Brilliant Hua Hin Immigration

[worrab]

Completed my yearly trip to Hua Hin to renew my Extension of Stay based on Retirement. Arrived at the Immigration Office on Thursday 22nd Nov at 10.15 and walked out at 10.45 with everything done. This included a Re-entry Permit and a 90 day report. All that was needed was TM7, TM8, head shot photos, photocopies of passport (usual pages), departure slip, bank book title page and pages going back 3 months (800,000 baht in bank route), yellow tabian baan page (proof of address) and a print out of my home location from Google maps. 

  

Have nothing but praise for this Office with them all being so efficient and friendly. Did not ask about future requirements regarding the shortly to be defunct Embassy letters but did ask about the long awaited move to the new offices. Should be now happening in early 2019 according to my Officer with a smile on his face. We will see when in the New Year arrives.

[NeoDinosaw]

So you did not need to pay any money for your visa ?

[DrJack54]

Sounds like you had a nice experience. Just to add for bkk members...bkk imm also now require map of where you live. Seems this a new requirement at bkk. 

[Psychic]

I'm now under Petchaburi Imm. Since it opened.

HH and Petchaburi insisted on hand drawn maps when I asked about Google maps. 

Guess this changed.

 

Not really a problem as the house doesn't move much and we just copy a new one.

????

[topt]

21 hours ago, worrab said:

bank book title page and pages going back 3 months (800,000 baht in bank route)

Letter from the bank or not?

[gamini]

That's the 'norm' for Hua Hin. It's been like that for the last 10 years. Immigration are very friendly and helpful. The reason is probably that they don't have to deal with all the sexpats and rif-raf expats in places like Pattaya.

[JackThompson]

34 minutes ago, gamini said:

That's the 'norm' for Hua Hin. It's been like that for the last 10 years. Immigration are very friendly and helpful. The reason is probably that they don't have to deal with all the sexpats and rif-raf expats in places like Pattaya.

Jomtien/Pattaya retirement desk is one of the easiest in the country - famously so.  They are decent to Tourists (vast majority of the go-go customers), also.  It is those of us who are married to a Thai who have reported hellish-treatment there, to force us to agents. 

 

Bangkok's Chang Wattana office is also not a problem - everything "by the book" for every service; yet that would be the other large source-location of what a "sexpat" would be after. 

 

The theory doesn't fit.  Even where things are done properly, the "Married to a Thai" folks endure the greatest scrutiny.

[worrab]

1 hour ago, topt said:

Letter from the bank or not?

Yes, forgot to put that in. Obtained the day before.

[worrab]

20 hours ago, NeoDinosaw said:

So you did not need to pay any money for your visa ?

Oh yes. Don't get much for free so just the usual 1900 baht for the extension and 1000 baht for the permit.

[captnhoy]

2 hours ago, gamini said:

That's the 'norm' for Hua Hin. It's been like that for the last 10 years. Immigration are very friendly and helpful. The reason is probably that they don't have to deal with all the sexpats and rif-raf expats in places like Pattaya.

As stated by Jack Thompson, the theory does not fit. In Ranong the where I know not more than 30 expats, the primary imm contact is so unpleasant, unpredictable, capricious, often refusing to use English. that she is known as The C***. Since I now only need 6 months here I dropped my retirement status 2 years ago and now use ME TV. I am MUCH happier on all counts.

[mikosan]

I did my extension at Hua Hin in August, with income letter from my Embassy, which will obviously change, but I've always found them very helpful and pleasant as well.  I didn't even need the google maps printout or a hand drawn map.  Simple exercise and certainly never felt the need to employ the expensive services of a visa agent.  Let's hope it's the same next August. 

[walkoff]

Nice to have all of the first person reports but "the IO said" type of stuff doesn't give me warm fuzzy. Neither does the lickety-split renewal because of 400/800k in bank. There are many folks who receive a "good" pension(let's say 100k p/month) who have been no burden on the system, taken care of family, etc. who, as UJ has stated many times, are waiting from something concrete to be announced. I still say that presenting our proof of income should have been one of the requirements at the embassy. 1099's, SSA, etc. I don't think that is stretching the responsibility of the AE. As far as the "suck it up and save the money" attitude goes, I don't work, I don't get overtime I just make sure I'm doing my duties here. Point brought up in a previous comment, give a phase in time would be nice. If you can't work it out by then, too bad. 

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, gamini said:

That's the 'norm' for Hua Hin. It's been like that for the last 10 years. Immigration are very friendly and helpful. The reason is probably that they don't have to deal with all the sexpats and rif-raf expats in places like Pattaya.

"rif-raf expats in places like Pattaya". Apart from the very small minority of shirtless morons, sexpats or not, I think you will find that the vast majority of westerners living in Pattaya are actually very decent people.

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, JackThompson said:

Jomtien/Pattaya retirement desk is one of the easiest in the country - famously so.  They are decent to Tourists (vast majority of the go-go customers), also.  It is those of us who are married to a Thai who have reported hellish-treatment there, to force us to agents. 

 

Bangkok's Chang Wattana office is also not a problem - everything "by the book" for every service; yet that would be the other large source-location of what a "sexpat" would be after. 

 

The theory doesn't fit.  Even where things are done properly, the "Married to a Thai" folks endure the greatest scrutiny.

Yes, I have experienced that, though not in Pattaya or Bangkok, but upcountry, had a very hostile experience, I sort of forced the officer to go and see his boss, and things were sorted out in two minutes, and not even an apology.

[Thaijack2014]

5 hours ago, gamini said:

That's the 'norm' for Hua Hin. It's been like that for the last 10 years. Immigration are very friendly and helpful. The reason is probably that they don't have to deal with all the sexpats and rif-raf expats in places like Pattaya.

Especially since the office for the 90 day stamp AND the re-entry permit is in the new sub-office in Blúport. No long waiting times and also there, the staff is very friendly!

[Media1]

On 11/24/2018 at 5:14 PM, DrJack54 said:

Sounds like you had a nice experience. Just to add for bkk members...bkk imm also now require map of where you live. Seems this a new requirement at bkk. 

map gets filed along with all papers and never found again..The whole process is not worthy of Thailand 2.0. 

There dreaming about 4.0 lol..A map a joke. They all own phones 

[Tofer]

7 hours ago, worrab said:

Oh yes. Don't get much for free so just the usual 1900 baht for the extension and 1000 baht for the permit.

Please enlighten us, THB 1,000 for what permit?

[Tofer]

6 hours ago, walkoff said:

Nice to have all of the first person reports but "the IO said" type of stuff doesn't give me warm fuzzy. Neither does the lickety-split renewal because of 400/800k in bank. There are many folks who receive a "good" pension(let's say 100k p/month) who have been no burden on the system, taken care of family, etc. who, as UJ has stated many times, are waiting from something concrete to be announced. I still say that presenting our proof of income should have been one of the requirements at the embassy. 1099's, SSA, etc. I don't think that is stretching the responsibility of the AE. As far as the "suck it up and save the money" attitude goes, I don't work, I don't get overtime I just make sure I'm doing my duties here. Point brought up in a previous comment, give a phase in time would be nice. If you can't work it out by then, too bad. 

It still puzzles me, pardon me for being a bit slow or naive, that Thailand requires any proof of ones wherewithal to survive here, as they provide didly squat in terms of social security / benefits / financial assistance of any sort.

 

So what exactly are they worried about? If push came to shove and you were destitute, they would simply fob you off on your countries embassy to assist and repatriate you.

[yodsak]

51 minutes ago, Tofer said:

Please enlighten us, THB 1,000 for what permit?

re-entry ???

[JackThompson]

43 minutes ago, Tofer said:

It still puzzles me, pardon me for being a bit slow or naive, that Thailand requires any proof of ones wherewithal to survive here, as they provide didly squat in terms of social security / benefits / financial assistance of any sort.

 

So what exactly are they worried about? If push came to shove and you were destitute, they would simply fob you off on your countries embassy to assist and repatriate you.

Not even that - you'd go into overstay, end up in the IDC, and possibly die there of malnutrition, unless a friend or family member paid your way home. 

[The Names Bond]

5 hours ago, possum1931 said:

"rif-raf expats in places like Pattaya". Apart from the very small minority of shirtless morons, sexpats or not, I think you will find that the vast majority of westerners living in Pattaya are actually very decent people.

Well said, sir. I live in Jomtien 2 minutes walk from the Immigration Office and I and all my friends are not Rif Raf. In all countries and in all parts of Thailand you will get good and bad people. I have been renewing my Retirement Visa and attending for my 90 days there for the last 7 years and will collect my Passport and 1 year visa tomorrow afternoon at about 4 pm. The staff there are always friendly and considering the many hundreds of people they deal with each week I think the staff do well to be so patient. Every morning the place is very busy so that is why I go at about 4 pm when the rush has died down. I am usually no longer than 5-10 minutes in there having always made sure I have the correct paperwork with me. Please do not rush there at 4 pm as that is my spot. ha ha. Take Care

[Wake Up]

12 hours ago, gamini said:

That's the 'norm' for Hua Hin. It's been like that for the last 10 years. Immigration are very friendly and helpful. The reason is probably that they don't have to deal with all the sexpats and rif-raf expats in places like Pattaya.

Your words paint the picture of a man that does not recognize he has emotional insecure problems. Please seek help with a counselor and get better my friend. Peace. 

[worrab]

10 hours ago, Tofer said:

Please enlighten us, THB 1,000 for what permit?

 A single Re-entry permit.

[brianthainess]

 Hope i'm not of subject but immigration Laem ngop TRAT has also been helpful and pleasant, Monday i went to Trat transport office,one woman there refused my yellow book and pink card to register a car,"go immigration for letter of residence" immigration rang them told her she was wrong,but she still insisted on it, they did the letter for me without having to queue with all the foreign workers,and did it FREE, it took only 3 days to register my car WOW ! ????

[brianthainess]

On 11/25/2018 at 5:32 PM, Media1 said:

map gets filed along with all papers and never found again..The whole process is not worthy of Thailand 2.0. 

There dreaming about 4.0 lol..A map a joke. They all own phones 

It dosn't get lost they used mine a few weeks later for four IO to visit me ????

[brianthainess]

On 11/25/2018 at 9:23 PM, Tofer said:

It still puzzles me, pardon me for being a bit slow or naive, that Thailand requires any proof of ones wherewithal to survive here, as they provide didly squat in terms of social security / benefits / financial assistance of any sort.

 

So what exactly are they worried about? If push came to shove and you were destitute, they would simply fob you off on your countries embassy to assist and repatriate you.

They are mostly concerned that you will work ????

[NoshowJones]

On 11/25/2018 at 5:01 PM, possum1931 said:

Yes, I have experienced that, though not in Pattaya or Bangkok, but upcountry, had a very hostile experience, I sort of forced the officer to go and see his boss, and things were sorted out in two minutes, and not even an apology.

Your'e first paragraph is so true, when I did a 90 day report, the first thing the officer did was question my wifes work. Why? He was obviously just looking for trouble, I did not even need to have a wife. His attitude was so hostile after it.

I have never done a 90 day report in person since and this was about 6 years ago.

[Thailand J]

On 11/25/2018 at 10:29 PM, The Names Bond said:

Please do not rush there at 4 pm as that is my spot. ha ha. Take Care

OK. I will try to go there at 3:59PM. ????

 

The only complain is that jomtein office had to hold my passport overnight.