Si Racha Immigration

[TomPap]

I used to go to the Pattaya Immigration Office for all of my reporting. A few years ago one of the helpers at the renewal desk asked me why I didn’t go to Si Racha since it was closer to my home than Pattaya. So 90 days later I went and no real problem except that they didn’t have a scanner, so I needed to fill out the form and make copies of my passport then get back into the que......called up and within 2 minutes I was out the door. Thai Immigration at Thailand 1.0. I did this for several years and even has my visa transferred to my new passport. Then came the surprise.....last year I needed medical insurance, which I have had now for 9 years.  My old policy ended in December and my visa ended in January. So I didn’t renew my policy in December and started a new one in January to match up with the dates on the visa (required). Filed for new visa in January last year with no problems, then this year it was microscope time. Did I sign everything required, did I get a bank stamp on the deposit slip from this morning (required at this office) stamps on the copies of the Guarantee Letter, the Bank one year statement, and the copies of my bank book. Everything was OK......

She then told me to wait, and then after 10 minutes had me over to have my picture taken and then handed me the 90 Bank reporting form to sign. Oh and by the way, come back tomorrow to pick up your passport. I had the 90 Bank Reporting last year also. Today when I went to pick up my passport, the lady opened it to the extension and showed me that the date for my next visa renewal was changed by 3 days to match my health insurance policy! I got my passport today and my health insurance kicks in today It looks like the cart is driving the horse. Maybe back to the Pattaya office next year.