"Gratuity" request from immigration officer visiting home for marriage visa requirement

[HuskerDo2]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Until next year... when the ‘Bribe’ is expected and they get upset when you dont want to pay!!!... 

 

HuskerDo2... People like you who bend over and take it are the reason such practices exist.  ???? ???? ????

Funny Richie! If you choose to live in another country like LOS fully knowing the poverty and corruption you either play by their rules and have a peaceful existence or resist and cause yourself a lot more stress. As for me, money isn't an issue and I prefer to have as little stress in my life as possible. Thanks all the same.

[FritsSikkink]

10 hours ago, tandor said:

..i was asked for 200 baht to reimburse the officer for fuel.

So what?  Tell him it isn't your responsibility. Too many people <deleted>ting their pants and either run away for problems or pay whatever they are asked for.

Edited March 25, 2023 by FritsSikkink

[tandor]

7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

So what?  Tell him it isn't your responsibility. Too many people <deleted>ting their pants and either run away for problems or pay whatever they are asked for.

i did...i didn't pay anything..that is my point, stand up to them.

[herfiehandbag]

On 3/24/2023 at 12:50 PM, Menken said:

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

I live about as "up country" as you can get - 30km North East of Chiang Rai.

 

Had one visit on the first application. 4 turned up, bit of a chat, interviewed father in law (neighbour) signed a couple of forms, lady IO spent the whole visit petting my two Chihuahuas. After 20 minutes went on their way. 

 

I offered them a glass of iced water. Nobody mentioned money.

[JimmyJ]

On 3/24/2023 at 2:19 PM, transam said:

At my immigration office, there is a sign on the wall with a phone number to use if you are not happy with the service. .????

That's great!

 

Which office is that?

 

 

[MPoll]

I always extended as a retiree with 800,000 baht in the bank, even after we got married. The idea of getting a home visit didn’t appeal to me. I got a 10 year LTR in January so now I don’t even have to have the money in the bank.

[JimmyJ]

On 3/24/2023 at 2:22 PM, Skipalongcassidy said:

Turns out that there was no need to worry... my neighbor that was vouching for me is an honest RTP and the immigration officer kindly refused my offer of payment.

I don't understand - In the OP you were asked for a gratuity, and here you state your payment was refused.

[Skipalongcassidy]

15 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

I don't understand - In the OP you were asked for a gratuity, and here you state your payment was refused.

We were notified by LINE that the officer was on his way and he suggested in his notice that there was a gratuity expected... tune changed after he met my neighbor

[Skipalongcassidy]

14 hours ago, Skallywag said:

Get your own VISA, Non-Imm-O or OA if over 50 would be best IMO.

 

You already married her, do not let her be in control of you status here as well

My choice... there are inherent advantages to a marriage visa vs retirement visa

[Skipalongcassidy]

17 hours ago, jts-khorat said:

Solved nicely and properly, the way things should be. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"

 

I will never understand, why many foreigners, who are supposedly coming here for the "freer" life, then stress endlessly about little things like this.

 

I already calculate such costs into my overall cost for a happy stay, without hassle or worry. And those situations that stress me out personally -- double pricing at National parls is my pet peeve -- my wife handles them out of my sight. As it is also "her" money, she fights like a lion for it, so when double pricing really happens, I am sure that nothing would have prevented it otherwise.

 

Also, living upcountry, it really helps to integrate oneself in the local village (speaking Isaan and Thai does not hurt here, too). Whenever I come, the village head and his bunch of friends are of course invited first afternoon to the big family feast and I have besides the Lao Kao a bottle of not expensive but obviously foreign whisky. He and his friends sip a glass in front of everybody, which seemingly gives them big prestige, then they are quietly moving on to the Lao Kao which they all much prefer in reality. This tradition lives now for a good number of years.

 

For such little effort on my side, the village head has then been at all times I needed him at the Amphur or talked to immigration when they visited the village.

 

What I see here is "Farang think too mutt", even from supposedly old hands in Thailand.

So what you are saying is that it is OK to allow corruption and criminality as long as it's always been that way... and you can "afford' it.

[EVENKEEL]

26 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

My choice... there are inherent advantages to a marriage visa vs retirement visa

The only advantage I can see is less money in bank required. But, please edumacate me.

[transam]

1 hour ago, JimmyJ said:

That's great!

 

Which office is that?

 

 

Ubon...

[EVENKEEL]

I'm just curious if the home you live has a bearing on what's expected? i mean if you're living in very nice (expensive) home vs living in a small condo or small house in crappy village. What's the harm in giving them 500 thb for lunch money? Why make such a big deal about it?

[bunnydrops]

51 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

The only advantage I can see is less money in bank required. But, please edumacate me.

The only other one I can see, though rarely used, is you can get a work permit.

[IvorBiggun2]

11 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

What's the harm in giving them 500 thb for lunch money?

Because you're just encouraging them and they more than likely get 'lunch money' when they do home visits anyway.

[EVENKEEL]

2 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Because you're just encouraging them and they more than likely get 'lunch money' when they do home visits anyway.

I feel much worse when I pay 500 thb for my residence cert, money gets tossed in a drawer.

[transam]

5 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I feel much worse when I pay 500 thb for my residence cert, money gets tossed in a drawer.

You get a receipt....????

[EVENKEEL]

3 minutes ago, transam said:

You get a receipt....????

It's quite the racket, it is convenient because if I forget the picture or need a copy they take care of it.

I tried once asking for receipt, blank stare.

[JimTripper]

Give them 20 baht ???? It’s the gesture that matters.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

It's quite the racket, it is convenient because if I forget the picture or need a copy they take care of it.

I tried once asking for receipt, blank stare.

Seems immigration are doing you a favour, most folk are told to go away and get sorted. They were providing a service that they are not paid to do, you cough up beer money for it.

Perhaps in future double check your stuff......????

[EVENKEEL]

8 minutes ago, transam said:

Seems immigration are doing you a favour, most folk are told to go away and get sorted. They were providing a service that they are not paid to do, you cough up beer money for it.

Perhaps in future double check your stuff......????

yes dad

[Bday Prang]

59 minutes ago, bunnydrops said:

The only other one I can see, though rarely used, is you can get a work permit.

You will need a lot more than just a marriage certificate to get a work permit.  

[MPoll]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

The only advantage I can see is less money in bank required. But, please edumacate me.

If you are under 50 years old it is a way to stay on 1 year extensions.

[Maestro]

52 minutes ago, transam said:

You get a receipt....????

Could you post a copy of the receipt you got? It's for my album of immigration-related stamps and documents.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Maestro said:

Could you post a copy of the receipt you got? It's for my album of immigration-related stamps and documents.

Don't think I have any other than the ones we all get...Suppose because my stuff is usually all in order.................????

[Neeranam]

On 3/24/2023 at 11:57 AM, Skipalongcassidy said:

My Thai wife and I are applying for a marriage visa

Don't pay, you always get the visa if you don't pay.

[khunjake]

Another good reason to be back on Non-o ME visas instead of annual extensions. We dont care for these goons stepping one foot on our property. The last 2 covid bound extensions were fine for us as the IO was cool and did the home visit over LINE video call. Im sure our new office IO would be downright a$$holes demanding a “tip” here as well..

[roobaa01]

Gday

 

If you can have a neighbour come who works for the public service that avoid money questions. They tried to ask last year when they Visite my place. They did not know that my wife is a retired army member. Thus given they even came into the house.

 

Wbr

Roobaa01

[Fab5BKK]

2 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

The only advantage I can see is less money in bank required. But, please edumacate me.

Another advantage: with an extension based on marriage you can work, when with an extension based on retirement you can't.

[markclover]

lol marriage.  You fell for it.  In 8 months she will get half of everything you own.