Immigration officers coming and checking that I live here...

[al valio]

Is this a usual procedure (2 officers, took photos of me, passport, condo, etc.) or did I get a special treatment free of charge? ????

 

Background: I just recently applied for conversion of visa-exempt to Non-Imm O (retirement) in Bangkok, am due to pick it up next week.

[bunnydrops]

That is pretty normal

[al valio]

Ok, thanks. Was my first time and felt really weird....

 

Good that I was in Bangkok anyhow and didn't leave for a weekend trip to the south, not sure what would have happened then with my visa application if they didn't find me at home.

[MJCM]

Did they call before they arrived?

 

If so and you were away you could have told them "Sorry, I am away, can you come back next week"?

[Olmate]

13 minutes ago, bunnydrops said:

That is pretty normal

For retirement!? Thats news to me.

[al valio]

5 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Did they call before they arrived?

 

If so and you were away you could have told them "Sorry, I am away, can you come back next week"?

Yes, they called me, but like "we'll be at your place in 10 minutes". When I explained that I was out for lunch and shopping they asked when I was back home. I said "probably around 6pm", after which they ended the call.

 

A few minutes after that they called me again and asked if I really couldn't come home earlier. Since I wasn't far away and really didn't want any trouble with my non-Imm O application, I agreed to come back home so that they can check and take their photos etc.

 

So no idea what would have happened if I wasn't at home till the pick-up day for my visa...

 

Anyhow they were really polite, but it was just a really weird experience. They took photos of me like sometimes you see in the "suspect arrested" reports ????

[Tod Daniels]

Totally 100% NORMAL for Bangkok when you apply for the initial 90 day Non-O visa based on either retirement or marriage to a thai at the Counter C-1 out at Chaengwattana Immigrations. They've been doing it for a good while

They now 'vet' almost every Non-O visa they issue during that 2 week 'under review' period that they stamp on your receipt when you pay the 2000baht..
 

[connda]

They do that.  Be nice.  Invite them in to have a cup of coffee.  Smile.  Be respectful while asserting your own status (you're better off than most middle-class Thais).  Wish them well on their way out the door. 

[Gottfrid]

Oh! What a problem again. Immigration comes for a home visit. Nothing to care about if you have nothing to hide.

[al valio]

Of course I was perfectly polite ????, even though the experience kinda freaked me out. Also had to show passbook (with the 800k), rental contract, and so on, and they took photos of everything. I'm really just a regular retiree from EU, no money laundering or running an online gambling network etc ????

 

So to sum it up: I guess it's a good idea (requirement?) to stay put in Bangkok for the 2 weeks until you get your visa (for non-Imm O).

[steve187]

1 hour ago, al valio said:

Ok, thanks. Was my first time and felt really weird....

 

Good that I was in Bangkok anyhow and didn't leave for a weekend trip to the south, not sure what would have happened then with my visa application if they didn't find me at home.

1st time is always weird

[Onerak]

1 hour ago, connda said:

They do that.  Be nice.  Invite them in to have a cup of coffee.  Smile.  Be respectful while asserting your own status (you're better off than most middle-class Thais).  Wish them well on their way out the door. 

What do you mean asserting your own status? Don't you realize that they have you like a refugee and give visa from year-to-year, force you to do 90-reporting, etc. etc. If you want to assert your status, get an LT visa, smart visa, or use an agent. Otherwise you're an insignificant ant you will kowtow to their every demand for you precious "retirement visa" or "wife visa"

[DrJack54]

I find all this very interesting and have never read a similar report for application for non O retirement at CW.

 

The pathway visa exempt or TV entry followed by application for a non O retirement and subsequent extension is asked about every day.

 

Have not seen a report of home visit for retirement and certainly not from CW. 

[Lorry]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I find all this very interesting and have never read a similar report for application for non O retirement at CW.

 

The pathway visa exempt or TV entry followed by application for a non O retirement and subsequent extension is asked about every day.

 

Have not seen a report of home visit for retirement and certainly not from CW. 

I remember reading about it on TV.

I think it was in this thread

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://aseannow.com/topic/1279298-home-immigration-checks-may-be-on-the-uptick/&ved=2ahUKEwjQxNDFnv77AhXtTWwGHeiGB08QFnoECA4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw22y3qLcyBFoyNWwA7RRHVO

 

A home visit from immigration is threatening and humiliating.  OP is quite right to be freaked out.

It gives you an idea in what kind of country you live. 

 

 

[steven100]

2 hours ago, connda said:

They do that.  Be nice.  Invite them in to have a cup of coffee.  Smile.  Be respectful while asserting your own status (you're better off than most middle-class Thais).  Wish them well on their way out the door. 

They do that. Be nice.  Invite them in to a box of COLD Chang beer.  Smile.  Be respectful and tell them you want a p_ss .   Get drunk with them and they will never bother you again.

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Lorry said:

I remember reading about it on TV.

I think it was in this thread

I recall that thread.

Point is ....there are folk almost daily obtaining a non O retirement at CW from a visa exempt or tourist visa entry.

Have not read one similar report to the OP. 

[Lorry]

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I recall that thread.

Point is ....there are folk almost daily obtaining a non O retirement at CW from a visa exempt or tourist visa entry.

Have not read one similar report to the OP. 

Trust me,I am quite sure it was mentioned.  Not necessarily in this thread, I didn't care when I read it, because it doesn't affect me

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, Lorry said:

Trust me,I am quite sure it was mentioned.  Not necessarily in this thread, I didn't care when I read it, because it doesn't affect me

I will wait for similar posts from folk that have had same experience in obtaining a non O retirement at CW. 

Haven't read one apart from this thread. 

[Jerno]

6 hours ago, connda said:

They do that.  Be nice.  Invite them in to have a cup of coffee.  Smile.  Be respectful while asserting your own status (you're better off than most middle-class Thais).  Wish them well on their way out the door. 

Asserting your own status? How is that done exactly?  And what status is that?  Retiree? Husband of Thai wife?   Or do you go with "Do you know who I am back in my home country?"

[Jack1988]

they want you to put in jail lol

[vangrop]

what are you retired old farangs afraid of? they do their job and if your papers are ok, nothing to worry about.

[ourdon]

May not have anything to do with this

 

Tim Newton mentioned forged documentation was found by TIT.  One country (that shall remain nameless)  seems to be the problem.  It may be a problem for everyone as immigration is now checking and rechecking everything they can.

 

Tim didn't lead with that story or put particular emphasis on it, so just take it for speculation

[Scouse123]

They are just doing their job and that's all there is to it.

[thaibeachlovers]

10 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Oh! What a problem again. Immigration comes for a home visit. Nothing to care about if you have nothing to hide.

Making things up?

Where did he say it was a problem?

OP only asked if it was normal procedure.

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

I recall that thread.

Point is ....there are folk almost daily obtaining a non O retirement at CW from a visa exempt or tourist visa entry.

Have not read one similar report to the OP. 

How many of them are on this forum though?

[khunjeff]

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Have not seen a report of home visit for retirement and certainly not from CW. 

There have been a handful of similar reports over the last couple of years, but it's clearly far from universal - a friend and I both did the Non-O retirement conversion at CW during the same time period, and neither of us received a visit. 

[PeachCH]

Question: If an agent would do your visa, including the financial requirements, Immigration would also visit you ? 

[rwill]

I live in Ratchaburi in the last 10 years they showed up once to my house.  About 5 years ago.  They called first.  I did not invite them in or offer them anything.  Wanted to see my passport and take a photo of us standing by our address sign.  I'm on retirement extensions.

[Bangkok Barry]

13 hours ago, al valio said:

Anyhow they were really polite, but it was just a really weird experience. They took photos of me like sometimes you see in the "suspect arrested" reports ????

They visited me after my first marriage extension application. They were also polite, but completely ignored me as if I was invisible. They wanted neighbours from across the road to vouch for me, at the same time producing their house certificates and ID.

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

They visited me after my first marriage extension application. They were also polite, but completely ignored me as if I was invisible. They wanted neighbours from across the road to vouch for me, at the same time producing their house certificates and ID.

Apples and oranges.

Home visit for extensions based on marriage is very common.

 

The thread is about first time non O based on retirement.