Random Immigration Checks

[Stocky]

1 hour 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

As a tourist surely you have better things to occupy your time with than randomly responding to threads that have absolutely nothing to do with your situation? Little wonder you're not married.

[Rob Browder]

5 hours 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 

Yes, they need to de-employ as many Thais as possible.  That'll show 'em for feeling "entitled," and wanting higher wages than Burmese will accept.  /s  This is the typical "elite" attitude.

[Rob Browder]

5 hours ago, Stocky said:

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.

Last 7 days, when I last did a marriage-based extension.  Ours was 10 days old, and the wife had to go get a "fresh" one.  And, then, they did the home visit + 2 witnesses (we paid to attend / "waste their time," of course).

[Stocky]

29 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

Last 7 days, when I last did a marriage-based extension.  Ours was 10 days old, and the wife had to go get a "fresh" one.  And, then, they did the home visit + 2 witnesses (we paid to attend / "waste their time," of course).

Wife always goes the day before the appointment, but the required documents list for Hat Yai immigration says "within 6 months". I don't think any two immigration offices have exactly the same rules and requirements, so always best to do your own homework.

[DrJack54]

Off topic post removed. 

[StayinThailand2much]

On 6/27/2025 at 3:13 PM, Jake72 said:

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.

 

Just wondering; how did the neighbours react, seeing all those "cops" turning up at your door to "check you out"? 

[wwest5829]

On 6/27/2025 at 4:10 PM, KhunLA said:

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

 

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

Agree with the first sentence … within reason (apologize, as an American, would oppose ICE type raid sweeps). As to your second point? For over a decade now at age 78, I have used an agency. Why? Easier in that they know any updated procedures, if there is a new boss wanting to make their mark by changing required paperwork, which IO officers are “grumpy”, which may have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, etc. So, I would favor allowing the agencies while focusing on the “non-comforting” manipulations (covering for not meeting financial requirements, etc.).

[KhunLA]

2 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Agree with the first sentence … within reason (apologize, as an American, would oppose ICE type raid sweeps). As to your second point? For over a decade now at age 78, I have used an agency. Why? Easier in that they know any updated procedures, if there is a new boss wanting to make their mark by changing required paperwork, which IO officers are “grumpy”, which may have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, etc. So, I would favor allowing the agencies while focusing on the “non-comforting” manipulations (covering for not meeting financial requirements, etc.).

Agents are fine to use, as long as they are not used to skirt the financial requirements.   Hold the hand service vs illegal brown envelope service.

 

Everyone complains about corruptions, except at Imm when using themselves.   Go figure, and surprised it is allowed to be discussed, even endorsed on AN when discussing other illegal activity is not allowed.

[Scouse123]

In Kalasin, where I am, immigration is generally excellent, unlike the nightmares I've read about here.

 

I have been in Thailand for 30 years, although I have been here for 20 years.

 

I am on a retirement extension until next month, when I will switch to DTV.

 

Throughout all that time, I have had only one immigration visit.

 

They phoned in advance, but it was around the time of all that trouble when the doctor had her back kicked by the Austrian who ran the elephant sanctuary, I think it was in Phuket or somewhere, and they were conducting checks on foreigners.

 

They did speak to the neighbours, which was the MIL. We don't have any other neighbours.

 

The immigration staff knew friends of my partner, and everything was done pleasantly in 15 minutes. One of the perks of living upcountry, everyone knows everyone.

 

They even took photos of us in the driveway; my MIL insisted on being included as well.

[DrJack54]

Thread in not debating the legality of agents use or otherwise. 

Posts will be removed.. 

[Sydebolle]

Alternatively go for a permanent resident permit (TM17); doable and not quite 100K if married or not quite 200K without Thai spouse - official fee against receipt. 

Once you have that, Bob's your uncle and the only thing you require is a re-entry visa (usually valid for one year). No more visa, 90-days, TM30, TM47 and whatever else the mother-of-all-bureaucrats come up with. The IO will not visit you either as there is nothing to check. 

[Thingamabob]

Immigration officials are welcome to visit us at our house in Bangkok any time although they have never done so during my last 40 years plus in Thailand. If this is genuinely a tougher scrutiny of us expats I am very much in favour of it 

[AgMech Cowboy]

On 6/27/2025 at 4:10 PM, KhunLA said:

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

 

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

Why, LA?  Some of us don't fit in the box that Immigration have told us to use.  In my case, I qualify for an extension based on the retirement criteria because of my age, but am not able to stick ฿800,000 in a Thai bank.  But, I live in a house that I purchased in my wife's name that's worth over ฿7,000,000 as I'm sure many others here have probably done.  Unfortunately the stocks that I own have gone from $20 per share to almost nothing and my wife just couldn't quit spending.  I know, it my fault for letting her, but...

 

Anyway my point is that I pay only for the HOA village fees, ฿1,800 per month, electricity and water to live here (not including the food purchases, transportation, etc.).  I've enough from Uncle Sam to live on, but I have debts in the US so I take my SSA payments there, then send the rest here, but that's usually only ฿59-60,000 every month.  I use an agent because it gives me more flexibility and there is far less hassle or time involved and they're not wasting my time nor theirs, and in the end I think it's better to use one.

[Mark1969]

On 6/27/2025 at 7:02 PM, 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.

Except the part about being watched all the time.

[KhunLA]

36 minutes ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

Why, LA?  Some of us don't fit in the box that Immigration have told us to use.  In my case, I qualify for an extension based on the retirement criteria because of my age, but am not able to stick ฿800,000 in a Thai bank.  But, I live in a house that I purchased in my wife's name that's worth over ฿7,000,000 as I'm sure many others here have probably done.  Unfortunately the stocks that I own have gone from $20 per share to almost nothing and my wife just couldn't quit spending.  I know, it my fault for letting her, but...

 

Anyway my point is that I pay only for the HOA village fees, ฿1,800 per month, electricity and water to live here (not including the food purchases, transportation, etc.).  I've enough from Uncle Sam to live on, but I have debts in the US so I take my SSA payments there, then send the rest here, but that's usually only ฿59-60,000 every month.  I use an agent because it gives me more flexibility and there is far less hassle or time involved and they're not wasting my time nor theirs, and in the end I think it's better to use one.

You fit my earlier post above, someone TH's economy has benefitted from, and unfortunately fall between the thin cracks of officially meeting the retirement financials, unless going the married route, then you have enough (40k a month).  Strange you don't use that visa & ext, to save the yearly agent fee.

[Spamhead]

On 6/27/2025 at 4:14 PM, Jake72 said:

this was totally unannounced, they just showed up and demanded our presence.

A bit overly dramatic. In what way did they demand your presence if you were already present ?

[Crossy]

Interestingly, Pathum Thani immigration always did a home visit for marriage extensions, not just the first one. 

 

Then , last November, despite verifying Madam's phone number, no visit. We shall see what occurs this November, all bets are off.

 

The "Check Visa Status" Line thingy simply said visa approved, please collect. 

 

[Stocky]

2 hours ago, Mark1969 said:

Except the part about being watched all the time.

You're being paranoid, no one's watching all the time.

[Andrew Dwyer]

I got the standard home visit on the 1st retirement extension of my Non imm O ( changed from non imm OA ), then got a surprise visit some 6 months later and another visit 6 months after that !, 3 in a year !

This was 2022/2023 and thankfully no more since, my unfriendly hospitality paid off .

Seems like they have a purge every now and then, doing my retirement extension tomorrow will see what happens .

[transam]

Just now, Andrew Dwyer said:

I got the standard home visit on the 1st retirement extension of my Non imm O ( changed from non imm OA ), then got a surprise visit some 6 months later and another visit 6 months after that !, 3 in a year !

This was 2022/2023 and thankfully no more since, my unfriendly hospitality paid off .

Seems like they have a purge every now and then, doing my retirement extension tomorrow will see what happens .

Perhaps your unfriendly hospitality didn't pay off, eh.............🤔

Most folk are left alone......

[proton]

2 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

Why, LA?  Some of us don't fit in the box that Immigration have told us to use.  In my case, I qualify for an extension based on the retirement criteria because of my age, but am not able to stick ฿800,000 in a Thai bank.  But, I live in a house that I purchased in my wife's name that's worth over ฿7,000,000 as I'm sure many others here have probably done.  Unfortunately the stocks that I own have gone from $20 per share to almost nothing and my wife just couldn't quit spending.  I know, it my fault for letting her, but...

 

Anyway my point is that I pay only for the HOA village fees, ฿1,800 per month, electricity and water to live here (not including the food purchases, transportation, etc.).  I've enough from Uncle Sam to live on, but I have debts in the US so I take my SSA payments there, then send the rest here, but that's usually only ฿59-60,000 every month.  I use an agent because it gives me more flexibility and there is far less hassle or time involved and they're not wasting my time nor theirs, and in the end I think it's better to use one.

 

So you are here illegally then, how much you pay a month for various things is irrelevant, if you do not have 800k in the bank or 65k a month income you should not be here. You use an agent because you do not have the required funds. Immigration is not interested in sob stories.

[Mark1969]

2 hours ago, Stocky said:

You're being paranoid, no one's watching all the time.

Yes, they are. Privacy in Southeast Asia is a luxury few can afford.

 

Having to interact at all, check in, report or provide information when you are not interested in doing that equals watching. Others call it pestering or monitoring. Whatever name you put to it, it makes you feel less free. It's a type of control over people. In the movie 1984 they called it "big brother".

[Stocky]

7 minutes ago, Mark1969 said:

Yes, they are. Privacy in Southeast Asia is a luxury few can afford.

 

Having to interact or check, report or provide ingormation when you are not interested in doing that equals watching.

I'm sure there are many Daily Mail readers who would welcome closer monitoring of foreigners in the UK. If you don't like it go home.