My Thai wife and I are applying for a marriage visa for me and part of that is to have an officer from immigration visit the house, look around at the environment, and interview a neighbor... in doing so we have been requested to make a donation or gratuity by the officer... is this the law and if so what is the proper amount? 

No, that is not the law.  

"is this the law?"

 

no, its a shakedown

Ask for a receipt 

With my visits is usually a gang of 4 in a BMW, money has never been mentioned.....Just offer them a drink, water, beer, Pepsi...????

They said they needed money for petrol but arrived in a electric BMW.???? 

 

I offered some money for Coca-Cola. It was declined.

 

As for the OP give your wife 1000 let her sort it out.

Bizarre story. Why do so many people move away from their homeland only to be met with more nonsense than if they just stayed home?

Give him a t-shirt with Big Joke's face printed on the front.

 

He must be loved by immigration top brass at the moment.

4 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

They said they needed money for petrol but arrived in a electric BMW.???? 

 

I offered some money for Coca-Cola. It was declined.

 

As for the OP give your wife 1000 let her sort it out.

They once asked me for the ferry ticket, for coming, i told them I didn't invite you, you wanted to come, I also pointed out that i thought police didn't pay for the ferry. My dog snapped at their heals as they got in their car to go "Good girl !" i called out. 

On a serious note never give 'em a dime they'll see you as an easy target, forever.

4 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

On a serious note never give 'em a dime they'll see you as an easy target, forever.

A bit like automatically tipping 15-20% in a restaurant????

Just now, brianthainess said:

They once asked me for the ferry ticket, for coming, i told them I didn't invite you, you wanted to come, I also pointed out that i thought police didn't pay for the ferry. My dog snapped at their heals as they got in their car to go "Good girl !" i called out. 

On a serious note never give 'em a dime they'll see you as an easy target, forever.

"they'll see you as an easy target, forever".... maybe. It depends on how many more times you expect to see them. One quick payoff may be appropriate if there is little chance they are called to your residence again. Pay them and be a good boy so they don't have to return.

Just now, VocalNeal said:

A bit like automatically tipping 15-20% in a restaurant????

Normally I don't get asked to tip, especially not before the meal, or table laid, or the waitresses fuel bill. 

4 minutes ago, HuskerDo2 said:

"they'll see you as an easy target, forever".... maybe. It depends on how many more times you expect to see them. One quick payoff may be appropriate if there is little chance they are called to your residence again. Pay them and be a good boy so they don't have to return.

A lot of immigration offices visit every year, even a big payment would not work. There are forms to be signed by you, your wife, and your witness/neighbor + they take more photos. 

DON'T give em money ! 

9 minutes ago, HuskerDo2 said:

"they'll see you as an easy target, forever".... maybe. It depends on how many more times you expect to see them. One quick payoff may be appropriate if there is little chance they are called to your residence again. Pay them and be a good boy so they don't have to return.

I'm hoping to live another 10 to 15 years... so I will see them another 10 to 15 times

3 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

I'm hoping to live another 10 to 15 years... so I will see them another 10 to 15 times

Do You give 'em anything ? water is all they get from me. 

Yeah they tried similar with us once. The younger guys were fine with iced coffees and buns but the "boss" made the wife feel uncomfortable with his "soliciting". suggesting that the application was dependent on his approval !

Bluff called , application passed and not seen or heard from him again. 

I only had one visit a few years ago. Captain very polite and funny...had a nice meeting with them talking about mundane things...I gave them 500 for lunch or petrol.  grateful and happy faces I saw.

37 minutes ago, HuskerDo2 said:

Bizarre story. Why do so many people move away from their homeland only to be met with more nonsense than if they just stayed home?

Trick is not to live upcountry. Not so difficult really.

7 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

I only had one visit a few years ago. Captain very polite and funny...had a nice meeting with them talking about mundane things...I gave them 500 for lunch or petrol.  grateful and happy faces I saw.

So you are part of the problem. 

We had a visit the first year, none since.

 

I invite all official visitors to sit on the patio at the rear of the house, nicely shaded and discreetly under the watchful eyes and ears of our security system.

Just now, Skipalongcassidy said:

I'm hoping to live another 10 to 15 years... so I will see them another 10 to 15 times

I hope you are here 20 - 25 years from now Skip without seeing them so often.  

Thought one had an immigration visit on a first extension of a visa, not on the following ones, unless you had a break, then you will get a visit as it is deemed starting from scratch...

11 minutes ago, mancub said:

Yeah they tried similar with us once. The younger guys were fine with iced coffees and buns but the "boss" made the wife feel uncomfortable with his "soliciting". suggesting that the application was dependent on his approval !

Bluff called , application passed and not seen or heard from him again. 

Well done it is all a bluff they do not approve or disapprove your application, its their head office not them. if all docs are in order on application and at home visit then it will be approved.

43 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

 

On a serious note never give 'em a dime they'll see you as an easy target, forever.

Not just him but all farang.

1 minute ago, transam said:

Thought one had an immigration visit on a first extension of a visa, not on the following ones, unless you had a break, then you will get a visit as it is deemed starting from scratch...

That all depends on your IO and so far the OP has not told us which one, but he asked is it legal to ask for a gratuity NO IT IS NOT. init. 

29 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

I'm hoping to live another 10 to 15 years... so I will see them another 10 to 15 times

My 18th year and only one home visit.

Beggars in uniform, just offer them something to eat and drink if you must but never cash.

12 minutes ago, transam said:

Thought one had an immigration visit on a first extension of a visa, not on the following ones, unless you had a break, then you will get a visit as it is deemed starting from scratch...

I think it’s one of those consistency issues, where the only consistency is the inconsistency.

 

 

4 minutes ago, proton said:

Beggars in uniform, just offer them something to eat and drink if you must but never cash.

Agree, once on the hook for cash you’ll never get off it.

19 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

So you are part of the problem. 

Not really.

 

You need Immigration far more than they need you.

 

A one off payment of 500 baht or so, plus something to drink makes your life easier when you need a renewal of your marriage extension.

 

Having said that, when they came to see us 3 years ago, money was not even mentioned, so we didn't make the offer.