Chiang Mai Immigration - Non-O based on marriage extension update 01/25

[tstcman]

Just wanted to share my experience at Chiang Mai immigration today. Last month I turned in all my paperwork and got the consideration stamp while I was waiting for the Non O marriage visa extension. I went back today to Chiang Mai immigration office and I don't know if it was because of that policy that the government put out saying take it easy on retirement and marriage visa extensions but they took my passport didn't ask me a single question and I was out the door with my marriage visa extension stamp within 20 minutes no questions asked.

[beachbuggy]

Shouldn’t it say 25 Jan 2020?

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, ragabob said:

Shouldn’t it say 25 Jan 2020?

No

His extension based upon marriage ended on the 26th of December 2018. He was here on a under consideration stamp that had a report back date 30 days from when it ended.

[beachbuggy]

Cheers but it reads 26 Dec 2019. Anyway, my apologies

[BritManToo]

It was always the initial filing of paperwork that was the problem.

I couldn't even get an appointment without an agent, or queuing all night.

 

Getting the approved stamp 30 days later never took more than 30 minutes, even at the worst of times.

[legend49]

Why is it they can be timely if they have to be? Is it a game they play with expats?

[PJPom]

I have now done the marriage extension twice, first time needed witnesses , photos and maps etc. Second time was last July , no witnesses, two copies of everything ( followed Ubon Joe advice ) pay the requested fee, all over within half an hour. Back a month later and got passport stamped and a resident cert, out within ten minutes.

I like the area I live in.

[Formaleins]

23 hours ago, BritManToo said:

It was always the initial filing of paperwork that was the problem.

I couldn't even get an appointment without an agent, or queuing all night.

 

Getting the approved stamp 30 days later never took more than 30 minutes, even at the worst of times.

I don't think anyone has had any hassle getting the actual stamp, and why he would expect to have any "questions asked"  I have no idea, if they ask questions it is when they start the paperwork.

I too am interested in what is happening regarding the appointments - Obviously there is no longer the queue online system as this worked too well for us and didn't cause us enough inconvenience. The days of walking in and getting a ticket disappeared even earlier, a good few years back now. My only options the past 3 years have been similar to yours, either queue outside on a plastic seat in the car park from 1am in the freezing cold, or as I did in the previous two years, employ an agent. I have heard rumours that it is no longer necessary to be queueing at 1am, but no one has reported what the new uncivilized  queueing time is likely to be.

[Mahseer]

4 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

....no one has reported what the new uncivilized  queueing time is likely to be.

Turn up office hours and if your paperwork is in order (including a TM30 if applicable) and you'll be out in no time. 

 

Since Big Joke was in Chiang Mai and no doubt kicked a few senior backsides there has been nothing but positive reports. Check the Chiang Mai forum for confirmation.

[Formaleins]

1 minute ago, Mahseer said:

Turn up office hours and if your paperwork is in order (including a TM30 if applicable) and you'll be out in no time. 

 

Since Big Joke was in Chiang Mai and no doubt kicked a few senior backsides there has been nothing but positive reports. Check the Chiang Mai forum for confirmation.

Thanks for the info! If that is the case, then it is amazing news and a complete turnaround! Are you saying that it is possible to get an appointment there without the need to be in a queue hours before the place opens? If so I will be pinching myself all night long in disbelief. I am due to do my extension in the next week or so but have been putting it off and even considering paying an agent again to soften the blows. I really don't mind queueing for a couple of hours as long as I get a number, but the past few years, that immigration office has been an utter disgrace, the worst office in the entire country and a shambles. Some of the rudest, ignorant and lazy bastards seemed to have been given jobs there, they seemed to go out of their way to make life as difficult as possible for us, throwing up new hoops to jump through year after year. If this is the new system, I will be first to compliment them and drop down the details here after I do my extension.

[BritManToo]

28 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

I really don't mind queueing for a couple of hours as long as I get a number, but the past few years, that immigration office has been an utter disgrace, the worst office in the entire country and a shambles. Some of the rudest, ignorant and lazy bastards seemed to have been given jobs there, they seemed to go out of their way to make life as difficult as possible for us

I gave up on extensions at CM immigration, I go outside the country and buy non o from the consulates. Ten minutes queuing, then back the next day to collect.

 

Not seen anyone claim they walked in during office hours and got a marriage/dependents extension.

[roo860]

Thanks for the info! If that is the case, then it is amazing news and a complete turnaround! Are you saying that it is possible to get an appointment there without the need to be in a queue hours before the place opens? If so I will be pinching myself all night long in disbelief. I am due to do my extension in the next week or so but have been putting it off and even considering paying an agent again to soften the blows. I really don't mind queueing for a couple of hours as long as I get a number, but the past few years, that immigration office has been an utter disgrace, the worst office in the entire country and a shambles. Some of the rudest, ignorant and lazy bastards seemed to have been given jobs there, they seemed to go out of their way to make life as difficult as possible for us, throwing up new hoops to jump through year after year. If this is the new system, I will be first to compliment them and drop down the details here after I do my extension.

Doing mine next week, will be there bout 8 am, couple of weeks ago did a 90 day report, got there a 2pm, was seen straight away, job done.

Check the Chiang Mai forum.

 

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

 

 

 

[roo860]

I don't think anyone has had any hassle getting the actual stamp, and why he would expect to have any "questions asked"  I have no idea, if they ask questions it is when they start the paperwork.

I too am interested in what is happening regarding the appointments - Obviously there is no longer the queue online system as this worked too well for us and didn't cause us enough inconvenience. The days of walking in and getting a ticket disappeared even earlier, a good few years back now. My only options the past 3 years have been similar to yours, either queue outside on a plastic seat in the car park from 1am in the freezing cold, or as I did in the previous two years, employ an agent. I have heard rumours that it is no longer necessary to be queueing at 1am, but no one has reported what the new uncivilized  queueing time is likely to be.

From what I gather those ridiculous queueing times are gone.

 

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

 

 

 

[JackThompson]

55 minutes ago, roo860 said:

1 hour ago, Formaleins said:

My only options the past 3 years have been similar to yours, either queue outside on a plastic seat in the car park from 1am in the freezing cold, or as I did in the previous two years, employ an agent. I have heard rumours that it is no longer necessary to be queueing at 1am, but no one has reported what the new uncivilized  queueing time is likely to be.

 

From what I gather those ridiculous queueing times are gone.

Yes, we have new reports that indicate that nightmare is over.

 

Using "all night queues" to pressure people to pay them bribes through agents was far too blatant - even for TI's standards.  Lines of elderly foreigners strung out in a parking lot all night was a "bad look," and resulted in uniform, horrible accounts of the process. 

 

Taking down a percentage of applications with "extra unpublished requirements" isn't visible to passers-by, and creates a sufficient number of "Everything was fine" stories, to counter the "I got shafted" reports - yet still ensures a steady agent-money income.

 

1 hour ago, Formaleins said:

they seemed to go out of their way to make life as difficult as possible for us, throwing up new hoops to jump through year after year.

Let us know how the "hoops" part goes.  Hopefully, that is not as bad as before, also.

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, Suradit69 said:

They probably weren't that way to begin with but were transformed by daily exposure to a succession of rude and ignorant farang ... like those who think they're extending a non Imm o visa rather than actually extending their permission to stay, for example.

If ignorance in those areas is an issue, they really should take down the signs that say "Retirement Visa" - instead of "extension of stay," since it might confuse those ignorant farangs (Chang Wattana, I think that was).  Or perhaps they do this as a sort of practical joke?

 

So, our impolite nature drove them to ripping us off with corruption - is that it?  Perhaps expecting honesty is considered too ridiculous to be believed - so is interpreted as a form of rudeness?  Our return a 2nd or 3rd time, meeting each new set of unpublished requirements, is seen as a form of bartering or something?  Why didn't we get the message?  "Go do the dang agent, already!"  Do I understand what "polite" means now?

 

That was my impression, when returning to an office with a batch of "unpublished requirements" met to the letter.  My return with their requests met (dressed well and polite as always) was clearly not what they wanted. 

 

My kindest explanation, is some IOs joined to do the right thing and serve the country, only to realize their boss was running a crooked shop.  But, they have a family to take care of, so they are stuck, bitter, and need to demonize those they are helping the boss shaft (including Thai families), to avoid guilt that would otherwise tear them up inside. 

[metisdead]

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