Did my extension of stay today in Jomtien. After a trip to the bank, my agent took me to Jomtien IO where he photographed me standing

in front of the sign at the building entrance. Is this another manifestation of the Big Joke era at RTP??   What possible function could this

serve?

Was the photo then part of the immigration submissions?

 

Could it be that your agent is proving to their employer that you were taking to immigration??

This is not new as I have seen this numerous times at Jomtien over the last few years.

 

As I understand it you are required to attend immigration in person for an extension and this photo serves as proof you did attend. Even when I do my 30 day visa exempt extensions the IO takes a photo of me for the file

 

31 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Was the photo then part of the immigration submissions?

 

Could it be that your agent is proving to their employer that you were taking to immigration??

Nope, my landlady is my agent and this was her son that was doing the legwork.  I think she trusts him.

24 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

This is not new as I have seen this numerous times at Jomtien over the last few years.

 

As I understand it you are required to attend immigration in person for an extension and this photo serves as proof you did attend. Even when I do my 30 day visa exempt extensions the IO takes a photo of me for the file

 

That’s bizarre. We didn’t talk to a single soul at IO. Just took a photo and left. All the other paperwork was done at the bank branch. Just another layer of useless bureaucracy.

1 minute ago, Felton Jarvis said:

That’s bizarre. We didn’t talk to a single soul at IO. Just took a photo and left. All the other paperwork was done at the bank branch. Just another layer of useless bureaucracy.

I had to do the same when I used an agent for my one year Elite Visa extension. Had to go all the way to immigration just to take a photo in front of it and then went right back to my condo without stepping foot inside immigration.

3 hours ago, Felton Jarvis said:

Did my extension of stay today in Jomtien. After a trip to the bank, my agent took me to Jomtien IO where he photographed me standing

in front of the sign at the building entrance. Is this another manifestation of the Big Joke era at RTP??   What possible function could this

serve?

It is an alternative to them using the computer to photograph you using the computer at the desk inside. It saves you time waiting in the queue to make the application at the desk. it proves your attendance at Immigration.

it is beyond me why anyone would use an agent for such an easy task.

did the agent feed you at lunch time also?

 

Maybe someone on here could explain to me my question because it has baffled me for years.

Ever since living in Thailand I have done my extension of stay the "legitimate" way, over the years even though my paperwork as always been correct  I, and several of my friends have had no end of hassle, applying for our extension of stay. Why do people who go through the "non legitimate" never have any hassle?

12 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

Why do people who go through the "non legitimate" never have any hassle?

Some folk would suggest that immigration offices would prefer you to use agents.

 

Also immigration can in a blink ask for something new.

Can make things difficult. 

 

Ten years of extensions based on retirement and out of the blue my most recent extension at CW they wanted my TM47.

Never required one previously.

Now I'm reading that at CW they want a TM30.

I've never done one..

 

23 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

Why do people who go through the "non legitimate" never have any hassle?

Not everyone using an agent uses an illegitimate route. Some just save the hassle at IO as you describe. Others even use an agent to do 90 day report! Never seen an IO in person. If money doesn't matter...

Just yo agent showing off another happy customer❗ My question is...why didn't you just ask your agent❓

If you had to go to the IO anyway why not just do the extension yourself. Last time took me all of 15 minutes.

46 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Some folk would suggest that immigration offices would prefer you to use agents.

 

Also immigration can in a blink ask for something new.

Can make things difficult. 

 

Ten years of extensions based on retirement and out of the blue my most recent extension at CW they wanted my TM47.

Never required one previously.

Now I'm reading that at CW they want a TM30.

I've never done one..

 

In our immigration office we have always needed both of these

1 hour ago, Expat68 said:

Maybe someone on here could explain to me my question because it has baffled me for years.

Ever since living in Thailand I have done my extension of stay the "legitimate" way, over the years even though my paperwork as always been correct  I, and several of my friends have had no end of hassle, applying for our extension of stay. Why do people who go through the "non legitimate" never have any hassle?

If you were a public servant who is getting away with accepting "gifts" from agents, which type of applicant would you prefer? The one who is chaperoned by such a gift-bearing agent, or the one showing up alone?

 

Call it a travesty or call it Thai culture, it is what it is.

I've always done extensions by myself and they have always taken my picture right after I had all my paperwork approved.

3 minutes ago, Caldera said:

If you were a public servant who is getting away with accepting "gifts" from agents, which type of applicant would you prefer? The one who is chaperoned by such a gift-bearing agent, or the one showing up alone?

 

Call it a travesty or call it Thai culture, it is what it is.

Never say never but for me the agency system will never change because they no that if they stopped it thousands upon thousands would have to leave Thailand and that would be lost revenue 

59 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Some folk would suggest that immigration offices would prefer you to use agents.

 

Also immigration can in a blink ask for something new.

Can make things difficult. 

 

Ten years of extensions based on retirement and out of the blue my most recent extension at CW they wanted my TM47.

Never required one previously.

Now I'm reading that at CW they want a TM30.

I've never done one..

 

Only those I'll prepared encounter these problems.

2 hours ago, nickmondo said:

it is beyond me why anyone would use an agent for such an easy task.

did the agent feed you at lunch time also?

 

What a ludicrous comment!????

1 hour ago, Expat68 said:

Maybe someone on here could explain to me my question because it has baffled me for years.

Ever since living in Thailand I have done my extension of stay the "legitimate" way, over the years even though my paperwork as always been correct  I, and several of my friends have had no end of hassle, applying for our extension of stay. Why do people who go through the "non legitimate" never have any hassle?

Obviously it's because they want you to use an agent. I noticed that during this year's marriage extension at Jomtien, Dragon Lady was more unwelcoming than previously (if that's possible). Either the boil on her asre is getting bigger, or it's deliberate policy to force you into using the brown envelope route.  When I went straight to the usual spot to the left of counter 6 to collect my stamp after the confirmation from Bangkok, Dragon Lady told me very abruptly to sit down and wait to see the lady to her left, who took another ten or fifteen minutes processing a farang's application. In previous years I'd been told not to get a ticket, just to go to the left of the counter for the stamp. You never know what surprise they have in store for you at that place. If I had more money than sense, then I too would take the agent route. I know when I'm beaten.

1 hour ago, Expat68 said:

Maybe someone on here could explain to me my question because it has baffled me for years.

Ever since living in Thailand I have done my extension of stay the "legitimate" way, over the years even though my paperwork as always been correct  I, and several of my friends have had no end of hassle, applying for our extension of stay. Why do people who go through the "non legitimate" never have any hassle?

Simple really.They make serious dosh with the use of agents.If a person does it by the books they don't make anty extras.

Thats been the case for years IMHO

20 hours ago, Felton Jarvis said:

After a trip to the bank, my agent

Why are you using an agent? 

Odd new protocol at Jomtien IO for Extension of stay.

Give it time.  Soon you'll be required to juggle a coconut, a banana, and a durian while hopping up-and-down on one foot and singing Chaat Thai in proper Bangkok Thai while the bank manager unicycles around you with a monkey on his shoulder holding a copy of today's newspaper  - all filmed in front of the sign on the front of the bank, of course 
????????

3 hours ago, nickmondo said:

it is beyond me why anyone would use an agent for such an easy task.

did the agent feed you at lunch time also?

 

1 hour ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

What a ludicrous comment!????

The last year I resided in Chiang Mai, I gave up and went with an agent in order to cut through the mind-numbing bureaucratic buffalo ????!  Back when they were still in the old offices.  I have no idea what it's like now, and don't care to find out.

How strange that I never have an issue, extending my permission to stay without using an agent for 14 years now.

 

Even during Covid it was not a problem.

 

Make an appointment online, complete all the documents on my PC, which takes minutes, as they are all saved already and have to change also a few details.

 

Get the document from the bank on the day of the application, or get it up to a week upfront, and just do a small withdrawal or deposit on the day.

 

Then go to the immigration office with my appointment printed, and pass the entire queue.

 

Maybe I also should start an agent business and collect 10K for an hour work

3 hours ago, nickmondo said:

it is beyond me why anyone would use an agent for such an easy task.

did the agent feed you at lunch time also?

 

Simple…I do not have 800 thousand baht. The agent deposits that amount and then withdraws it. It's not an “easy” task if you lack the required funds.

21 minutes ago, connda said:

Odd new protocol at Jomtien IO for Extension of stay.

Give it time.  Soon you'll be required to juggle a coconut, a banana, and a durian while hopping up-and-down on one foot and singing Chaat Thai in proper Bangkok Thai while the bank manager unicycles around you with a monkey on his shoulder holding a copy of today's newspaper  - all filmed in front of the sign on the front of the bank, of course 
????????

555 You may not be far off there my friend.

2 hours ago, Expat68 said:

Maybe someone on here could explain to me my question because it has baffled me for years.

Ever since living in Thailand I have done my extension of stay the "legitimate" way, over the years even though my paperwork as always been correct  I, and several of my friends have had no end of hassle, applying for our extension of stay. Why do people who go through the "non legitimate" never have any hassle?

because they are giving a bribe

 

53 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Why are you using an agent? 

because he is either lazy, or too important to go to immigration or has no 800,000thb

1 hour ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

What a ludicrous comment!????

Quite so. The problem is each Immigration Office seemingly has its own rules, even immigration officers at the same office have different rules, its no wonder some folks use agents? Another post today about transferring visas or permission to stay to a new passport, which again should be a very easy process, but from the comments it proves not to be the case?

2 minutes ago, steve187 said:

because they are giving a bribe

 

because he is either lazy, or too important to go to immigration or has no 800,000thb

Or maybe can't doesn't want the hassle, which sometimes happens?