Nothing alarming but I thought I would post anyway. I did my yearly visa extension (retirement) a few days ago, I have been here 14 years. Around 4pm my step daughter who lives on the edge of the village with the father of her child who has a car repair garage came into the house, she said she had been driven here by the Thai immigration van. I asked why, she said they didn't know where my house was (they have the address) but knew she was my step daughter so they called in at her place (immigration have their vans serviced there).

 

5 officers, all very jovial and friendly, asked to see my passport, I told them that the extension of stay had been made a few days ago, they nodded and said they knew that, nothing to be worried about. I fetched the passport, he opened the page with the new extension and photographed it then I had to stand in their midst holding the open passport while one of the officers (no uniforms) photographed us, I don't know why, maybe for safety sake, my step daughter photographed them all as well. When I asked what it was all about, the boss shrugged his shoulders and said they have to do this now and again to ask how I was, was I being treated well, did I feel I was being cheated by my family etc. My missus was standing next to me so I said yes my missus and my son use up all my money (laughter all round). "We don't like doing this," he said, "but we have to and the photos were only used as proof to show the head of the IO that they had followed orders." They waved and said goodbye they had a few more calls to make and off they went.

 

That was only the second time that immigration had been to my house in 14 years. 

Is your suitcase packed? ????????

Just now, simon43 said:

Is your suitcase packed? ????????

No, I didn't feel threatened in any way, my IO is a small friendly place but if this happened somewhere else to someone here on TV one or two may feel a little worried so I posted my experience, that's all.

Oh I envy you, why you have 2 of these calls and I have none (11 years now)... Not fair I do also want a visit...

 

glegolo

21 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

5 officers, all very jovial and friendly, asked to see my passport

Thai efficiency. 

30 minutes ago, glegolo said:

Oh I envy you, why you have 2 of these calls and I have none (11 years now)... Not fair I do also want a visit...

 

glegolo

Usually you get people writing about TM30 and so on saying something like " Why all the fuss? I have been here 30 years and never asked for TM30, passport or whatever?" 

 

Nice to see someone actually asking to be visited.

 

I was once stopped near Central Rama 9 by Immigration Police . They were very friendly, spoke Thai and asked if I would pose for a photo to prove .... couldn't quite understand what at that time.... Anyway I smiled and posed and then we all went our different ways.

12 minutes ago, petedk said:

They were very friendly, spoke Thai and asked if I would pose for a photo to prove .... couldn't quite understand what at that time....

Prove that they are doing their job, by looking for the bad foreigners.

 

It's the same concept as BiB stopping their cars or motorbikes at places of interest, taking selfies or pics, and then leaving. "Been there done that" proof.

13 hours ago, glegolo said:

Oh I envy you, why you have 2 of these calls and I have none (11 years now)... Not fair I do also want a visit...

 

glegolo

I have a few more years and am perfectly content not to see hide not hair of them!

I have to go to immigration with my neighbours....and they need me to draw a map of where the house is...plus much more nonsense.

Quote

"We don't like doing this," he said, "but we have to and the photos were only used as proof to show the head of the IO that they had followed orders."

It happens in other departments too. I know other departments who post the pics on their closed group work facebook page as proof to the Bangkok inspectors/auditors they preformed the task. It ties in with budgets etc too.

22 hours ago, soalbundy said:

the boss shrugged his shoulders and said they have to do this now and again to ask how I was, was I being treated well, did I feel I was being cheated by my family etc.

From my understanding is that it is a kind of random audit from head office as your local immigration has to confirm/know your whereabouts every now and again, and that you are at that address, pictures, date stamped, are filed and put away for the next visit in 14 or so years time....lol

 

One would think that because you do your yearly extension annually, that would be enough, but you could be living elsewhere for all they know, so a spot check keeping farangs in check is part of their job, and a good way for them to lose weight, e.g. getting off of their back sides and out of the office ????

Hmmm, I will take a visit like the poster’s over a visit from the American ICE anytime.

Are your misses and son still talking to you?

Immigration have never visited my house in all the time I've been here. Even after getting marriage extensions and an extension recently for being the parent of Thai kids.

 

 

23 hours ago, glegolo said:

Oh I envy you, why you have 2 of these calls and I have none (11 years now)... Not fair I do also want a visit...

 

glegolo

Me too mate 12 years here and not even a phone call! Only time i see them or vice versa its either at airport or 90days notification.

2 minutes ago, Con Peoples Fund said:

Me too mate 12 years here and not even a phone call! Only time i see them or vice versa its either at airport or 90days notification.

thanks for seing the irony.... hahaha

 

glegolo

23 hours ago, Vacuum said:

Thai efficiency. 

 

The group of 5 was just in case he decided to do a sudden runner, instead of handing over his recently extension stamped passport... Foreigners, of course, are always a threat to national security, regardless.  

 

Or perhaps, it was two to hold the passport, one to hold the camera, and one each to keep an eye on the OP and his family.... 

Absolutely normal, don't worry they do it with me already 4 times!

I've had one visit, for first application for extension based on marriage, after the paperwork was lodged before the waiting period expired. Since then we have moved residence but still same village, Once I was asked by an off duty policeman for a photo of me, standing with him.  Often stopped at roadblocks, produce an IDL. Waived on.

3 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Hmmm, I will take a visit like the poster’s over a visit from the American ICE anytime.

American ICE are active in Thailand and Cambodia also. America is everywhere.

 

I know they do visits for a Family n Married Visa but never heard of a visit for Retirement

On 11/19/2019 at 5:33 PM, soalbundy said:

Nothing alarming but I thought I would post anyway. I did my yearly visa extension (retirement) a few days ago, I have been here 14 years

But that's what it is, a bit alarming. 

 

Never heard about a immi visit for a retirement extension either. You get your passport back a day later to be picked up.

The immi home visits were introduced to be happening very frequently now to marriage extensions, to see whether you really live together. Scam marriages. I can somehow get this.

 

But retirees, who provide all the papers already? What's that about?

 

People always say ... keep with the law and else all is your fault. Sure thing, no problem. But look at it, it all creeps up ... from a-z. 

 

I have nothing to fear, but just look at the increased dynamics, it's quite astonishing over the past years.

 

As of today, I have immi officers coming to my house now on a yearly base ... great!

That was first timer for me, and I have lived legally in many countries before, same as here, never had this before.

It's getting ridiculous. You can't just always look at it, more and more and say it's just normal? Because it's not.

Where does this end?

 

On 11/19/2019 at 5:33 PM, soalbundy said:

I had to stand in their midst holding the open passport while one of the officers (no uniforms) photographed us ...

We will look out for it on the forthcoming vinyl boards ????

12 hours ago, Captain 776 said:

I know they do visits for a Family n Married Visa but never heard of a visit for Retirement

They started this nonsense last year when i got the retirement extension and treated their visit as if it was a marriage ex, even insisting i sit on the bed with my wife for a photo ??? i changed to marriage this year, yep same again but, both times phoned 2 hr before, it is now mandatory to have visits in my province. 

Haven't seen immigration in over 2 years, but Krungthai makes a visit every 9 months. I think they come for the coffee and cake.

17 hours ago, Captain 776 said:

I know they do visits for a Family n Married Visa but never heard of a visit for Retirement

I had one this time last year after my retirement extension. Bit like the OP but only 3 came. They got a bit carried away with the photos and left leaving their paperwork on the table, had to come back the next day and pick it up.

18 hours ago, RedPill said:

Where does this end?

Usually in refugee camps (or worse).

20 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Immigration have never visited my house in all the time I've been here. Even after getting marriage extensions and an extension recently for being the parent of Thai kids.

I don't remember reading your 'sad divorce' story.

Did it put the kibosh on your citizenship application?

(Sorry, if I'm confusing you with another poster)

On 11/19/2019 at 5:40 PM, soalbundy said:

No, I didn't feel threatened in any way, my IO is a small friendly place but if this happened somewhere else to someone here on TV one or two may feel a little worried so I posted my experience, that's all.

Did any of them point at you?

On 11/19/2019 at 6:15 PM, petedk said:

Usually you get people writing about TM30 and so on saying something like " Why all the fuss? I have been here 30 years and never asked for TM30, passport or whatever?" 

 

Nice to see someone actually asking to be visited.

 

I was once stopped near Central Rama 9 by Immigration Police . They were very friendly, spoke Thai and asked if I would pose for a photo to prove .... couldn't quite understand what at that time.... Anyway I smiled and posed and then we all went our different ways.

I have had the honour of posing for photos with Tourist Police and Immigration 3 times now. All friendly and never any problems or questions asked. I think the photo is for showing the boss when they get back, that they have been doing some work.