Immigration officer asking for ex-wife in order to renew extension of Non-O Thai Child

[Topprofile]

Has anyone been asked in Bangkok for their ex-spouse to show up for the extension of Non-O based on Thai child?
I have been divorced for 5 years, always renewed in Hua Hin, but yesterday in Bangkok I was told that my ex-wife needs to accompany me and my son in order to renew my visa.

What kind of logic is that? She could be re-married and moved to any other country in the world, despite having shared custody.

 

Anyone had the same experience?
I assume they are just looking for an envelope..?

[ubonjoe]

There is certainly nothing the written rules stating your ex has to present to apply for the extension.

It could be due to you having joint custody of your child. Perhaps you could get a statement done by her that she approves of you getting the extension.

If you cannot get her to be there you could ask to talk to a supervisor.

[Topprofile]

Thank you for your reply!

Well in one way, I'm lucky as me and my ex are still on speaking terms. But what if someone does not have contact or the spouse refuses just out of spite? There is no sense whatsoever in this request from Immigration. 

 

My extension expires tomorrow, immigration has told me not to come back, but that they will call me. I have no proof that I have submitted the paperwork nor did they take the 1900 application fee.. They just told my son and me to go home. All very strange..

 

I have to go back in the morning again as I won't risk having them come the day after and say I'm on overstay...

 

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

 you must get an “under consideration” passport stamp tomorrow, to legally avoid overstay,

 & retain passport yourself. stamp will tell you to return to Imm.

 

[Topprofile]

Yes I know.

I have been here for 19 years... Never had issues like this in the past!

 

Maybe times are tough for the officers during covid..?

[Rawairat]

I had a divorce agreement, stating I was responsible for our child,  registered at the local district office which covered me in Phuket. Had to be a new copy every year from the office which only cost B30.

[Foghorn]

I had this happen in hua hin , my ex is living in Australia ,  I have full custody of my children with all the paper from the Thai courts , after arguing with them for a hour ,because my ex wasn’t coming back , and I was staying there,  they relented, never had the problem again , I think they thought an easy fleece . I hope you fight them and win , I videoed the little fat lady in hua hin

[Topprofile]

 

1 hour ago, Foghorn said:

I had this happen in hua hin , my ex is living in Australia ,  I have full custody of my children with all the paper from the Thai courts , after arguing with them for a hour ,because my ex wasn’t coming back , and I was staying there,  they relented, never had the problem again , I think they thought an easy fleece . I hope you fight them and win , I videoed the little fat lady in hua hin

I know who you mean...  They are making good money at the Hua Hin office. 
I had an issue first year in Hua Hin, where the tall, slim, older guy asked me for 10.000 and I refused and stood up and started making a lot of noise. The lady you're talking about told me to settle down and asked me to come sit with her. She asked what the issue was and I told her with a raised voice that the "guy over there wants 10.000thb for my visa and he didn't even look at my papers". 
She just told me to be quiet and she would fix everything. After that I never had issues in Hua Hin again.
But the guy is now the one sitting outside, handing over the paper to everyone coming to the immigration office.

[Topprofile]

Went back to immigration today.

Went straight to the lady who handled my application and wanted to giver her "extra documents" they asked for 2 days ago (unnecessary paperwork they just threw at me before I left). She just told me to wait outside. 
After waiting for another 2 queue numbers I went up again and told her my visa expires today and they have all my paperwork.
She went to her boss behind her, and I went straight up and asked why they don't accept the extra documents they asked for. She arrogantly refused to listen and just said "wait outside. Your application is not approved" and I told her she asked for more papers, but now  you don't want them? As I tried to ask something, she cut me off and again "wait outside".
After waiting another 1 hour I went up again to the "boss" and asked to see her supervisor, who she claimed was not there and she would call me when she came. I told her I would go out and find the supervisor on my own. It took 1 minute and she called me back in, took the "extra documents" and things started to move.. 
Eventually paid the 1900 and got the stamp in my passport without any questions about my ex-spouse.

High on power, that's what they are. 

[Topprofile]

3 hours ago, Rawairat said:

I had a divorce agreement, stating I was responsible for our child,  registered at the local district office which covered me in Phuket. Had to be a new copy every year from the office which only cost B30.

I had this document as well however on the first day they still insisted my ex needed to join.
In the end it was all about being drunk on power

[cTay]

Yes, I was asked that in January 2017, and that was the last straw. You all be photographed by the IO. I changed to an extension based on a WP after that.

 

However, I still got a visit after changing my extension of stay. The officer asked to see my child and my ex. Fortunately, she lived nearby, so she was able to come over.

[Topprofile]

1 hour ago, cTay said:

Yes, I was asked that in January 2017, and that was the last straw. You all be photographed by the IO. I changed to an extension based on a WP after that.

 

However, I still got a visit after changing my extension of stay. The officer asked to see my child and my ex. Fortunately, she lived nearby, so she was able to come over.

????

[BritTim]

@TopprofileYour posts about the Hua Hin office are very brave. You may not be aware that you can find yourself in a lot of trouble in Thailand publishing information derogatory of specific officials or offices, even if everything you write is 100% true. I gave your main post a like, but would counsel you to be cautious going forward. Do not be astonished if a moderator decides to remove the post for safety.

[Foghorn]

16 hours ago, BritTim said:

@TopprofileYour posts about the Hua Hin office are very brave. You may not be aware that you can find yourself in a lot of trouble in Thailand publishing information derogatory of specific officials or offices, even if everything you write is 100% true. I gave your main post a like, but would counsel you to be cautious going forward. Do not be astonished if a moderator decides to remove the post for safety.

Isn’t coruption against the law and speaking about it is the only way to get it out in the public

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, Foghorn said:

Isn’t coruption against the law and speaking about it is the only way to get it out in the public

That is entirely logical. However, Thailand is not Norway. In the same way that I would not advise a North Korean to publicly highlight abuses by the Kim regime, it is unwise to upset wealthy and/or connected people in Thailand. The court system is not your friend when it comes to disputes with the wrong people in Thailand.

 

Corruption is pervasive within Thailand and, in general, the corruption becomes worse the higher up in the system you go. Even at very senior levels, clean officials do exist, but they are in the minority, and know better than to try to confront the misdeeds of their peers.

[bangkokbonecollector]

Yeah there seems to be a particularly strange vibe at the Bangkok immi office. Trickle down effect I am afraid. For all his faults, immigration was a lot more humane during the Thaksin era.