Disappointing First Extension of Stay experience in North East Province

[Kadilo]

Just a bit of background. I originally had an O-A from the U.K. so have had the best part of 2 years preparing for this day when I would have to apply for my first Extension of Stay. 

 

After reading a lot of stuff on here I was well prepared (least I thought I was) and had applied for the Embassy Income Statement in Late November knowing the 6 months would get me through to another year of the old rules by which time the dust would be settled and I could make a new plan, which I now have. 

 

I had filled out both my TM7/8 in prep for the Extension and Multiple Reentry I wanted. Also copies of each completed form, 2 photos with another 3 spares in case, 2 photocopies of every page of my new and old passport. I applied for a new passport in the UK end of last year as i only had a couple of pages left and was planning ahead for a new stamp which made sense to be in a new passport. 

 

I also had copies of my girlfriends ID and her fathers ID and house book signed by him as this was where I i usually stay if I’m not travelling and in hotels. She was with me today in the Immigration Office as their English ain’t too great and my Thai is just Pidgeon. 

 

Finally copies of my my departure card TM6. So far so good........

 

I have visit this office on many occasions in person to “check in” when I arrive back in the Province. It’s about an hour away from where we stay but tbh it’s no hassle and somewhere to stay overnight which we enjoy, in addition to I thought it was the right thing to do to keep all the paperwork correct knowing the day would come whereby I might need to have something on record on the PC there if you get my drift. 

 

So for today.............I’ve got about 3 weeks left on my reentry and as we are going into March 1st though the day was as good as any to pay a visit and apply. 

 

The office is generally quiet and was seen to pretty quick for a paper check over. 

I got checked in immediately and was given my receipt of notification for staying. 

He then mentioned my VIsa was running out and asked if I was going to renew so I slhowed him my paperwork and was invited to chat with one of the officers at a different desk. 

 

First comment on seeing my Embassy letter with the big red stamp was that I needed a new one as it was dated end November. So first thoughts were he didn’t know they were valid for 6 months and clearly didnt know I couldn’t get a new one even if I wanted one. Alarm bells started to ring. I had a copy of the order on my iPad which someone kindly downloaded on a thread a while back stating it was valid for 6 months so I had that in my back pocket so to speak. I told them verbally and my g/f did too as i had showed her the order too. He looked bemused but didn’t mention the date again. 

 

Further questions around why didn’t I do the O-A again in U.K. instead of here along with why did I get a new passport, what was the currency in England, and a variety of other questions indicated it was going to be a long day. He kept doing the sums on the statement as it appeared he didn’t believe the numbers. 

 

He insisted that he had to speak to the “BigBoss” who was away for a week and to return then which my girlfriend said wasn’t possible as we were going away so he took photos of my passport, income statement and a variety of other things and messages him on the phone. 

 

He said to go for lunch and come back after with copies of every page of my Kasikorn bank book too which although I didnt know why he wanted I did anyway.  By now we had been there over 2 hours and although one or two others appeared it was still relatively quiet. 

 

I was there straight after lunch and the man called me forward again and seemed a bit more off. He  took the bank copies but still kept looking through my statement and paperwork like he was trying to find a problem. He then out of the blue said it would be 1900 for the extension, 3800 for the reentry and 500 for something. I asked what via my girlfriend and he said “their work”. So I replied what work? He then said he needed copies of passport for my reentry too trying to justify the 500. I whipped the other copy out of my bag and said “what these copies?” His face dropped, so he then asked for more photos but wouldn’t say why when I asked what for? He got quite adamant so i pulled them out the bag too. 

 

It went on on like this for a while and I was made to sit and watch as other people came and went while my paperwork just sat on his desk. I was passed from pillar to post to speak with different officers asking the same questions. They even got me to write my Parents names down for them to apparently enter on the Computer. Is this normal?

 

 Eventually another 3 hours later 5 hours in all, they gave me what I wanted and the stamps were in my new passport. 

 

It was both clear to me and my girlfriend that they, for whatever reason, wanted a problem with me. Other Thais/Laotians came and went and they were all smiles. For whatever reason with me they appeared to have issues.  They clearly got the hump because I questioned the 500 baht tea money.  I didn’t once lose my rag because I didn’t want them to have a reason to refuse me. I dressed appropriately and had every bit of paperwork required and as have said always went there in person when I was back in the Province to report myself. 

 

Overall it it was a crap experience and not difficult to see why so many are moving on. I did everything I was asked of in prep and was treated like <deleted> as they just kept me waiting deliberately.  They also spoke to my girlfriend like crap too although she wouldn’t repeat what the so called man in charge said to her when she asked why we were being treated so poorly. 

 

Apologies for the ramblings. It was so disappointing to not only realise the people working there hadn’t a clue about what is required in the old world let alone the new one, and that despite all the garbage BJ says around tea money it is still the norm for some. I havent experienced this kind of treatment before over here. I’m sure many wil, say it’s the norm, maybe I’ve been a bit naive. 

 

I was was so tempted on many occasions to take their names and make a point of letting them know I would be reporting them for their behaviour but tbh I bottled it once I got my stamps I just wanted out knowing I would have to go face them all again in the future. I’m already dreading it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

Ever heard of point form. Hells bells. 

[Kadilo]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Ever heard of point form. Hells bells. 

No. Ever heard of ignore if you don’t wanna read grumps.  ????

[BestB]

In essence I hate to say but you yourself made it unpleasant and next year would be even more so because of 500 baht “tip”

 

like it it or not, Thailand is Thailand and 500 is peanuts to make “friend “ with immigration if you planning to stay here.

 

was 500 baht worth 3 hours of your life? What do you think he would do next year?

[Kadilo]

10 minutes ago, BestB said:

In essence I hate to say but you yourself made it unpleasant and next year would be even more so because of 500 baht “tip”

 

like it it or not, Thailand is Thailand and 500 is peanuts to make “friend “ with immigration if you planning to stay here.

 

was 500 baht worth 3 hours of your life? What do you think he would do next year?

The reason I didn’t was because last year I tipped them for my reentry Permit which clearly meant jack. Had he not so deliberately bullshitted me I prob would of done so again. 

As I said previously they were off with me from the word go so it was t all about the tea money, although it got worse after the 500 was ignored granted. 

[JackThompson]

44 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

It was both clear to me and my girlfriend that they, for whatever reason, wanted a problem with me.

Jeez - I wish they had just come out and asked me for 500 Baht - even 1000.  I would have paid it in a heartbeat.  They want 25K or so via an agent (including the agent's cut), where I last went through something like that (Jomtien - based on marriage).

[BestB]

12 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

The reason I didn’t was because last year I tipped them for my reentry Permit which clearly meant jack. Had he not so deliberately bullshitted me I prob would of done so again. 

As I said previously they were off with me from the word go so it was t all about the tea money, although it got worse after the 500 was ignored granted. 

In essence he did you a favour . As you said , he advised boss was away for a week. Fact that it’s not convient for you is your problem not his .

But he did contact his boss instead of telling you to come back in a week. 

He did not need to contact his boss for you but he did .

 

Do you see the whole picture now?

[Kadilo]

2 minutes ago, BestB said:

In essence he did you a favour . As you said , he advised boss was away for a week. Fact that it’s not convient for you is your problem not his .

But he did contact his boss instead of telling you to come back in a week. 

He did not need to contact his boss for you but he did .

 

Do you see the whole picture now?

Perfectly. 

[moe666]

Always remember one immigration office isn't Thailand, been getting extensions of stay for 9 years never a request for tea money nor a try at it. In and out of the office every time. To bad about your experience unfortunately for you thats were you live.

[Kadilo]

7 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Jeez - I wish they had just come out and asked me for 500 Baht - even 1000.  I would have paid it in a heartbeat.  They want 25K or so via an agent (including the agent's cut), where I last went through something like that (Jomtien - based on marriage).

If I chose to use an agent for whatever reason I would expect to pay over the odds. I never as i more than qualify. It should of been a 5 minute process but they chose for it not to be. 

I guess the point I was trying to make is despite all the publicity re BJ etc nothing has changed and when push comes to shove, sadly, in my experience we are not wanted here. I’ve never felt that before so I guess it’s a lesson learned. 

[Kadilo]

3 minutes ago, moe666 said:

Always remember one immigration office isn't Thailand, been getting extensions of stay for 9 years never a request for tea money nor a try at it. In and out of the office every time. To bad about your experience unfortunately for you thats were you live.

Yeah I’m not trying to tie everyone with the same brush but as I’ve used them many times for reporting and it’s been very pleasant I was taken aback by their attitude today. 

[Moonlover]

21 minutes ago, moe666 said:

Always remember one immigration office isn't Thailand, been getting extensions of stay for 9 years never a request for tea money nor a try at it. In and out of the office every time. To bad about your experience unfortunately for you thats were you live.

Or maybe the attitude of the applicant!

[ubonjoe]

Some off topic inflammatory posts and replies to them have been removed.

[Briggsy]

22 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Yeah I’m not trying to tie everyone with the same brush but as I’ve used them many times for reporting and it’s been very pleasant I was taken aback by their attitude today. 

Remember that all immigration offices have designated desks for designated jobs. There may be some movement from one desk to another but my experience is that these officers tend to stay on the same desk doing the same task for years. This was your first visit to the retirement extension desk. Previously you had visited the TM30 desk, a different desk with different officers.

[Kadilo]

5 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Remember that all immigration offices have designated desks for designated jobs. There may be some movement from one desk to another but my experience is that these officers tend to stay on the same desk doing the same task for years. This was your first visit to the retirement extension desk. Previously you had visited the TM30 desk, a different desk with different officers.

 Nah one big desk where they all do pretty much the same from my observation plus a reception desk where she is supposed to check your paperwork in between facebooking. It’s not Jomtien just a small Office in a Province which is usually a extremely quiet. 

[NCC1701A]

it is incredible the different experiences everyone has at immigration. for me 5 years and 5 extension of stays in under one hour and zero problems. 90 days reporting 5 minutes flat.

 

my condolences to the op and kudos for his tenancy to stick to his guns.  

 

[Kadilo]

4 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

it is incredible the different experiences everyone has at immigration. for me 5 years and 5 extension of stays in under one hour and zero problems. 90 days reporting 5 minutes flat.

 

my condolences to the op and kudos for his tenancy to stick to his guns.  

 

I’m quite the opposite mate in all honesty. As i said previously I happily tip regularly and did in the same office for my Re entry last year so this time when I got the attitude from the off I thought sod it. Maybe that was my mistake but it wasn’t totally about the 500 baht for them hence they would of mentioned it earlier. They had an Instant downer on me and my application from the off. Like I’ve said, I’ve no idea why. I dressed appropriately and spoke courteously throughout. It came as a shock despite the stuff I regularly read on here. 

 

Just for the record there was no attitude from me throughout even though it was a test to stay respectful throughout given they had no intentions of doing so. 

[onera1961]

So it was a success, congratulations

[ubonjoe]

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Some off topic inflammatory posts and replies to them have been removed.

And now more troll posts and etc have been removed making the topic much shorter.

[TKDfella]

Well, I am soon to make yearly extension trip and I hope it is as jovial as last year. Every thing checked out in just a few minutes. The IO handed me my passport and said all complete. I sat there and smiled and the IO frowned. I asked if it was now free? More frowns. I politely said that I hadn't payed the fee of 1900฿ yet and laughter broke out and then paid my fee. I think it is good to keep in mind that the IO's might have a problem with new requirements too as they are essentially 'piggy in the middle'. We don't know whether they are kept up to date of not or what the chief has told them.

[fisherd3]

Although it seems a good idea to have someone that speaks Thai with You , in fact this is just giving the Thai immigration Police the key to negotiate whatever deal they want from You. 

 

[Jim7777]

17 hours ago, Kadilo said:

The reason I didn’t was because last year I tipped them for my reentry Permit which clearly meant jack. Had he not so deliberately bullshitted me I prob would of done so again. 

As I said previously they were off with me from the word go so it was t all about the tea money, although it got worse after the 500 was ignored granted. 

It wasn’t “tea money” that was just their normal processing fees for everything you were applying for extension usually 1900 Baht and I believe you said the reentry permit was 500 Baht.  It’s NOT a “tip”.  All that paperwork they process and the copies they make of everything and the service they are providing does cost money.  I read to many one side of the story posts like this.  Then again you did say that it was your first extension so you probably just don’t know the process yet I guess I’ve been there myself as well but I didn’t complain about it.  

[Kadilo]

2 minutes ago, Jim7777 said:

It wasn’t “tea money” that was just their normal processing fees for everything you were applying for extension usually 1900 Baht and I believe you said the reentry permit was 500 Baht.  It’s NOT a “tip”.  All that paperwork they process and the copies they make of everything and the service they are providing does cost money.  I read to many one side of the story posts like this.  

You need to do some reading first before posting. Processing fee?  

[Jim7777]

Then again you did say that it was your first extension so you probably just don’t know the process yet, I guess I’ve been there myself as well but I didn’t complain about it.  

[Jim7777]

4 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

You need to do some reading first before posting. Processing fee?  

Yeah I did we all pay the same processing fees for the same things at immigration.  Then again you did say that it was your first extension so you probably just don’t know the process yet I guess I’ve been there myself as well but I didn’t complain about it.  You have to be fully prepared at immigration.  It’s not totally free but it’s not expensive either 500 Baht is definitely not exactly tea money.  

[Kadilo]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

And now more troll posts and etc have been removed making the topic much shorter.

Cheers for the cleanup but on reflection can you just close the thread. 

Sadly any discussion on here just attracts the usual trolls and personal attacks. 

Another lesson learned. 

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Cheers for the cleanup but on reflection can you just close the thread. 

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