I only lurk this forum but signed up to post this experience from today. Not sure if I should ID the location of the Immigration Office because it's small. Should I take a bus to another Immigration Office?

 

I told Information that I wanted to convert a Tourist Visa to a Retirement/Non IO Visa and was given my # for the que. This particular que counter was only handled by a uniformed gun carrying IO (I specify, as this was the only IO I saw with a gun- assuming a more senior IO).

 

Anyway, IO looks at my passport and says because I am on overstay, this isn't possible (while at the same time taking out a piece of paper and writing - I soon realized this is the IO's SOP and a sales pitch is forthcoming). I thought maybe the IO was looking at the wrong stamp, but no- IO points to my visa expiring 19 April, says it's July, and repeats that I am overstaying in Thailand 3 months. I mention Visa Amnesty. IO says yes, I can stay until 31 July but then I must go. Then IO asks if I have 800,000 in a Thai bank account now? No, only 300,000 but can wire money in tomorrow. IO says must be in 60 days already (this runs contrary to what I've read online and what UbonJoe has said). 

 

Then the IO explains if not for the 2 above I could do a Non IO and, after 90 days -> Retirement. But impossible and X's out what they had written. IO said understands why I want to stay in Thailand,  and can offer VIP service (draws line on paper and starts to write my 'only option to stay in Thailand after July 31). Writes 25,000 and says can do for this. Will be granted the full 15 months. I will not have to deposit any money- this will be taken care of by agent at the bank where I must go to open an account with a particular person, of course. 

 

IO asks if I have 25,000 now to do immediately. No, but I could have tomorrow. Then IO writes 5,000 and tells me this is for the bank account, so the total is now 30,000. IO says I will pay now and then come back July 31st to get the stamps in my passport for the 15 months, explaining that can't do the stamps until then without actually giving a reason. IO warns me that if I leave the country to make sure that I get an exit visa or I will lose my retirement visa. 

 

I asked how much time I had to do this? IO said must be done on or before July 16 because of the 15 day rule which I've read about. "See you tomorrow" and with that ripped the paper into about 32 pieces! Before that, I had considered asking for the paper because my memory is bad! Glad I didn't. I don't think it would have gone over too well.

 

The one positive of this corruption is, unlike the Agents who say Immigration will hold my passport for 30 days, the IO stressed that I would keep my passport (the value added of going with them instead of an agent).

 

In a non-corrupt IO office would I have gotten a Non IO for 3 months to get my money in country, etc?

What is your problem ?

You are complaining about corruption and you are also using it and benefitting from it .

If you do not like it, then get all your papers in order and pay 1900 Baht .

Take the deal.

 

In these times of uncertainty, it's good to have some certainty. Even if you have to pay a little for it.

9 minutes ago, WuhanVagabond said:

In a non-corrupt IO office

LOL good one!

 

You have got to tell us which office this was in. Udon Thani, by any chance?

3 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

What is your problem ?

You are complaining about corruption and you are also using it and benefitting from it .

If you do not like it, then get all your papers in order and pay 1900 Baht .

What "papers in order"? THe IO claimed Visa Amnesty = overstay and excludes one from consideration for other visas. This is clearly untrue; so I don't see why you think this is a "benefit" to me. 

 

I was stunned it was right in the open with all the non-uniformed workers right there. I thought this kind of thing was more on the down low. I mean, they were literally funneling people to this IO.

3 minutes ago, MagnumForce said:

LOL good one!

 

You have got to tell us which office this was in. Udon Thani, by any chance?

I don't want to say because, yes, I may end up taking the deal because of the unique situation in the world today.

 

It wasn't Udon Thani though. I'll leave it at that.

5 minutes ago, WuhanVagabond said:

What "papers in order"? THe IO claimed Visa Amnesty = overstay and excludes one from consideration for other visas. This is clearly untrue; so I don't see why you think this is a "benefit" to me. 

 

I was stunned it was right in the open with all the non-uniformed workers right there. I thought this kind of thing was more on the down low. I mean, they were literally funneling people to this IO.

Stop complaining. Pay the money or make arrangements to leave. You can't have it both ways.

7 minutes ago, WuhanVagabond said:

I was stunned it was right in the open with all the non-uniformed workers right there. I thought this kind of thing was more on the down low. I mean, they were literally funneling people to this IO.

No, every immigration officer working there will get a 'taste', and some of the money is passed up the chain to head office.

 

PS

It's usually 25k inclusive of everything.

I'm told it can be as low as 15k in Pattaya.

 

PPS

I'm expecting a 60 day amnesty extension to be announced.

No need to pay 25k until the last minute.

Edited July 14, 20205 yr by BritManToo

6 minutes ago, WuhanVagabond said:

I don't want to say because, yes, I may end up taking the deal because of the unique situation in the world today.

 

It wasn't Udon Thani though. I'll leave it at that.

pay or look for better ...  

9 minutes ago, WuhanVagabond said:

What "papers in order"? THe IO claimed Visa Amnesty = overstay and excludes one from consideration for other visas. This is clearly untrue; so I don't see why you think this is a "benefit" to me. 

 

I was stunned it was right in the open with all the non-uniformed workers right there. I thought this kind of thing was more on the down low. I mean, they were literally funneling people to this IO.

stop whinging and accept it or look another IO elsewhere.  Your complaining because you couldn't beat the system.

I would like to know where this was ..so that I can go make my visa there and stop worrying.

 

????????

2 minutes ago, steven100 said:

stop whinging and accept it or look another IO elsewhere.  Your complaining because you couldn't beat the system.

Wow, a welcoming lot here.
MY understanding from the current thread about converting from Tourist to Retirement is that I should have been able to do this for 1,900 baht. That I would have the 3 months to get everything in order, get the 800.000 baht in a Thai bank and seasoned for 60 days, etc. That was UdonJoe's reply.

 

If this is something I should be able to do, as per the rules, for 1,900 baht, where am I trying to "beat the system"????????????????

Just now, WuhanVagabond said:

Tourist to Retirement is that I should have been able to do this for 1,900 baht.

wrong ....   someone misinformed you unfortunately. 

Quite a well written "STORY"........sounds to good to be true

9 minutes ago, elephant45 said:

Quite a well written "STORY"........sounds to good to be true

I guess you won't want to hear about how I got my WP sorted in less time than it took me to walk up the stairs at the labor office, then, either?

16 minutes ago, steven100 said:

wrong ....   someone misinformed you unfortunately. 

No, not wrong.. I converted from tourist to Non O marriage yesterday... 2,000 Bt..

4 minutes ago, elephant45 said:

Quite a well written "STORY"........sounds to good to be true

Implication being that I, what, made it up? 

Seems from the snarky responses that this is no surprise and that I'm a ****** for thinking there was anything wrong with it, that I'm the one in the wrong because I'm still here on a tourist visa and that I should pay it and be thankful if I want to stay, leave if I don't, and shut up in either case.

1 minute ago, Laza 45 said:

No, not wrong.. I converted from tourist to Non O marriage yesterday... 2,000 Bt..

He'll either ignore you reply or call you a liar. UdonJoe said the same as you; but I'm punching bag here for thinking I could do the same and for not being thankful that I a corrupt IO wants 30.000 baht for what cost you 2.000.

 

A warm welcome to Thaivisa.

A 'Pattaya Special' should cost around 15-20k including the visa change, good for 15 months, he's giving you the bum rush.

4 minutes ago, WuhanVagabond said:

He'll either ignore you reply or call you a liar. UdonJoe said the same as you; but I'm punching bag here for thinking I could do the same and for not being thankful that I a corrupt IO wants 30.000 baht for what cost you 2.000.

 

A warm welcome to Thaivisa.

 

you're a tourist, right?

go be a tourist in bangkok.

get your 800k deposited.

apply for a non-o at CW.

12 minutes ago, DaftToPutRealName said:

I guess you won't want to hear about how I got my WP sorted in less time than it took me to walk up the stairs at the labor office, then, either?

You had to actually go to the labour office ?

13 minutes ago, WuhanVagabond said:

He'll either ignore you reply or call you a liar. UdonJoe said the same as you; but I'm punching bag here for thinking I could do the same and for not being thankful that I a corrupt IO wants 30.000 baht for what cost you 2.000.

 

A warm welcome to Thaivisa.

Wuhan, you didn't have 800k in the bank ....  seasoned for 2 months .... yet you wanted the immigration officer to work around that.  You wanted him to process your application from a tourist visa to a non-0 based on retirement without everything in place.

Being serious have these guys and girls not had long enough on overstay already. Thais have been incredibly generous in my opinion but now its time to get legal or get out by the 31st

Nobody can claim that there was no flights outbound....

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Wuhan, you didn't have 800k in the bank ....  seasoned for 2 months .... yet you wanted the immigration officer to work around that.  You wanted him to process your application from a tourist visa to a non-0 based on retirement without everything in place.

According to immigration agent sites, posts in the referenced thread, including resident expert Joe, the 800.000 has to be in and seasoned 60 days before the retirement visa, which is 3 months hence, not now. 

The other objection from the corrupt IO was classifying me as an overstayer who, as such, has no rights to convert a visa. This is blatantly false.

 

The purpose of my thread was to ask for advise as to whether I should take a bus to another immigration office. I explicitly said this at the top.

 

A recent reply suggests I head to Bangkok where there'll be less shenanigans. 

9 minutes ago, Chivas said:

Being serious have these guys and girls not had long enough on overstay already. Thais have been incredibly generous in my opinion but now its time to get legal or get out by the 31st

Nobody can claim that there was no flights outbound....

Which is exactly whayi want to do... as per the rules vs a corrupt IO giving me 1 option- to pay them.

ya needs to have the moneys in the bank when you apply.

no seasonings at that point.

they gives you the 90 stamp, then when you returns,

ya gots 90 days of seasonings.

 

when ya sets up your bank in bangkok or elsewise,

make sure ya's able to get both guarantee letters.

one will state the balance, the other will confirm the

moneys came from a broad.

No need to bash immigration any more than we have done...either accept it and deal with it...or do as I did...take your business elsewhere...????

29 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Wuhan, you didn't have 800k in the bank ....  seasoned for 2 months .... yet you wanted the immigration officer to work around that.  You wanted him to process your application from a tourist visa to a non-0 based on retirement without everything in place.

Yes. Wuhan, take steven100's advice, go get it done. You are running out of time.

58 minutes ago, Pottinger said:

A 'Pattaya Special' should cost around 15-20k including the visa change, good for 15 months, he's giving you the bum rush.

Any recommendations for an agent/agency, whether in Pattaya or elsewhere?

1 hour ago, WuhanVagabond said:

What "papers in order"? THe IO claimed Visa Amnesty = overstay and excludes one from consideration for other visas. This is clearly untrue; so I don't see why you think this is a "benefit" to me. 

 

I was stunned it was right in the open with all the non-uniformed workers right there. I thought this kind of thing was more on the down low. I mean, they were literally funneling people to this IO.

I don't think so. They all know what is going on. They pay for their promotions. Like the police and customs, this is a franchise. A very profitable one. Corruption exists at every level of government here.