Impolite Immigration Officials

[Jonsam]

I'm curious to know whether anyone has encountered a similar problem, or if you know what I can do about it. The other day the official checking my passport at the Nong Khai Friendship Bridge must have been in a bad mood. He tore up my arrival card claiming it was improperly filled out (which it wasn't) and made me go do another one. When I got back he scolded me in both Thai and English and then said I have bad manners a dog wouldn't eat (a really bad curse word in Thai). This accusation was completely untrue, and I was shocked that he would say such a thing. I responded by asking if it was me or him that had bad manners, to which he responded by callng me a cock, another very bad Thai curse word.

I can't believe that Thai immigration is happy with this guy being the first person someone meets when they enter Thailand. I love Thailand and consider it my home, but if that were not the case I wouldn't come back after meeting this official. I'm both personally offended as well as offended on behalf of my host country to think that this guy treats people that way. I've had my passport checked hundreds of times in dozens of countries and never encountered anything like this. I wrote down his name and badge number, and I'd would like to make an official complaint, but can't find a name or phone number anywhere for whom to contact. Does anyone know what I can do about this?

[mrtoad]

I don't think you'll get very far with making a complaint, other than probably getting further hassle from your friendly Immigration police.

[Jonsam]

He wasn't even honest. He tore up my arrival card claiming I had filled it out improperly, which was untrue. He just wanted to make me waste time to fill out another one. He probably wanted to make me lose my temper too. He really seemed to be looking for a problem.

[sniffdog]

You're sure he didn't offer you to fill it in for you at a fee?

[farangmal]

I'm curious to know whether anyone has encountered a similar problem, or if you know what I can do about it. The other day the official checking my passport at the Nong Khai Friendship Bridge must have been in a bad mood. He tore up my arrival card claiming it was improperly filled out (which it wasn't) and made me go do another one. When I got back he scolded me in both Thai and English and then said I have bad manners a dog wouldn't eat (a really bad curse word in Thai). This accusation was completely untrue, and I was shocked that he would say such a thing. I responded by asking if it was me or him that had bad manners, to which he responded by callng me a cock, another very bad Thai curse word.

I can't believe that Thai immigration is happy with this guy being the first person someone meets when they enter Thailand. I love Thailand and consider it my home, but if that were not the case I wouldn't come back after meeting this official. I'm both personally offended as well as offended on behalf of my host country to think that this guy treats people that way. I've had my passport checked hundreds of times in dozens of countries and never encountered anything like this. I wrote down his name and badge number, and I'd would like to make an official complaint, but can't find a name or phone number anywhere for whom to contact. Does anyone know what I can do about this?

Sometimes in a circus even trained animals who jump through hoops all day can misbehave sometimes!

[richard_smith237]

Strangely enough… The only Polite Immigration officials I come across have been in The UK and Bangladesh !...

Of course, I cannot comment on places I’ve never visited. However I am fairly well travelled.

In Thailand, I cannot claim that I have experienced bad manners, however the immigration are always just that little bit too surly for my liking. It’s as if they are posturing to purvey their ‘power’ and consider that I would interpret any sign of politeness as a sign of weakness.

I am always escorted though the immigration line by Thai Elite, we either go through the diplomatic line or straight to the desk at the back on departures, or, a specific Thai Elite lane or Diplomatic lane on arrival.

I would expect that dealing with Diplomats etc the immigration officials may be prepared to offer an extra little courtesy, a smile, a nod in reaction to the ‘thank you’ or even simple acknowledgment that I exist. This also always occurred pre-Thai Elite days.

The Thai Elite escort always gets a nod and a ‘Ka ‘or ‘Krup’ when they say Thank you…

This just leads me to think that the Immigration officials are rude and us foreigners are a sub-species in their eyes… As of late this behavior has driven me to play the same game and stand there, as if they don’t exist, then waltz through without even an acknowledgement. The thing here is, is that I’m deliberately lowering my standards by actively being what I think is impolite and the official is so ignorant he probably doesn’t even notice…

Is it a game, There is no way to win… But sometimes I can’t help getting drawn into these tiny momentary little ego games…. It’s fun and quite harmless so long as I am not directly rude and I only do it when the officer is clearly posturing.

Of course it’s not really an issue, however, after time some things wear thin.

As this post was started I thought my observations have some relevance.

In response to the opening post: The Immigration officer in this case was clearly a ‘bad apple’. Given the location I think it was smart not to raise the issue. But had this happened at an Airport I would been tempted to follow this up with a complaint.

[Tomkagai]

Cant say in all my time in Thailand ever had a problem with the immigration...

A few weeks back while going to Singapore, was standing behind a herd of Russisan tourists who had not filled in the departure cards and where giving the the immigration lady a hard time as she was trying to make them get out of the line and fill the cards in, in the end I started getting p*ssed off with their attitude and ended up talking to the tour guide "diplomatically" and eventually they got out of line...the immigration lady thanked me for helping and I thought nothing of it....two weeks later coming back into Swampy the same lady was working the Thai inbound desk...saw me standing in the farang queue and she called me over to Thai desk and stamped through in about 30 seconds...and again she thanked for what I had done

The point I am making, the immigration have got a job to do, most likely are bored sh*tless with sitting behind a desk all day stamping passports and as they are human too will have occasion for throwing their toys out the cot, when the two hundreth person for the day comes up to the desk and somthing is not filled out right...

May be the OP was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got the brunt..when the guy lost his rag, even though his card was fillled in correctly

The immigration in the UK and US are by far a more miserable bunch of b*stards and the Thai immigration personnel dont even come close for being rude, agressive and downright impolite....

[gpdjohn]

I'm curious to know whether anyone has encountered a similar problem, or if you know what I can do about it. The other day the official checking my passport at the Nong Khai Friendship Bridge must have been in a bad mood. He tore up my arrival card claiming it was improperly filled out (which it wasn't) and made me go do another one. When I got back he scolded me in both Thai and English and then said I have bad manners a dog wouldn't eat (a really bad curse word in Thai). This accusation was completely untrue, and I was shocked that he would say such a thing. I responded by asking if it was me or him that had bad manners, to which he responded by callng me a cock, another very bad Thai curse word.

I can't believe that Thai immigration is happy with this guy being the first person someone meets when they enter Thailand. I love Thailand and consider it my home, but if that were not the case I wouldn't come back after meeting this official. I'm both personally offended as well as offended on behalf of my host country to think that this guy treats people that way. I've had my passport checked hundreds of times in dozens of countries and never encountered anything like this. I wrote down his name and badge number, and I'd would like to make an official complaint, but can't find a name or phone number anywhere for whom to contact. Does anyone know what I can do about this?

Sometimes ya wish you could just meet him after work and punch his ticket..

maybe after ..the rest would jai yen. So to speak..but would know nutin' of that kinda thangy..

[gpdjohn]

Cant say in all my time in Thailand ever had a problem with the immigration...

A few weeks back while going to Singapore, was standing behind a herd of Russisan tourists who had not filled in the departure cards and where giving the the immigration lady a hard time as she was trying to make them get out of the line and fill the cards in, in the end I started getting p*ssed off with their attitude and ended up talking to the tour guide "diplomatically" and eventually they got out of line...the immigration lady thanked me for helping and I thought nothing of it....two weeks later coming back into Swampy the same lady was working the Thai inbound desk...saw me standing in the farang queue and she called me over to Thai desk and stamped through in about 30 seconds...and again she thanked for what I had done

The point I am making, the immigration have got a job to do, most likely are bored sh*tless with sitting behind a desk all day stamping passports and as they are human too will have occasion for throwing their toys out the cot, when the two hundreth person for the day comes up to the desk and somthing is not filled out right...

May be the OP was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got the brunt..when the guy lost his rag, even though his card was fillled in correctly

The immigration in the UK and US are by far a more miserable bunch of b*stards and the Thai immigration personnel dont even come close for being rude, agressive and downright impolite....

Still NO excuse for that kinda behaviour..and the calling of names, the man should lose his job for that.

I don't care how many richard heads ya have to put up with, that's what he IS paid to do and the insults just don't cut it...

He is just someone who slipped by in the hiring process and should be dealt with accordingly.

Mental issues and a power trip I would assume.

Maybe his older brother beat him up too much..

That is JUST wrong. And to make excuses for him is wrong too.

[libya 115]

Forget about it.

I was arriving into Manchester, England and the immigration man there was so rude I was stunned into silence. I am British and expected a perfunctory nod at the sight of my (British) passport. He launched into an almost Fawlty-Tower tirade of verbal abuse.

I remember afterwards thinking; 'This guy is employed by H.M. Civil Service' ; How can he get away with this? (I expect abuse by H.M. Customs and Excise).

In the end I did nothing. There is no point. Let's face it, they (Immigration) have a crap job. A worse job than a toilet-cleaner really.

Civil Servants in the UK at least get a living wage for just two GCSE's but Immigration Staff in Thailand are almost certainly graduates.

So; forget it.

[Tomkagai]

Cant say in all my time in Thailand ever had a problem with the immigration...

A few weeks back while going to Singapore, was standing behind a herd of Russisan tourists who had not filled in the departure cards and where giving the the immigration lady a hard time as she was trying to make them get out of the line and fill the cards in, in the end I started getting p*ssed off with their attitude and ended up talking to the tour guide "diplomatically" and eventually they got out of line...the immigration lady thanked me for helping and I thought nothing of it....two weeks later coming back into Swampy the same lady was working the Thai inbound desk...saw me standing in the farang queue and she called me over to Thai desk and stamped through in about 30 seconds...and again she thanked for what I had done

The point I am making, the immigration have got a job to do, most likely are bored sh*tless with sitting behind a desk all day stamping passports and as they are human too will have occasion for throwing their toys out the cot, when the two hundreth person for the day comes up to the desk and somthing is not filled out right...

May be the OP was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got the brunt..when the guy lost his rag, even though his card was fillled in correctly

The immigration in the UK and US are by far a more miserable bunch of b*stards and the Thai immigration personnel dont even come close for being rude, agressive and downright impolite....

Still NO excuse for that kinda behaviour..and the calling of names, the man should lose his job for that.

I don't care how many richard heads ya have to put up with, that's what he IS paid to do and the insults just don't cut it...

He is just someone who slipped by in the hiring process and should be dealt with accordingly.

Mental issues and a power trip I would assume.

Maybe his older brother beat him up too much..

That is JUST wrong. And to make excuses for him is wrong too.

And to decide someone has mental issues based on 2nd hand information is wrong also..

Was what the guy did wrong..yes it was, shouldnt have done it, yes it was unprofessional.... but at the end of the day you haven't got a clue what was going on to start making judgements...

If the OP has had his feelings hurt that bad, put a complaint in about the guy and see what happens, but would advise the OP not to use that border post again...

[jonniebkk]

I think you are all falling for a little troll here This story sounds pretty suspicious to me...I have live in LOS going on a decade now and must have gone in/out 50x (and that would be 100x passing through immigration counters) and have never ever encountered anything remotely like this...and I have had a pretty "messy" passport at times.

Some newbie with 8 posts posting a far out story like this...I'm not falling for it.

[adjan jb]

You're in, right ?

So forget about it. Forget him. He's an exception.

Hope it helps

Edit: just read JonnieBKK's post. Yes could also be either a troll or a true "Som Nam Na" story.

Edited April 27, 2008 by adjan jb

[gpdjohn]

Cant say in all my time in Thailand ever had a problem with the immigration...

A few weeks back while going to Singapore, was standing behind a herd of Russisan tourists who had not filled in the departure cards and where giving the the immigration lady a hard time as she was trying to make them get out of the line and fill the cards in, in the end I started getting p*ssed off with their attitude and ended up talking to the tour guide "diplomatically" and eventually they got out of line...the immigration lady thanked me for helping and I thought nothing of it....two weeks later coming back into Swampy the same lady was working the Thai inbound desk...saw me standing in the farang queue and she called me over to Thai desk and stamped through in about 30 seconds...and again she thanked for what I had done

The point I am making, the immigration have got a job to do, most likely are bored sh*tless with sitting behind a desk all day stamping passports and as they are human too will have occasion for throwing their toys out the cot, when the two hundreth person for the day comes up to the desk and somthing is not filled out right...

May be the OP was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got the brunt..when the guy lost his rag, even though his card was fillled in correctly

The immigration in the UK and US are by far a more miserable bunch of b*stards and the Thai immigration personnel dont even come close for being rude, agressive and downright impolite....

Still NO excuse for that kinda behaviour..and the calling of names, the man should lose his job for that.

I don't care how many richard heads ya have to put up with, that's what he IS paid to do and the insults just don't cut it...

He is just someone who slipped by in the hiring process and should be dealt with accordingly.

Mental issues and a power trip I would assume.

Maybe his older brother beat him up too much..

That is JUST wrong. And to make excuses for him is wrong too.

And to decide someone has mental issues based on 2nd hand information is wrong also..

Was what the guy did wrong..yes it was, shouldnt have done it, yes it was unprofessional.... but at the end of the day you haven't got a clue what was going on to start making judgements...

If the OP has had his feelings hurt that bad, put a complaint in about the guy and see what happens, but would advise the OP not to use that border post again...

And here I thought you'd get me for saying his older brother pounded the poop outta him..

Worked over 20 yrs in American police work and worked in a Street Gang Suppression Unit, hounding the "worst of the worst" as far as total as*holes on the street are concerned, ya know the kinda guy who would steal from and the rape his mom, but If I ever called him a "cock" or anything else, I woulda had my butt in a ringer..not to say the disrepect I would have to put up with on any other contact with his "set". I would a dealt with it in other ways that he would understand, not by calling him such immature little names...

No I haven't got a clue at all...

[NduguChancellor]

I think you are all falling for a little troll here This story sounds pretty suspicious to me...I have live in LOS going on a decade now and must have gone in/out 50x (and that would be 100x passing through immigration counters) and have never ever encountered anything remotely like this...and I have had a pretty "messy" passport at times.

Some newbie with 8 posts posting a far out story like this...I'm not falling for it.

And I assume that because I no post here before that you will accuse me of troll too. I know many people even in my country who have never been murdered. Should I take from this that murders never occur?

I think you owe the starter an apology. If you want rude immigration people come to my country and I will show you hundreds.

[EmptyMind]

I'm curious to know whether anyone has encountered a similar problem, or if you know what I can do about it. The other day the official checking my passport at the Nong Khai Friendship Bridge must have been in a bad mood. He tore up my arrival card claiming it was improperly filled out (which it wasn't) and made me go do another one. When I got back he scolded me in both Thai and English and then said I have bad manners a dog wouldn't eat (a really bad curse word in Thai). This accusation was completely untrue, and I was shocked that he would say such a thing. I responded by asking if it was me or him that had bad manners, to which he responded by callng me a cock, another very bad Thai curse word.

I can't believe that Thai immigration is happy with this guy being the first person someone meets when they enter Thailand. I love Thailand and consider it my home, but if that were not the case I wouldn't come back after meeting this official. I'm both personally offended as well as offended on behalf of my host country to think that this guy treats people that way. I've had my passport checked hundreds of times in dozens of countries and never encountered anything like this. I wrote down his name and badge number, and I'd would like to make an official complaint, but can't find a name or phone number anywhere for whom to contact. Does anyone know what I can do about this?

I'm not going to get into whether or not the OP is a troll blah blah, But if indeed the guy did just "tear up your arrival card" and call you a "cock" in Thai, That's pretty unusual and hard to swallow in any country.

If you can speak Thai and understand Thai ... Why would you just have let this happen and run away to fill in another entry card ?

The fact that you speak Thai says a lot so I cant understand how 1.This would happen, or, 2.Why you didn't ask for someone else to look at the card that he had just torn up.

I think a part of this story is missing.

Just my humble opinion.

[Jonsam]

Accusing me of being a troll seems silly. Look at my post... I'm not just airing complaints or trying to start an online fudge throwing fest, of which there are already too many. What I'm doing is asking if anyone knows a number I can call or a person I can contact in order to file a complaint. That guy should not be employed with immigration as far as I'm concerned. It can be of no benefit to the country I call home.

As for part of the story missing, I left out lots of details for the sake of brevity, but do not intend to do so when making my complaint.

I've traveled in and out of Thailand dozens of times, as well as numerous other countries. I've had my passport checked hundreds of times and this guy was by far the rudest immigration official I ever met. Second place goes to a guy at Suvarnabhum who made a rude (but not vulgar) comment to his colleague about me in Thai assuming that I did not understand. Third place is a tie between yet another Suvarnabhum guy who spoke curtly and a German who stared at me menacingly and didn't say a single word. But those three guys obviously pale in comparison to this guy. Granted, I've met an American customs official who was just as bad (but without the vulgarities), but I'm only talking about immigration here.

Anyway, this was the first time I've ever seen a government official use obscenities like this. Incidentally, it's also the first time I've ever encountered an immigartion official who was unable to find the correct visa in my passport. I assume he started work recently, and maybe he even mistakenly thought that I really had filled in the card incorrectly, although I really got the impression he was just looking for an argument. So anyway, I've been unable to find the proper contact information to file a complaint, and I certainly have no intention of going to immigration in Bangkok to do it in person. So if anyone can help me out here it would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[naka]

No excuse for bad manners. But it must be a difficult job and pretty soul destroying

to see a few hundred package tourists rushing in from a just landed Jumbo Jet

and knowing that few of the passengers speak fluent Thai or English and

that many of the forms are going to be improperly completed.

Just imagine it ... some people write the date with the month first, some

place the last name before the first name etc.

Me, all I seem to experience is bored indifference.

Naka.

[adjan jb]

So anyway, I've been unable to find the proper contact information to file a complaint, and I certainly have no intention of going to immigration in Bangkok to do it in person. So if anyone can help me out here it would be appreciated.

Thanks.

http://www.thaivisa.com/immigration_phone.0.html

[Crushdepth]

I'm curious to know whether anyone has encountered a similar problem, or if you know what I can do about it.

I got sent to the 'back of the line' for having a tiny scribble on the side of my card (ie. the pen didn't work at first). There was nothing wrong with it he was just being a jerk. A couple of times I've seen immigration officials screaming (yes, screaming) at people for reasons unknown, including calling a tourist 'stupid' in Thai. Maybe they were stupid or had done something bad, but it certainly wasn't being handled in a professional manner!

If you have the guy's ID, suggest you write directly to the relevant ministers (whoever is responsible for immigration and tourism). Probably won't go far, but if you get lucky and someone takes it seriously it will be someone that can actually do something about it.

[bjhabal]

No excuse for bad manners. But it must be a difficult job and pretty soul destroying

to see a few hundred package tourists rushing in from a just landed Jumbo Jet

and knowing that few of the passengers speak fluent Thai or English and

that many of the forms are going to be improperly completed.

Just imagine it ... some people write the date with the month first, some

place the last name before the first name etc.

Me, all I seem to experience is bored indifference.

Naka.

Now, let things cool down a little bit and thing about it. Are you the first person that day to get scolding? and if the answer is yes, then why you? In my opinion it is because you are not the first one to fill your entry card incorrectly and for both the hot tember of the officer and your bad luck at that moment, you are the one who got it.

The fact that you didn't ask for a judgement, gives me no right to discuss the issue in details; however before trying to help you in finding the the correct channel for your complain, I should inform you about the procedure that will take a place relying on the experience of a friend of mine.

I have no right to tell you the whole story (Which has the similarity of yours) as it is not mine, however if you accept the whole circomstasnces that will follow, I will gladly give you the information that you asked for.

First of all, the telephone number will not help you for more than inquiring about some kind of information or address as all complains should be written and mailed or handed over to the right department for further action (this should include a complete information about yourself and your contact address). Depending on the seriousness of the complain the officer in charge may or may not order an investigation obout the matter; and if he does then the investigating officer(s) will call the defendant to hear his side of the claim and later on they will call you to complete the investigation and the result will surely depend on:

1. If there were any witness(s) or not (if yes, then the investigator has to call the witness(s) to testify.

2. If not then it will be your words against his and to take your words as the rightful ones depends on additional few facts:

- Your residency status in the Kingdom (citizen, resident, tourist, etc.)

- Your nationality (sorry about that but if you are from a poor third word country, don't set your hope too high).

-Your profession (usually it also suggests your education background).

Now if you met all the requirment to give this officer the lesson he deserves, the next question that will rise is what kind of punishment do you think he will face?

- A verbal worning?

- An apology to you?

- A transfer to another immigration post?

- A transfer to an inactive position? (Do not expect that he will be fired of his job just because he abused you verbally.)

Will one or all of these penalties will be enough to satisfy you?

Now remember that you have been scrutinized thoroughly in the immigration office, do you feel comfortable with that?

I am not trying to scare you off but is it really worth it?

My advise is unless you are completely protected (not using tourist visas and visa run to stay or work illegally in this country) just forget the whole matter and go back to your normal life; at the end of the day we all are human beings, we do good and bad deeds, we have our regrets and sorrows as well as our appreciations; so let's be forgiving and remember what Jesus said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Believe me no one would like to be in your shoes in that day, however if it comes to me (and it happened before for different reason and to a lesser harshness) my answer to him would be something like that:

"Well I am sorry sir I did a mistake in filling my card, but your words were too painfull to me, I really feel insulted, but because I know how hard your job is, I will not take it personally and I will forget it"

Try to do that next time if it ever happend again (I sincerely hope not) and see the reaction by yourself. I am not going to tell you what was the reaction of the officer who insulted me, but will just leave to you to imagine it.

However if you still insist of filing the complain, inform me and I will guide you to how to do it.

[tropo]

Strangely enough… The only Polite Immigration officials I come across have been in The UK and Bangladesh !...

Of course, I cannot comment on places I’ve never visited. However I am fairly well travelled.

It's hard to believe you are well-travelled yet hardly ever encounter polite immigration officers.

I've come across friendly immigration officers in Cambodia (PP airport), Malaysia (Penang) and even the Philippines.

Regarding Thailand, it may be a race issue. My Filipino GF often receives smiles from the Thai Immigration officers at the Cambodian border and some have even attempted to converse with her in her own language.

[Crossy]

I travel regularly, all over Asia, mostly cattle-class (skinflint company), always reasonably dressed (shirt, chinos, shoes with socks).

I don't think I've ever come across a RUDE immigration officer, I've had some surly, offhand, disinterested, miserable sods but never one that's come anywhere near what was detailed in the OP. I've also had some pretty incomprehensible arrival cards (turbulence always starts when they hand them out) but never been told '3/10 must try harder'.

Maybe I'm just lucky, and I don't often use land crossings (perhaps that's the issue, who really knows). But I would put it behind me, you're not dead and you got your passport stamped

I certainly would think long and hard about complaining, only needs them to stick a flag against your PP and you're in a world of inconvenience