Applied for my second marriage extension a couple of days ago. I was previously on retirement extensions and have been going to the same office for 12 years.  Called in two weeks earlier to arrange an appointment but when I arrived they had  "no record" of the appointment they had given us. Waited an hour outside the office in the heat before they accepted the paperwork from us. They came back an hour later with new paperwork which they said had to be filled in with blue ink. (Have used black ink for the past 12 years no problem)

They also produced several new forms for us to fill in which we have never seen before and are not online. They questioned our Thai witness who lives just down the road from us, wanting to know his life story, job, income etc.

They then said we should bring the person we bought the land from to be a witness as they would know more about us. My wife pointed out that we bought the land at a government auction and as such had no contact with the previous owner. They also asked what my monthly pension is. Never been asked before even on retirement extensions. We had countersigned all the necessary documents and photos but they brought them all back now with an immigration certification stamp on them so we had to re- sign them at the bottom of their stamp. Basically they made what should be a formality in to a ridiculous procedure. Amazing Thailand for sure !

19 minutes ago, Wookie said:

We had countersigned all the necessary documents and photos but they brought them all back now with an immigration certification stamp on them so we had to re- sign them at the bottom of their stamp.

Chiang Mai do that as well.

And the blue ink trick (although it's only signatures if you push them a little)

It was Phetchaburi. Probably for all the reasons you mentioned.

I agree with the OP, In the past 15 years I've used both the marriage and retirement visa extension route, this year I did marriage at it was the most difficult to date.  My 4x6 photos (on photo paper) were too small, needed to be a full A-4 sheet for each, this year I needed to provide a witness even though the amphur paperwork says we're still married, the IO made a snide remark to my wife in Thai because a few of my papers weren't stacked identical to each other.  IO even went on to say in Thai to my wife "next year she won't be so nice".  They can try and make it difficult but so long as I meet all the requirements they can't deny my application. 

But next year I will go the retirement visa route, less hoops to jump through and less made up drama from the IO. 

1) Marriage extensions are more complicated than retirement extensions I am led to believe, therefore more work. They have to present to he dossiers upwards through several layers, and therefore if the paperwork is not to the liking of their seniors they cop the bollockings.

 

2) I think that the " fringe benefits" of dealing with an agent are more attractive?

5 minutes ago, bbko said:

I agree with the OP, In the past 15 years I've used both the marriage and retirement visa extension route, this year I did marriage at it was the most difficult to date.  My 4x6 photos (on photo paper) were too small, needed to be a full A-4 sheet for each, this year I needed to provide a witness even though the amphur paperwork says we're still married, the IO made a snide remark to my wife in Thai because a few of my papers weren't stacked identical to each other.  IO even went on to say in Thai to my wife "next year she won't be so nice".  They can try and make it difficult but so long as I meet all the requirements they can't deny my application. 

But next year I will go the retirement visa route, less hoops to jump through and less made up drama from the IO. 

Strange about them wanting a full A4 sheet for each photo. We took them like that as we did the previous year but this time they said no there have to be two photos on each A4 !

OP, all your points sound very minor to me....

The blue ink? Big deal.

The new forms? They are just acknowledgements. 

Mountain out of mole hill.

Apart from that I think anyone be it retirement or marriage choose the more difficult path using income method.

Money in bank bullet proof and so so easy for married guys. 

 

Furthermore, last year we had to take two witnesses. The immigration officer also came to our house a week later and took several photos outside the front gate, outside the front door, in the kitchen, in the lounge and in the bedroom and then wanted petrol money. They are coming to do exactly the same this weekend!

5 minutes ago, Wookie said:

Furthermore, last year we had to take two witnesses. The immigration officer also came to our house a week later and took several photos outside the front gate, outside the front door, in the kitchen, in the lounge and in the bedroom and then wanted petrol money. They are coming to do exactly the same this weekend!

Yeah I've heard the petrol thing a lot or lunch/dinner money. At least you're doing it legally and only have to deal with it once a year. Imagine the people who have to go every month or two months and deal with them.

1 minute ago, Ohyesuare said:

Yeah I've heard the petrol thing a lot or lunch/dinner money. At least you're doing it legally and only have to deal with it once a year. Imagine the people who have to go every month or two months and deal with them.

Yes I could only suffer it once a year

9 minutes ago, Wookie said:

Furthermore, last year we had to take two witnesses. The immigration officer also came to our house a week later and took several photos outside the front gate, outside the front door, in the kitchen, in the lounge and in the bedroom and then wanted petrol money. They are coming to do exactly the same this weekend!

Produce and get them to sign a tax receipt, take some photos of the visit and handing over the money and then invoice/claim it back from immigration department.

17 minutes ago, Wookie said:

Strange about them wanting a full A4 sheet for each photo. We took them like that as we did the previous year but this time they said no there have to be two photos on each A4 !

At CW a few years ago we used to take loose photos to the immi office, the immi officer told us 2 photos per a4 sheet and she selected the ones she wanted and then we stuck them on the paper.

 

Now just routinely stick 2 photos on an A4 sheet for a total of 4 photos as they want.

21 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

1) Marriage extensions are more complicated than retirement extensions I am led to believe, therefore more work. They have to present to he dossiers upwards through several layers, and therefore if the paperwork is not to the liking of their seniors they cop the bollockings.

 

2) I think that the " fringe benefits" of dealing with an agent are more attractive?

Not complicated at all.

 

Its just some documents to provide.

5 minutes ago, userabcd said:

Produce and get them to sign a tax receipt, take some photos of the visit and handing over the money and then invoice/claim it back from immigration department.

I think if I did that my next application would be in jeopardy !

Not trying to have a dig, but after 12 years you should know about blue ink. Its not even a trick, it's standard procedure, just in the same way some UK government forms can only be filled in black. 

To me it looks like they will haunt foreigners for a reason to make problems.I think this is just he start.Im sure those who stay on CE also will face alot of problems.

2 minutes ago, recom273 said:

Not trying to have a dig, but after 12 years you should know about blue ink. Its not even a trick, it's standard procedure, just in the same way some UK government forms can only be filled in black. 

Well they accepted black ink for 12 years. What's annoying is the constant changing of the requirements. Seeing other people's posts it is also obvious that each office has different rules

35 minutes ago, bbko said:

I agree with the OP, In the past 15 years I've used both the marriage and retirement visa extension route, this year I did marriage at it was the most difficult to date.  My 4x6 photos (on photo paper) were too small, needed to be a full A-4 sheet for each, this year I needed to provide a witness even though the amphur paperwork says we're still married, the IO made a snide remark to my wife in Thai because a few of my papers weren't stacked identical to each other.  IO even went on to say in Thai to my wife "next year she won't be so nice".  They can try and make it difficult but so long as I meet all the requirements they can't deny my application. 

But next year I will go the retirement visa route, less hoops to jump through and less made up drama from the IO. 

That returning to ret.ext would be gladly welcomed by I.O. as it is less work for them and maybe now 800K for Thai bank to hold ...instead of 400k only short time .

They could see you had ret ext. before...so hence a firm push to that again 

I've been working for months to get approval for my extension on retirement out of Buriram Amphur. They sent me back to CW for another stamp. Off to US Embassy to stamp my Pass Port. Have Thai Birth Certificate and Thai PP for my son. Then wanted MORE documents translated! I am going around in circles. Asking for a child extension.

2 minutes ago, david555 said:

That returning to ret.ext would be gladly welcomed by I.O. as it is less work for them and maybe now 800K for Thai bank to hold ...instead of 400k only short time .

They could see you had ret ext. before...so hence a firm push to that again 

So basically they are lazy

3 minutes ago, david555 said:

That returning to ret.ext would be gladly welcomed by I.O. as it is less work for them and maybe now 800K for Thai bank to hold ...instead of 400k only short time .

They could see you had ret ext. before...so hence a firm push to that again 

I keep 800,000 + baht in my account all the time anyway just in case there is a problem with the marriage extension

5 minutes ago, konaboy said:

I've been working for months to get approval for my extension on retirement out of Buriram Amphur. They sent me back to CW for another stamp. Off to US Embassy to stamp my Pass Port. Have Thai Birth Certificate and Thai PP for my son. Then wanted MORE documents translated! I am going around in circles. Asking for a child extension.

They seem to like making life difficult for us

5 minutes ago, Wookie said:

I keep 800,000 + baht in my account all the time anyway just in case there is a problem with the marriage extension

Smart move ...as in Thailand need plan B ....or even more capital letters  from the alphabet .....????

Blue ink has always been the norm as black can look like a photo copy.

I have never had any problems with marriage extensions after 18 years of doing them.

Just now, david555 said:

Smart move ...as in Thailand need plan B ....or even more capital letters  from the alphabet .....????

Not a smart move in my view.

With 800k in the bank you give them an opportunity to push you to a retirement extension.

1 minute ago, david555 said:

Smart move ...as in Thailand need plan B ....or even more capital letters  from the alphabet .....????

I only put up with the bureaucratic <deleted> here because I like the weather and the scenery and have a great wife. Otherwise I would be on the first flight out.

Just now, Lite Beer said:

Not a smart move in my view.

With 800k in the bank you give them an opportunity to push you to a retirement extension.

That is what i said ....but being able to counter them anyway and walk out with the desired ret .ext ..."the flash application " ????

Integrity Legal today opined that in 2018 about 80,000 Farangs here on retirement. He says BKK Post just reported about 35,000  now?

4 minutes ago, konaboy said:

Integrity Legal today opined that in 2018 about 80,000 Farangs here on retirement. He says BKK Post just reported about 35,000  now?

I guess 45,000 couldn't put up with it any longer

4 minutes ago, konaboy said:

Integrity Legal today opined that in 2018 about 80,000 Farangs here on retirement. He says BKK Post just reported about 35,000  now?

Maybe many changed to marriage ....or to the covid ext. 

Hence maybe why they made the covid ext. stricter .....Thai bank loosing farang deposits too much..????