Home immigration checks may be on the uptick

[markwhite]

Not sure of the usual prevalence of these around the country, but I just had my first home visit in Nakhon Si Thammarat. This is after 17 years in Thailand and about 10 years on a non-imm type O (currently for retirement, previously for dependants) visa, with no changes or issues that should have flagged anything with immigration as being suspicious.

 

It turned out to be a form-filling exercise which took no more than 10 minutes. Two immigration officers in attendance, one filled out a form confirming my residency at the address and taking ID numbers from my passport/visa and my wife's ID card, which was signed by me and my wife and witnessed by the other officer. A few photos were taken, including one of me, my wife and one officer at the front of the house showing the house number. When asked, one of the officers confirmed that was as a direct result of the number of Chinese visitors found to be overstaying and/or running illegal businesses and had been ordered by on-high. It was suggested that this could be an annual visit. They were working through everyone in the area and had already visited other ex-pats in the area this morning including two foreign teachers at the local university.

 

So just a PSA in case this becomes a thing, and if people are wondering if that thing is happening to others. It may be perfectly usual for some, but this is new to me. That's all.

[ukrules]

24 minutes ago, markwhite said:

and had already visited other ex-pats in the area this morning including two foreign teachers at the local university.

The interesting thing here is that home visits are not usually done for those who are working, are they?

 

This suggests to me that they're operating outside the law.

 

They're in for a shock if they turn up at my door as I know there's absolutely no grounds for a home visit.

[internationalism]

but you are not likely having chinese passport, so their excuse is a smokescreen.

Maybe malicious tip off from some neighbour who doesn't like you.

Immi might visit any extension time, but they haven't bothered with me for the last 3 years (I think they are very busy around October for the last 3 years, that coming from covid amnesty (or whatever they have called it)

[proton]

If they visited the Chinese on our estate they would be carting most of them away ????They are all up to something, including having passports with employment prohibited stamped on the visa while going to work everyday, to claiming a Thai is the father of kids. I know for a fact as I used to copy passport pages etc for them. 

Edited November 30, 2022 by proton

[NanLaew]

46 minutes ago, ukrules said:

They're in for a shock if they turn up at my door as I know there's absolutely no grounds for a home visit.

So, what you gonna do?

[NanLaew]

46 minutes ago, internationalism said:

but you are not likely having chinese passport, so their excuse is a smokescreen.

Maybe malicious tip off from some neighbour who doesn't like you.

Or more simply the farang on a Ret Ext (like the OP) are the low-hanging fruit in this quota-filling, box-checking exercise.

[Liquorice]

I was informed by my IO a few weeks ago, that orders from above dictated that applications for a change of status VE/TV to Non O are now subject to a home visit, regardless of whether based on Thai spouse or retirement.
I know of 2 (retirement) who had such visits in the last month, before the Non O application could be approved. Reports elsewhere as well.

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

The interesting thing here is that home visits are not usually done for those who are working, are they?

 

This suggests to me that they're operating outside the law.

 

They're in for a shock if they turn up at my door as I know there's absolutely no grounds for a home visit.

What shock? They have all the right in the world to visit you, check you up as well as taking all your details. Why would they need any grounds for a visit, and how does that suggest they operate outside the law? Doesn´t matter if you are on an Elite visa. You still have to answer their questions.

I suggest you say hi and be nice to them instead, or do you have something to hide?
 

3 hours ago, internationalism said:

but you are not likely having chinese passport, so their excuse is a smokescreen.

Maybe malicious tip off from some neighbour who doesn't like you.

Immi might visit any extension time, but they haven't bothered with me for the last 3 years (I think they are very busy around October for the last 3 years, that coming from covid amnesty (or whatever they have called it)

NO NO NO! It has nothing to do with neighbour that does not like. We do not need to make up stories or make it bigger than it is. It´s simply that the immigration offices have gotten and order to do more checks. They have been around at my place for the first time as well. No problem, I asked if they wanted coffee. They said yes and we sat down for a friendly chat. Where is the problem? Where is the harm? This forum is getting more pathetic by the day.

[ukrules]

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Doesn´t matter if you are on an Elite visa. You still have to answer their questions.

A home visit is not part of the deal with a TE visa at all.

[soi3eddie]

7 hours ago, Liquorice said:

I was informed by my IO a few weeks ago, that orders from above dictated that applications for a change of status VE/TV to Non O are now subject to a home visit, regardless of whether based on Thai spouse or retirement.
I know of 2 (retirement) who had such visits in the last month, before the Non O application could be approved. Reports elsewhere as well.

Think home visits have been the normal for Non-O applications for quite some time. I had a home visit on application in 2019. 10 minutes and many pictures. They wanted to see originals of bank book and passport which they had seen a few days earlier, and had copies of. Took pictures of me holding said documents in my living room and picture of me with one of the officers at my front door with house number showing. That was all. No questions or probes. Job done. This in Bangkok area served by Chaeng Wattana. 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, markwhite said:

non-imm type O (currently for retirement,

Unless they are also checking everyone on retirement extensions, one wonders why you got a visit?

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, Liquorice said:

I was informed by my IO a few weeks ago, that orders from above dictated that applications for a change of status VE/TV to Non O are now subject to a home visit, regardless of whether based on Thai spouse or retirement.
I know of 2 (retirement) who had such visits in the last month, before the Non O application could be approved. Reports elsewhere as well.

Does application refer to the normal extension process or something different?

[Andrew Dwyer]

11 hours ago, Liquorice said:

I was informed by my IO a few weeks ago, that orders from above dictated that applications for a change of status VE/TV to Non O are now subject to a home visit, regardless of whether based on Thai spouse or retirement.
I know of 2 (retirement) who had such visits in the last month, before the Non O application could be approved. Reports elsewhere as well.

That’s what I heard also.

I had a home visit yesterday, I recently returned visa exempt and obtained an O visa here in Thailand, applied for a retirement extension and am now under consideration pending the results of my home visit.

In my case the home visit should have been upon application for an O visa and not the extension but seems like the IO missed the boat.

Home visit was quick and painless.

 

Expect to see more under consideration stamps for retirement also now:

 

 

 

NOTE: have been here since 2016 on an OA visa and subsequent retirement extensions , changed non-imm visa to escape the insurance requirement.

Edited November 30, 2022 by Andrew Dwyer

[soalbundy]

15 hours ago, internationalism said:

but you are not likely having chinese passport, so their excuse is a smokescreen.

Maybe malicious tip off from some neighbour who doesn't like you.

Immi might visit any extension time, but they haven't bothered with me for the last 3 years (I think they are very busy around October for the last 3 years, that coming from covid amnesty (or whatever they have called it)

I had my second visit around two years ago. A van turned up with 5, FIVE, officers, they were apologetic and pi**ed off that they had to drive around the countryside in the heat instead of staying in their air-con office, big boss had ordered a check on all falangs in his area. What surprised me was what they knew about me. I have been here 17 years and raised two stepdaughters, the oldest is married to a car repair man who has his workshop on the edge of our village, they drove there first in order to get my stepdaughter to guide them to my house (house numbers are not in numerical order) She is rather feisty and told them to line up first so she could take a picture of them and then photographed the vans number plate before guiding them to me. One officer said to me, "I wouldn't like to annoy her" to which I replied, "Tell me about it, she's been that way since she was 5 years old."  Where they knew about my stepdaughter eludes me.

[NONG CHOK]

Would these same home visits apply to holders of retirement visas done through an agent.

[mikecha]

12 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

What shock? They have all the right in the world to visit you, check you up as well as taking all your details. Why would they need any grounds for a visit, and how does that suggest they operate outside the law? Doesn´t matter if you are on an Elite visa. You still have to answer their questions.

I suggest you say hi and be nice to them instead, or do you have something to hide?
 

NO NO NO! It has nothing to do with neighbour that does not like. We do not need to make up stories or make it bigger than it is. It´s simply that the immigration offices have gotten and order to do more checks. They have been around at my place for the first time as well. No problem, I asked if they wanted coffee. They said yes and we sat down for a friendly chat. Where is the problem? Where is the harm? This forum is getting more pathetic by the day.

yes Pathetic  

The Immagration are doing ther job  they were here also  no problem  

like everything here, if you keep documents up to date visa up to date 90 days up to date 

and be polite be a normal Ex pat then life here is good .

try to act the clown not have everything in place try to screw the system then u can expect problems 

 

[Gottfrid]

8 hours ago, ukrules said:

A home visit is not part of the deal with a TE visa at all.

Oh my god! Do read the info I gave you. The reason for immigration to make a home visit, do not have to do anything with your visa. They are in charge of keeping track on foreigners in the country. If they wish to catalogue the shoe size of every foreigner in the country, it is their right to do so.

 

There is no deal at all with a TE visa. No one that says a home visit is mandatory. Neither one that says they can´t make a home visit. As with all other visas. The only thing it does is giving the possibility for people under 50 to stay hassle free in the country. A home visit is not to be seen as any hassle.

[brianthainess]

16 hours ago, markwhite said:

Not sure of the usual prevalence of these around the country

It's normal in Trat now, except for one person I know as it requires them to walk along a beach 700mts to there home. 

[MrMuddle]

Do you have to let them inside the house, or is a warrant required for that?
My house doesn't have a number on the gate or the walls, but we have been given one, and the post office delivers here regularly. Is it a legal requirement to have a number on display, for Immigration purposes.

[AlQaholic]

17 hours ago, markwhite said:

Not sure of the usual prevalence of these around the country, but I just had my first home visit in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

I have seen a group of immigration officers loitering around in the nearby local market place lately. Never seen before.

[robertson468]

17 hours ago, ukrules said:

The interesting thing here is that home visits are not usually done for those who are working, are they?

 

This suggests to me that they're operating outside the law.

 

They're in for a shock if they turn up at my door as I know there's absolutely no grounds for a home visit.

Please remember that you are a visitor in Thailand and if Immigration wish to check details of visitors, they are entitled to do so by law.

[Lamphen]

Last week I had a visit from the local police here in Chamni in Buriram. They took photos of my wife and I together, and my yellow book and pink ID. They said that they are going to do this on a monthly basis.????

They did not even look at my passport.

Lets see what the future holds.

[billd766]

19 hours ago, ukrules said:

The interesting thing here is that home visits are not usually done for those who are working, are they?

 

This suggests to me that they're operating outside the law.

 

They're in for a shock if they turn up at my door as I know there's absolutely no grounds for a home visit.

You may be within your rights but IMHO if you refuse them you may well be in a whole heap of trouble at your next extension.

 

My advice would be to welcome them, comply with what they want and let them go on their merry way.

 

If you are perfectly legal what is there to worry about?

[Liquorice]

3 hours ago, NONG CHOK said:

Would these same home visits apply to holders of retirement visas done through an agent.

Depends on which IO issued your extension stamp and what address was used, unless of course you filed a new TM30 with the IO in your Province.

[novacova]

13 hours ago, ukrules said:

A home visit is not part of the deal with a TE visa at all.

What deal? The only deal that I can deduce is that, I’m in a SE Asian country and I must abide by the laws and including it’s variables. I’d like to witness a foreigner get fussy and struggle with an IO over a variable as I’ve seen before in the office to no avail.

Edited December 1, 2022 by novacova

[NanLaew]

5 hours ago, NONG CHOK said:

Would these same home visits apply to holders of retirement visas done through an agent.

Why not? The agent acquires the same stamps and permissions to stay from he same offices as those that don't use agents.

[NONG CHOK]

Is this for first time visa applicants or every subsequent visa? I've been in Thailand for 22 years and I live more often in my Bangkok house than I do in my Pattaya condo, which is my residential address registered with the Pattaya Immigration office.

[NONG CHOK]

By the way I'll be in Pattaya next week to do my 90 day report. So I'll be asking my visa office manager what his take on this is.

[DJ54]

It’s really nothing to be concerned.. they’re doing their job… good to see strangers sometimes as Ong as they don’t have their hands out…

[ThomasThBKK]

9 hours ago, brianthainess said:

It's normal in Trat now, except for one person I know as it requires them to walk along a beach 700mts to there home. 

we are in trat, never heard of this.

 

Mainland or island?