Out of the reason, that so many are negative on this forum, I will ask the straight question. How many of you have been treated unfair by the Immigration police in Thailand?

That includes the following:

• Denied entry, when not on your third or more entry of 2 month or more per year on a tourist visa.
• Denied entry because lack of funds, while having funds to show available.
• Over using your permission of stay based on using the wrong type of visa.

It does not include:

• Overstaying, and think you can just enter again.
• Having a criminal offence against you.
• Been committing a crime and are haunted in your home country

 

100% of nos, you see?...

@Ben Zioner Unfortunately, I will expect a few that has been having trouble, but my gut is telling me that most of them deserved it and that the bigger part will vote like you. 

 

Never…..   I’m but that does not mean I don’t believe the stories of unfair treatment when people discuss such on this forum…. 

 

I also know how corrupt immigration are….   But that’s more on the labourer business side of things….

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Never…..   I’m but that does not mean I don’t believe the stories of unfair treatment when people discuss such on this forum…. 

 

I also know how corrupt immigration are….   But that’s more on the labourer business side of things….

Sure there will be people that has been treated unfair, but mostly it will be based on some underlying problem. A thing that immigration see as a problem, but the person affected necessarily do not understand or don´t see as a problem. Besides that, we of course have corruption, and adding just a bad day for a specific person can get them negative to all or just pick one for fun. Things that of course should not exist, but mostly to so all over the world in all areas of work in some way done by some people.

I surely believe that some had a bad experience, that was not necessary. However, it´s not among the masses as it many times sound like as soo many are all from afraid to overly negative against all Thai authorities.

How about blatant abuse of power?

Made to do things, jump through hoops because they can?

7 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

How about blatant abuse of power?

Made to do things, jump through hoops because they can?

Surely can be a problem. However, I believe it´s more like some are lenient, and remove the rules for different reasons. When people read about that, they are questioning why they have to show soo much. In reality, there are a lot of paper work to get a visa or an extension. It becomes more a question about that everyone should be working the same way. Unfortunately, that ain´t possible in Thailand, as each single individual get to much freedom to add or remove things. Actually not a bad treatment from immigration, but a problem that must be solved on governmental level.

 

 

I  had a few times where I thought they just F...ing with me, and required a new original letter of income when I applied for the first visa extension. The embassy had never heard about this before, but was so kind to mail me a new one assap without any extra charges. Did cost me a roundtrip of 186km, but thanks to my embassy, who saved me a roundtrip of 350 extra km at no charge. 

 

I already had several years of extension from before, but because of extended work abroad, I didnt manage to renew it before to late. 

 

 

Also made up the need of new pictures of house nr, and other facilities with us included for another extension. Seems they just trying to make our lives hard. But we getting better at it, and now prepared for every attack they should have. Even I already moved back, I will maintain my extension of "retirement visa" as long I can. You never know, it might pay of in the end, even I stay less than 6 months a year now. 

Just now, Hummin said:

 

 

I  had a few times where I thought they just F...ing with me, and required a new original letter of income when I applied for the first visa extension. The embassy had never heard about this before, but was so kind to mail me a new one assap without any extra charges. Did cost me a roundtrip of 186km, but thanks to my embassy, who saved me a roundtrip of 350 extra km at no charge. 

 

I already had several years of extension from before, but because of extended work abroad, I didnt manage to renew it before to late. 

 

 

Also made up the need of new pictures of house nr, and other facilities with us included for another extension. Seems they just trying to make our lives hard. But we getting better at it, and now prepared for every attack they should have. Even I already moved back, I will maintain my extension of "retirement visa" as long I can. You never know, it might pay of in the end, even I stay less than 6 months a year now. 

It is not all black and white, our emigration office have been helpful and been great to my wife, and always polite to us, and we also do not argue with them, when they say their boss decided. No reason for us to lecture them even we know they are wrong.

49 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

How about blatant abuse of power?

Made to do things, jump through hoops because they can?

No. Not that either.

No, been care free, with one exception.   One attempt to charge me for visa transfer, before policy stated, or receipt would be given.  (Not at Hua Hin Imm.)

 

She started off at 1000, and I declined, stating it's a fee service.  She asked 500, then 100, and I still declined.  Told her to keep it, and I'll pick it up when the boss is in.  Which I did the following Monday, and no charge.

 

Now at Hua Hin, they do have a charge policy 500 baht, and you do get a receipt.  And yes I know, it's still suppose to be free, but try telling them that.  For 500 baht, every 10 yrs, I'm not going to rock the boat, as they like me and been 'relaxed' a couple times when I didn't have everything required.

14 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

How many of our forum members have been treated unfair 

Just do the right thing, research, du diligence etc. 

We all know what's expected from immigration, at times we're given a curved ball, time to ManUp and manage the challenges. 

 

Prepare your documents, have everything in order, it's easy but some people are lazy, then moan and complain that they've been treated unfairly. 

 

These forums are full of whingers and whiners. 

 

 

Treated very nicely, thanks for asking. 

 

The couple of times I had issues, created by myself, they worked all day to straighten it out for me - no charge. 

Mostly no, just a couple exceptions. Uni girl helper in CM immigration got uppity one time when I questioned her (she was incorrect), to which she said she 'had the power' to revoke my visa. After requesting to see the lieutenant and notifying her of this, she admonished the girl in front of everyone... never saw her again. Had a regular ear bashing off another woman IO in Phuket, who was notorious for flinging passports at her 'customers'. She had so many complaints that she got moved to an inactive post... preferably in a hole in the desert just outside of Vegas.😄 Other than that, generally get on well with them and have found airport immigration especially good of late. Have your ducks in order, dress well, be polite.

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Just do the right thing, research, du diligence etc. 

We all know what's expected from immigration, at times we're given a curved ball, time to ManUp and manage the challenges. 

 

Prepare your documents, have everything in order, it's easy but some people are lazy, then moan and complain that they've been treated unfairly. 

 

These forums are full of whingers and whiners. 

 

 

Exactly, if put in some effort instead of seeing hurdles all the time, life gets better. :-) 

3 hours ago, CharlieH said:

How about blatant abuse of power?

Made to do things, jump through hoops because they can?

Really? I would never have expected anything like this! When making an application for marriage extension, they will without fail (Except this years application which went fine) take all of your thousands of tree felling of paper photocopies, shuffle them like a Vegas pit boss, then manage to lose a sheet or two, all whilst trying to multi task (i.e. attempting a conversation with a colleague).

 

They will then start demanding to know why you missed this page when applying, no option but to go and make another copy - usually about 10 X the cost of a photocopy outside.

 

If they ever lose their jobs here, I am sure they would do very well with that 3 cups and a coin trick - as practiced routinely by illegal Romanians on Tower Bridge!

 

Put on a pair of headphones or ear defenders too if you go with your Thai wife, as if you understand any Thai, you may just think that you and your wife have been turned into a couple off Dogs, as that is usually how you will be spoken to - Be prepared to sit / stay and fetch as instructed, you are still allowed to walk around on your hind legs for now, this will probably be replaced in the future with the usual Thai Grovelling pose usually carried out in front of officials - The half flipper or the full flipper may be required - This is usually done in the manner of a beached dolphin, where you prostrate yourself before them and use your arms like Dolphin flippers to frag yourself around in a supine prostrate manner, making sure to keep your head as low to the ground as possible.

5 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

Really? I would never have expected anything like this! When making an application for marriage extension, they will without fail (Except this years application which went fine) take all of your thousand tree felling of paper photocopies, shuffle them like a Vegas pit boss, then manage to lose a sheet or two, all whilst trying to multi task (i.e. attempting a conversation with a colleague).

 

They will then start demanding to know why you missed this page when applying, no option but to go and make another copy!

 

If they ever lose their jobs here, I am sure they would do very well with that 3 cups and a coin trick - as practiced routinely by illegal Romanians on Tower Bridge!

 

Put on a pir of headphones too if you go with your Thai wife as if you understand any Thai, you may just think that you and your wife have been turned into a couple off Dogs, as that is usually how you will be spoken to - Be prepared to sit / stay and fetch as instructed, you are still allowed to walk around on your hind legs for now, this will probably be replaced in the future with the usual Thai Grovelling pose usually carried out in front of officials - The half flipper or the full flipper may be required - This is usually done in the manner of a beached dolphin, where you prostrate yourself before them and use your arms like Dolphin flippers to frag yourself around in a supine prostrate manner, making sure to keep your head as low to the ground as possible.

I can clearly read that nobody can tell you what you need to do. 

To answer this question you would have to know how many people are members of AN.

If mistreatment includes being charged for a COR that should be free then my answer would be yes. Wouldn't mind a couple of hundred baht but 1,000 is taking the pi$$.

5 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Sure there will be people that has been treated unfair, but mostly it will be based on some underlying problem. A thing that immigration see as a problem, but the person affected necessarily do not understand or don´t see as a problem. Besides that, we of course have corruption, and adding just a bad day for a specific person can get them negative to all or just pick one for fun. Things that of course should not exist, but mostly to so all over the world in all areas of work in some way done by some people.

I surely believe that some had a bad experience, that was not necessary. However, it´s not among the masses as it many times sound like as soo many are all from afraid to overly negative against all Thai authorities.

That's amazing, you've not mentioned Brits once in that post, well done sir🫡🫡

How about showing up to do my 90 day report and being told I was a day late and the fine was 2k, reduced to 1k if I didn't want a receipt?

 

The reason I missed my due day was because of the death of the Thai king which resulted in the office being closed on what would have been a normal working day.

 

The fact that the officer could miraculously halve the fine if no receipt was given tells me that they were probably able to apply some leeway due to the exceptional circumstances but she chose to line her pocket instead.

7 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

To answer this question you would have to know how many people are members of AN.

The meaning was to discuss on an individual level. Not read word by word and make a silly translation out of it. But, other members have understood that. :-) 

5 hours ago, roo860 said:

That's amazing, you've not mentioned Brits once in that post, well done sir🫡🫡

Thank you! Most kind of you, Sir

I never had any problem at immigration or any border.

But most of the time I had some agent helping me. Many years ago a border run with Jack Golf to Cambodia and back. I think they charged something like 2000B. Just sitting in the bus, walking through immigration, having lunch and then the same reverse.

If I would have done it myself maybe I would have saved 500B, maybe.

 

And in the Bangkok immigration for Non-B visa, that just requires what looks like 50 documents, obviously all in Thai. I have to admit I prefer that a professional prepares everything. I see the officer for a minute and sign, and that's it. Once a year I can pay for that to avoid possible headache.

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I never had any problem at immigration or any border.

But most of the time I had some agent helping me. Many years ago a border run with Jack Golf to Cambodia and back. I think they charged something like 2000B. Just sitting in the bus, walking through immigration, having lunch and then the same reverse.

If I would have done it myself maybe I would have saved 500B, maybe.

 

And in the Bangkok immigration for Non-B visa, that just requires what looks like 50 documents, obviously all in Thai. I have to admit I prefer that a professional prepares everything. I see the officer for a minute and sign, and that's it. Once a year I can pay for that to avoid possible headache.

Sounds like a good choice.

Twice I have visited Samui immigration for standard services since getting my SMART Visa.

 

Under the SMART Visa rules, I only have to report every 365 days if I have not re-entered Thailand over that period. The first time was to do my annual reporting and the second was to get a residents certificate for my driving license renewal.

 

Both times they have looked at my passport and accused me of overstay because they do not know the Smart Visa rules and I'd not reported for over 90 days. Both times they were exceptionally rude when I tried to explain. I've been here long enough to know to dress 'properly', to be polite, to not raise my voice or show irritation etc etc.

 

Both times my 'case' was passed up the food chain. Nobody knew the law. Both times I had to call the Smart Visa unit in Bangkok and ask someone there to explain to the Samui immigration officers how it worked. Both times they begrudgingly gave me my passport back after wasting HOURS of my time. Both times they refused to give the service I'd orginally requested (lost face perhaps? Who knows, no explanation was given). Both times I received no apology for their mistake and their lack of knowledge of the visa rules.

 

The first time was perhaps understandable - Smart visas have been around for a number of years, but they are not that common, so maybe I was the first. But the second time was inexcusable. Both times, the surlyness, arrogance and total lack of respect was disgraceful. At one point they were pointing right at my face and saying in a loud, condecending voice 'you no understand, you overstay' when I was politely trying to show them the official Smart visa website with the rules clearly laid out in both Thai and English - they refued to even look. On one occasion they threatened me with arrest.

 

The first time I ended up flying to BKK just to do my annual report as I had no other option. The second time I went through the lengthy process of getting a yellow book and Thai ID card, just to avoid ever having to go to Samui immigration for a residents certificate again. Both times I wasted time and money on flights / ferries / hotels etc as a direct result of their ineptitude.

 

Thank goodness for the Smart visa team in Bangkok - they know the law and how to do their jobs with professionalism, common decency and respect. Samui immigration could (and should) learn a thing or ten from them.

 

11 hours ago, CharlieH said:

How about blatant abuse of power?

Made to do things, jump through hoops because they can?

Never had that either. My interactions with Immigration have been unfailingly pleasant over the years. I've been coming to Thailand since 1981 and have lived here full time since I retired 10 years ago. No unpleasant experiences, whether coming in visa exempt, which I used to do up to five times a year or in terms of getting yearly extensions of permission to stay since I retired, either. 

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

The meaning was to discuss on an individual level. Not read word by word and make a silly translation out of it. But, other members have understood that. 🙂

Yeah, even after years I have problems with the low level here on AN. Good, that we have someone like you.

9 hours ago, Formaleins said:

Really? I would never have expected anything like this! When making an application for marriage extension, they will without fail (Except this years application which went fine) take all of your thousands of tree felling of paper photocopies, shuffle them like a Vegas pit boss, then manage to lose a sheet or two, all whilst trying to multi task (i.e. attempting a conversation with a colleague).

 

They will then start demanding to know why you missed this page when applying, no option but to go and make another copy - usually about 10 X the cost of a photocopy outside.

 

If they ever lose their jobs here, I am sure they would do very well with that 3 cups and a coin trick - as practiced routinely by illegal Romanians on Tower Bridge!

 

Put on a pair of headphones or ear defenders too if you go with your Thai wife, as if you understand any Thai, you may just think that you and your wife have been turned into a couple off Dogs, as that is usually how you will be spoken to - Be prepared to sit / stay and fetch as instructed, you are still allowed to walk around on your hind legs for now, this will probably be replaced in the future with the usual Thai Grovelling pose usually carried out in front of officials - The half flipper or the full flipper may be required - This is usually done in the manner of a beached dolphin, where you prostrate yourself before them and use your arms like Dolphin flippers to frag yourself around in a supine prostrate manner, making sure to keep your head as low to the ground as possible.

I normally make 3 copies of the paperwork. One for Kamphaeng Phet, One for Chiang Mai and one for a spare, just in case I or they lose a page or two. It doesn't take that much longer and saves me a 140km return trip, if something goes adrift.

12 hours ago, Davedub said:

Twice I have visited Samui immigration for standard services since getting my SMART Visa.

 

Under the SMART Visa rules, I only have to report every 365 days if I have not re-entered Thailand over that period. The first time was to do my annual reporting and the second was to get a residents certificate for my driving license renewal.

 

Both times they have looked at my passport and accused me of overstay because they do not know the Smart Visa rules and I'd not reported for over 90 days. Both times they were exceptionally rude when I tried to explain. I've been here long enough to know to dress 'properly', to be polite, to not raise my voice or show irritation etc etc.

 

Both times my 'case' was passed up the food chain. Nobody knew the law. Both times I had to call the Smart Visa unit in Bangkok and ask someone there to explain to the Samui immigration officers how it worked. Both times they begrudgingly gave me my passport back after wasting HOURS of my time. Both times they refused to give the service I'd orginally requested (lost face perhaps? Who knows, no explanation was given). Both times I received no apology for their mistake and their lack of knowledge of the visa rules.

 

The first time was perhaps understandable - Smart visas have been around for a number of years, but they are not that common, so maybe I was the first. But the second time was inexcusable. Both times, the surlyness, arrogance and total lack of respect was disgraceful. At one point they were pointing right at my face and saying in a loud, condecending voice 'you no understand, you overstay' when I was politely trying to show them the official Smart visa website with the rules clearly laid out in both Thai and English - they refued to even look. On one occasion they threatened me with arrest.

 

The first time I ended up flying to BKK just to do my annual report as I had no other option. The second time I went through the lengthy process of getting a yellow book and Thai ID card, just to avoid ever having to go to Samui immigration for a residents certificate again. Both times I wasted time and money on flights / ferries / hotels etc as a direct result of their ineptitude.

 

Thank goodness for the Smart visa team in Bangkok - they know the law and how to do their jobs with professionalism, common decency and respect. Samui immigration could (and should) learn a thing or ten from them.

 

Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, I have also been here long enough to know, they have a problem with informing, reading up on new things or when someone tries to explain they are wrong. It´s one of the sad things, I know exist. I guess there is nothing more to say, then you did a good work to stay calm and respectful at the same time you solved toe problem for yourself. Good job, man!