Popular Post Jlop Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 (edited) The restrictions on travel due to the covid-19 pandemic have led to new difficulties for people seeking long-term visas and new opportunities for corruption at Immigration offices. I had my first experience recently with an immigration officer telling me I had a problem with my visa extension request, and saying he could fix it for extra money. To me that is graft, meaning taking advantage of an official position to extract money from the public. It's not bribery because I did not offer the payment. I know this is as common as garbage on the side of the road, but is there any government office or official that might take a complaint about this seriously? Where might I be able to complain about this to some effect? Edited September 17, 2020 by Jlop Expansion of post 8 1 3 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post glegolo Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 (edited) thousands of years with corruption, and you wish to change Thailand... Good luck.... glegolo Edited September 17, 2020 by glegolo 15 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jackdd Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 https://www.nacc.go.th/english 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tomazbodner Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 You can report, but make sure there's absolutely nothing they can find about you unless you wish to see the inside of IDC and deportation procedure. 13 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Phillip9 Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 27 minutes ago, Jlop said: I know this is as common as garbage on the side of the road, but is there any government office or official that might take a complaint about this seriously? Where might I be able to complain about this to some effect? There is an anti corruption office, but they don't take complaints unless you give them a bribe. 9 2 69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BritTim Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 On rare occasions, a junior official might try this without the knowledge and participation of his boss. In that case, if you can prove it, there is a chance of getting the official disciplined. Generally, though, the official is part of the system, and trying to tackle it is asking for trouble. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Phillip9 Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 This isn't one rogue officer like you are probably thinking. Everyone in immigration knows about this and approves of it, right up to the highest level. The extra fees they collect this way are likely shared among the whole department. It won't help to make a complaint. 13 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lazygourmet Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 This is not corruption. Merely an introduction to Thai immigration law loopholes for a fee. 7 2 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWRC Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Interested to know, did you pay the extra money that was asked for? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 473geo Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 I don't know of many business where 'additional work' caused by incompetence of the customer does not carry a charge 1 5 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post polpott Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 (edited) 58 minutes ago, Jlop said: Where might I be able to complain about this to some effect? Try the Thai Visa forum. You'll get lots of really good advice. 555 Edited September 17, 2020 by polpott 2 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
userabcd Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 (edited) So is there really a problem with your visa extension request which could theoretically be obtained through the existing visa extension rules? Edited September 17, 2020 by userabcd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baansgr Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 What was the problem he could fix?.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post AlfHuy Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 don't take it to personal. It is only a bit of colluption? No ploplem. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jlop Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 20 minutes ago, 473geo said: I don't know of many business where 'additional work' caused by incompetence of the customer does not carry a charge 20 minutes ago, 473geo said: I don't know of many business where 'additional work' caused by incompetence of the customer does not carry a charge You put "additional work" in quotes like I said it, but I didn't. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jlop Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 15 minutes ago, polpott said: Try the Thai Visa forum. You'll get lots of really good advice. 555 As usual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
473geo Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 1 minute ago, Jlop said: You put "additional work" in quotes like I said it, but I didn't. Yes should have been single quotes, send me the bill for my error 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jlop Posted September 17, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 14 minutes ago, userabcd said: So is there really a problem with your visa extension request which could theoretically be obtained through the existing visa extension rules? Maybe, if I was willing to travel from one end of the country to another use a different immigration office 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post xylophone Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 (edited) 40 minutes ago, Phillip9 said: This isn't one rogue officer like you are probably thinking. Everyone in immigration knows about this and approves of it, right up to the highest level. The extra fees they collect this way are likely shared among the whole department. It won't help to make a complaint. Yes and it is not only endemic here, but genetic.....so consider the cost of what you were asked to pay, vs what it will cost you to get your problem sorted (if at all possible)!! Meant to add that as far as corruption and Thailand go.........it's all part of life's rich tapestry here! Edited September 17, 2020 by xylophone 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amexpat Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 7 minutes ago, AlfHuy said: don't take it to personal. It is only a bit of colluption? No ploplem. Don't take it too personally. Of course we would never ridicule anyone's linguistic abilities, would we? 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post AlfHuy Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 (edited) 6 minutes ago, amexpat said: Don't take it too personally. Of course we would never ridicule anyone's linguistic abilities, would we? right Solly, English is my 4th language. Solly. Edited September 17, 2020 by AlfHuy 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jlop Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 1 hour ago, glegolo said: thousands of years with corruption, and you wish to change Thailand... Good luck.... glegolo We need to keep bringing it up - maybe the young people trying to change this country will be interested at some point. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfHuy Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 You know this song? Monica - Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days ... Lyrics It's just one of them days, when I wanna be all alone It's just one of them days, when I gotta be all alone It's just one of them days, don't take it personal I just wanna be all alone, and you think I treat you wrong… More Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jlop Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 1 hour ago, jackdd said: https://www.nacc.go.th/english Thanks, that's all I was looking for. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jlop Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 9 minutes ago, 473geo said: Yes should have been single quotes, send me the bill for my error They didn't do any extra work anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
473geo Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 1 minute ago, Jlop said: They didn't do any extra work anyway. Then I am at a loss, you have approached immigration with everything in order to allow the paperwork to be processed at this office and for some reason this did not happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post richard_smith237 Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 6 minutes ago, 473geo said: 10 minutes ago, Jlop said: They didn't do any extra work anyway. Then I am at a loss, you have approached immigration with everything in order to allow the paperwork to be processed at this office and for some reason this did not happen? Indeed - what exactly was missing from your paperwork that the Immigration Officer would 'turn a blind eye to' for a free? Could you easily remedy the issue and return with everything in place the next day? Was the immigration officer making life a lot easier for you so you didn’t have to run around for more required documents etc? There’s not doubt about it, this is corruption - but in a lot of cases the ‘grey area’ is where the cost is minimal but the solution advantageous to you. So far you’ve given no real information other than ‘immigration officer spited a problem and asked for a bribe' Fill in the gaps... this will also help others who are making extensions to avoid the same mistake. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
473geo Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said: Indeed - what exactly was missing from your paperwork that the Immigration Officer would 'turn a blind eye to' for a free? Could you easily remedy the issue and return with everything in place the next day? Was the immigration officer making life a lot easier for you so you didn’t have to run around for more required documents etc? There’s not doubt about it, this is corruption - but in a lot of cases the ‘grey area’ is where the cost is minimal but the solution advantageous to you. So far you’ve given no real information other than ‘immigration officer spited a problem and asked for a bribe' Fill in the gaps... this will also help others who are making extensions to avoid the same mistake. Have you guys any idea how frequently people who have spent quite a large sum of money for immigration 'processing' all over the world are simply rejected and told start again!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrJack54 Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 7 minutes ago, 473geo said: Then I am at a loss, you have approached immigration with everything in order to allow the paperwork to be processed at this office and for some reason this did not happen? The OP did not clearly identify the reason for rejection or identify what was wrong. I suggest he did not satisfy requirements. It seems he has not obtained his extension. Is now on thaivisa focusing on corruption. With 6 more business days left till Friday 25. I suggest keeps eye on the ball. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post fondue zoo Posted September 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 17, 2020 I remember my first time.. they were surprisingly gentle ???? I first knew something was funky when I saw an agent start wheeling in box after box of gift oranges on a trolley. No problem, no id, just walked straight into the officers area. Only 5 minutes before he had delivered a wad of passports and papers.. juicing the wheels 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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