Extension Of Stay At Sri Racha Immigration

[scifi]

I made my first application for extension of stay (based on marriage) at Sri Racha Immigration office yesterday.

Sri Racha lived up to comments I had found on TV about being friendly. It wasn't busy either; we were called up after about 10 minutes waiting. The whole process took about 90 minutes, including an application for a re-entry permit, a network failure, and all the officers ran outside on two occasions to salute top brass or something.

The officers were very helpful with my application. An officer spent about 20 minutes going through our papers, telling us what was missing and what to do about it. Then everyone stopped for lunch, which gave us time to sort out a few details. We were supposed to provide two full copies of the application; the second copy could be just a photocopy of the first, but with an proper photo attached to the application form.

I had put my application together with help from a legal advisor. He said we would need our KR.2 in addition to our marriage certificate, but this was not required. I provided photocopies of the relevant pages of my passport and work permit, and copies of my wife's tabien baan and ID card. To prove income, I provided my last three months PND.1 and my PND.91.

All this was as expected after reading the requirements in Order 606/2549, but it turned out there were additional requirements on a checklist the officer pulled out of a drawer. He gave us a copy, and I imagine anyone could go and ask for a copy in advance - would be useful for getting everything together that this particular office expects to see.

Additional requirements: family photos were also required: we had been warned of this and took along about 8 photos. The officer just picked out 4: one of us inside the house, one of us outside the house with the house number visible, and two wedding photos. He then told us to stick these on to A4 to be included in the application. We also supplied a map of the house location (required).

Also required: photos of my workplace, including company sign and general photos of staff at their desks. I wasn't expecting this and didn't have them. The officer said this wasn't a problem, and to bring them in next week - stuck on to A4 again - also with a map of the office location.

There was no 'interview' as such, although the officer asked my wife several questions about our jobs and our families, and recorded all the answers. No personal questions, which I thought might crop up, but maybe that is an urban myth? He then asked for us to bring two close friends to the office, so that he could ask them about us. This was a big surprise. It means I am going back on Monday with my sister-in-law and her husband; not really convenient for them as they will have to take time off work, although I expect we could have arranged this anytime during the review period. From what the officer said, my wife felt he was happy with our application; interviewing our friends would pretty much wrap it up, and would mean they wouldn't bother coming to check us out at home (if that even happens?).

Finally, paid the bill - 1900 THB, no hidden extras, and got the temporary stamp.

That's my story, hope this might help someone else doing the same at Sri Racha.

[innovator]

Seems like a bit of a grilling to me. Why in the world do they go to these lengths? Interviewing friends, taxi drivers, motorbike guys, food cart vendors??? What in the hel_l is next? I am glad that you had a nice experience/friendly and all, but if it comes to showing a family album and interviewing the folks in the streets for a one year extension, then it seems better to head for the border. I certainly hope that my future extensions don't depend on motorbike taxi drivers and food cart vendors and other folks laying around outside.

[TerryLH]

From the Royal Thai Police Order No. 606/2549, paragraph 7.17:

In the case of a spouse, the

marital relationship shall be de

jure (legitimate) and de facto

Scifi, one part of the immigration office’s evaluation of your application for extension is to ascertain that your are married de facto (really living with your wife), not just de jure (marriage certificate). For this purpose an immigration officer usually would visit your place and talk to some of your neighbours. In your case it seems they are making their job easier by having you bring some friends to the immigration office.

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Maestro

[innovator]

TerryLH: Thanks for the explanation of the immigration procedures. I was making fun and stretching it a bit, but now I can understand why they wish to interview people to make sure that they are truly living together as husband/wife and not just trying to get a visa.....

[Maestro]

TerryLH, my apologies. Instead of clicking on “Reply” I clicked on “Edit” on your post (which a moderator can and sometimes needs to do). Therefore, while in this case I meant to make a new post of my own, by mistake I overwrote your post, which is now unfortunately lost.

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Maestro

[scifi]

When the officer asked if we could bring two close friends in, it did seem a bit over the top. But on reflection, if this is in lieu of a visit as TerryLH (or Maestro?) says, it turned out more convenient for us in the end, and is probably more effective for them. Took my sister-in-law and her husband in today; all done and dusted in 30 mins. A visit to our house would achieve very little - no one would be in unless they came out of hours, and the neighbours wouldn't be able to state much more than 'yes, there is a foreigner living there'. All in all, they seem quite efficient at the Sri Racha office.