Phuket Immigration office

 

Two visa agents have contacted Phuket GO today with information that Phuket Immigration are refusing to process any new visa applications for Chinese citizens. They also confirmed that people applying for new Retirement visas must now go to to Pattaya Immigration for photograph and proof of funds – they can’t currently be processed in Phuket. In both cases, for Chinese citizens or people on current retirement (O or OA) visas, renewals are being processed locally. It only applies to NEW applications.

 

This trip to Pattaya may also apply to people doing the O visa themselves whilst in Thailand.

 

Make sure you check with Phuket Immigration about their current policy if you are applying for a new visa at the moment.

 

Meanwhile, 80 immigration police officers in Thailand, including 3 Thai generals, are facing disciplinary and criminal charges for allegedly extending visas for Chinese nationals involved in illegal businesses in exchange for financial gain.

 

According to the deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, all suspects have been questioned and police investigators are expected to meet on Monday to conclude the case and submit the findings to the police inspector-general for further action.

 

The police chief maintains that there are no exceptions being made for the three police generals allegedly involved, despite the fact that they were his classmates at the police academy, noting that their cases will also be sent to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

 

Several Chinese businessmen are suspected to have been involved in the night entertainment business in Bangkok and Pattaya. Several pubs were raided by police, following a raid on the ‘Jin Ling’ pub and ‘gambling den’ in Yannawa district of Bangkok on October 26, allegedly owned by Chaiyanat Kornchayanant, aka “Tuhao”. 104 customers in the pub, mostly Chinese, tested positive for illicit drug use.

 

Apart from Kornchayanant, several other Chinese businessmen have been arrested by Thai police on drug trafficking charges. The story highlights the serious consequences that can be faced by individuals involved in illegal activities, even if they are high-ranking officials.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/no-new-visas-for-chinese-citizens-applying-in-phuket-visa-agent/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-01-24

 

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That's quite a a long round-trip.

Edited January 24, 20233 yr by hotchilli

Pattaya has always been a place where things can be done, although the above article calls everything 'a visa' which I find confusing. 

It took a while but I think I got the terminology sorted, a Visa you get outside Thailand ( a few exceptions)... the usual route is people coming in on Visa exempt or Tourist Visa, which gets converted into a Non-Imm-O ' entry'.... (permission of stay)... which can then be Extended domestically for 12 months based on retirement. Not sure which step Phuket is refusing to do, nor why Pattaya can do it, and they cannot! It could even be simple single Extensions of 30 days on their TV/Exempt entries that Phuket is swamped with. 

I also thought the retirement extensions had to be done where you resided!

Edited January 24, 20233 yr by jacko45k

40 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

That's quite a a long round-trip.

Doesn't matter. There'll be a U-turn in a day or so as no-one in power wants to upset the Chinese.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

people applying for new Retirement visas must now go to to Pattaya Immigration for photograph and proof of funds – they can’t currently be processed in Phuket.

Meanwhile, 80 immigration police officers in Thailand, including 3 Thai generals, are facing disciplinary and criminal charges

I may have an idea where those 80 Immi Offs were stationed...

"They also confirmed that people applying for new Retirement visas must now go to to Pattaya Immigration for photograph and proof of funds"

 

 

Why Pattaya, i wonder? I thought the HQ for immigration was in Bangkok?

Plus if you reside in Phuket (TM30) how can the paperwork done elsewhere?

Wow the headline seems to imply some sort of discrimination against Chinese nationals??? Surely this cannot be an option in Thailand. Unthinkable.......

4 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

I may have an idea where those 80 Immi Offs were stationed...

The 3 generals in the story are based at Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai, report today's Bangkok Post. 3325 Chinese nationals had visas approved between 2020 and 2022 at a cost of 100,000 to 300,000 Baht per non-immigrant visa.

Not everyone struggled financially during Covid, it seems.

6 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

"They also confirmed that people applying for new Retirement visas must now go to to Pattaya Immigration for photograph and proof of funds"

 

 

Why Pattaya, i wonder? I thought the HQ for immigration was in Bangkok?

Plus if you reside in Phuket (TM30) how can the paperwork done elsewhere?

Groan. There's always someone who picks holes in Immigation orders........

What's going onion here?

1000s of Chinese are applying for long term stays or retirement visas?

After 3 yrs in confinement?

Some were expecting this..

 

15 hours ago, hotchilli said:

That's quite a a long round-trip.

jomtien immigration today - imagine driving all the way from Phuket and seeing this in front of you ....

On 1/24/2023 at 7:06 PM, snoop1130 said:

80 immigration police officers in Thailand, including 3 Thai generals, are facing disciplinary and criminal charges for allegedly extending visas for Chinese nationals involved in illegal businesses in exchange for financial gain.

500 baht fine and start again next week.