Random Immigration Checks

[Jake72]

I was just visited by Immigration this afternoon, 3 officers in the "high tech BMW" came to my house to check on me and my wife. I don't have anything to hide and my non-o visa is valid until the end of December, but it looks like they're keeping a close eye on all foreigners living in Thailand these days. I've been here for more than 25 years on various types of visas, this was the first time they've come unannounced to my home to check on me. They just wanted a few pictures of me and the wife together in front of the house with me holding up my passport and a couple of officers on each side. 

 

Not sure if any of the locals decided to report me to immigration or something to trigger this visit, but anyway just a heads up, you will be next.

 

Cheers,

Jake

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

Thanks for reporting.

Are you currently on marriage extension or retirement?

[DrJack54]

Which immigration office

[Jake72]

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Which immigration office

I live in Rattanaburi, Surin, about 2 hours drive from the main immigration office in Kap Choeng.

[Jake72]

8 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Thanks for reporting.

Are you currently on marriage extension or retirement?

I'm on a marriage extension for the past 6 years. Before that I was on a work permit extension for 20+ years.

[KhunBENQ]

I was asking because home visits were limited to people on marriage extension.

But now there are more reports even for those on retirement extension.

[KhunLA]

The more inspections & scrutiny of the applicants ... the better 👍

 

Now to ban agents from the IO, except for the certified handicapped applicant 

[Jake72]

4 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

I was asking because home visits were limited to people on marriage extension.

But now there are more reports even for those on retirement extension.

Sure, we had a visit the first time I used this address for the non-o extension, but never since, this was totally unannounced, they just showed up and demanded our presence. Usually for the extension they call first to make sure we are home as least a few hours in advance, but not this time.

[Jake72]

5 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

The more inspections & scrutiny of the applicants ... the better 👍

 

Now to ban agents from the IO, except for the certified handicapped applicant 

ok, I'll request immigration to always keep an eye on your property 🤣

[blaze master]

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

The more inspections & scrutiny of the applicants ... the better 👍

 

Now to ban agents from the IO, except for the certified handicapped applicant 

 

You done it now. Wacked a hornets nest with that reasonable comment. 

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Now to ban agents from the IO, except for the certified handicapped applicant 

Don't see the funny side. 

Indeed many aging expats living in Thailand have significant mobility/health issues. 

A trip to somewhere such as CW can be a major undertaking and currently Thai immigration does not have considerations in place for this. 

 

In addition the thread is not about the use or otherwise of agents for extensions. 

 

Further posts re agents will be removed as off topic. 

[nrasmussen]

14 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

I was asking because home visits were limited to people on marriage extension.

But now there are more reports even for those on retirement extension.

 

Yes, I'm on an extension of stay based on retirement. A couple of weeks ago, I had a visit too. (Hat Yai Immigration, Songkhla.)

[Stocky]

Someone popped in on us last week, not connected with my marriage extension, this was an IO from Padang Basar checking on our marriage status; called in the morning wanting to see us that afternoon. Last year we had two visits, one an IO from Hat Yai for the marriage extension, the second two IO from Sadao, again to check our marriage was real.

[John Drake]

I'm on a retirement extension but have sometimes wondered about switching to the marriage extension. But always wondered what would happen if my wife was out of town or country if they decided to visit. Her business has her going to Jakarta and Beijing for three or four days at a time a few times per year. Would hate to draw the black bean while she was gone.

[transam]

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Don't see the funny side. 

Indeed many aging expats living in Thailand have significant mobility/health issues. 

A trip to somewhere such as CW can be a major undertaking and currently Thai immigration does not have considerations in place for this. 

 

In addition the thread is not about the use or otherwise of agents for extensions. 

 

Further posts re agents will be removed as off topic. 

My chum is a prime example, his wife had to pay for an ambulance to get him to immigration......🤔

 

But, they were lucky, a senior officer was there, had a pop at staff for the ridiculous service, they were sent home and wait for an officer to call at their house in a few day's.

 

She didn't get her ambulance money back though........😌

[Jake72]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Don't see the funny side. 

Indeed many aging expats living in Thailand have significant mobility/health issues. 

A trip to somewhere such as CW can be a major undertaking and currently Thai immigration does not have considerations in place for this. 

 

In addition the thread is not about the use or otherwise of agents for extensions. 

 

Further posts re agents will be removed as off topic. 

My wife is good at making small talk she asked one of the immigration officers if it's going to be this difficult forever and and she replied yes, they had one foreigner who died the day after spending all day at the immigration office. That is such a sad story, imagine spending your last day at immigration. 

[Stocky]

18 minutes ago, John Drake said:

But always wondered what would happen if my wife was out of town or country if they decided to visit.

That's happened to us before, wife was visiting her parents in Prachuap, not a problem they just organised a visit when my wife came back.

[KhunLA]

18 minutes ago, Jake72 said:

ok, I'll request immigration to always keep an eye on your property 🤣

 

18 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

You done it now. Wacked a hornets nest with that reasonable comment. 

 

16 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Someone popped in on us last week, not connected with my marriage extension, this was an IO from Padang Basar checking on our marriage status; called in the morning wanting to see us that afternoon. Last year we had two visits, one an IO from Hat Yai for the marriage extension, the second two IO from Sadao, again to check our marriage was real.

 

When doing the extension, do they not require the cert. from amphur office, verifying your marital status ?  Or did the check anyway.

 

9 minutes ago, John Drake said:

I'm on a retirement extension but have sometimes wondered about switching to the marriage extension. But always wondered what would happen if my wife was out of town or country if they decided to visit. Her business has her going to Jakarta and Beijing for three or four days at a time a few times per year. Would hate to draw the black bean while she was gone.

 

I think the IO is more concerned about what your neighbors say, than her being there.  IO talk us when on marriage ext. that they talk to the neighbors, and don't care much about us.   When I asked, if you come for inspection, do you call first, to make sure we're there, since O&A quite often then.

[John Drake]

1 minute ago, Stocky said:

That's happened to us before, wife was visiting her parent in Prachuap, not a problem they just organised a visit when my wife came back.

 

Yea, I would hope they would check with her company at least to verify. But if they're being at least this reasonable that is a relief.

[Stocky]

Just now, KhunLA said:

When doing the extension, do they not require the cert. from amphur office, verifying your marital status ?  Or did the check anyway.

Yes, a Kor Ror2 from the amphur is part of the paperwork, valid within the last 6 months, the visit(s) is/are in addition to.

[GanDoonToonPet]

Yes, generally more cracking down. Went to Laksi yesterday to extend my 60 day VE and there was yet another form to fill out. It's called STM11 and gives permission for immigration officers to 'carry out investigations' into the information given on the TM7.

 

Incidentally, total chaos there. There were no STM2 or STM5 forms in the usual trays next to the TM7 forms. In fact there were no trays for them. Those forms were on the checking desks and I think people were filling them out there.

 

Had to queue for 1.5 hours before lunch and half an hour after. Legs and back are aching like crazy today. 🤪

[KhunLA]

31 minutes ago, Jake72 said:

ok, I'll request immigration to always keep an eye on your property 🤣

Don't own property here, wife does 😎

 

All welcome, just don't even think about picking any figs 🤬

[swissbie]

33 minutes ago, nrasmussen said:

 

Yes, I'm on an extension of stay based on retirement. A couple of weeks ago, I had a visit too. (Hat Yai Immigration, Songkhla.)

When i moved here 8 years ago we got a visit from IO Hat Yai after the first extension, visa based on retirement. Before i had been on extensions based on marriage in an other province and never got the pleasure of visiting IO's. The second year they told me that they will have to visit every year now (IO Hat Yei), but they never came. No problem, but an unannounced visit would be as strange as interesting; although they know longitude and latitude it's very difficult to find our house without instructions..

[HappyExpat57]

Chanthaburi immigration makes appointments. I'm on for a Saturday next month. Retirement Non-O.

[Jack1988]

nothing new here. Honestly, when i see these things i keep thinking that thailand is good to stay only for a few months and then bye bye, i'l see you again if and when i want

[Stocky]

4 minutes ago, Jack1988 said:

nothing new here. Honestly, when i see these things i keep thinking that thailand is good to stay only for a few months and then bye bye, i'l see you again if and when i want

It's hardly the Gestapo!

All very polite, just check your passport, a little chat, sign a form and pose for a photo - all done in ten minutes.

[Jack1988]

6 minutes ago, Stocky said:

It's hardly the Gestapo!

All very polite, just check your passport, a little chat, sign a form and pose for a photo - all done in ten minutes.

hmmm nah, i wouldn't feel comfortable with that. I mean, why should you sign a form and pose a photo if you have already got the annual extension? Do not bother with these useless things. It's annoying. But it doesn't matter as I am not married to a thai woman. I'm just a tourist here, am ok

[DrJack54]

17 minutes ago, Jack1988 said:

But it doesn't matter as I am not married to a thai woman. I'm just a tourist here, am ok

In other words zero to do with the thread that concerns annual extensions not folk on tourist visas. 

[DrJack54]

55 minutes ago, Jack1988 said:

nothing new here. Honestly, when i see these things i keep thinking that thailand is good to stay only for a few months and then bye bye, i'l see you again if and when i want

How are your posts remotely connected to expats living in Thailand. Topic of thread. 

 

Enjoy you "few months" as a tourist. 

[DrJack54]

Trolling posts removed.