Retirement extension yesterday at Sisaket......

[Sceptict11]

After spending hours at the Thai Consulate in Vientiane and watching the amount of trashy tourists, expats, and half human, half dressed, pierced circus freaks, tatooed hippies trying to get or renew visas I am surprised the Thai consular workers are so tolerant.

You are a bit off topic ! They are moaning about Thai immigration Officers !

[Suradit69]

Hi Always18

I find your report strange ... in that it is vastly different to my experiences at the same office -- which has always been very helpful on any visits I have made for reporting (about 2 weeks ago) ... and extensions.

I wonder why did not arrive with all the photocopies in hand ?? It is a requirement --- no? Other offices simply tell you to go away and come back when you have the correct paperwork.

When they actually do these copies for you ----- do you really expect it to be done for free??

I simply wanted to offer an entirely different view of an office that is (for me) both helpful and prompt. I did not notice if they smiled at me or not.

I have never been informed that a med. cert. is required.

I am always asked (demanded ) to sign all photocopies. I don't recall if my wife was asked to provide signed ID card.

"I find your report strange ... in that it is vastly different to my experiences at the same office ..."

Some people seem to bring out the worst in others. Reading some of these threads I sometimes wonder if there are two or more different Thailands. Of course it's always possible to encounter someone who is having a bad day or may have some rough edges, but some of these stories about immigrations or market sellers or cashiers or waiters or whoever being rude or unfriendly just seem totally different from anything I've ever experienced here.

Probably a matter of fulfilling expectations. If you approach people expecting problems and with an attitude, you get what you were looking for. And of course the one person with a complaint assumes the 99 people with no complaints just don't get it.

.

[CMfoodie]

Semantics... Immigration officials/Consular officials... point is majoirty are more than tolerant when having to deal with what they do on a daily basis.

[Sceptict11]

Semantics... Immigration officials/Consular officials... point is majoirty are more than tolerant when having to deal with what they do on a daily basis.

Agreed !

[wilailuk]

I would have just rolled with it, even the extra 100 baht. At least you got your extension.

Try taking your wife to the UK or the US and what you did was a cake walk.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but sometimes you have to "go along to get along." 100 baht?

You're not raining on my parade at all my friend - I've taken my wife to the UK on several occasions and although it was not a "cake walk" we certainly weren't expected to eat <deleted>.

You may have missed all the excitement down in Bangkok, but the main theme behind the demonstrations is a wish to rid the country of corruption.......................just going with the flow.

Yep, and I can promise they will try to get rid of all Farang too, how about that???

You really, really, made a complete and utter fool out of yourself playing that typical "insulted Farang game" - get over it, forget it, it´s Thailand, they can do whatever they want with you.

[tropo]

Hi Always18

I find your report strange ... in that it is vastly different to my experiences at the same office -- which has always been very helpful on any visits I have made for reporting (about 2 weeks ago) ... and extensions.

I wonder why did not arrive with all the photocopies in hand ?? It is a requirement --- no? Other offices simply tell you to go away and come back when you have the correct paperwork.

When they actually do these copies for you ----- do you really expect it to be done for free??

I simply wanted to offer an entirely different view of an office that is (for me) both helpful and prompt. I did not notice if they smiled at me or not.

I have never been informed that a med. cert. is required.

I am always asked (demanded ) to sign all photocopies. I don't recall if my wife was asked to provide signed ID card.

"I find your report strange ... in that it is vastly different to my experiences at the same office ..."

Some people seem to bring out the worst in others. Reading some of these threads I sometimes wonder if there are two or more different Thailands. Of course it's always possible to encounter someone who is having a bad day or may have some rough edges, but some of these stories about immigrations or market sellers or cashiers or waiters or whoever being rude or unfriendly just seem totally different from anything I've ever experienced here.

Probably a matter of fulfilling expectations. If you approach people expecting problems and with an attitude, you get what you were looking for. And of course the one person with a complaint assumes the 99 people with no complaints just don't get it.

.

Yep, thanks for obliging....we always get your type of comments in any thread where a foreigner is relating a bad experience with immigration. Immigration staff can do no wrong.... it must be the applicants demeanor, appearance, dress or attitude at fault.

[nrasmussen]

Isn't paying bribes a criminal offense in Thailand?

If it is, isn't this thread in violation of this forum rule: "16) Not to post about gambling, betting, pornography, illegal drugs, fake goods/clothing etc and other activities that are officially illegal in Thailand."

Isn't it a bit early in your TV career to making smart-arse comments ?

Ha, ha, yes, I guess you're right. I've been lurking here long enough that I should've known better than to stick my hand into this hornet's nest of "grumpy old men" (present company excluded, of course) .

[tropo]

I can only speak from personal experience.

If you spend a bit more time reading threads on this forum you'll be able to learn from the experiences of many others. That's one of primary values of this forum - the combined knowledge and experiences of many people gives one a fairly good idea of the big picture.

[Travel Dude]

I never accept anyone treating me like shit. Point!

If they do I play the same power game, only harder.

[Sceptict11]

I never accept anyone treating me like shit. Point!

If they do I play the same power game, only harder.

Comment removed !

Edited December 12, 2013 by Sceptict11

[ALFREDO]

Actually I am also quite fed up with the tight regulations here on we foreigners and therefore I am looking for another similar place to move to in Asia if anyone knows of such a place.

Regarding Immigration and Visa policy also work permits ect, I recommend CAMBODIA - Sihanoukville by the sea,

-but on the other hand, that country lacks still a lot of infrastructure you used to in TH on every corner!

VISA extensions done from your stool, not necessary to walk to a Immigration office, agents can do that for a small fee on top of the extension fees,

a year is about 360,- Dollars, similar to a years work permit - whatever you want to do, no problem with complex paperwork!

Regarding the OP, I just was yesterday in Udon Immigration and extended my stay for reason having children with a Thai women and staying with them.

I had forgotten to copy my Passport and TM card-entrance stamp - same mistake I make often!

That pages where than copied for me and it was clear for me, that I would, without a word, get nothing back from my 2.000.- Baht I handed over for that deed.

Even, if they had no copies to make for me, I usually give that 100.- Baht as a tee money-tip.

Maybe that was also what the Immigration officials had in mind, as they set a 1.900.- Baht fee and not 2.000.- Baht.

100.- Baht not worth any trouble anyway.

I have never given a 100 baht tip to the Immigration officers in too many visits to count over 8 years... and neither has it ever been required at the Chonburi office as they have always given change. If they didn't I would ask for it. A simple, "can I please have my change" would suffice. If they asked for a service fee I would ask for an official receipt. I really don't see the problem with this and don't see why people run away scared to ask for their change.

I would rather give it to a street beggar or someone else doing it tough than a well paid immigration officer.

USD 360 for a Cambodian visa is about 11,500 baht. Including a visit to my embassy to get an income letter, the total yearly costs of the retirement extension for me is about 2700 baht. That's a much better deal that Cambodia.

-Tropo-

Interesting what you do,

but I give a Tip if I satisfied and be it possibly next time again and not have to look for a copy possibility for my forgotten copies is worth for me always a 100.- Baht,

Interesting also,

that your circumstances are OK and easy manageable in TH, but, that is not for all in that way.

I would have it cheaper in Cambodia. And much more convenient.

[tropo]

-Tropo-

Interesting what you do,

but I give a Tip if I satisfied and be it possibly next time again and not have to look for a copy possibility for my forgotten copies is worth for me always a 100.- Baht,

Interesting also,

that your circumstances are OK and easy manageable in TH, but, that is not for all in that way.

I would have it cheaper in Cambodia. And much more convenient.

Is that interesting? I tip my hairdresser or restaurant staff for a job well done, but it has never occurred to me to tip an immigration officer for doing their job.

Do you think that if you told the cashier at a busy immigration office to keep the 100 baht change they'd give you preferential treatment next time you go there? I doubt they'd even remember your face in an office which processes hundreds of applications a day. Would you imagine their faces lighting up a year later thinking: "hey, there's that guy who tipped us 100 baht last year - let's rush him through again so we can get another tip".

You know a 100 baht tip could be misconstrued. It could even be considered an insult by some.

Let me ask you a question. When you go to your embassy to get some paperwork done, do you tip them?... to ensure that next time they also do a good job?

Edited December 12, 2013 by tropo

[gerry123]

quote "

Sadly, like several other posters, you seem not to have read my original posting properly before making your vacuous comments."

Par for the course on this forum.

ok wind it back in

[NoshowJones]

Although you thought that you had the 'required' documents you should also be aware that the Immigration Officer is entitled to request any further documents, that he decides are necessary, in order to process your application.

Also even if you provide everything asked for there is no right to an extension, it is still provided at their discretion.

Ref the additional copies the charge was probably 100 baht. They could have sent you away to get them instead. That could well happen next year.

Ref the 'what if I was single', they might have requested documents to prove you lived at the address claimed.

Next year the staff may have changed, if you are lucky.

"At their discretion"? What's wrong with the Thai government making up the rules and criteria for ex pats to live in their country, instead of allowing IOs to suit themselves according to what side of the bed they get out of?

I think you will find that the immigration officer in pretty well every country has, by law, the discretion to allow/disallow any application. Piss them off at your peril.

You are wrong. In developed countries the immigration officials have well laid out guidelines in which they operate. They cannot just refuse for the sake of refusal - perhaps because the official is having a bad day or they don't like the applicant.. Even if they refuse, they need to have a good reason for refusal.

For example, when applying for a visa for Australia, a refusal is accompanied with a long, very detailed reason for the refusal. I know what I'm talking about as I've read 2 tourist visa refusal letters from the Australian immigration office.

What would you do in your country if your wife had to get an extension and the immigration officer later called you to abuse you... as the Thai immigration officer called the OP's wife later on?

Very well said Tropo.

[NoshowJones]

Time and time again - I recommend when dealing with immigration - record the process on camera (iPhone) and report these crooks who "change the rules"/enforce different rules.

I don't believe you do this openly.

That's what's wrong, IMs are allowed to make up their own rules, some will allow this, some won't etc, but they would not ie, say to you I want you to have 900.000 Baht in the bank for your retirement visa. How these people love the power they have over you, although I believe in the case of IOs, most of them are OK.

[ALFREDO]

Is that interesting? I tip my hairdresser or restaurant staff for a job well done, but it has never occurred to me to tip an immigration officer for doing their job.

Do you think that if you told the cashier at a busy immigration office to keep the 100 baht change they'd give you preferential treatment next time you go there? I doubt they'd even remember your face in an office which processes hundreds of applications a day. Would you imagine their faces lighting up a year later thinking: "hey, there's that guy who tipped us 100 baht last year - let's rush him through again so we can get another tip".

You know a 100 baht tip could be misconstrued. It could even be considered an insult by some.

Let me ask you a question. When you go to your embassy to get some paperwork done, do you tip them?... to ensure that next time they also do a good job?

YES, interesting, because you seem to think only from yourself.

(You only go yearly to a (busy) Immigration, I much more often to a more quiet Immigration, for extensions, have not the funds for different approach)

YES, I even know, that I am remembered, as I am a regular, every 2,5-4 month in the not so "busy" Udon Thani Immigration, my appearance, my small talk

and my boys, are easy to remember.

As I sometimes have not all necessary papers, or Passport pages copied the 100 Baht is anyway a payment for the deed to provide me with the copies.

If, I gave the 100 Baht as a tip, I always get a -thank you- and a smile back, I never saw someone at Immigration felt "insulted" in my 16 years on many Visa in Thailand.

(Come TH since 1990)

By the way, my Passport has also a flaw since this year, after have been accidentally washed in a hot water washing machine, in a laundry shop,

some Visa stickers have disappeared (From, Thai, Cambodian and Lao) and that was no problem,

at some Immigration controls - Udon Thani Immigration 4-5 visits this year,

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi out and in,

Phnom Phen in and out,

Vientiane in and out,

Savannaketh in and out,

1st Nong Khai - Lao trip out and in TH

2nd Nong Khai trip out,

Mukdahan - Lao trip out.

Flaw, not mentioned at Cambodian and Lao Immigrations.

But was a problem for that same -sticker- reason, with Interrogations with higher ranking Thai Immigration officers

and I was in real fear that I was not allowed into TH at my

2nd Nong Khai trip into TH and my Mukdahan trip into TH.

As I am not sure for special reason (some unpaid child support), if I get a new Passport at my Embassy I try to stick to my Passport as long as possible.

Tip, in my Embassy? I think its not fair and appropriate, to compare a Western European country with a country in SEA.

Edited December 13, 2013 by ALFREDO

[IMA_FARANG]

In October 2013 I did my renewal of my retirement extension in Chaengwattana.

That was my third time since October 2010.

For the first time the officer merely said politely that if I wished my change ..... I had 100 baht change from the fee ... I could simply place the 100 baht in his basket for "services".

He made it clear it was not required .... but would be a favor to him for his work.

I thought about it, and dropped the 100 Baht into his in box.

So now I am cleared until October 2014 .... no problem.

That was the first time such a "polite request ... my choice" .... was ever even made to me.

And I never paid before or was asked before.

Inflation, I guess.

[Nip]

Always 18? In your mind on the day you won the battle over the princely sum of 100 Baht but you can be assured that you have most certainly lost the war. I would suggest that one year from now your bravado and self-righteousness will cost you dearly.

[tropo]

YES, interesting, because you seem to think only from yourself.

(You only go yearly to a (busy) Immigration, I much more often to a more quiet Immigration, for extensions, have not the funds for different approach)

YES, I even know, that I am remembered, as I am a regular, every 2,5-4 month in the not so "busy" Udon Thani Immigration, my appearance, my small talk

and my boys, are easy to remember.

If you want to keep tipping, go for it. There really is no need for it though despite your efforts to justify it.

I've visited my immigration office about 10 times in the last year (re-entry permits, reporting, visa extension) and I'm sure no one remembers me. Yes, I understand that you maybe a hero in a small, quiet office for tipping 100 baht, but in a busy office you're just another face.

[garyk]

Strange, I get my stay extended in Chiang Mai, The first time I tried to give a few hundred baht extra. That did not sit well. I was told no, and a receipt and my change was returned. This year, two thousand baht, got the recipe for 1900 with no change. But, it was the nicest experience I could imagine. The same lady each year helps me. She did a copy for me with out even asking. Made the changes, I forget to do every year.

I just sit there and go with the flow. Great service IMO.

I did make the mistake one year at another office of pissing off an officer. Just not worth it what so ever.

If it get to bad I will leave and go home.

Let the Thai's handle the politics and the corruption. Believe me they are fed up with it! They hate the corruption worse than any of us farang IMO.

[Leung Falang]

The immigration officers rotate about every two years so it is quite normal to see new faces, but all of them have been very kind to us

and also to Laotian people we have seen there. They welcome us with a smile and when they are not busy have even filled out forms

for us. They also have made a copy of something we forgot without any fuss. They are very nice and often our visits end in extended conversations and picture taking here in Mukdahan.

[ALFREDO]

Yes, I understand that you maybe a hero in a small, quiet office for tipping 100 baht, but in a busy office you're just another face.

First,

as I say, nearly every time, I forget to copy my passport pages or something else and so, the 100 Baht is a kind of payment anyway for the good deed of the officers in Udon Thani.

Second,

NO HERO, its, what I see in Udon Thani and also on Khon Kaen where I come also sometimes to the Immigration office, a, can say, customary practice,

special maybe in that smaller, rural Immigration offices, where you are recognized and recognize the officers, always some small talk involved.

[Sceptict11]

To the OP. Same old story, TiT, Immigration offices, and many other establishments, make up their own rules. By the way, as some (minority I hope) posters keep on saying "Remember, we are guests in this country". BS.

Well, I see it this way:

I am not a guest in Thailand, I am a sponsor of Thailand.

What YOU think is irrelevant....what THEY think is what matters.

They got the rubber stamps and you got nothing.

..your only retaliatory measure is to leave the country...they couldn't care less...

What a sad comment !

I wish these people would leave /-------------- soon !

[Gil]

One of the problems is that most of the imm. officers never got out of Thailand. They've never seen what prompt, efficient and courteous service really mean.

What a shame they would feel then back in their own duties!

Another problem is that some westerners treat them like sub-person employees. They represent their Kingdom with all the powers attached to their grade. They must feel like retaliating at times...

Edited December 15, 2013 by Gil