Appointment To Meet With Immigration Official

[Rasseru]

I would like to make an appointment to discuss a sensitive, important and difficult issue with a reasonably senior immigration official at the immigration office in Chiangmai, without trying to get there by raising the issue first with any of the front-desk officials at the counter.

I would appreciate any advice about how I might go about doing this, either here or in the form of a private message.

[JohnC]

I do'nt know about Chaingmai but in Pattaya Immigration there is a board with the phone number and e mail address of the Superintendant inviting you to contact him if you have a problem. You might also want to look at the immigration website for info/help. http://www.pattaya-immigration.org/index.php?lang=EN I suspect Chaingmai have a similar website.

[MeaMaximaCulpa]

If the issue is "sensitive, important and difficult", I would certainly seek out a senior Thai person of some standing in the community, in your company, village headman, or suchlike. Explain the issue to them, and ask them to make contact straight to the top honcho at the Immigration office. Then I think you will be OK, from what I hear the boss will usually be helpful. They are not all out to get you!

[Rasseru]

Thank you, JohnC, I'll follow up on your suggestions. And thank you too, MeaMaximaCulpa. Unfortunately, I am not in a position and do not have the kinds of connections that would allow me to follow your recommendation. Oh, and by the way, I do not have any concern about anyone at all being out to get me, so no worries there.

[MeaMaximaCulpa]

Rasseru, the person of standing I was referring to could even be the manager of the hotel or guesthouse you are staying in, now assuming you are not here permanently. Just anyone that can speak English enough for you to explain, and that can be a go-between will be helpful.

I have also heard several reports of asking for a higher official at Immigration, and being successful. But as you mention, it can be a touchy-feely subject to ask the officer you deal with to see his or her boss, so it must be done with utmost care and decorum...

So JohnC's recommendation is then probably the best in the circumstances. But let us hear the outcome when you are through (not all the gory details of your personal case of corse), so we perhaps can learn something.

Good luck!

[BigSnake]

Yes, just go in and requet one, but first make sure you have tried to solve it at the lowest level