Almost Refused Entry at Chiang Mai Airport -Be Warned! - 2nd Visa Exemption

[Nick Carter icp]

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

What you've written is total rubbish - you seem to imply that an Immigration officer will reject someone who meets all the requirements (with documentation) in favour of someone presenting a 20,000 baht 'bribe' via an agent...     which of course is total rubbish...

 

 

   I didn't say that or suggest that or even think of it .

You yourself made something up, attributed it to me and them claimed that I was talking rubbish 🙂

   My point was that Immigration would be happier to be receiving 20 000 Baht, rather than 1900 Baht .

   

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

20 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Then they don't want Non-Imm O based on Retirement - thats the requirement, if they don't want to meet that requirement, then they simply do not meet it.

No - they just use the agent - which IOs clearly prefer.  Every crackdown and rule-change has increased their agent-revenue stream. 

 
They demonstrate with their actions that they don't really care if "requirements" are met or not.  Their "agents" can even publicly advertise what they do.  Therefore, there is no reason to believe these "rules" exist for any other reason, than to line their pockets. 

 

24 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Protect your wife from Immigration abuse ??   you're laying it on thick...  

I've done the Non-Imm-O (based on Marriage) Immigration are perfectly well mannered....   abuse ? no...

Lucky you.  I am far from the only one to have had this experience.  Two separate offices were abusive.  A proper response in defense of one's wife is well-deserved, but you are outnumbered by criminal scum, masquerading as govt-agency personnel, with the force of the state at their disposal.

 

So... What you are implying is that 'everyone' who meets the requirements, has all of their paperwork in order, for either a Non-Imm O extension (based on Marraige or Retirement) will be rejected because they have not used an agent - to which I state - thats utter rubbish.

 

And... how exactly were two separate officers 'abusive' ???   Did they tell the Wife to 'Eff off' ??  or were they indifferent and somewhat dismissive ?

I'm not defending immigration officers here - but I see that many people, often expect gushingly polite behavior and see indifference as insult.

 

5 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

My experiences in the boonies weren't bad in that way - though, out there, it took going over every paper in the thick stack with 3 separate IOs, every year - literally all day, with a lunch-break.

 

Doing their job - Same here, they went through paper work in detail. I had to 'nip off' and get my Bank Book updated for that day - no complaint from me, it took an extra few mins.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

 

24 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Also Rob, your arguments all seem to originated from 'something' you think Immigration might do, could do, or a rule the might or could change....

 

... Its a lot of whatifery...   No solid argument at all.

 

On the contrary - what I have said is based on the historical record of changes to "the rules" for various types of visas / permitted-stays, and reading thousands of posts, here and elsewhere, regarding experiences with Thai Immigration.

 

I'll agree there has been a lot of 'movement for the fringe tolerances' - but that movement has been available online.

If I was going for a renewal tomorrow - It would take a while to get the paperwork, ensure there has been no change in how they want photos (i.e. on one page, in colour, no back to back photos etc - whether the map must be hand drawn or is a google maps print acceptable yet etc), money in the back for over 2 months, never dropping below etc... 

 

BUT - where have any of these rules actually changed ???   

 

Where have the rules changed ???   I'd argue most of the people who have encountered issue is because they are not meeting one of the requirements... made the assumption that someone was exactly the same as last year etc.

 

I recall with my renewal...   I printed the photo's 2 per side, and then again on the back...  (i.e. 4 photos per page), then I thought (based on reading this forum) that I should have one photo per page and take that with me just in case.... 

There as no room for any other flexibility - everything else was extremely clear.

I nearly didn't turn up with my Wife because that wasn't so clear - it was just by coincidence that she came with me.

 

I think a lot of the complaints about immigration are simply because - people don't like 'having to prove themselves' on such a regular frequency - that breeds a degree of contempt that contradicts their entitlement to remain here...   from some part an anti-authoritarian stance... and for others, they fall foul of missing the specific requirements....

 

 

All of that said: I dont see why the renewals need to be so frequent - they could have the immigration demand over night, having extensions on a 5 year basis.... etc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

My point was that Immigration would be happier to be receiving 20 000 Baht, rather than 1900 Baht .

 

OK, so what ??...   I'm sure they'd also be happier winning a lottery...    what's your point ?

 

They're not rejecting those who meet the requirements with a standard renewal at 1900 baht - which is what you 'seemed' to imply.

 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

 

OK, so what ??...   I'm sure they'd also be happier winning a lottery...    what's your point ?

 

They're not rejecting those who meet the requirements with a standard renewal at 1900 baht - which is what you 'seemed' to imply.

 

 

 

  OK, I will need to tell you again .

I didn't say they were rejecting people .

Before I continue, can you conform that you understand that ?

Just so I don't need to tell you for a third time 

[Rob Browder]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

So... What you are implying is that 'everyone' who meets the requirements, has all of their paperwork in order, for either a Non-Imm O extension (based on Marraige or Retirement) will be rejected because they have not used an agent - to which I state - thats utter rubbish.

Why are you arguing with a straw-man you just invented?  Immigration PREFER (my word) agent-submitted applications - clearly.  They skip the queue, and "requirements" are removed for them, so this conclusion is obvious.

 

Since I have been here, the rules significantly changed for marriage/family based, retirement, and ED extensions.  And, no, I don't just mean page-formatting.  These changes increased agent-use and/or cost.  They could change again, at any time, at their whim.