Another Stupid Excuse

[nonthaburial]

After going through the usual heartache of obtaining a Non Immmigrant visa from a "foreign" based Thai consulate, AND submitting all the required forms to the Immigration and Labour Dept And being told everything was in order. Today I went down to hopefully collect my new 12 month visa etc only to be told .........

"Sorry the papers have no problem but there is a new Head of Immigration so can only extend for another month so please come back on the 21st December when we are sure we can give you the full year or at least the balance of "!!

My questions are ............... what the <deleted> has it got to do with a new Head of Immigration ???? Is he going to change the rules etc single handedly and refuses to issue new visas until his feet are under the table OR is it as I suspect that these ruses are a way of lining the Immigration Dept coffers???

To cap it all, I have now got so many chops/visas etc in my passport, which was only issued last year that it will soon be time to obtain a new one as no pages are left. And no before someone asks am I a hopeful teacher etc, the answer is I am a qualified engineer who just happens to be contracted to look after all the Fire Trucks in Bangkok which is a massive task with its own heartaches and I certainly do not need these hassles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Intelligent comments most welcomed

[lopburi3]

Slow down, you move too fast. And seem much too serious.

Extensions go before a review panel for approval so there probably has not been a meeting this month. It is really not good for your health to get too excited about time here.

[Rinrada]

Gotta agree poo cha -cha.

I also had a similar contract with the Ministry of Silly Walks about 10 years ago to "do" some work in Hanoi and it took me almost 3 months to be fully approved by "TIT committee" before I got my non spy clearance or some-fing.....

V-N is/was great but not if you are sitting around waiting for the "Peoples Commission for Revolutionaly Affairs" to give you the chitty that says that you are OK to be there as a "specialist knowledge transfer authority".....who Me?

Just take the opportunity to practice the language,see a few sights and join the locals in a couple of beers and ...do a Frankie goes to Hollywood.

Incid. beer Hanoi on the street at that time was about about 5 pence a litre.......so I gotta in a lota pratice

[PeaceBlondie]

As an old bureaucrat and worker in the gub'mint, I know that things can be shaky around the office for the first week of a new Chief. Here in Southeast Asia, where bosses can override the head office for as long as they stay beneath the radar, a new boss would put the whole office in a fearful tizzy of being afraid to approve a single visa before the new boss explains how he will do things.

This post brings up a point - it isn't only the well qualified teachers of English, is it, who run afoul of the unfathomable rules of the MFA, Immigration Police, ministries of Labor, etc., is it? They give you working non-teachers a hard time, too, don't they?

Would it be accurate and fair to say that Thailand does not welcome foreign workers very much?

[Maestro]

Would it be accurate and fair to say that Thailand does not welcome foreign workers very much?

Not only Thailand, but just about every country on this planet.

When it comes to applying laws and regulations, the civil service seems to work similarly in most countries and you explained it very well. With a new boss in charge of a department, the attitude is “the less I do, the lower the possibility of my being accused of doing something wrong”.

Not just TIT, but “this is the world” or, if you pardon my French: “C’est la bloody vie”

Edited: added French punch line.

Edited November 21, 2005 by maestro

[TizMe]

It recently took 99 days to approve my non-imm O extension. You just have to be patient.

[Maestro]

It recently took 99 days to approve my non-imm O extension. You just have to be patient.

Was that at Suan Plu in Bangkok?

I’m asking because I plan to enter Thailand next year in December on a single-entry non-O and hope to get my first one-year extension approved at Suan Plu before I leave Thailand again after five months. Now you have me worried.

[lopburi3]

It recently took 99 days to approve my non-imm O extension. You just have to be patient.

Was that at Suan Plu in Bangkok?

I’m asking because I plan to enter Thailand next year in December on a single-entry non-O and hope to get my first one-year extension approved at Suan Plu before I leave Thailand again after five months. Now you have me worried.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Based on what? If retirement no problem as is done immediately. If support Thai wife normally takes 40 days. in Bangkok and sometimes longer upcountry.

[TizMe]

Mine was in Pattaya. When I finally got it they told me that they had quite a few non-imm O support Thai Wife visa extensions for Expats under 50 that were taking ages.

[Firefan]

Will know in a wk at Suan Plu whether I get a 2nd "40 day under consideration" stamp for my non-em b based on investment or actually get the full year! (or get turned down...). Cheers!

[Rumpole]

Would it be accurate and fair to say that Thailand does not welcome foreign workers very much?

Not only Thailand, but just about every country on this planet.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, but Thailand is a lot worse than many other countries. I have lived and worked in ten countries on three continents and Thailand was the only place where I had so much grief over the paperwork. In 16 years in the Middle East, I never once saw the inside of an Arab embassy or immigration office. Korea was one stop, once a year. In China, I had all the necessary permits within four days and did not have to become embroiled in the tedious proceedings at all. In most countries, once the initial red-tape has been overcome, the immigrant or guest worker is allowed to concentrate his efforts on more productive matters. In Thailand however, the Byzantine stamp and paper chase is almost a perpetual work-in-progress.

Edited November 22, 2005 by Rumpole

[xbusman]

Good post Rumpole, I spend an inordinate amount of time to obtain visas and work permits. The cost of travelling outside the country periodically, sitting in some backwater waiting for the processing, rules that change and shift like some sort of weird acid trip. Paper, paper and always more paper, which may be right this month but next month....

Time to sign up for that lifetime visa on Thailand Elite. What the heck happened to that program. They must be pushing 100 cards by now. A one stop solution to all your spa reservation needs with a five year visa to boot. I wonder if those things come with a work permit. After all, can you imagine getting the Thailand Elite business model designed for quick and easy transfer of tea money and not getting a work permit too?

[Maestro]

Based on what?  If retirement no problem as is done immediately.  If support Thai wife normally takes 40 days. in Bangkok and sometimes longer upcountry.

Based on support of Thai wife. Although over 50, I wish to keep open the option of applying for a work permit if the opportunity arises and I feel inclined to do some work. I get bored easily just lazing around.

Good to know then that at Suan Plu the normal period, without complications or missing documents, is about 40 days. With a planned stay of 5 months and applying 60 days after arrival, that should give me plenty of time to spare.

After that, I plan annual visits to Thailand at least once a year, arriving for one of them in November and staying for at least 5 months, escaping the European winter. I've learnt on this forum the importance of timing that arrival for the first extension correctly.

[samran]

Would it be accurate and fair to say that Thailand does not welcome foreign workers very much?

Not only Thailand, but just about every country on this planet.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, but Thailand is a lot worse than many other countries. I have lived and worked in ten countries on three continents and Thailand was the only place where I had so much grief over the paperwork. In 16 years in the Middle East, I never once saw the inside of an Arab embassy or immigration office. Korea was one stop, once a year. In China, I had all the necessary permits within four days and did not have to become embroiled in the tedious proceedings at all. In most countries, once the initial red-tape has been overcome, the immigrant or guest worker is allowed to concentrate his efforts on more productive matters. In Thailand however, the Byzantine stamp and paper chase is almost a perpetual work-in-progress.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Swings and round abouts. At the end of the day it works out about the same wherever you are.

You have obviously never tried to get a work permit in the UK - and all the associated paperwork, NI number, bank accounts. I have, and I'm an Australian.

Six months before they even looked at my application for permission to work, more weeks to get it renewed a year later. In both cases, I had to send off everythiing that you could possibly think of, P45, P60, pay slips, bank accounts, you name it, they want it.

For the NI number, well, lets just say it ain easy, and a bank account? Well, if you haven't been in the UK for at least 1 year, it is very very tricky.

My older sister lives in Paris, well, by the sounds of it, they are even worse.

[thaihome]

Sorry, but Thailand is a lot worse than many other countries.  I have lived and worked in ten countries on three continents and Thailand was the only place where I had so much grief over the paperwork.  In 16 years in the Middle East, I never once saw the inside of an Arab embassy or immigration office.  Korea was one stop, once a year. In China, I had all the necessary permits within four days and did not have to become embroiled in the tedious proceedings at all. In most countries, once the initial red-tape has been overcome, the immigrant or guest worker is allowed to concentrate his efforts on more productive matters. In Thailand however, the Byzantine stamp and paper chase is almost a perpetual work-in-progress.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For your permit in China and ME, did you have someone taking care of the paperwork for you but you had to do it yourself in Thailand?

Interesting you say Thailand is worse. In my experience it is about the same. I have gotten work permits in Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Thailand. Since my company has employed a national in each location responsible for getting the permits, it has been about the same effort in each place. China and Thailand required personal appearances, Malaysia and Singapore did not.

TH

[Rumpole]

For your permit in China and ME, did you have someone taking care of the paperwork for you but you had to do it yourself in Thailand?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In the Middle East and China, all the paperwork was expeditiously handled by my employers - which is precisely how it should be. In China, I only had to attend a rather perfunctory medical examination shortly after entering the country. I have never been anywhere near a PSB office.

Interesting you say Thailand is worse. In my experience it is about the same.  I have gotten work permits in Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Thailand.  Since my company has employed a national in each location responsible for getting the permits, it has been about the same effort in each place.  China and Thailand required personal appearances, Malaysia and Singapore did not.

TH

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No doubt people have varying experiences, but it seems that you work for an international company, which would probably put a different complexion on things. I was employed by two separate local outfits, who seemed just as daunted and clueless about all the fiery hoops that needed to be jumped through as I was. The first bunch simply pointed vaguely and disinterestedly in the direction of the various offices which required my presence, and left me to get on with it (while at the same time, refusing to allow me time off to actually do so). The second place lied and procrastinated until it became quite obvious that they, too, had no intention of actually helping me obtain a work permit, despite all the assurances and empty promises given at interview. I would add that these employers were both Thai government institutions. The fact that I have no desire whatever to work as an illegal immigrant was a major factor in my decision to leave Thailand.

Edited November 23, 2005 by Rumpole

[Jeff1]

To cap it all, I have now got so many chops/visas etc in my passport, which was only issued last year that it will soon be time to obtain a new one as no pages are left.

It it true that you can get more pages added to your passport without having to get a new one ? I have heard that somewhere .

[Axel]

It it true that you can get more pages added to your passport without having to get a new one ? I have heard that somewhere .

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More and more countries refuse to do it.

EU-p/ports come with 32 or 48 pages as per request. No add. pages allowed.

Japan, I know, glues extra pages in.

[nonthaburial]

I thank you all for suggesting I be patient etc in this case, however I was not able to put my patience to the test due to the fact that the ID ACTUALLY called me today and politely explained that my visa extension had been approved and I was free to go and get the chop in my passport any time I was available.

Now I feel a right fool bringing my woes onto this forum and I am now left pondering whether or not I should pass my story onto the Guiness Book of Records

[lopburi3]

I thank you all for suggesting I be patient etc in this case, however I was not able to put my patience to the test due to the fact that the ID ACTUALLY called me today and politely explained that my visa extension had been approved and I was free to go and get the chop in my passport any time I was available.

Now I feel a right fool bringing my woes onto this forum and I am now left pondering whether or not I should pass my story onto the Guiness Book of Records

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hold off on Guiness. You will have other tales to tell. Just remember all questions have answers and the sun really will come up tomorrow.