Calming down since I wrote SCAMMING AT IMMIGRATION, I still maintain it is simply a Thai scam by dishonest officials but I am blaming the wrong people.  The scammer probably gets a small cut of the profits and the poor guy that is turning people away at the counter and taking all the flack is probably receiving nothing. That poor guy is just following orders and it is undoubtedly his bosses, bosses, bosses, bosses, boss that is getting the real money.  Maybe even a couple of levels higher.  Everybody at every level understands how the system works in Thailand and like it or not, they do what they have to do to survive.  The US is the same but it just goes to much higher levels. 

 

For the idiot that maintains rules are rules and I am a dummy, I will have to say you are unrealistic.  Undoubtedly some retired peon government official that never accomplished anything in their life.   Probably a cop.  Thailand and all Asian countries are famous for making unrealistic rules to enable them to collect bribes.  I was unaware the letters were good for six months and when they announced it there were no appointments availiable.  That would have just delayed the issue another year because I am not willing to pay a large transfer fee to bring money in monthly, and it is an dumb technical rule to enable Thai officials to collect bribes.  Furthermore, if you think that Thai is actually depositing Bt 800,000 in your account legally, you are a bigger idiot than I thought. 

 

For me, it is the last straw.  I have had a retirement Visa for 11 years, spend money in Thailand every year, break no laws, and love the people.  I am the expat they want to keep.  No, a Bt 35,000 bribe wont bankrupt me but I have had it. I have also been scammed out of a lot of money at a Thai hospital and it is just plain getting stale.  I am aging and have health issues and I don't feel safe at the mercy of Thai doctors who are worse scam artists than the Taxi drivers.  I have a hideously inflated hospital bill to back up my claims. 

 

Sadly, I feel I am forced to sell my condo and return to the States.  I love living here and am sad to leave.  

What's wrong with the 800K-in-the-bank-option, and keep it there?

"SCAM"?

 

Well,of course it is..

Methinks the OP needs a hug ????

As there still is a topic running about this, there is no need to open another topic to discuss the same thing.

 

//Closed//