A Shout Out for Korat Immigration

[Farmerslife]

It is not often that the Immigration Division attracts much praise from the majority of us on here but credit where credit's due.

I extended my Non-Imm OA visa (Retirement) on Tuesday without any dramas and was surprised by how much more amicable the process has become in comparison with the preceding years.

Admittedly, this is the 4th time I have been through the process, so I avoided some of the schoolboy errors of my first year or so. No more black pens for me or similar foolish mistakes.????

However, the most significant changes appear to have come from the Immigration office themselves. I believe there is a new head of the division in place now and he has brought in a number improvements.

Being able to make a timed appointment is a godsend in itself.

One of the most unpleasant parts of the process used to be the vetting of one's paperwork before being granted a queue number for an appointment to see an Immigration Officer. This process used to be  conducted by bureaucratic harpies who appeared to be adhering to a dictum of "they shall not pass" whatever the circumstances. Any failure to dot all the i's or cross all the t's brought down withering scorn and instantaneous rejection.

This has gone! I was greeted with a smile, a 'wai' and courteous helpfulness.

When I completed the TM7 form at desks set aside for the purpose, there were a couple of young officers (trainees?) who were on hand to assist and answer any questions, if need be. Certainly, the one I dealt with spoke excellent English. 
The previous year there had been a gaggle of what I took to be schoolgirls on work experience fulfilling this duty. While I am sure that they were well-intentioned, they lacked the knowledge to be of much help.  

But for me, the most marked improvement was the change in attitude from everyone involved. It had gone from the confrontational approach of previous years to a friendly willingness to help.

To say it was a pleasurable experience might be over exaggerating somewhat. I can't imagine there are too many people who enjoy going through the process but nonetheless the change in attitude has made it as painless and friendly as it is possible to be.


So thank you Korat Immigration and long may it last.

[Neeranam]

Shout out for just doing their job?

[Neeranam]

16 minutes ago, Farmerslife said:

This has gone! I was greeted with a smile, a 'wai' and courteous helpfulness.

Are you sure the immigration officers greeted you with a wai?

[lanng khao]

I'm a koratie man, didn't enjoy my trips there, gave me a torrid time with COVID extensions, used a agent for my retirement extension because of it this year, good to know they've took the foot off the snotty pedal..

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

Indeed. I recommend to everyone planning an extended stay in Thailand, whether for work, retirement, or just getting 30 more days on a tourist visa, DO NOT do it in BKK, Patts, CM, Phuket, or any other changwat with too many farangs and burnt out, sadistic imm offices. You must come to Issan.

[lungbing]

Shhhh.  Don't tell them that or they might take you up on it.  Isaan is still the best kept secret.