My day at Immigration

[Bluetongue]

Yesterday was the annual quest for the accursed stamp day. I was relaxed about it in the weeks leading up, as opposed to previous years, all I did was salt the money. A week before then the day before I told the missus, any extra would be superfluous. The

day before I prepared the map, a series of straight wide lines that they like, and I took and printed the pictures that was it.

However when I woke I couldnt help feeling whats Thailand going to throw at me today. As I was entering the shower I noticed the missus rummaging in the documents drawer, what are you looking for?, no reply, this usually means havent checked

everywhere yet, so I had a shower.

Coming out of the bathroom shes rummaging in my drawers, what are you looking for? pictures was the answer. Well theres

none in there. Now fully dressed she then says to me tabien baan hi. Great Id forgotten all about it and now it cant be

found. After much shouting at children it turned up, one has taken it to school for some reason and left it under the seat of themotorbike. Phew, but stress levels increased.

We set off on what should be a 95km round journey via the bank. The guy at the bank was new but me and the assistant manager

talked him through it, and I was away after about 45 minutes. On the way to Immigration the missus starts grumbling that I could have gone to the bank yesterday, I didnt know that I said. Then she starts grumbling that I havent done any photocopies yet. I said yes but there would be more anyway and the girl at Immigration always finds some reason to send me away to do more, Ill

just do it all then. Grumble grumble.

We get there and there are no other customers. In rapid fire Thai which I mostly follow they tell the missus they need two copiesof everything and a letter from the Amphur confirming we are not divorced, they tell us we can do all the photocopying there.

Then they say well need another print of those pictures, one is not enough. Whoops I forgot about that, never mind there is a

shop in town that can do it they say. So off we go on shanks pony, 63 copies, 126 baht plus two more pictures 50 baht and were back, missus is really grumbly now, doesnt like walking or conducting business my way you see.

So we sit there for the best part of two hours while these three women in the office prepare my application, I sign every page

except her ID page and tabien baan which the missus signs. They gave us cake and coffee, and Im thinking the world is good. Thenthe bad news, the photos are no good the photo of the house doesnt have our house and mooban number on it and the photo of us

together also includes a stepson and two dogs this is no good either. Despite the fact that this is exactly how I presented the

photos for the last two years. Then they ask for 2k, give me a receipt for 1900 and stamp my passport and give me the other

originals back and tell me to come back quickly with the new photos.

So I have to do the 80k round trip back home, find a texta pen (had to go to the village and get it) stick a piece of paper near our front door with the numbers on it and Thai text, take two more photographs, pray that the printer wasnt out of ink and get

them back to Immigration. By the time I finally got home at 4 after starting out at 7 I was buggered and had to have a kip for anhour and a half after which I demolished three bottles and two glasses of medicine.

Moral of the story is be prepared and if you dont remember the requirements probably a good idea to ring them up or go and see

them beforehand.

[asiaexpat]

It's always an adventure, isn't it. Fun reading though.

[Eddy B]

Well good to hear you were processed in the end. I have to travel about 500km round trip to do my visa extenstion and I always get nervous a few days before even if I know I and the wife have everything they need...........just because they will pull something at the last minute to try and trip you up. Nothing is ever set in stone here in the LOS

[Tmymaimee]

Why not just call a neighbour to text you the adjusted pic? Or just photoshop whatever is needed on the original? Save a lot of driving, no?

[Bluetongue]

Why not just call a neighbour to text you the adjusted pic? Or just photoshop whatever is needed on the original? Save a lot of driving, no?

Mate, my neighbours are Thai villagers without any idea of technology, plus one adjusted pic had to be taken with us there, or as you say photoshopped. However I did not have the picture on a memory card with me it was a print, so I would have had to go into an internet cafe get it scanned, then sit there and play with it, which I have never done before, then buy a memory stick, then take it to a photo printing place all with the missus on me back. No thanks.

[johnnybgood]

Why not just call a neighbour to text you the adjusted pic? Or just photoshop whatever is needed on the original? Save a lot of driving, no?

Mate, my neighbours are Thai villagers without any idea of technology, plus one adjusted pic had to be taken with us there, or as you say photoshopped. However I did not have the picture on a memory card with me it was a print, so I would have had to go into an internet cafe get it scanned, then sit there and play with it, which I have never done before, then buy a memory stick, then take it to a photo printing place all with the missus on me back. No thanks.

Good answer

[thaidel48]

I never seem to have any problems at Immigration but then again I take so many copies of everything I need a bloody cart to carry them( and yes they always find one thing not right need new copy lol )

[Trentham]

Sounds like a normal day's official business in Thailand to me. I can tell you 50 similar stories.

[appleman_thai]

Love it. A nice humourous look at the trials and tribulations of a legal alien in Thailand.

You've got the right attitude. You'll survive :-)

[NoshowJones]

Well good to hear you were processed in the end. I have to travel about 500km round trip to do my visa extenstion and I always get nervous a few days before even if I know I and the wife have everything they need...........just because they will pull something at the last minute to try and trip you up. Nothing is ever set in stone here in the LOS

The rules and regulations of Thailand Immigration are necessary, but way over the top, some want this, some don't, some want that, and some don't, Although I believe that most Farangs get through Immigration, their extensions etc, without any hassle, I believe on some occasions, that IO try to ask for this and that hoping that some money will go under the table. The marriage visa is one I believe could be done with much less hassle, and from what I hear, it is the one where most tea money comes from.

[finnomick]

Nice tale and good reading.....I have one too. We went to Korat for the yearly stamp. Called in at the bank in Nang Rong. Half way through proceedings, the computers went down but I already had the letter and a statement with the current date on it. The only thing they couldn't do was update the book. So, of to Korat. Presented the paperwork, ah ha, problem, book not up to date. We were hearded to the big boss woman at the back, and told her why. No good. You go back 28kms to a different bank and get your book updated. So, off we went and 56 kms later got back to Korat. Not wishing to join the back of the queue, I went staight to the big boss woman with the updated bank book and relevant copies. After shuffling through the papers again, she came across the bank statement with the current date on it. She asked, " so why did you go to the bank again to have your book updated ? This statement will do. " Keeping my calm almost restrained, I told her thet she in fact, had insisted we go to the bank -- obviously got a short memory but then, she had had lunch in between. Seeing my retsrained calm, she again went through the paperwork and my passport. " Problem " she says. " One of the pages in your passport is missing ". " No it isn't " I reply venting steam through my ears. She checked the passport again. " Oh, no there isn't a page missing, he ( the officer at the front desk ) has stapled two together ". So, to save face, she then went through the passport AND all the paperwork again just to try and find another error to save her day. She couldn't find any, so authorised the stamp. What a fiasco......but then, this was just another day in her humdrum world.

[USNret]

Well good to hear you were processed in the end.

hmmmmm... that's one way to say it. Yeah, he was processed in the end, all right.

From all the stories I've heard, advance preparation does little good since they always want something different each time you go back. Just bring as much paperwork, photographs & money you can find and hope for the best. Haven't been through this yet but the time is coming & I dread it.

[willyumiii]

I know Thais like to wait until the last minute to do anything.

Are you already that Thai?

I am always 100% sure I am 100% ready at least one week before I go to Immigration.

Yes, I even research to be sure nothing new or different is required since my last visit.

It was only a 90 day check in, but I went to immigration yesterday.

In and out in less than 10 minutes.

Nothing but smiles from everyone in the office.

It pays to be prepared.

Edited January 23, 2014 by willyumiii

[sirchai]

Thanks dude! Best wake up call not to forward my 90 days registration for Aliens tomorrow. Will spray my skin green when going there in my space shuttle.-

Will bring them some"space cake" from a Dutch coffee shop.-

[OMGImInPattaya]

I take another moral from this story...don't marry a Thai woman and if you do, do live up in the sticks in the middle of nowhere.

[Barney R]

I know Thais like to wait until the last minute to do anything.

Are you already that Thai?

I am always 100% sure I am 100% ready at least one week before I go to Immigration.

Yes, I even research to be sure nothing new or different is required since my last visit.

It was only a 90 day check in, but I went to immigration yesterday.

In and out in less than 10 minutes.

Nothing but smiles from everyone in the office.

It pays to be prepared.

100% agree been on three annual 1 year visa runs could not complain at all . Just make sure you have all the required documents , do everything with a smile and a 100 baht tea money things go as smooth as silk . The first time I went I had actually washed my old passport with the 1 year retirement multiple entry visa in and presented the new passport . The officer at immigration just checked on the computer and CALLED The Brisbane Thai embassy to check what I was saying was correct which took all of 10 minutes then just went through my documents and stamped my new passport in and out in about 30 minutes .

[KhunBENQ]

Good that you kept your humor

[mxyzptlk]

I know Thais like to wait until the last minute to do anything.

Are you already that Thai?

I am always 100% sure I am 100% ready at least one week before I go to Immigration.

Yes, I even research to be sure nothing new or different is required since my last visit.

It was only a 90 day check in, but I went to immigration yesterday.

In and out in less than 10 minutes.

Nothing but smiles from everyone in the office.

It pays to be prepared.

100% agree been on three annual 1 year visa runs could not complain at all . Just make sure you have all the required documents , do everything with a smile and a 100 baht tea money things go as smooth as silk . The first time I went I had actually washed my old passport with the 1 year retirement multiple entry visa in and presented the new passport . The officer at immigration just checked on the computer and CALLED The Brisbane Thai embassy to check what I was saying was correct which took all of 10 minutes then just went through my documents and stamped my new passport in and out in about 30 minutes .

Why do you give them tea money? No need for this at all. Just have the right documents, be polite and have a reasonable appearance and everything will be OK.

[blazes]

Why not use the services of an agent? Expensive, but saves incipient heart attacks.

[cooked]

Preparation in advance? Ha ha. I telephoned the day before we went the first time, got everything together and got there nice and early the next day. The guy that I 'phoned with wanted my 'confirmation of freedom to marry' paper, which he hadn't mentioned. (And wasn't accepting any tea money).We were told that the Amphur where we got married must have it, so off to the Amphur: 'mai mee'. On the same day we got a visit from immigration police, he talked to our neighbours, relatives and local shopkeepers. So maybe they just send you home sometimes so they can check up on you.

We did eventually find the paper and things went over ok.

[cooked]

I know Thais like to wait until the last minute to do anything.

Are you already that Thai?

I am always 100% sure I am 100% ready at least one week before I go to Immigration.

Yes, I even research to be sure nothing new or different is required since my last visit.

It was only a 90 day check in, but I went to immigration yesterday.

In and out in less than 10 minutes.

Nothing but smiles from everyone in the office.

It pays to be prepared.

100% agree been on three annual 1 year visa runs could not complain at all . Just make sure you have all the required documents , do everything with a smile and a 100 baht tea money things go as smooth as silk . The first time I went I had actually washed my old passport with the 1 year retirement multiple entry visa in and presented the new passport . The officer at immigration just checked on the computer and CALLED The Brisbane Thai embassy to check what I was saying was correct which took all of 10 minutes then just went through my documents and stamped my new passport in and out in about 30 minutes .

Why do you give them tea money? No need for this at all. Just have the right documents, be polite and have a reasonable appearance and everything will be OK.

Well I have never been able to offer tea money to expedite things but there are places where you won't get anywhere if you don't.

[Barney R]

I know Thais like to wait until the last minute to do anything.

Are you already that Thai?

I am always 100% sure I am 100% ready at least one week before I go to Immigration.

Yes, I even research to be sure nothing new or different is required since my last visit.

It was only a 90 day check in, but I went to immigration yesterday.

In and out in less than 10 minutes.

Nothing but smiles from everyone in the office.

It pays to be prepared.

100% agree been on three annual 1 year visa runs could not complain at all . Just make sure you have all the required documents , do everything with a smile and a 100 baht tea money things go as smooth as silk . The first time I went I had actually washed my old passport with the 1 year retirement multiple entry visa in and presented the new passport . The officer at immigration just checked on the computer and CALLED The Brisbane Thai embassy to check what I was saying was correct which took all of 10 minutes then just went through my documents and stamped my new passport in and out in about 30 minutes .

Why do you give them tea money? No need for this at all. Just have the right documents, be polite and have a reasonable appearance and everything will be OK.

You are probably right about the tea money but for the cost of a couple of beers at the local after I will stick to what works for me .

[khrab]

@OP:

Did I miss something? Where did you go? (Which Immi office....)

[canman]

Has anyone tried the approach of deliberately leaving out some documents so they have something wrong to find. You then ask them are you sure this is required, are you sure this is the only thing missing? Once you have a yes answer, you look again in your document bag and hey look I do have those docs. Now since you have been told that yes everything else is in order there would be loss of face to say "I was wrong before there are other docs required"

[writeshack]

Good laugh, the right approach. I spent 5 years jumping through hoops to get PR. It was sure worth it.

[Trentham]

Has anyone tried the approach of deliberately leaving out some documents so they have something wrong to find. You then ask them are you sure this is required, are you sure this is the only thing missing? Once you have a yes answer, you look again in your document bag and hey look I do have those docs. Now since you have been told that yes everything else is in order there would be loss of face to say "I was wrong before there are other docs required"

Really good idea. Reverse psychology just might work well here.

[tartempion]

Ridiculous procedure.

[Bluetongue]

Well good to hear you were processed in the end. I have to travel about 500km round trip to do my visa extenstion and I always get nervous a few days before even if I know I and the wife have everything they need...........just because they will pull something at the last minute to try and trip you up. Nothing is ever set in stone here in the LOS

The rules and regulations of Thailand Immigration are necessary, but way over the top, some want this, some don't, some want that, and some don't, Although I believe that most Farangs get through Immigration, their extensions etc, without any hassle, I believe on some occasions, that IO try to ask for this and that hoping that some money will go under the table. The marriage visa is one I believe could be done with much less hassle, and from what I hear, it is the one where most tea money comes from.

I don't know, this office has in the past tried to get me to use the retirement 800k option saying that they can approve it themselves, no need to bother Bangkok which at the time I took to mean they could ask for tea money with that one as they had the final say, if Bangkok does have to approve the marriage one, it meanes tea money to them still doesn't guarantee approval, but you may be right.

I know Thais like to wait until the last minute to do anything.

Are you already that Thai?

I am always 100% sure I am 100% ready at least one week before I go to Immigration.

Yes, I even research to be sure nothing new or different is required since my last visit.

It was only a 90 day check in, but I went to immigration yesterday.

In and out in less than 10 minutes.

Nothing but smiles from everyone in the office.

It pays to be prepared.

Yes I am pretty Thai these days, but never have any hassles with the 90 day report, in and out less than a minute usually except when I was 3 weeks late one time I had to give her 1k but no receipt.

[Bluetongue]

I take another moral from this story...don't marry a Thai woman and if you do, do live up in the sticks in the middle of nowhere.

Yes married a Thai woman, in the sticks, hadn't seen another farang for a month until Tuesday when a Dutchman said hello to me at Immigration.

Why not use the services of an agent? Expensive, but saves incipient heart attacks.

I didn't know I could use an agent. Up here that would mean a very long day to see an agent, what, in Bangkok?

@OP:

Did I miss something? Where did you go? (Which Immi office....)

Chantaburi Immigration at Pong Nam Ron

[OJAS]

I don't know, this office has in the past tried to get me to use the retirement 800k option saying that they can approve it themselves, no need to bother Bangkok which at the time I took to mean they could ask for tea money with that one as they had the final say, if Bangkok does have to approve the marriage one, it meanes tea money to them still doesn't guarantee approval, but you may be right.

Yes they can, and no need for tea money (thus far) in my experience. Way to go in future IMHO if you have sufficient dosh (+, of course, all the supporting paperwork they may demand to see on you). Since you should then be stamped in for the full year on the spot, no need for a further 95km round trip 4 weeks later for the final stamp

A possible drawback for the rest of us, of course, is that we wouldn't be entertained by a similar post from you this time next year

Edited January 23, 2014 by OJAS