Immigration coming to home to confirm I live here.

[Boatman37210]

I retired to Thailand 12 years ago on a retirement visa.  Never had a visit to my home by immigration during that time.  We just got a call from immigration saying they will visit on Thursday to confirm that I live at my reported address.  

 

I married a Thai lady 12 years ago and live in a house and on land that she owns.  She has gone with me for each extension of stay over the years.

 

Since I retired my income has almost tripled.  Maybe they are suspicious of that. 

 

Also, since the doing away of the income letter I have opted do income rather than money in bank.  The last two extensions I got angry because they did not know what they were doing and it was obvious.  Before you just handed them an income letter.  Now you have to confirm your income and reconcile your disbursing bank in the U.S. to your receiving bank in Thailand. They do not know how to do that.  Maybe this is their way of getting back for my anger the last two visits.

 

Anyone on retirement visa ever have immigration visit their home afte such a long period of time?

 

Thanks in advance.

[retarius]

I've heard of immigration officials visiting people on 'marriage visas', never retirement visas. The visits are usually followed by a request for money for gasoline, apparently.

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, retarius said:

I've heard of immigration officials visiting people on 'marriage visas', never retirement visas. The visits are usually followed by a request for money for gasoline, apparently.

I had a home visit and I am on a retirement extension.

[retarius]

Just now, hotandsticky said:

I had a home visit and I am on a retirement extension.

Well that makes two I've heard of, you and the OP. Perhaps they are doing it to everybody except me. Now I feel left out ????

[Eloquent pilgrim]

11 minutes ago, Boatman37210 said:

The last two extensions I got angry because they did not know what they were doing and it was obvious

Never get angry with immigration officials, it will always prove to be counterproductive.

[GroveHillWanderer]

6 minutes ago, retarius said:

Well that makes two I've heard of, you and the OP. Perhaps they are doing it to everybody except me. Now I feel left out ????

In the various threads about home visits from immigration, there have been numerous mentions of immigration visiting people on retirement extensions. It seems like it's still a minority of cases, but would appear to be getting more common 

Edited September 19, 2023 by GroveHillWanderer

[hotandsticky]

9 minutes ago, retarius said:

Well that makes two I've heard of, you and the OP. Perhaps they are doing it to everybody except me. Now I feel left out ????

Don't be - your time may come ????

 

 

Mine was just after the Erewan bombing and Immigration realised that that they had no idea where their Farangs really were.

[retarius]

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Don't be - your time may come ????

 

 

Mine was just after the Erewan bombing and Immigration realised that that they had no idea where their Farangs really were.

I'll look forward to it especially when they ask for petrol money and I say 'mai mi satang'.

[ChipButty]

Have your 2000 baht ready, 

[transam]

27 minutes ago, Boatman37210 said:

I retired to Thailand 12 years ago on a retirement visa.  Never had a visit to my home by immigration during that time.  We just got a call from immigration saying they will visit on Thursday to confirm that I live at my reported address.  

 

I married a Thai lady 12 years ago and live in a house and on land that she owns.  She has gone with me for each extension of stay over the years.

 

Since I retired my income has almost tripled.  Maybe they are suspicious of that. 

 

Also, since the doing away of the income letter I have opted do income rather than money in bank.  The last two extensions I got angry because they did not know what they were doing and it was obvious.  Before you just handed them an income letter.  Now you have to confirm your income and reconcile your disbursing bank in the U.S. to your receiving bank in Thailand. They do not know how to do that.  Maybe this is their way of getting back for my anger the last two visits.

 

Anyone on retirement visa ever have immigration visit their home afte such a long period of time?

 

Thanks in advance.

Got angry, well if it was picked up, expect another visit, soon..........????

[TaoNow]

OP: The following statement confused me a bit:

 

Quote

Now you have to confirm your income and reconcile your disbursing bank in the U.S. to your receiving bank in Thailand

Based on reports by others doing retirement extensions, Immo looks for evidence that funds in excess of 65K baht (equivalent) was depposited into your Thai bank account from overseas each month for the past 12 months. 

 

They simply verify this by looking at your bankbook, which should have the code for foreign cash transfer for each amount.

 

I haven't seen anything about reconciling with the bank in the US. 

 

Frankly, Immo doesn't care where the funds come from -- just as long as you have 12 consecutive transfers into your account from outside Thailand.

 

So, what was the confusion at the office you went to. And it would help to know which province you did your extension at.

 

Thanks.

 

[Gottfrid]

They are just tired of sitting in the office. They put names in a bowl, and draw yours. It´s as simple as that.

[Purdey]

54 minutes ago, Boatman37210 said:

Since I retired my income has almost tripled.

Be careful that you haven't been earning money without a work permit. 

[Mutt Daeng]

1 hour ago, hotandsticky said:

Don't be - your time may come ????

 

 

Mine was just after the Erewan bombing and Immigration realised that that they had no idea where their Farangs really were.

I also get a home visit around that time and my permission to stay was based on retirement. Was yours from the Surin (Kap Choeng) IO by any chance? Mine was.

Edited September 19, 2023 by Mutt Daeng

[fondue zoo]

 

It's time to break out your yellow "I Love Big Joke" t-shirt for when they come a callin'

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, retarius said:

The visits are usually followed by a request for money for gasoline, apparently.

I offered but they came in an electric BMW.????

 

OP have lots of Coca-Cola ready.

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, Boatman37210 said:

Also, since the doing away of the income letter I have opted do income rather than money in bank.  The last two extensions I got angry because they did not know what they were doing and it was obvious.  Before you just handed them an income letter.  Now you have to confirm your income and reconcile your disbursing bank in the U.S. to your receiving bank in Thailand. They do not know how to do that.  Maybe this is their way of getting back for my anger the last two visits.

The problem is obvious - you didn't get angry enough. Everyone knows that getting angry at public officials is the best way to get things done in Thailand, so next time ramp it up a level then maybe they won't need to come to your house. Shouting also helps so make sure to shout as loudly as you can. 

[Jeff the Chef]

Here in sunny Phitsanulok I had an Immigration visit before I received my Retirement Visa, all very amicable, few photo's around Madam's house, they chatted with elder sister and neighbours over coffee and biscuits. All good, no questions of any kind to me, but then again her Nephew is the Village Headman.

[transam]

1 minute ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Here in sunny Phitsanulok I had an Immigration visit before I received my Retirement Visa, all very amicable, few photo's around Madam's house, they chatted with elder sister and neighbours over coffee and biscuits. All good, no questions of any kind to me, but then again her Nephew is the Village Headman.

They never talked to me on a visit, they are not interested, it is what the witnesses say that counts.......????

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Have your 2000 baht ready, 

No need for payments.

[Dah fahrang]

Yes. 

I extended my stay (Retirement) end of April. My wife was asked (twice) directions to where we lived, and identifying landmarks (school etc) nearby. Property owned by my wife who holds tabien-baan. 

Two weeks later, two Immigration Officers pull up at our gate in their Police Toyota pick-up.  The 30 minute visit was quite sociable. Lots of niceties, whilst filling in copies paperwork; questions to my wife. I asked them directly WHY they had come. "To check you are alive, and living where you said at the time of your extension" was the reply. 

Customary photo-app at our front door with and without IO in the shot.

Office in. question: Ratchaburi

[VocalNeal]

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

No need for payments.

Officially????

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, retarius said:

Well that makes two I've heard of, you and the OP. Perhaps they are doing it to everybody except me. Now I feel left out ????

no, that makes 3 as I had the "friendly" IMO visit as well last year and I am on retirement

[foreverlomsak]

2 hours ago, retarius said:

Well that makes two I've heard of, you and the OP. Perhaps they are doing it to everybody except me. Now I feel left out ????

Make it 3 you've heard of, once on each of marriage and retirement, I've been sooo lucky it seems, ah just remembered the visits were by the local police in lieu of Immigration due to distances involved.

[hotandsticky]

1 hour ago, Mutt Daeng said:

I also get a home visit around that time and my permission to stay was based on retirement. Was yours from the Surin (Kap Choeng) IO by any chance? Mine was.

Mine was Buriram.

[foreverlomsak]

51 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

The problem is obvious - you didn't get angry enough. Everyone knows that getting angry at public officials is the best way to get things done in Thailand, so next time ramp it up a level then maybe they won't need to come to your house. Shouting also helps so make sure to shout as loudly as you can. 

And if your lucky you will be given seven (7) days to leave the country, seen the threat issued to an Aussie in front of me, who wouldn't listen to what they were saying and kept telling them what they will do. He shut up quickly enough, basically he was saying they must give him an extension even though he had no proof of income or money in a Thai bank.

[John Drake]

17 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

no, that makes 3 as I had the "friendly" IMO visit as well last year and I am on retirement

I think I'll stop answering the phone.

[FritsSikkink]

39 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Officially????

I am not paying anything anyhow.

[bbko]

I've been living in Thailand for the past 17 years, I often switch between via extensions based on marriage or retirement. In the 17 years, I've had a home visit only once, no gas money asked for or given.  Why are some surprised, especially when we give them a map to our homes?

[HappyExpat57]

I had three (!) Immigration Officers come visit my rented condo in Chanthaburi about two months ago. I wasn't home. I got a call from the gal at the front desk saying these arrogant <self deleted> demanded I return immediately. I told her to tell them I was half way to Jomtien and I wasn't about to turn back around on their say so. She told me later they grilled her for about 30 minutes. Thankfully, I had treated her very well, giving her free English lessons whenever I could, and she told them I was "very jai dee" (her words). I haven't heard from them since.