Two months ago, I moved to Samut Prakan after living for three years in Bangkok. My new home is literally on the Samut Prakan southern side of a street that falls under the Bangkok province on the opposite side. And yet, it seems like a completely different world.

In order to extend my Retirement VISA, I recently had to visit the Samut Prakan Immigration Office, where I was greeted with a series of surprises.

Let's start by pointing out that the Samut Prakan immigration office's website is entirely in Thai, with a few English captions here and there. Furthermore, the office is much less welcoming, with insufficient seating for all the people crowding the premises, and the staff decidedly rude and unpleasant, all but one exception.

The first surprise came when my documents were check at the information desk, a necessary step to obtain the coveted queue number. I learned from a kindhearted woman that not only I needed my current TM30, but also the one issued by my previous landlord in Bangkok, 14 months ago.

I did not expect this requirement, and I called my girlfriend out of desperation. And she immediately sent me a copy of the requested TM30 that she happened to have stored on her PC. Problem solved.

Second surprise: I printed the old TM30 and returned to the information desk, where the same kind young woman informed me that copies of the relevant pages of my passport were of no use in Samut Prakan. "The immigration office here, unlike Bangkok, requires a copy of every single page of your passport, including blank ones, without exception". And she said it, emphasizing "here, unlike Bangkok." Good to know.

I went to the nearby copy shop, then queued for the third time at the information desk, where I finally got my coveted queue number, along with the third surprise: I was handed also several forms, none of which resembled those used by Immigration Division One in Bangkok, except for the TM7. All the forms I downloaded from Division 1 website and filled out on my computer in neat, laser-printed characters ended up in the trash.
Handwriting and pen are the order of the day in Samut Prakan.

Finally, they called my number, and when I handed over my stack of documents, I really thought it would only take a few minutes before everything was finished. How wrong I was! In fact, what was waiting for me was the fourth surprise.

I already had the TM30 from my previous residence in Bangkok. But the clerk at counter 1 pointed out that I was missing a copy of the apartment owner's ID. And without a photocopy of that gentleman's identity card, we couldn't proceed. In desperation, I began to think of a possible solution. I found it in the cloud, attached to a copy of the rental agreement, I signed 14 months ago. I returned to counter 1, showing the file on my phone and offering to print it at the usual copy shop. The clerk grabbed my phone and shared it with two other colleagues. Together, they compared the name shown on the Thai ID with the one printed on the TM30, nodding visibly.

And here came the fifth surprise: the clerk appeared at counter 1 and told me peremptorily: "The document is not enough: you must give us also the owner's telephone number."

Stunned, I stammered that I'd already obtained the visa three times in Bangkok without ever changing residence, that everything had been checked by Division 1 and everything was in order. I'd never had any contact with the owner, only with the agency. I offered the agent's number. No one in Bangkok ever asked me for the owner's phone number. The clerk's lapidary reply: "Bangkok is Bangkok. And here is Samut Prakan." Rejected. D@mn!

I called the agent, who didn't answer, then my girlfriend, who promised to help me by calling the condominium Juristic Person. After half an hour, I finally received the long-awaited piece of this neverending puzzle. I returned to Counter Number 1, with my precious cell phone number and, after a short wait, long enough to see another applicant rejected, I rejoined the game.

Unbeknownst to me, another very serious surprise was waiting for me: the sixth surprise. But this time was a surprise of my own making. The employee began checking my documents again. She then consulted with two colleagues (I believe managers of higher levels).

Then came the cold shower. In the three months following the issuance of my visa in Bangkok, my bank account balance remained below THB 800,000 for as long as six consecutive days. The maximum difference was approximately THB 55,000 (it was never below 745,000 THB). Furthermore, at the end of those six days (the seventh and eighth), I received two transfers from abroad for a total of THB 2.6 million. In total, last year I invested THB 10.5 million in real estate in Thailand. But the balance remained below THB 800,000 for six days and this was written in stone on my bank statement.

I must confess that I remembered the 800,000 THB rule perfectly for the two months preceding the VISA application. But I completely forgot the 800,000 THB rule for the three months following the issuing of the VISA.

Luckily, I have a second bank account in Thailand, which I use primarily for Grab purchases. Luckily, as I found out by running to the nearest SCB branch during the immigration office lunch break, I opened it a month before the unfortunate six days. And luckily, the account had enough balance to get me back into the game.

The seventh surprise. So, at 2pm I was back in front of the infamous Immigration Counter 1 in Samut Prakan, armed with my second bank statement and more determined than ever to get my coveted VISA.

After waiting for yet another applicant to be rejected, the scrutiny of my stack of documents finally began again.

First the counter clerk, then a second who, with painstakingly meticulous, exhausting diligence, calculated with a calculator the total balance, noting it in pencil on the bank statement, for each of the six days. Then was the turn of the one who looked like the boss to check my documents. She nodded in a sign of approval. And the Counter 1 clerk promptly invited me to go to Counter B. There another clerk shot a photo of my face, handed me a small black blinking box with a number, and asked me to wait for instructions.

After about 20 interminable minutes, the information desk kind employee finally returned my passport. Anxiously, I opened it looking for my VISA. There it is! But wait! This is not the usual one-year extension. It is just a one-month VISA!

Back to Counter number 1. "Hey, can you tell me what the hell is going on here?"

Clerk, the eight surprise: "After you move to Samut Prakan, we only give you your first visa with a one-month validity. We will send an inspector to verify that you actually live where you say you do. What... ...you say you own the apartment you live in? We don't care. Unlike Bangkok, in Samut Prakan we'll send an inspector to verify your word."

"Come back in 30 days and, if everything is okay, you will get your one-year extension".

If someone is interested in purchasing an apartment in Samut Prakan, please contact me. I am moving back to Bangkok.

What a nightmare! And some people wonder why some expats are saying they have had enough and heading elsewhere or back home. This is not the sort of hassle anyone wants to face, especially in retirement.

It doesn't make it any more acceptable but for what it's worth, my Mrs tells me she faces similar sorts of issues when she deals with various government departments with her business as rules change from year to year, different officers require different documents etc. In other words, it's not an Immigration or anti-foreigner thing, rather it's a Thai government thing that is inherent across many government departments.

That is so strange it sounds like deliberate obstructing of the process. I suspect they would like you to use one of their preferred agents. The fact that others were rejected may provide some evidence supporting this idea. However I would add the balance failure was not surprising, that is a black and white rule. Surprises 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 sound deliberately designed to make the process more difficult.

5 hours ago, Briggsy said:

I suspect they would like you to use one of their preferred agents.

I agree, this is a real possibility. During my day at the office, I chatted with a young European man, who told me that that day was his third attempt to clear the procedure. And with a Singaporean man, in his 60s or 70s, who told me it was a real ordeal getting through the immigration process. He mentioned that the consequences of a formal visa refusal are dire. But I didn't investigate further.

A couple of times I also noticed the ease with which the Thai agents, who accompany foreign applicants, access the counters without apparently worrying about the queue.

3 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

I agree, this is a real possibility. During my day at the office, I chatted with a young European man, who told me it was his third attempt that day. And with a Singaporean man, in his 60s or 70s, who told me it was a real ordeal getting through the immigration process. He mentioned that the consequences of a formal visa refusal are dire. But I didn't investigate further.

A couple of times I also noticed the ease with which the Thai agents, who accompany foreign applicants, access the counters without apparently worrying about the queue.

Well there's the solution to your problems.

10 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

.....please contact me. I am moving back to Bangkok.

Crazy. This report really reads like it's been posted a month early. It would not be surprising to see something similar posted on the first of next month. What an ordeal!

48 minutes ago, grain said:

Well there's the solution to your problems.

I'm still waiting for the "inspector." My "inner voice" tells me he might ask me to buy him some tea... ...let's see. But I never liked abuse.

The worst part: No one in Thai officialdom cares. It is inexcusable, but it is as they say, Thailand.

Sorry to hear of your problems, good job i am not moving there, my blood pressure could not handle it, nor my patience. for sure after that i would be having a holiday in my home country

21 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

Two months ago, I moved to Samut Prakan after living for three years in Bangkok. My new home is literally on the Samut Prakan southern side of a street that falls under the Bangkok province on the opposite side. And yet, it seems like a completely different world.

In order to extend my Retirement VISA, I recently had to visit the Samut Prakan Immigration Office, where I was greeted with a series of surprises.

Let's start by pointing out that the Samut Prakan immigration office's website is entirely in Thai, with a few English captions here and there. Furthermore, the office is much less welcoming, with insufficient seating for all the people crowding the premises, and the staff decidedly rude and unpleasant, all but one exception.

The first surprise came when my documents were check at the information desk, a necessary step to obtain the coveted queue number. I learned from a kindhearted woman that not only I needed my current TM30, but also the one issued by my previous landlord in Bangkok, 14 months ago.

I did not expect this requirement, and I called my girlfriend out of desperation. And she immediately sent me a copy of the requested TM30 that she happened to have stored on her PC. Problem solved.

Second surprise: I printed the old TM30 and returned to the information desk, where the same kind young woman informed me that copies of the relevant pages of my passport were of no use in Samut Prakan. "The immigration office here, unlike Bangkok, requires a copy of every single page of your passport, including blank ones, without exception". And she said it, emphasizing "here, unlike Bangkok." Good to know.

I went to the nearby copy shop, then queued for the third time at the information desk, where I finally got my coveted queue number, along with the third surprise: I was handed also several forms, none of which resembled those used by Immigration Division One in Bangkok, except for the TM7. All the forms I downloaded from Division 1 website and filled out on my computer in neat, laser-printed characters ended up in the trash.
Handwriting and pen are the order of the day in Samut Prakan.

Finally, they called my number, and when I handed over my stack of documents, I really thought it would only take a few minutes before everything was finished. How wrong I was! In fact, what was waiting for me was the fourth surprise.

I already had the TM30 from my previous residence in Bangkok. But the clerk at counter 1 pointed out that I was missing a copy of the apartment owner's ID. And without a photocopy of that gentleman's identity card, we couldn't proceed. In desperation, I began to think of a possible solution. I found it in the cloud, attached to a copy of the rental agreement, I signed 14 months ago. I returned to counter 1, showing the file on my phone and offering to print it at the usual copy shop. The clerk grabbed my phone and shared it with two other colleagues. Together, they compared the name shown on the Thai ID with the one printed on the TM30, nodding visibly.

And here came the fifth surprise: the clerk appeared at counter 1 and told me peremptorily: "The document is not enough: you must give us also the owner's telephone number."

Stunned, I stammered that I'd already obtained the visa three times in Bangkok without ever changing residence, that everything had been checked by Division 1 and everything was in order. I'd never had any contact with the owner, only with the agency. I offered the agent's number. No one in Bangkok ever asked me for the owner's phone number. The clerk's lapidary reply: "Bangkok is Bangkok. And here is Samut Prakan." Rejected. D@mn!

I called the agent, who didn't answer, then my girlfriend, who promised to help me by calling the condominium Juristic Person. After half an hour, I finally received the long-awaited piece of this neverending puzzle. I returned to Counter Number 1, with my precious cell phone number and, after a short wait, long enough to see another applicant rejected, I rejoined the game.

Unbeknownst to me, another very serious surprise was waiting for me: the sixth surprise. But this time was a surprise of my own making. The employee began checking my documents again. She then consulted with two colleagues (I believe managers of higher levels).

Then came the cold shower. In the three months following the issuance of my visa in Bangkok, my bank account balance remained below THB 800,000 for as long as six consecutive days. The maximum difference was approximately THB 55,000 (it was never below 745,000 THB). Furthermore, at the end of those six days (the seventh and eighth), I received two transfers from abroad for a total of THB 2.6 million. In total, last year I invested THB 10.5 million in real estate in Thailand. But the balance remained below THB 800,000 for six days and this was written in stone on my bank statement.

I must confess that I remembered the 800,000 THB rule perfectly for the two months preceding the VISA application. But I completely forgot the 800,000 THB rule for the three months following the issuing of the VISA.

Luckily, I have a second bank account in Thailand, which I use primarily for Grab purchases. Luckily, as I found out by running to the nearest SCB branch during the immigration office lunch break, I opened it a month before the unfortunate six days. And luckily, the account had enough balance to get me back into the game.

The seventh surprise. So, at 2pm I was back in front of the infamous Immigration Counter 1 in Samut Prakan, armed with my second bank statement and more determined than ever to get my coveted VISA.

After waiting for yet another applicant to be rejected, the scrutiny of my stack of documents finally began again.

First the counter clerk, then a second who, with painstakingly meticulous, exhausting diligence, calculated with a calculator the total balance, noting it in pencil on the bank statement, for each of the six days. Then was the turn of the one who looked like the boss to check my documents. She nodded in a sign of approval. And the Counter 1 clerk promptly invited me to go to Counter B. There another clerk shot a photo of my face, handed me a small black blinking box with a number, and asked me to wait for instructions.

After about 20 interminable minutes, the information desk kind employee finally returned my passport. Anxiously, I opened it looking for my VISA. There it is! But wait! This is not the usual one-year extension. It is just a one-month VISA!

Back to Counter number 1. "Hey, can you tell me what the hell is going on here?"

Clerk, the eight surprise: "After you move to Samut Prakan, we only give you your first visa with a one-month validity. We will send an inspector to verify that you actually live where you say you do. What... ...you say you own the apartment you live in? We don't care. Unlike Bangkok, in Samut Prakan we'll send an inspector to verify your word."

"Come back in 30 days and, if everything is okay, you will get your one-year extension".

If someone is interested in purchasing an apartment in Samut Prakan, please contact me. I am moving back to Bangkok.

Sorry to here the OP had a hard time on his first encounter with SP imm. I assume that because he's moved to SP, they treat him like a first time applicant and want to be sure of his details.

Having used SP imm for the past +20 years for Non-B and Non-O (married) annual extensions, they really aren't too bad once you've got your ducks in a row.

The SP imm office is quite new (recently built on the plot of the old office), the facilities aren't too bad, and is a major improvement to the old office. Only things I don't like about the new office are:

1. insufficient parking,

2. now officers are behind glassscreens which doesn't help communication,

3. insufficient parking,

4. insufficient parking, and,

5. insufficient parking.

Most of the staff are fine. The young girl on reception has been there for years and is generally helpful.

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

1. insufficient parking,

Indeed, I forgot to mention the insufficient parking. And the young girl on reception not only has been helpful, but she also made clear that Samut Prakan Immigration officers do things differently compared to Bangkok.

As for Bangkok, once you understand which documents are needed, they are all available online in PDF format (with the exception of the “บันทึกคำให้การ หมายเลข 3 กก.2 บก.ตม.1”) and all of them can be completed and printed in the comfort of your home.

Two years ago, I had a problem. In 2024, I renewed my visa on February 26. In February 2025, when I renewed my visa, my bank printed a bank statement for the last 12 months, from March 1, 2024, to February 24, 2025. This was not accepted by the Immigration Office in Bangkok because the three days from February 27 to 29, 2024, were missing. Bangkok Bank can provide a bank statement covering more than 12 months, including the current one, but it takes three business days to obtain one.

But here's the thing. The immigration officer examined my entire stack of documents. She made sure everything else was in order. Then she told me to return to her with the new bank statement, skip the line, and go straight to her desk.

When I showed up at her desk three days later, she was busy with an applicant. But she quickly left her cubicle and invited me to join her as soon as she was finished with the person she was assisting.

When I finally sat at her desk, she immediately went to check the balance on my bank statement, and my application was approved.

To be totally honest, I was so impressed that I tried to give her a 2,000 THB tip, been careful not to be seen by cameras or anyone around us. But she firmly rejected it and stated that she just did her duty. I will miss the Bangkok Immigration Officers.

But in Bangkok the parking is possibly even more insufficient than in Samut Prakan.

Is this actually worse than Chiang Mai immigration? If so that's very impressive.

What gets me is that if you qualify for a DTV you can apply once and then enter the country as many times you like within 5 years yet put retied people under maximum scrutiny.

10 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

Indeed, I forgot to mention the insufficient parking. And the young girl on reception not only has been helpful, but she also made clear that Samut Prakan Immigration officers do things differently compared to Bangkok.

As for Bangkok, once you understand which documents are needed, they are all available online in PDF format (with the exception of the “บันทึกคำให้การ หมายเลข 3 กก.2 บก.ตม.1”) and all of them can be completed and printed in the comfort of your home.

Two years ago, I had a problem. In 2024, I renewed my visa on February 26. In February 2025, when I renewed my visa, my bank printed a bank statement for the last 12 months, from March 1, 2024, to February 24, 2025. This was not accepted by the Immigration Office in Bangkok because the three days from February 27 to 29, 2024, were missing. Bangkok Bank can provide a bank statement covering more than 12 months, including the current one, but it takes three business days to obtain one.

But here's the thing. The immigration officer examined my entire stack of documents. She made sure everything else was in order. Then she told me to return to her with the new bank statement, skip the line, and go straight to her desk.

When I showed up at her desk three days later, she was busy with an applicant. But she quickly left her cubicle and invited me to join her as soon as she was finished with the person she was assisting.

When I finally sat at her desk, she immediately went to check the balance on my bank statement, and my application was approved.

To be totally honest, I was so impressed that I tried to give her a 2,000 THB tip, been careful not to be seen by cameras or anyone around us. But she firmly rejected it and stated that she just did her duty. I will miss the Bangkok Immigration Officers.

But in Bangkok the parking is possibly even more insufficient than in Samut Prakan.

At SP Imm for parking, you can try:
- In front of office - few spots but you'll have to be lucky to get one
- Turn left before office to main parking area
- At Wat Mahawong and walk 5 mins to imm off
- At April cafe - park, have lunch (seafood,  nice Chaophya view), walk 5 mins to imm off.

In a slightly related incident, I recently renewed my marriage extension in Buriram immigration office.

For the past couple of years, there has been no requirement for a Kor Ror 2 to be presented.

That is now required and not only that but it needs to be witnessed and signed by someone who knows you are still happily married.

If you are in a village 25km from the immigration office and unaware of this, then you will have a bit of legwork to do.

On 3/1/2026 at 2:54 AM, Briggsy said:

That is so strange it sounds like deliberate obstructing of the process. I suspect they would like you to use one of their preferred agents. The fact that others were rejected may provide some evidence supporting this idea. However I would add the balance failure was not surprising, that is a black and white rule. Surprises 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 sound deliberately designed to make the process more difficult.

You got contact details of an agent that deals with SP Immi? I'm pretty sure they don't allow the of agents, at least for farang. Based on a friend's experience with that office is seems they are one of the few "above board" ones. Happy to be corrected with, like I said, an agent's contact details.

"Alway look on the bright side of life": Be happy that you didn't moved to Koh Samui...

On 2/28/2026 at 11:11 PM, AndreasHG said:

Two months ago, I moved to Samut Prakan after living for three years in Bangkok. My new home is literally on the Samut Prakan southern side of a street that falls under the Bangkok province on the opposite side. And yet, it seems like a completely different world.

In order to extend my Retirement VISA, I recently had to visit the Samut Prakan Immigration Office, where I was greeted with a series of surprises.

Let's start by pointing out that the Samut Prakan immigration office's website is entirely in Thai, with a few English captions here and there. Furthermore, the office is much less welcoming, with insufficient seating for all the people crowding the premises, and the staff decidedly rude and unpleasant, all but one exception.

The first surprise came when my documents were check at the information desk, a necessary step to obtain the coveted queue number. I learned from a kindhearted woman that not only I needed my current TM30, but also the one issued by my previous landlord in Bangkok, 14 months ago.

I did not expect this requirement, and I called my girlfriend out of desperation. And she immediately sent me a copy of the requested TM30 that she happened to have stored on her PC. Problem solved.

Second surprise: I printed the old TM30 and returned to the information desk, where the same kind young woman informed me that copies of the relevant pages of my passport were of no use in Samut Prakan. "The immigration office here, unlike Bangkok, requires a copy of every single page of your passport, including blank ones, without exception". And she said it, emphasizing "here, unlike Bangkok." Good to know.

I went to the nearby copy shop, then queued for the third time at the information desk, where I finally got my coveted queue number, along with the third surprise: I was handed also several forms, none of which resembled those used by Immigration Division One in Bangkok, except for the TM7. All the forms I downloaded from Division 1 website and filled out on my computer in neat, laser-printed characters ended up in the trash.
Handwriting and pen are the order of the day in Samut Prakan.

Finally, they called my number, and when I handed over my stack of documents, I really thought it would only take a few minutes before everything was finished. How wrong I was! In fact, what was waiting for me was the fourth surprise.

I already had the TM30 from my previous residence in Bangkok. But the clerk at counter 1 pointed out that I was missing a copy of the apartment owner's ID. And without a photocopy of that gentleman's identity card, we couldn't proceed. In desperation, I began to think of a possible solution. I found it in the cloud, attached to a copy of the rental agreement, I signed 14 months ago. I returned to counter 1, showing the file on my phone and offering to print it at the usual copy shop. The clerk grabbed my phone and shared it with two other colleagues. Together, they compared the name shown on the Thai ID with the one printed on the TM30, nodding visibly.

And here came the fifth surprise: the clerk appeared at counter 1 and told me peremptorily: "The document is not enough: you must give us also the owner's telephone number."

Stunned, I stammered that I'd already obtained the visa three times in Bangkok without ever changing residence, that everything had been checked by Division 1 and everything was in order. I'd never had any contact with the owner, only with the agency. I offered the agent's number. No one in Bangkok ever asked me for the owner's phone number. The clerk's lapidary reply: "Bangkok is Bangkok. And here is Samut Prakan." Rejected. D@mn!

I called the agent, who didn't answer, then my girlfriend, who promised to help me by calling the condominium Juristic Person. After half an hour, I finally received the long-awaited piece of this neverending puzzle. I returned to Counter Number 1, with my precious cell phone number and, after a short wait, long enough to see another applicant rejected, I rejoined the game.

Unbeknownst to me, another very serious surprise was waiting for me: the sixth surprise. But this time was a surprise of my own making. The employee began checking my documents again. She then consulted with two colleagues (I believe managers of higher levels).

Then came the cold shower. In the three months following the issuance of my visa in Bangkok, my bank account balance remained below THB 800,000 for as long as six consecutive days. The maximum difference was approximately THB 55,000 (it was never below 745,000 THB). Furthermore, at the end of those six days (the seventh and eighth), I received two transfers from abroad for a total of THB 2.6 million. In total, last year I invested THB 10.5 million in real estate in Thailand. But the balance remained below THB 800,000 for six days and this was written in stone on my bank statement.

I must confess that I remembered the 800,000 THB rule perfectly for the two months preceding the VISA application. But I completely forgot the 800,000 THB rule for the three months following the issuing of the VISA.

Luckily, I have a second bank account in Thailand, which I use primarily for Grab purchases. Luckily, as I found out by running to the nearest SCB branch during the immigration office lunch break, I opened it a month before the unfortunate six days. And luckily, the account had enough balance to get me back into the game.

The seventh surprise. So, at 2pm I was back in front of the infamous Immigration Counter 1 in Samut Prakan, armed with my second bank statement and more determined than ever to get my coveted VISA.

After waiting for yet another applicant to be rejected, the scrutiny of my stack of documents finally began again.

First the counter clerk, then a second who, with painstakingly meticulous, exhausting diligence, calculated with a calculator the total balance, noting it in pencil on the bank statement, for each of the six days. Then was the turn of the one who looked like the boss to check my documents. She nodded in a sign of approval. And the Counter 1 clerk promptly invited me to go to Counter B. There another clerk shot a photo of my face, handed me a small black blinking box with a number, and asked me to wait for instructions.

After about 20 interminable minutes, the information desk kind employee finally returned my passport. Anxiously, I opened it looking for my VISA. There it is! But wait! This is not the usual one-year extension. It is just a one-month VISA!

Back to Counter number 1. "Hey, can you tell me what the hell is going on here?"

Clerk, the eight surprise: "After you move to Samut Prakan, we only give you your first visa with a one-month validity. We will send an inspector to verify that you actually live where you say you do. What... ...you say you own the apartment you live in? We don't care. Unlike Bangkok, in Samut Prakan we'll send an inspector to verify your word."

"Come back in 30 days and, if everything is okay, you will get your one-year extension".

If someone is interested in purchasing an apartment in Samut Prakan, please contact me. I am moving back to Bangkok.

"BLUE INK PEN - Not black ink, not green ink, not red ink, only blue ink please!

Many years ago stories like this encouraged me to choose the Philippines for my retirement, despite 10+ years of Thai visits.

In my 15 years of retirement there I have NEVER visited an Immigration office. No reporting, TM30 etc. It's all handled by helpful staff at the Retirement Authority, every TWO years That's how it should be done, consistency, and simplicity

On 3/1/2026 at 1:44 AM, grain said:

Well there's the solution to your problems.

I agree totally

I had issues with my visa and my Bangkok Bank account simultaneously - I instructed the agent in Pattaya who had organised my visa rorignally

All issues were resolved in less than 2 hours - and I am sure if I had tried to do it myself- with no Thai language skills - I would have had a nightmare

2 hours ago, Muhendis said:

In a slightly related incident, I recently renewed my marriage extension in Buriram immigration office.

For the past couple of years, there has been no requirement for a Kor Ror 2 to be presented.

That is now required and not only that but it needs to be witnessed and signed by someone who knows you are still happily married.

If you are in a village 25km from the immigration office and unaware of this, then you will have a bit of legwork to do.

Same at Korat, you can get the doc in advance, bring it home, and have someone sign and give a copy of their ID, but if it is too far to drive to do that, you have to bring the witness with you. We have needed to have the Kor Ror 2 for years, but the witness is something new.

I have a DTV now and never deal with the immigration office. I'm fortunate that I live near the border, so I go and have lunch in Vientiane instead.

IMO when you move to a new province, immigration becomes tough on you. Perhaps next time will not be bad as 1st time, however trouble free won’t be guaranteed.

Well after reading about that guys problems at immigration

Makes me think of where I do mine and don't have his problems

Or I would probably do as he says and move back to his original immigration office in Bangkok

19 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Sorry to here the OP had a hard time on his first encounter with SP imm. I assume that because he's moved to SP, they treat him like a first time applicant and want to be sure of his details.

Having used SP imm for the past +20 years for Non-B and Non-O (married) annual extensions, they really aren't too bad once you've got your ducks in a row.

The SP imm office is quite new (recently built on the plot of the old office), the facilities aren't too bad, and is a major improvement to the old office. Only things I don't like about the new office are:

1. insufficient parking,

2. now officers are behind glassscreens which doesn't help communication,

3. insufficient parking,

4. insufficient parking, and,

5. insufficient parking.

Most of the staff are fine. The young girl on reception has been there for years and is generally helpful.

errrrr/ take the train and walk for 3 minutes !

You forgot to bring the Starbucks cups. If you don't know what I mean, you have some training to do grasshopper.

I have lived in Chiang Mai for thirty-five years. Thankfully I have never had any problems with immigration here.

1 minute ago, CM Dad said:

I have lived in Chiang Mai for thirty-five years. Thankfully I have never had any problems with immigration here.

To be clear, I still got the visa (30 days) on the day of my first visit to the Samut Prakan office. But I was very stubborn and lucky.

The problem is that they don't publish a clear list of the documents and information required to successfully apply for the different types of VISA under different circumstances.

Not even the staff at the reception knows exactly what the applicants will be asked for once at the counter. The very kind girl at the reception desk told me I needed the old, superseded TM30, but she did not mention the landlord's identity card and phone number.

This forces applicants to return again and again and increases the workload for the office, which has to start over every procedure from the beginning every few days. And every time the applicant returns to the office, he/she has to go back to the bank first, to get an updated statement and a new certification letter.

Is it possible that no one realizes how ridiculous this situation is, how detrimental it is to the office and burdensome to the applicants? And how easy to implement the solution is?

A quick question for those recommending a DTV visa. Assuming their Thai driving license and bank account were acquired under a previous Non-O entitlement, aren't those switching to DTV visas running the gauntlet on full Thai driving license and bank account entitlement? I don't believe the right to either is grandfathered.

19 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Assuming their Thai driving license and bank account were acquired under a previous Non-O entitlement, aren't those switching to DTV visas running the gauntlet on full Thai driving license and bank account entitlement? I don't believe the right to either is grandfathered.

That is correct. No grandfathering.

While there has been reports of DTV holders obtaining 5 yr TDL renewal, the fact is DTV is a "special" Tourist class.

That would mean renewal of TDL would be 2yr the norm.

Opening bank account with a DTV would be problematic.

If a DTV holder had an existing Thai bank account don't see that being cancelled.

47 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That is correct. No grandfathering.

While there has been reports of DTV holders obtaining 5 yr TDL renewal, the fact is DTV is a "special" Tourist class.

That would mean renewal of TDL would be 2yr the norm.

Opening bank account with a DTV would be problematic.

If a DTV holder had an existing Thai bank account don't see that being cancelled.

OK, thanks for that. I guess the issue of eligibility would arise when the Thai DL needs renewing and as you point out, a 2-year Thai DL would be then issued which is not recognised as a 'full' licence by UK car rental agencies. That may affect those who no longer have a DL from their home countries when they visit their home countries.

As for the bank, maybe the eligibility issue may arise if and when any debit or ATM cards expire and need renewing? I haven't heard of anyone being 'visa-checked' when renewing their bank book, but in my not so recent experience doing that, the bank still needed to see my passport.