Did I just unwittingly participate in Immigration corruption/graft?

[NotReallyHere]

I wanted to open a bank account with a new bank.  I was told I needed a form from Immigration to confirm my address and visa status.  Went to my local Immigration office (I would prefer not to say which one) and requested said form.

 

Immigration officer was very polite and started the process.  20 Minutes later I had my form.  She said "That will be 500 Baht, please".  I paid the 500 Baht.  She said "Thank you" as if I was dismissed.  I said, "I would like my receipt, please".  She said "We don't provide receipts for this service".

 

Did I just line the Immigration officer's pocket?  Has anyone else experienced services for which no receipt is offered/required?

[scubascuba3]

yeah don't get receipts for residence certs 300 baht at Jomtien either

[BritManToo]

16 minutes ago, NotReallyHere said:

Did I just line the Immigration officer's pocket?  Has anyone else experienced services for which no receipt is offered/required?

CofR is free (14 day wait at CM), but many immigration offices want 500-1000bht for 'instant' VIP service.

[NotReallyHere]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

CofR is free (14 day wait at CM), but many immigration offices want 500-1000bht for 'instant' VIP service.

 Thanks for confirming my suspicion.

 

I wasn't even given a choice.  I would rather have waited.  I wasn't in a hurry.  500 Baht is not a big deal, but I resent being tricked into participating in their little "side hustles".

[nigelforbes]

If you wish to receive the special expedited service, you are required to pay an inducement fee, because they are not obliged to offer such a service. If you are in such a hurry that you cannot wait 14 days for the free service then you must pay. Surely you don't expect Immi to drop everything, just because you want it now and if they do, get it without paying an inducement fee, tsk tsk. ????

 

(Tongue in cheek, for the avoidance of doubt).

Edited February 14, 2023 by nigelforbes

[NotReallyHere]

2 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

"...why are you worried..."

Who said I was "worried"?

[NotReallyHere]

3 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

If you wish to receive the special expedited service, you are required to pay an inducement fee, because they are not obliged to offer such a service. If you are in such a hurry that you cannot wait 14 days for the free service then you must pay. Surely you don't expect Immi to drop everything, just because you want it now and if they do, get it without paying an inducement fee, tsk tsk. ????

 

(Tongue in cheek, for the avoidance of doubt).

I was surprised at how out in the open it was.   The Immigration officer was already walking away from me when she answered my question.  She said it in a loud voice that everyone in the crowded immigration office could hear.  Maybe it was a notice to future customers.

[scubascuba3]

17 minutes ago, NotReallyHere said:

 Thanks for confirming my suspicion.

 

I wasn't even given a choice.  I would rather have waited.  I wasn't in a hurry.  500 Baht is not a big deal, but I resent being tricked into participating in their little "side hustles".

Best to check beforehand in future on this forum or Facebook 

[Lemsta69]

14 minutes ago, NotReallyHere said:

Who said I was "worried"?

Resentful, worried, same same. 

[NotReallyHere]

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Best to check beforehand in future on this forum or Facebook 

Thanks for the advice.  I'm just surprised they "got me".  I moved recently from an expat "hotbed" to a more remote location in Thailand.  Sticking it to the Farang seems to be worse here.  Restaurants, transportation, housing and now even the Immigration office.

[NotReallyHere]

7 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

Resentful, worried, same same. 

not really...

[AhFarangJa]

The letter for the Driving licence from Immigration is 1,000 Baht in a seaside town about 250 km from Bangkok 0n the way down to Surat Thani....

 

[KhunLA]

CoR and transfer of Visa to new PP used to be 'free' service.  Scamming was so rampant, that head Imm office made it UP2 Imm office.

 

My experiences:

... CoR ... 2X free 

... CoR ... ฿300, want receipt ฿600

 

Visa tfr to new PP:

... Free

... asked for ฿1000 then ฿500-฿100-no receipt, refused to pay - FREE

... Last Oct 500 w/receipt

[Thailand]

6 minutes ago, NotReallyHere said:

Thanks for the advice.  I'm just surprised they "got me".  I moved recently from an expat "hotbed" to a more remote location in Thailand.  Sticking it to the Farang seems to be worse here.  Restaurants, transportation, housing and now even the Immigration office.

Interesting, as a Farang I would like to say I have rarely had it stuck to me in all my years in Thailand.

[Andrew Dwyer]

My experience:

Pathum Thani IO: residence cert 500 baht , no waiting, no receipt.

Ayutthaya IO : residence cert 0 baht, no waiting.

[NotReallyHere]

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

CoR and transfer of Visa to new PP used to be 'free' service.  Scamming was so rampant, that head Imm office made it UP2 Imm office.

 

My experiences:

... CoR ... 2X free 

... CoR ... ฿300, want receipt ฿600

 

Visa tfr to new PP:

... Free

... asked for ฿1000 then ฿500-฿100-no receipt, refused to pay - FREE

... Last Oct 500 w/receipt

That's quite a history.

 

I guess in the future, I'll go to the immigration office with a large stack of small bills.  Not sure what the going rate will be.  Need to be prepared for anything.

 

Sounds like the issue might also be which Immigration officer I am assigned.

[proton]

Its a free service, as long as people cave in and pay the illegal bribe they will continue to ask for it. I refused and still go it. Helps if you are with a Thai wife, they look embarrassed in front of another Thai.

[Jai Dee]

A troll post has been removed.

 

Also the duplicate topic has been merged into this one... just in case you were wondering where it went.

[NotReallyHere]

13 minutes ago, proton said:

Its a free service, as long as people cave in and pay the illegal bribe they will continue to ask for it. I refused and still go it. Helps if you are with a Thai wife, they look embarrassed in front of another Thai.

Unfortunately, I was solo.

 

I didn't realize it wasn't a standard price until after I had paid, but I agree with you in principle.  That's why I don't use "agents".  Yes, they provide a service, but I suspect part of that service is "tipping" the immigration officer.  I can xerox, sort and staple my own documents.  And I have all the time in the world.

[BobBKK]

It's not right, of course, but it is so endemic here it would take a revolution to get rid of it. They feel entitled and it goes up the food chain to the very top.

[proton]

26 minutes ago, NotReallyHere said:

Unfortunately, I was solo.

 

I didn't realize it wasn't a standard price until after I had paid, but I agree with you in principle.  That's why I don't use "agents".  Yes, they provide a service, but I suspect part of that service is "tipping" the immigration officer.  I can xerox, sort and staple my own documents.  And I have all the time in the world.

Tipping officers is illegal, my office now has a sign outside saying so

[NotReallyHere]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

Tipping officers is illegal, my office now has a sign outside saying so

Interesting.  I'll look for a sign the next time I go to my Immigration Office.

 

On the one hand, a sign is a good thing because it sets boundaries, but on the other hand it demonstrates that tipping was problematic there in the past.

 

Reminds me of some of my experiences in massage shops.  I've seen "No Sex" signs posted at entrance, but was still offered sex when inside.

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, NotReallyHere said:

 Thanks for confirming my suspicion.

 

I wasn't even given a choice.  I would rather have waited.  I wasn't in a hurry.  500 Baht is not a big deal, but I resent being tricked into participating in their little "side hustles".

Better to just pay the small amount than wait for weeks.

 

Be thankful you have the option.

Edited February 14, 2023 by ukrules

[NotReallyHere]

2 minutes ago, userabcd said:

She said please and thank you, very polite.

 

The usual reply to that would be you're welcome.

This is an interesting comment.  Are you saying I was rude?  I'm not following you.

[473geo]

Familiarity with the term and use of 'petty cash' allows me to be quite relaxed about topping it up 

See the drinks and food offered by the Ubon immigration guys a genuine pleasant gesture indeed 

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

2 hours ago, NotReallyHere said:

 Thanks for confirming my suspicion.

 

I wasn't even given a choice.  I would rather have waited.  I wasn't in a hurry.  500 Baht is not a big deal, but I resent being tricked into participating in their little "side hustles".

Cry me a river dude, you would participate so many more times just living daily life here.

[NotReallyHere]

15 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Familiarity with the term and use of 'petty cash' allows me to be quite relaxed about topping it up 

See the drinks and food offered by the Ubon immigration guys a genuine pleasant gesture indeed

But how can we know the "tips" are going to petty cash?  The Immigration Officer I was dealing with was very "polished".  Lots of jewelry and an expensive handbag.  Flaunting her wealth, basically.  Not the usual understated government attire.

[NotReallyHere]

1 minute ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Cry me a river dude, you would participate so many more times just living daily life here.

Nobody's crying...  Life is good...

[IvorBiggun2]

Asked for my passport stamps to be transfered to my new one. Officer said '400 Baht'. I said I wasn't paying as I know there is NO fee for the transfer.

You can pay it if you want but I ain't gonna be caught on a bribe charge.  

[mikeymike100]

Your just paying for a 'fastrack' service, similar you can get at the airport, to process your passport?????