Elite Visa Pick Up From Bangkok

[kbb]

 

So after much soul searching and research, I decided to get the 20 year Elite visa. 

(Health Insurance, convenience, problems with renewing current visa all played in to the mix). 

 

Once I made the decision and applied for the Elite, I was sure I was doing the right thing. 

 

Of course -- The "Thing" hits. As it must. 

 

We live in Isarn. 

They are insisting that I pick up the visa from the BKK Immigration office. 

 

I take Corona seriously 
I do not want to sit on a bus.
Even the 1 hour plane ride is still a risk.

 

I had asked that we pick up from the KK Immigration office. 
Not allowed. 

 

I then was working with them to use a limited Power of Attorney to pick up the visa from the BKK office. 
Almost done, then they declined. 

 

I used to make medicine. I understand all about government paperwork and rules.

I also acknowledge that Thai Immigration is easier to work with than USA Immigration. 

 

But in the age of Corona ... 

 

Does anyone have experience with this?
Before I go off an a useless binge of emails and phone calls.

[ubonjoe]

I think you are going to have to travel to Chaeng Wattana immigration in Bangkok to have your visa sticker put into your passport.

Doing the trip by air would be the best. Flying in into Don Mueang is the best since it is close to immigration.

Or make the trip using private transportation.

[BritTim]

If government Covid-19 statistics are to be believed, doing the trip by air would involve minuscule risk and would be my choice. Other, less obvious, options are private car with driver (affordable in Thailand, about 8,000 baht return with bargaining and doable in one day) and first class sleeper buying both berths of the train compartment so you are not at risk from the other occupant of your compartment..

[darrendsd]

2 hours ago, kbb said:

Before I go off an a useless binge of emails and phone calls.

They have told you what you need to do so yes it would be useless

 

You may not like what they have told you but unless you want to lose 2 million? Baht then you really don't have much choice

[Mulambana]

I think it clearly says where you can get your visa sticker. Just take a private car to travel. 

Edited June 13, 2020 by Mulambana

[ukrules]

On 6/13/2020 at 7:48 AM, ubonjoe said:

I think you are going to have to travel to Chaeng Wattana immigration in Bangkok to have your visa sticker put into your passport.

Doing the trip by air would be the best. Flying in into Don Mueang is the best since it is close to immigration.

Or make the trip using private transportation.

 

@ubonjoe Is it possible to use a power of attorney with a designated agent (perhaps a lawyer) to have a visa inserted into a passport when renewing without attending in person ?

 

As I understand it a correctly assigned agent can act as you as if you were there yourself when a power of attorney arrangement is in place.

 

Lets ignore the cost for this, right now there are some serious implications for anyone entering into the Bangkok area like a 2 week quarantine in many places and I'd like to check for any current knowledge before I go to a lawyer next week for more detailed advice on this.

 

[ubonjoe]

11 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Is it possible to use a power of attorney with a designated agent (perhaps a lawyer) to have a visa inserted into a passport when renewing without attending in person ?

I think I would contact Thai Elite about it. They may of helped with that before.

I think it could be possible but it may require signatures done on some forms to get the visa.

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

Is it possible to use a power of attorney with a designated agent (perhaps a lawyer) to have a visa inserted into a passport when renewing without attending in person ?

According to the OP, he wanted to do this, started the process of arranging it, and was then met with a firm denial. Immigration can be bloody minded about people being present in person for visa and extension applications.

[ukrules]

3 hours ago, BritTim said:

According to the OP, he wanted to do this, started the process of arranging it, and was then met with a firm denial. Immigration can be bloody minded about people being present in person for visa and extension applications.

 

This is not really an acceptable situation.

 

I believe they're denying the power of attorney route not because it's the law but rather because they simply don't want to allow it, perhaps it's slightly more convenient for them to do it this way, I would like to explore this situation further and find out if it's just their procedure or the law actually demands that people come to a specific building from all over the country during an outbreak right where that building (Chaeng Wattana) is located.

 

We have a developing situation in Hua Hin and I'm sure many other provinces around the country where anyone coming in from the 'Bangkok area red zone' is going to be forced to isolate for two weeks and register with the local health authorities that they have just arrived from the 'red zone' when they return.

 

I would like to explore the law behind this, does anyone know of any law firms that will already be familiar with all the immigration related power of attorney laws?

[Albert Zweistein]

40 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

This is not really an acceptable situation.

 

I believe they're denying the power of attorney route not because it's the law but rather because they simply don't want to allow it, perhaps it's slightly more convenient for them to do it this way, I would like to explore this situation further and find out if it's just their procedure or the law actually demands that people come to a specific building from all over the country during an outbreak right where that building (Chaeng Wattana) is located.

 

We have a developing situation in Hua Hin and I'm sure many other provinces around the country where anyone coming in from the 'Bangkok area red zone' is going to be forced to isolate for two weeks and register with the local health authorities that they have just arrived from the 'red zone' when they return.

 

I would like to explore the law behind this, does anyone know of any law firms that will already be familiar with all the immigration related power of attorney laws?

Good luck but I am quite certain you are going to lose that battle.

[stratocaster]

When I picked up my 20 year elite 12 months ago I did not even go inside immigration. I handed the passport to the agent at the door and waited outside in the seating area. 10 minutes later the agent returned the passport with the visa affixed. No photo take, signed nothing. I had only traveled from Rayong but I was still cheesed off.

[DrJack54]

Jump on a plane. Also fares not too bad.

 

[kbb]

I was in the exact same situation last year in June 2020.

 

I picked up the 20 year Elite to replace my Retirement Visa. 

(One of the reasons was that I moved from Jomtien to a small village almost 3 hours from KK Immigration).

 

Immigration only provides Elite Visas in Bangkok - I would guess that there are too few applicants like me outside of the city to bother other Immigration offices with this. 

 

At first, Thai Elite tried to have me get the stamp with the help of a courier granted Power of Attorney. 

Immigration would not consider the idea. 

 

I most unhappily traveled to BKK.

Did not want to travel through the Virus Cloud. 

Minimized my Virus exposure by staying at the airport hotel. 

 

When I had my stamp processed at Immigration, I was led to a cubicle. 

The officer may have glanced at me - But  she never had me sit down, and never asked me any questions. 

 

I got my Elite Visa stamp (and after BEGGING and PLEADING), my routine 90 day report.

 

I will say that the Elite Visa representative who met me at Immigration was terrific. 

I have no regrets about the decision to go to the Elite Visa - Their customer service, from the application process to my recent visa stay date extension has been excellent. 

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, kbb said:

I was in the exact same situation last year in June 2020

Do you realize that this is your own thread from a year ago.

 

[ukrules]

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Jump on a plane. Also fares not too bad.

 

 

The problem here is that in Hua Hin where I live they are now insisting on 2 weeks isolation when you arrive from the red zone, which Chaeng Watanna is right at the epicenter of in Nonthaburi.

 

They will have proof that I was in Bangkok simly by looking at my passport.

 

I'm supposed to go all the way to Bangkok - I can live with that as I've done it before for my first Elite visa some 7 years back but the two weeks isolation when I return after being there for potentially less than 1 hour is a bit much.

 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by ukrules

[DrJack54]

39 minutes ago, ukrules said:

They will have proof that I was in Bangkok simly by looking at my passport

Is there road blocks now? 

[ukrules]

18 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Is there road blocks now? 

 

No there's not but I like to avoid breaking the law wherever possible as I know it's grounds for deportation.

 

I will add to this conversation that I have been told if there is a 'proper lockdown' that I will likely be able to get the visa sticker without going to Bangkok in person.

That alone suggests this 'rule' where you need to go to Chaeng Wattana is some arbitrary procedure / rule dreamed up by some official and not enshrined in law. They simply don't want to do it outside of Chaeng Wattana - so they don't. Well now it's causing problems.

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by ukrules