I think in the french embassy it's also not allowed to use phones. It's disrespectful to use the phone in a gov facility. Also they are worried that you start filming inside, so they will ask you to keep your phone turned off.

On 8/24/2019 at 8:51 AM, spidermike007 said:

I do tend to agree. There seems to be a real disconnect between the ministries. The TAT and parts of the government seem to understand how much tourism brings to the table in terms of revenue and job creation. But immigration has no concept whatsoever, of any of this. They can be surly, nasty, dismissive and rude. And without any doubt in my mind, they share the same sentiment as the army. The hate foreigners, they are very racist, they are very xenophobic, they are very fearful, ahey have very, very little intelligence or wisdom of any kind. 

 

I asked a question the other day, and the immigration officer looked at me and said, you can always stay in your country. Now, I have been living here for over 15 years. I spend on average between a million and two million baht a year here. How does that compare with the average Thai person in terms of revenue for the economy? Where is the respect? These guys are beyond goons. They are incompetent and nearly illiterate, in terms of the world at large. 

What question did you ask the officer?

 

Whenever I enter the country, I present my passport, look at the camera and maybe say hello.

I don't expect him/her to blow smoke up my backside, their job is to make sure the individual

is permitted to enter the country and deal with thousands of punters every day from many 

different cultures and nationalities.

 

You, me or anyone else may think we are some kind of big shot, deserving the utmost respect

from all and sundry, but we are just people in a queue with a passport the same as the 100s ahead

and behind in the line.

 

Edited August 25, 20196 yr by shy coconut
Addition

Only getting one side of the story is worth about a tenth of a nickel. 

On 8/24/2019 at 12:45 AM, ttaylor said:

At no point was i 'Thai bashing'.  I pointed out the actions of one immigration officer and my feelings towards it.  Thanks for your input. 

hmmm...

fully prepared with 20.000 baht in cash, already extended tourist visa, passport probably already with numerous stamps from Thailand and neighboring countries, goes on a visa run to Myanmar by air to be on the safe side... and just two posts on Thaivisa.

 

On 8/24/2019 at 5:51 PM, spidermike007 said:

I spend on average between a million and two million baht a year here. How does that compare with the average Thai person in terms of revenue for the economy? Where is the respect?

Thailand is rapidly catching up with the west and doesn't think you're a hot shot anymore. All this boorish "they need my money" is delusional, and is met with contempt as you can see. 

 

Just stand in line, do as you're told, and show respect to the man in the uniform. 

18 hours ago, ThaiBunny said:

Which Consulate was this? I often feel like yelling at people who use their mobile phones too

Crikey, you will soon be hoarse. 

3 hours ago, dbrenn said:

Thailand is rapidly catching up with the west and doesn't think you're a hot shot anymore. All this boorish "they need my money" is delusional, and is met with contempt as you can see. 

 

Just stand in line, do as you're told, and show respect to the man in the uniform. 

I stand in lines as little as I can get away with. Have done so for decades. Lines are just not my thing. OK? And as far as the man in the uniform goes, I have had disdain for them since I was a child. There are very few men in uniforms I have much respect for. For me, respect has to be earned, and is never freely given.

 

In terms of the money thing, I do think Thailand benefits tremendously from all the money that ex-pats spend and invest here. Nobody said anything about being a hotshot. That is all in your head. But, that golden goose is going by the wayside. By the way, though Thailand is catching up on some levels, the economy is declining. Fifteen years ago they were the #22 economy in the world. By various estimates, they are now between #26 and #29. Tourism will continue to decline. So will exports, if they cannot stabilize the baht.

7 hours ago, shy coconut said:

What question did you ask the officer?

 

Whenever I enter the country, I present my passport, look at the camera and maybe say hello.

I don't expect him/her to blow smoke up my backside, their job is to make sure the individual

is permitted to enter the country and deal with thousands of punters every day from many 

different cultures and nationalities.

 

You, me or anyone else may think we are some kind of big shot, deserving the utmost respect

from all and sundry, but we are just people in a queue with a passport the same as the 100s ahead

and behind in the line.

 

It was not at the airport. Should have clarified that. It was at immigration, for the annual renewal. I do not think I am a bigshot on any level. I just think as ex-pats we deserve a small modicum of respect. Is that really too much to ask? Are we men, or are we vermin? 

13 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I stand in lines as little as I can get away with. Have done so for decades. Lines are just not my thing. OK? And as far as the man in the uniform goes, I have had disdain for them since I was a child. There are very few men in uniforms I have much respect for. For me, respect has to be earned, and is never freely given.

 

In terms of the money thing, I do think Thailand benefits tremendously from all the money that ex-pats spend and invest here. Nobody said anything about being a hotshot. That is all in your head. But, that golden goose is going by the wayside. By the way, though Thailand is catching up on some levels, the economy is declining. Fifteen years ago they were the #22 economy in the world. By various estimates, they are now between #26 and #29. Tourism will continue to decline. So will exports, if they cannot stabilize the baht.

Ever since my first visit to Thailand 30 years ago, people have been saying that the place was going to hell in a handcart, that it's economy is in imminent meltdown, and that only  smart farangs like us were able to save the place with all the money they spend on our Thai wives and kids.

 

Regardless, Thailand has grown into a successful industrialised country, with an economy driven by diversified exports that are the result of correctly applied policy. Sure it's pinched by the high Baht at the moment, but exchange rates are a cyclical thing everywhere.

 

And you still wonder in bewilderment why they tell you to go home, when you brag about how much they need your money, making complaints and demands expecting that they'll bow down and respect you? 

 

In case you also hadn't noticed, Thailand's government is very right wing, and with that comes intense national pride and resentment of outsiders who are disrespectful to Thailand's institutions. I feel sympathy for those who have to follow all those onerous rules, but respect and deference will get you much further than boorishness and arrogance, as you are seeing in front of your own eyes by the negative reactions of those who have power over you. 

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I stand in lines as little as I can get away with. Have done so for decades. Lines are just not my thing. OK? And as far as the man in the uniform goes, I have had disdain for them since I was a child. There are very few men in uniforms I have much respect for. For me, respect has to be earned, and is never freely given.

 

In terms of the money thing, I do think Thailand benefits tremendously from all the money that ex-pats spend and invest here. Nobody said anything about being a hotshot. That is all in your head. But, that golden goose is going by the wayside. By the way, though Thailand is catching up on some levels, the economy is declining. Fifteen years ago they were the #22 economy in the world. By various estimates, they are now between #26 and #29. Tourism will continue to decline. So will exports, if they cannot stabilize the baht.

That is all in our heads. We see things from our perspective ( of course). We think Thai women love us. That is our perspective. You know what, line up 100 Thai women and line 100 Thai guys and 100 foreigners in front of them and I am betting the vast majority end up with Thai guys. It is in the actual numbers in a city like Bangkok, just go ask the average women who she is dating or married to. 

 

Same with money. We think we are gods gift because the places we go happen to be populated and supported by us. That is our perspective. But if these places disappeared Thailand would not even flinch. The vast majority of business is done between Thai-Thai and Thai and other Asian countries. 

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

For me, respect has to be earned, and is never freely given.

 

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I do not think I am a bigshot on any level. I just think as ex-pats we deserve a small modicum of respect.

 

20 minutes ago, meand said:

That is all in our heads. We see things from our perspective ( of course). We think Thai women love us. That is our perspective. You know what, line up 100 Thai women and line 100 Thai guys and 100 foreigners in front of them and I am betting the vast majority end up with Thai guys. It is in the actual numbers in a city like Bangkok, just go ask the average women who she is dating or married to. 

 

Same with money. We think we are gods gift because the places we go happen to be populated and supported by us. That is our perspective. But if these places disappeared Thailand would not even flinch. The vast majority of business is done between Thai-Thai and Thai and other Asian countries. 

The local shopping malls are often very busy, people of western appearance are a very small percentage. The VAT on the money that at some point will be spent by that small minority in the system, from money brought in, no doubt improves the economy and balance of payments, but it is part of the decoration on top of the cake, rather than the cake.

On 8/24/2019 at 9:25 AM, rkidlad said:

Here’s an idea........’stop reading it’. 

 

I once got absolutely berated by an IO official in the States for standing somewhere another IO told me to. I sometimes tell this story when US immigration comes up. This poster is telling this story on a thread about Thai visas. 

 

These things do happen. Immigration in any country are a law unto themselves. 

I share, several years back I took a team of MBA students to an international business competition in the US, all the students were late 20s, all had achieved success / managerial roles in business, all were well presented, all had funds available if needed, and more. They were all granted visas to enter the US quickly at the first interview at US embassy on Wireless Road. Most had entered the US some years before, there was nothing adverse recorded against any of the students for any reason .

 

On arrival in the US I was first in the passport line, lady imm officer was very pleasant, then when the first Thai traveller came to her counter the imm. lady became the dragon from hell, with racial abuse, insinuation of 'well we all know what Thai girls do, don't we?'  and more and she kept it up until the Thai travellers were all through.

 

 

few years ago i left thailand by air. the immigration officer stamped my

passport but handed me the seperate departure form (that time they used

to attach that departure form to the passport, AFTER the immigration check out).

so i thought i don't need that departure form any more and threw it away.

but on boarding the flight, they refused my entry because i do not have the form with me.

i told them i threw it away, and argues but politely. than a security man came out of nowhere,

and told me aggresively :"SHUT UP".

FROM there i was escorted to an immigration interrogation room, where a lady officer

told me : "if you can't remember in which flight you came to thailand 30 days ago, you

will be arrested". so i tried hard and remembered the flight company, the lady left

and came back with a piece of paper which she threw at me (!) - that was

the passengers list on that flight into thailand !

 

and the funny side of the story? today you don't need at all this departure form...the

immigration officers keep it with them...

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It was not at the airport. Should have clarified that. It was at immigration, for the annual renewal. I do not think I am a bigshot on any level. I just think as ex-pats we deserve a small modicum of respect. Is that really too much to ask? Are we men, or are we vermin? 

So in their case they have to "earn your respect", as per your own words, but you should be granted respect on the grounds that you're a foreigner? How does that add up?

 

"I deserve your respect from the get-go but you have to earn mine" sounds suspiciously like a self-proclaimed big-shot.

38 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

few years ago i left thailand by air. the immigration officer stamped my

passport but handed me the seperate departure form (that time they used

to attach that departure form to the passport, AFTER the immigration check out).

so i thought i don't need that departure form any more and threw it away.

but on boarding the flight, they refused my entry because i do not have the form with me.

i told them i threw it away, and argues but politely. than a security man came out of nowhere,

and told me aggresively :"SHUT UP".

FROM there i was escorted to an immigration interrogation room, where a lady officer

told me : "if you can't remember in which flight you came to thailand 30 days ago, you

will be arrested". so i tried hard and remembered the flight company, the lady left

and came back with a piece of paper which she threw at me (!) - that was

the passengers list on that flight into thailand !

 

and the funny side of the story? today you don't need at all this departure form...the

immigration officers keep it with them...

I log in into my emirates account and I have all proofs of my travels... easy.