That doesn't mean every road sign or store label or immigration document has to be printed out in Chinese or Russian or Korean or German or whatever.

 

If you refuse to sign something  "because they have to transfer to English," everything won't grind to a halt for US because it would only be a matter of YOU being uncooperative, not the rest of US. But it could grind to a halt for you  if you want an extension or whatever.

 

People really need to get over the idea that Thailand needs to kiss your derriere because they get "money of us anyway," (whatever that means). You're spending money because you want a bed to sleep in or a beer to drink or someone who is way out of your league to spend the night with you. It isn't an unrestricted gift from you. I expect the country would manage to soldier on if you took your pittance elsewhere.

 

The sense of entitlement that some people carry around is sometimes ridiculous. And I imagine the majority of them would see things in an entirely different light if they were talking about foreigners who come to their home countries.

 

 

 

 

I still say it is pure stupidity to put your'e signature on something in a foreign language you do not understand.

5 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I still say it is pure stupidity to put your'e signature on something in a foreign language you do not understand.

 

When signing a document I don't understand, I add a note saying that I don't understand the document.

Just now, manarak said:

 

When signing a document I don't understand, I add a note saying that I don't understand the document.

Excellent idea.

Take out your phone and take a photo of the form.  This is not rocket science is it?

9 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

Take out your phone and take a photo of the form.  This is not rocket science is it?

Actually for some of us that actually use phones it might be.  

11 hours ago, prakhonchai nick said:

How many Thai people need to do business at Immigration offices?  Most surely are foreigners, and it would appear totally stupid for forms, notices of opening etc to be all in Thai.

So that maybe the Immigration officers can understand what was being written? Forms should be in dual languages. Thai and mother tongue of the applicants... like those electrical appliances user manual. 

1) never sign anything you do not understand. Having said that, most likely it was one of these endlessly useless forms again, possibly TM. 987654321

2) it clearly shows, that the immigration has quite obviously got its priorities wrong. Instead of clearing up the mess in all those airports with endless queues in front of grouchy officers they have nothing better to do but to do verification visits with retirees? The mind boggles.
3) never have such visits without a letter (in English) with the Garuda letterhead indicating who wants what from who, signed and named, below left there is usually a phone number. Nothing wrong in asking for the instruction letter and calling the number. Not to verify the letter but if they start getting phone calls over phone calls they might reason (or, most likely not)! 

always take a picture of anything in thai on your phone. you will have it to show a lawyer later if needed. if your under duress you can note that in english when you sign. you could also note that you don't read thai when you sign i suppose, but ive never heard of that being done.

Isn't anyone offended about such an invasion of privacy at your own home?

 

I would politely deny all requests, they already have my info over 10+ years that can easily be verified without me.

I would deny anyone to invade my property without a warrant. 

 

I  would also ask them to meet at immigration office first , to make sure they are real officers.