Why can't we just accept what we all know; the OP has dealt with one of the less popular and inefficient Immigration offices. Granted, the tone of the OP does sound like a rant but having to resubmit applications repeatedly because the staff come up with yet another 'oversight' is not at all unusual in LOS. Smugly having your local immigration rodeo all sussed out doesn't really matter does it? There's probably some other aspect of daily life in Thailand that gets you all riled up, no?

Other's chipping in with complaints about not getting their change back; well, what on earth is wrong with bringing exact change with you, especially if you already know the proper fee? And for those that have the misfortune to deal with an office that picks the fee out of their <deleted> depending on the day of the week, a hangover or bad hair, two words for you.... SMALL BILLS.

Next please?

"given our status"

What status would that be ?....In Thailand generally farangs dont have any status in the eyes of offiicialdom...to them your just another annoying English teacher thats all...

Reading some your hysterical posts, one suspects you had better learn to chill if living in Thailand for any length of time, and I am still trying to find the discrimination imposed on you by immigration.

Indeed, had to laugh,

"given our status"

Your status, is somewhat lower than a sleeping soi dogs <deleted>, sooner you accept that the sooner you will enjoy your time here, ok mem saab.

I must be missing something. Immigration sent back paperwork that was not correct, and when it was correct, they issued the visa.

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This is simple All I am stating is why 8 jouneys Why not 1 simple clear instruction Clear communication That's all !

Your beef seems to be about non-communication. So presumably you did not have a native Thai speaker with you who could translate for you. Presumably you thought that it was neccessary for the immigration department to communicate to you in a language other than Thai. Well try that in France, for example, and see how that works out for you. In fact plenty of countries around the world you'll find that public officials will speak to you in their language, and it is really up to you to make the arrangements to have someone on your side who can speak the local language.

Reading topic it is Ubon immigration office located in Phibun.

The distance once out of town is an easy drive on a four lane road with very little if any traffic to contend with. In fact once you exit the city it is non stop from there to one stop light in Phibun where you make a right turn.

Granted it s a straight road but why so far out?! When you consider the amount of inhabitants in Ubon Surely this justifies an immigration office within the city limits Or for the officials to be more sympathetic when badly informing the customers who are the ones who are going back and forth!

That reminds me, I have to travel from Ubon to Phiboooon to do my 90 day reporting. Why did they have to stop accepting the 90 reporting by mail? I don't have a problem telling my school I need the day off, but the school has 10 western teachers and about 10 other foreign teachers. I;m sure the time-off does add up.

Why do you have to talk the day off....get someone else to do the report for you, surely within 20 people there are some who have the same reporting day (period) all chip in a pay someone to do it....you dont need to turn up in person

Reading topic it is Ubon immigration office located in Phibun.

The distance once out of town is an easy drive on a four lane road with very little if any traffic to contend with. In fact once you exit the city it is non stop from there to one stop light in Phibun where you make a right turn.

Granted it s a straight road but why so far out?! When you consider the amount of inhabitants in Ubon Surely this justifies an immigration office within the city limits Or for the officials to be more sympathetic when badly informing the customers who are the ones who are going back and forth!

That reminds me, I have to travel from Ubon to Phiboooon to do my 90 day reporting. Why did they have to stop accepting the 90 reporting by mail? I don't have a problem telling my school I need the day off, but the school has 10 western teachers and about 10 other foreign teachers. I;m sure the time-off does add up.

Why do you have to talk the day off....get someone else to do the report for you, surely within 20 people there are some who have the same reporting day (period) all chip in a pay someone to do it....you dont need to turn up in person

It might be possible for the other teachers to do what you suggested, but in my case,I'm not aware of anyone else who has the same reporting dates as me. ( It might be due to fact I came to Thailand O visa marriage and a couple of months later got hired at the job in the middle of the school year.)

It might be possible for the other teachers to do what you suggested, but in my case,I'm not aware of anyone else who has the same reporting dates as me. ( It might be due to fact I came to Thailand O visa marriage and a couple of months later got hired at the job in the middle of the school year.)

Well there is the solution for you then...get your Mrs to do the report for you

OP i can not help but wonder, after the first time when you realized it was going to be a headache, was it not easier or more sensible to either make a gift or get someone else to make a gift?You had spent hours driving, easy few thousand baht in gas, car service, lost hours of your life, stress, most likely a few hairs as well.Like it or not, this is how it works around here and personally i am happy to pay an extra to speed up the process and perhaps to overlook few wrong commas or dots.These days i get either my lawyer or accountant to renew my visa and WP, because its easy, painless and totally stress free. The few thousand baht for the service i am happy to pay, so i do not have to worry at all

Lemon, why am I not surprised that YOU are happy to pay! I'll leave it to others to chastise you and explain why this is so wrong!

I take a break from TV every now and again because it is infuriating to have to read the BS responses from users. I've never had to go to an immigration office but from what I read the incompetence of officials is deplorable. It is known how they treat farrangs. TiT is a loud of codswallop when it comes to an excuse for visas. Whatever visa you go for should be clearly defined and the procedure outlined so all can follow correctly, changing what is acceptable etc day to day is ridiculous, and shames the government further!

Your rant is very understandable OP, and sharing on a forum is certainly one way of letting out the frustration. Better luck next time I guess!

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

OP i can not help but wonder, after the first time when you realized it was going to be a headache, was it not easier or more sensible to either make a gift or get someone else to make a gift?You had spent hours driving, easy few thousand baht in gas, car service, lost hours of your life, stress, most likely a few hairs as well.Like it or not, this is how it works around here and personally i am happy to pay an extra to speed up the process and perhaps to overlook few wrong commas or dots.These days i get either my lawyer or accountant to renew my visa and WP, because its easy, painless and totally stress free. The few thousand baht for the service i am happy to pay, so i do not have to worry at all

Lemon, why am I not surprised that YOU are happy to pay! I'll leave it to others to chastise you and explain why this is so wrong!

I realize the concept is hard for you to grasp , but hopefully eventually you will.

To me your anger and frustration shouldn't be directed at the immigration, but at your employer. If they cannot provide the correct documentation in the first place, then obviously you are going to have a problem with your 'i's & 't's for your extension. It should be no problem for them to phone before you make the journey to make sure you have all that is needed.

Again, the chicken and egg question, who is ultimately responsible for your extension at immigration, you or your employer? Your employer is responsible for your work permit, to legally work in their establishment, they also (should) provide all relevant documentation for the extension so you would assume the onus is on them.

Perhaps the education system is different??

Billyfish, I know exactly how you feel.

Although you are not discriminated, that's the you feel about their attitude.

I did have the same problem in Sri Racha.....going back and forth to Labor, Immigration, Revenue Dept., and this over and over again.

Sometimes I think that immigration officers are more or less frustrated that they are not able to collect more money along the roadside, checking motorbikes.

Flame removed.

Went to Pattaya Immigration yesterday for a re-entry permit. Waited two minutes at the desk till the guy finished a converation with a farang customer. Showed my completed form; got ticket 135. Desk light showing 135. Sat, presented docs + 1000 fee. Passport went from him to a young boy who checked a computer screen then handed passport to a young girl. She called out my number. Received passport back. Total time from entry to exit 7 minutes. Excellent service.

These days i get either my lawyer or accountant to renew my visa and WP, because its easy, painless and totally stress free. The few thousand baht for the service i am happy to pay, so i do not have to worry at all

This is kind of the point. If the paper work is done correctly it is easy, painless and totally stress free. My company prepares the paperwork and send someone (Thai) who knows the system and prepared the paperwork to accompany me. All the documents are in order. There are no backhanders, gifts or kow towing. Just correctly completed paperwork and all the relevent documents.

My company frequently contacts the immigration office by telephone to clarify details. They are always helpful and always give the correct information to the best of their ability.

I have never encountered immigration setting out to be <deleted>. I would bet good money they could be if they were up against someone with incorrect paperwork and a headful of righteous indignation......

but having to resubmit applications repeatedly because the staff come up with yet another 'oversight' is not at all unusual in LOS.

I have a feeling that the problem is the way they process - step by step. Lets say there are ten steps in the process. They start on step one - problem. They stop and kick it back to you - without them going through all the rest to see if it is correct or if there are more problems. You correct step one paperwork and head back. They check step one - OK - check step two - problem - kick it back - and so on.

OP i can not help but wonder, after the first time when you realized it was going to be a headache, was it not easier or more sensible to either make a gift or get someone else to make a gift?

You had spent hours driving, easy few thousand baht in gas, car service, lost hours of your life, stress, most likely a few hairs as well.

Like it or not, this is how it works around here and personally i am happy to pay an extra to speed up the process and perhaps to overlook few wrong commas or dots.

These days i get either my lawyer or accountant to renew my visa and WP, because its easy, painless and totally stress free. The few thousand baht for the service i am happy to pay, so i do not have to worry at all

When in Rome; yes bribery comes in handy but it goes against my principles to pay officials to do their job If any payment were to be made its up to our employer to consider. I wouldn't spend more than a jar of coffee! But our smiles are free and courtesy is also part of our education and etiquette.

To me your anger and frustration shouldn't be directed at the immigration, but at your employer. If they cannot provide the correct documentation in the first place, then obviously you are going to have a problem with your 'i's & 't's for your extension. It should be no problem for them to phone before you make the journey to make sure you have all that is needed.

Again, the chicken and egg question, who is ultimately responsible for your extension at immigration, you or your employer? Your employer is responsible for your work permit, to legally work in their establishment, they also (should) provide all relevant documentation for the extension so you would assume the onus is on them.

Perhaps the education system is different??

Correct but its part of Thai communication which is an oxymoron !

 

Mirror mirror on the wall........

+1. I bet the OP doesn't complain with the same venom about the insurmountable barriers placed in the way of Thais wishing to work in his native country by the local Immigration Gestapo.

 

The difference of course being the immigrants in our native country gets a bare minimum of 40.000 baht per month + free education, + free furniture's, and free pension when it is concluded they aren't employable, after which they are free to travel wherever it pleases with a granted state guaranteed pension for the rest of their life.

apples to oranges much ?

Edited July 19, 201312 yr by poanoi

OP i can not help but wonder, after the first time when you realized it was going to be a headache, was it not easier or more sensible to either make a gift or get someone else to make a gift?

You had spent hours driving, easy few thousand baht in gas, car service, lost hours of your life, stress, most likely a few hairs as well.

Like it or not, this is how it works around here and personally i am happy to pay an extra to speed up the process and perhaps to overlook few wrong commas or dots.

These days i get either my lawyer or accountant to renew my visa and WP, because its easy, painless and totally stress free. The few thousand baht for the service i am happy to pay, so i do not have to worry at all

When in Rome; yes bribery comes in handy but it goes against my principles to pay officials to do their job If any payment were to be made its up to our employer to consider. I wouldn't spend more than a jar of coffee! But our smiles are free and courtesy is also part of our education and etiquette.

You are free to stick to your principals, but then do not complain that you had wasted endless hours, gas, and time.

Clearly your smiles and courtesy were not getting you anywhere.

Personally, i value my time and health so prefer to spend a few extra baht and let lawyers or accountant handle this matters.

These days i get either my lawyer or accountant to renew my visa and WP, because its easy, painless and totally stress free. The few thousand baht for the service i am happy to pay, so i do not have to worry at all

This is kind of the point. If the paper work is done correctly it is easy, painless and totally stress free. My company prepares the paperwork and send someone (Thai) who knows the system and prepared the paperwork to accompany me. All the documents are in order. There are no backhanders, gifts or kow towing. Just correctly completed paperwork and all the relevent documents.

My company frequently contacts the immigration office by telephone to clarify details. They are always helpful and always give the correct information to the best of their ability.

I have never encountered immigration setting out to be <deleted>. I would bet good money they could be if they were up against someone with incorrect paperwork and a headful of righteous indignation......

Yeap the company I work for is exactly the same and has been that way for last 11 years, Immigration went through a phase a couple of years ago of wanting me to turn up at immigration to check, the face, the passport and WP were the same person, but that has only happend twice, and these days...renewal time, hand my PP & WP over to the company rep... a day or three later all documents returned and stamp for another year havent had to even go to immigration...

Based on some of the responses from the OP, I am begining to wonder if there was a bit of "attitude" shown to immigration during one of the initial visits and somebody has decided in the immigration office to start becoming a bit pedantic to prove a point...

I must be missing something. Immigration sent back paperwork that was not correct, and when it was correct, they issued the visa.

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This is simple All I am stating is why 8 jouneys Why not 1 simple clear instruction Clear communication That's all !

Because it is Thailand get use to it

Once forgiving Twice annoyingly acceptable 3 times Being awkward

4 times Being deliberately inefficient 5 times Being un acceptably and shamefully disrespectful

6 times Being ridiculously incompetent or rudely uncaring 7 times Unbelievably incompetent

You need to get used to it mate or your not going to survive in Thailand. Have you had a look through the teaching thread here?