Immigration seem to be deliberately making marriage extensions more difficult

[DUNROAMIN]

I renewed marriage visa this year, forgot to copy all bank book pages, then all went OK. No visit from immigration at home this year. Reported as per date in my visa, in and out in 15 mins. Done.

[moe666]

I suffered marriage visa one year then back to retirement, The money difference is just not worth the hassel

[sandyf]

19 hours ago, Ohyesuare said:

Which immigration office was this? Some IOs sure do seem to enjoy making life difficult for people, even the ones doing everything by the book and having everything in order. Either a power trip, xenophobia or they want to push you to bribing or using an agent to make things go smoother, who knows.

Is it any surprise with the comments on this forum.

Freedom of speech has never been free, but it is an unfortunate fact of life that the least vocal end up paying the price.

[Old Croc]

3 minutes ago, moe666 said:

I suffered marriage visa one year then back to retirement, The money difference is just not worth the hassel

I have no problem with the money in bank, but changed to marriage last year because with an O-A  the corrupt insurance is required.

 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

19 hours 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?

Sounds about right. I particularly remember 2018 because of the World Cup. I frequented two farang bars in two provinces across Issan, in the wife's hometown, and where I had been working. Both were quite active and lively. Met a lot of nice blokes. Then the following year they began clearing out. I doubt they stopped coming just because of the World Cup.

 

2018 is when the income verification letters from several countries stopped. Also many began reporting more picky immigration requirements. I asked where this guy or that guy went, and was told they simply went home. The wife's hometown farang bar has been closed ever since, the one in the other province was hanging on with 3-4 customers each night. This was before Covid.

[biggles45]

After over ten years in Thailand I met someone special and moved to the Philippines. I have had a Resident Retirement Visa for over 8 years and NEVER been to an immigration office. Couldn't be easier, some countries do want retirees. 

[Satcommlee]

The are encouraging you to use an agent next time.

[HarryWho]

I got my 1st ever marriage extension in December at SaKaeo immigration.  They gave us the laundry list on our 1st visit, and we gathered everything on the list.  They didn't like my bank book statement copy because there were no recent transactions.  So, I did a small withdrawal, redid the copy, and returned.  They told us to come back in a month.  Immigration came to our home to take photos of us, and they sent the application up the chain for approvals.  Really no problem, except that 1 month wait.  I kept telling the wife I would have to leave if they didn't approve it.  ???? When we returned 1 month later, my passport was stamped with the extension!  Mission Accomplished!  Everyone at the SK office was very nice, and very helpful.  No hassles at all. ????????

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, HarryWho said:

They didn't like my bank book statement copy because there were no recent transactions.  So, I did a small withdrawal, redid the copy, and returned

This is common at many offices CW being main example.

As for under consideration period.

Your extension final stamp was a formality.

If your application is accepted at local level then in future relax.

It's a done deal. 

[Road Warrior]

thought should always USE BLACK as blue does not photo copy ???

[kwak250]

They used to charge 100 baht to fill all the forms in a few years ago.

 

They seemed much friendlier then but now they are back to the normal 

"Passpot mister"

"Why you not fill dis in"

 

Still once a year not too bad.

They do talk quite nasty sometimes and my wife only tells me afterwards when we have already left.

 

Probably wise as i would end up without a visa for sure.

 

 

[nakhon thai]

I applied for 3rd marriage visa due to being locked in new zealand with work, the immigration officer did all paperwork, sorted through my unorganised folders. Which were not complete, signed a few papers. No house check no witness, passport stamped 2 weeks later ????????

[no deal]

Just now, no deal said:

 

i am maried in thailand for 15 years and never have any problem,wy immigration do that?because of all the fack mariage! this is the real problem!

[jollyhangmon]

10 minutes ago, Road Warrior said:

thought should always USE BLACK as blue does not photo copy ???

 

... yep, exactly what I was told on one occasion ... never before, never again.

Left hand, right hand, skipped medication ... who tf knows, clowns really.

 

How about photos with white vs. blue background, 555 ...

 

[DefaultName]

This is why I'm sticking to retirement extensions, simpler.

[1FinickyOne]

22 hours ago, Wookie said:

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.

Oh the horror - you had to sign your name again!!!!

[Saraburi121]

1 hour ago, HarryWho said:

I got my 1st ever marriage extension in December at SaKaeo immigration.  They gave us the laundry list on our 1st visit, and we gathered everything on the list.  They didn't like my bank book statement copy because there were no recent transactions.  So, I did a small withdrawal, redid the copy, and returned.  They told us to come back in a month.  Immigration came to our home to take photos of us, and they sent the application up the chain for approvals.  Really no problem, except that 1 month wait.  I kept telling the wife I would have to leave if they didn't approve it.  ???? When we returned 1 month later, my passport was stamped with the extension!  Mission Accomplished!  Everyone at the SK office was very nice, and very helpful.  No hassles at all. ????????

That is awesome to hear and the way a visit for a marriage extension should go.  Very nice that they provide a guide as well, makes life easier for both parties. As with everything regarding extensions experiences vary by office/province.  

[CharlieH]

5 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Oh the horror - you had to sign your name again!!!!

You try it when its print your full name and then sign underneath 100 times ! total of 180 signatures last year ! (took me back to kid writing lines in school). We also had 25 minutes to do it in before it was back the next day.

Curved ball they threw me was they wanted previous passports and every page in them photicopied No mention of this 2 weeks prior when I checked what was needed this time !

[spidermike007]

The upside to this visa, is that only 400,000 is needed as a deposit, and it does not have to stay in the bank, once your visa is granted. The downsides are:
The hurdles you need to jump over, in order to get a marriage visa are stupid, ridiculous, unnecessary, draconian, wasteful, and silly. I understand the need for them to verify that you are a legitimate couple. Upon the first application. But, the dumb requirements should not relate to renewals. You should not be required to show fresh images of the house each time, copies of the marriage papers, the house documents, either come with a local Thai witness, or bring a signed affidavit from a local Thai each time, provide new maps to the house, and dozens of other requirements. I just do not even know what to say about the process. I felt like a street dog by the time I left. After hours of paperwork, copy after copy after copy, each page having to be signed, and then being grilling by the surly officer, I literally felt like a street dog. The level of disrespect that immigration shows married couples here, and foreigners in general, is totally uncalled for, beyond the pale, and inane. The copy woman, the guy sorting our papers, they were all nice. But, the officers? Such sourpusses. The woman who was helping us was so difficult to work with, when she finally rejected us over the tiniest thing she did not like, after nearly an hour of reviewing every document with a microscope, so to speak, and said no,

 

I responded by saying yes. YES, you are going to do this. Yes, you are going to do this right now. YES, you are going to stop saying NO to me right now. This ends now. She looked at me and did not know what to say. I asked for the manager. The top brass came over, and we had it sorted in 30 minutes. Took nearly 3 hours. And as usual, it will be a month, until I have final approval. Is it worth it? 

 

I use the marriage visa, and they inevitably like to throw in something, to increase the difficulty of the process. Frankly, I think at least some of this comes from the rather extreme level of xenophobia and the toxic racism of the army. It filters down throughout the government. I do not think they want us here. And making these procedures difficult is one way of expressing that. 
 
Fortunately, I feel very little of that sentiment from the non governmental Thai people. 

[1FinickyOne]

2 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

You try it when its print your full name and then sign underneath 100 times ! total of 180 signatures last year !

Curved ball they threw me was they wanted previous passports and every page in them photicopied No mention of this 2 weeks prior when I checked what was needed this time !

He only mentioned signing one extra time...

 

I use an agent to facilitate w/paperwork - they prepare everything properly and I don't have to stress what color ink... and my agent can hit the curve. Minimal expense and no problems. 

[CharlieH]

3 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

He only mentioned signing one extra time...

 

I use an agent to facilitate w/paperwork - they prepare everything properly and I don't have to stress what color ink... and my agent can hit the curve. Minimal expense and no problems. 

You and others are fortunate you have that available in your province. Not everyone does.

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Yet you can live in a foreign country be married to Thai and can't put 12k USD into a bank for couple of months.

The very money that you are then allowed to spend and live off, as the funds do not need to remain in the bank. Spare me. 

Why are you so hostile in these topics? What difference does it make to you if someone can or cannot comfortably put away $12,000. I thought the immigration forum was to help people solve problems and get information about what is going on and what to expect at various immigration offices. Not jump down their throat.

[billd766]

13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

I find that such a lame excuse.

The 400k tied up for 2-3 months and then can be used to live from for next several.

The married guys financial requirements are such a cheezy break.

If someone married to a Thai can't tie up 12k USD for couple of months then how sad is that. 

How sad are you without knowing anybody's personal circumstances?

 

I did my retirement planning back in 2002 when I still had a 7 year working life and the GBP/THB forex rate was over 70 baht per GBP.

 

Nobody foresaw the banking crisis of 2008 or even predicted it, never mind all the <deleted> that followed including Brexit.

 

So please wind your neck in until you know everybody's circumstances. It is boring, repetitive and useless rhetoric.

 

I manage quite well on my pension income but there is not a lot left over to build a bank balance.

 

Nobody cares if you don't have a problem, but many long term expats do have a problem as their savings have been used up, with hospital charges lower forex rates, and inflation that nobody considered 20 or more years ago.

[billd766]

23 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

You and others are fortunate you have that available in your province. Not everyone does.

It does not seem to be available in Kamphaeng Phet province though I did ask one year.

[billd766]

16 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Why are you so hostile in these topics? What difference does it make to you if someone can or cannot comfortably put away $12,000. I thought the immigration forum was to help people solve problems and get information about what is going on and what to expect at various immigration offices. Not jump down their throat.

He seems to be blowing his own trumpet. I ignore his "advice" and rely on Ubon Joe and LopBuri3 who do know what they are talking about and are non judgmental in giving Immigration information. 

[DJ54]

Throwing IO under the boat IMO irritates and could result in being more stringent by the book... I’ve not had any troubles for six years ....

[zoza]

21 hours ago, Wookie said:

So they are not really trying to eradicate it, they just want to make money from it

a friend of  the wife explained it to us, that all ''Married visa'' was

sent to Bangkok hence the delay, and while there everything is

checked = more work + no bribe= no like...we had an x goverment

employee as witness, they no like big time.

this year she will be with us from day one.

[Wookie]

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

He only mentioned signing one extra time...

 

I use an agent to facilitate w/paperwork - they prepare everything properly and I don't have to stress what color ink... and my agent can hit the curve. Minimal expense and no problems. 

I and my wife had to sign EVERYTHING again. I would never pay 20,000 baht for an agent. 

[bbko]

What questions do they ask of the witness?  Where I live there's 3 huge open fields surrounding me and I never interact with the Thais next door.  My wife said she can call a cousin or aunt to act as a witness, but I'm not sure immigration will accept them as a legit witness.  I was thinking of asking the nearby mom & pop shop to vouch for me (tipping them for their time) but it seems weird to call in someone I vaguely know to act as a witness for my marriage.

[Wookie]

Just now, bbko said:

What questions do they ask of the witness?  Where I live there's 3 huge open fields surrounding me and I never interact with the Thais next door.  My wife said she can call a cousin or aunt to act as a witness, but I'm not sure immigration will accept them as a legit witness.  I was thinking of asking the nearby mom & pop shop to vouch for me (tipping them for their time) but it seems weird to call in someone I vaguely know to act as a witness for my marriage.

The first extension last year they told us we needed two witnesses who live in the same village. This year they said only one. Apparently if you don't know any of the neighbours you should ask the head of the village  to be a witness