Marriage Visa Nightmare - Chaeng Watthana No Longer Accepts 40,000+ Income, Only 400K

[reiltin]

From time to time children of "influential people"are given jobs in the Thai civil service many are intellectually challenged with no social skills and completely unsuited to the job,their co-workers and supervisors may hold a low opinion of them also, but dare not speak out.These people create problems for both staff and customers.I had a problem once not with immigration but another Thai department...I brought my lawyer along,the civil servant asked him who he was he said he was my driver(dressed like Gordon Geeko and NYU and Chula educated) All the while he took notes and I could see the official was distracted by this,again the official asked him who he was-I'm the driver he replied while continuing to take notes..after some time the official tried to grab the notebook but my (driver)moved too fast.The official now perplexed and sweating even in the air-con office was beginning to attract the attention of others in the room...my (driver) then showed him what he had written..his demeanour changed to bemused shock.I got the papers I needed within 5 minutes and we were gone.Later in the car I looked at his note there were numbers 5,7,10 with Thai script-my lawyer said these were minimum sentences for dereliction of duty offences and other offences all of which the official had committed in the previous 45 minutes.Get a good driver and you should be ok!

[USNret]

From time to time children of "influential people"are given jobs in the Thai civil service many are intellectually challenged with no social skills and completely unsuited to the job,their co-workers and supervisors may hold a low opinion of them also, but dare not speak out.These people create problems for both staff and customers.I had a problem once not with immigration but another Thai department...I brought my lawyer along,the civil servant asked him who he was he said he was my driver(dressed like Gordon Geeko and NYU and Chula educated) All the while he took notes and I could see the official was distracted by this,again the official asked him who he was-I'm the driver he replied while continuing to take notes..after some time the official tried to grab the notebook but my (driver)moved too fast.The official now perplexed and sweating even in the air-con office was beginning to attract the attention of others in the room...my (driver) then showed him what he had written..his demeanour changed to bemused shock.I got the papers I needed within 5 minutes and we were gone.Later in the car I looked at his note there were numbers 5,7,10 with Thai script-my lawyer said these were minimum sentences for dereliction of duty offences and other offences all of which the official had committed in the previous 45 minutes.Get a good driver and you should be ok!

Classic! If I ever need a good lawyer, I'll be sending you a PM. I like the way this guy thinks.

[robinstweart]

Don't forget that the "rules" as you say are the MINIMUM required. Meeting those criteria is no guarantee that the Thais have to accept you. Being retired since 24 and now being 36 seems a bit odd and I know I would question that if I were a proper immigration official in any country that takes immigration seriously. Not to mention that the requirements may now be 65 K and not 40K a month. Certainly is that way for retirement visas, so I would assume it is for Marriage extensions also.

I have had 80,000 a month for the past 6 years, though. I can also show it with receipts and have shown it to him. Certainly above 40k and also above 65k if it was that way. I'm not retired, but i have a regular income from my shares and my position on the overseas comany. I realize that the immigration officer has to reject an application at his will, however he should save that for the real bad people, not people that have their things in order and have been living here with their wife and family or so many years.

Edited March 15, 2013 by robinstweart

[Maestro]

I have deleted some off-topic posts. This topic is about a marriage extension, not a retirement extension.

[NamoLukeChai]

Who's right who's wrong I would leave it alone and just simply deposit the 400,000 in the bank and leave it at that. Its not much and if you are retired with all those assets that you claim and looking to purchase additional land its a small price to pay to living here in addition the funds can be withdrawn. Keep it simply otherwise this officer can may make your life here difficult and its not worth it.

Edited March 16, 2013 by NamoLukeChai

[goodguy]

Sorry to hear about your predicament. He is essentially forcing you to leave Thailand, put 400,000 Baht in the account you want to show him when you will have to reapply for a 12 month extension, after you have returned, after you have applied for an Non Immigrant Visa at an overseas embassy and returned to Thailand.

Did he put any note or stamp or anything at the unfortunate meeting? You will need to act fast, to prevent the worst case scenario from eventuating. It's worth getting Sunbelt and paying whatever it takes, which will be a lot less than the airfares and the rest if you have to get out.

He was fishing for an under the table payment, the reason he was examining your papers was really an opportunity for him to receive his bribe. A lawyer is cheaper than a bribe.

In hindsight it would have paid you to have had the 400,000 plus baht in the bank for the three months prior to your extension etc.

Then maybe you would have just had the wait and even had him have to come to your house to inspect and photo your marriage validity, drawn a silly map, take all your own photos they so desperately need year after year or even better, move away from Bangkok and Chaeng Watttana and do it in a regional office instead.

Warning, Ayuttaya is worse. Try Korat or Saraburi.

Get a lawyer fast.

[lopburi3]

Several posts removed. As all available information has been shared and now we have flame postings; and no confirmation of a policy change has been provided, this thread is closed for now - if an official change has been made it can then be opened again.