Immigration Just Called My Wife To Ask If My Neighbours Could Go To Their Office

[mallmagician]

Thanks for this. It really boosted my confidence. It's quite stressful, and to think its a yearly thing is quite daunting. I think kl next year may be a better option for me. None of the waiting around to see if I am allowed to continue living with my wife. :-)

Thanks again.

I guess I will wait and see if they call again, or visit.  Thanks for the input folks, I'll keep you posted. :-)

Hi MM (OP). Please relax!!

I know how stressful this can be but

a) these are standard procedures

the questions asked of you and neighbours (good advice from other posters here)HAVE to be asked and they are standard questions applicable in all such circumstances

c) CM Immigration is grossly overworked and I am not surpised they can't send someone out to chat to neighbours. The idea of offering a work phone number for a neighbour who can i/d themselves is a good compromise.

d) do NOT worry, and neither you nor your neighbours should take this personally.

A former colleague of mine from the US had this happen to him and his Thai wife about 2 years ago. The men from Immigration apparently knocked on the doors of two neighbours mid day while the couple in question were both out working (at CMU).

The guy said to me afterwards "By my standards that was really sneaky, but they were only doing their job. Happily they talked to the really great old couple next door. The idiots across the road with the uncontrolled noisy dogs just happened to be out!!"

I am sure you have ZERO to worry about, as your posts consistently show you to be a most reasonable and welcome expat.

[Lite Beer]

Once they accept your application it is almost certain that the application will be approved.

They make sure they get it right before forwarding it to head office.

[LuckyLemon]

A slightly different opinion on the questions

The home visit is to establish that you are really married to a Thai, and not just having a sham marriage in order to get a visa.

When they ask the neighbors if they hear shouting, drunken arguments and fighting in the home, them answering YES would indicate a real marriage and clearly entitle you to a visa.

Lets face it, if you paid someone to pretend to be your wife, you would be unlikely to abuse them!

There are absolutely no rules to enable immigration to refuse you a visa on the grounds that you were a drunken, wife beating lout (normal behavior in many Thai marriages).

They can only refuse your application if they can prove it is not a real marriage.

Edited April 19, 2011 by LuckyLemon

[Richard4849]

Just like in the West...wow! I guess that will preclude any Western nations from haranguing the Thai government on behalf of any citizens who feel they have a right to be treated differently.

Just sayin'.

[thaihome]

Wow. Puts me off getting married entirely. The notion that a stranger has to take time out of their day to go all the way to CWT and that dubious and sundry questions are tossed at your wife which are nothing short of insulting.

How inefficient, even petulant

How high can you jump?

As high as need be evidently sir.

Makes me take a very hard look at marriage - this post is really last straw.

Western nations should really petition the Thai government. This is totally out of control -and people stand for it. Strangers presence requested at some bs hearing on your "behalf" for the "privilege" of supporting your wife (and kids).

Perhaps your anger should be directed at the [western] people that participate in fake marriages in order to get visas. If they didn’t do that, then there would be no need for immigration to have to verify the marriage was real.

But then, you couldn’t blame that on Thais then could you?

TH

[JustAnotherFarang]

Wow. Puts me off getting married entirely. The notion that a stranger has to take time out of their day to go all the way to CWT and that dubious and sundry questions are tossed at your wife which are nothing short of insulting.

How inefficient, even petulant

How high can you jump?

As high as need be evidently sir.

Makes me take a very hard look at marriage - this post is really last straw.

Western nations should really petition the Thai government. This is totally out of control -and people stand for it. Strangers presence requested at some bs hearing on your "behalf" for the "privilege" of supporting your wife (and kids).

Perhaps your anger should be directed at the [western] people that participate in fake marriages in order to get visas. If they didn’t do that, then there would be no need for immigration to have to verify the marriage was real.

But then, you couldn’t blame that on Thais then could you?

TH

Yes you are so right, there are some farangs out there who take advantage of the system and we cannot blame the Thais for this. But tarnishing us all with the same brush and punishing all for the mistakes of the few is not exactly fair either. Surely the system should root out those that have fake marriages and punish them according to the law. I fail to see how moving the goalposts concerning immigration rules prevents those that shouldn't apply from applying but I can see how the collar tightens for all of the pack.

When dealing with immigration in my hometown, it is hit or miss when it comes to who will be dealing with my application that day. As someone who has been through this process several times, I have to admit to that it is more stressful than it should necessarily be. There are some individuals in the immigration department who are impolite, arrogant and inept when dealing with tourists but I would not tarnish all of them with that brush because there are many who are a delight to deal with as they help you on your way.

JAF

[mallmagician]

UPDATE:-

The Immigration Police appeared today at about 1PM. They asked me to call a thai friend, or what-have-you. I said its easier if I see if a Neighbour is in. Luckily, the second house I knocked on was home on a rare day off, and she happily chatted to them for about 30 minutes.

My thai isn't strong enough to understand what was said, but my lovely neighbour informed me that she was just enquiring what the problem was, thinking I was in trouble. This may account for Work Permit being mentioned twice - making me sweat - even though I dont work (Nor do I really leave the house apart from to go eat, or see friends of an evening). She told me after that they just wanted to check I lived there, and that we were really married etc. Im sure if anything bad was said - the officer whose English was very good would have questioned me further. After the questioning, I offered to call my wife for them, if they wanted to see her or speak to her (She is studying Massage Therapy at a government school), and they said it doesn't matter. So Im quietly confident.

I will of course keep you updated on the outcome of my application, which I should know two weeks today. Very efficient really - as that gives them 2 weeks to send it off to BKK to be signed off or whatever happens now. Fingers crossed it gets done by 3rd May, otherwise my Phuket trip with my wife on the 12th May, wont be so fun (I'll still be stressed - its in my nature. )

Thanks everyone.

[tropo]

In my previous application for my marriage visa, I had to take a neighbour with me to the interview. Luckily my neighbour is my wifes best friend but what I did take offence to was the questions that they asked about our relationship. Did we argue ? How loud and how often? Did I go drinking at night? Was I a gambler or a womaniser?. Thankfully I am none of the above and my neighbour was happy to confirm this but still to hear my wife and I being discussed like this was quite unpleasant.

JAF

I wouldn't worry too much about this. I'm sure many countries do the same. For example if a Thai partner wants to live in Australia the immigration will be interviewing her and asking her all sorts of personal questions. If they allow you to live here it's a privilege, not a right.

[jazzbo]

Police Order 777/2551 Section 2.18 says that marriages for the purpose of extension of stay must be de jure and de facto ...

I would suspect the the IMM folks have been running across a bunch of marriages between Thai citizens and aliens that may be de jure but NOT de facto.

[bangkokburning]

I don't know why authorities would be so worried about sham marriages. These would seem to wash out in no time. They separate, she wants more money, he doesn't even have the 400k, he can't get the paperwork straight, both are not organized enough to show up together or on time, list is endless....seems to me that the only sham marriage that would work longer then 2-3 years at best would model a real marriage and the sham would not be apparent.

It strikes me as far more difficult to live here under marriage terms then to just take your lumps on TRs. Not to mention all the issues surrounding actually being married - the legal commitment.

Thailand is great, but its not getting great-er. I have come to realize that for me - its one option in a big exciting world. For many, Thailand is their only world outside their own country. In fact, for some you can narrow it down to a city. Sounds more like a life sentence than a life.

We live in an apt in the middle of BKK. BKK is just as faceless as any other western city. All the people around us work! They have never met either of us (new flat, 3 mos now) and why would even a minor acquaintance take time from their day and money from their pocket to go up to CWT for a grilling. This is what I think is so over the top. Then, if you can't produce this person ... you are suspect?

The only loud noise coming from our flat is laughter. We've never even had a serious hash, nearly 18 months. We've lived in tents together for weeks at a time and taken many Int'l trips together.

My hunch is that this is another attempt to grind out of someone if you are working. When does he leave? What is he dressed like when you see him? The teacher costume is obvious.

The irony - I think five minutes on either of our FB pages would show our commitment to each other. But that is not what they are after. It is a ruse to find out if you are working.

[lopburi3]

Flame removed.