Lat Phrao today (Spoiler: it was a nightmare)

[Cuchulainn]

I think the service at Lat Prao office is better than before. I was in and out in about 2 hours, but I went at 10:30. Previously I could expect to spend 4-6 hours. The government building was nicer but very inconvenient and too many people were doing the job one person could do. Just have all your papers ready.

That's what it boils down to. Have everything ready there & then!

[louse1953]

So the nightmare was all caused by you being under prepared.You should move out to the sticks,15 minutes max,if you are prepared.Enjoy your following year and bring a cushion next time.

[louse1953]

I walked in there to get my Retirement Visa. In stood there about five minutes and headed to Wirless Road and ALS Visa Service, paid them 10,000.00 THB and the returned my passport in three days. I think they went to Chon Buri office.

Expensive, but I have a low tolerance for the stupdity of some of the people running Thailand. First thing is it is all about money for vise and multiple re-entry. Whay not bundle and allow a five year visa extension for the same money and one fifth the hassle !!

Jerry, 10 year veteran of what they call a system, only my beautiful Thai wife keeps me here and no ice or snow like where I lived in USA. The other thing is my Stepson has two more years for an Electrical Engineering Degree. Smart boy but, refuses to learn to speak English.

Why does he have to speak English,national language is Thai.

[belg]

anyone got rejected his/her recto verso copies of their passport and had to go do them again on single paper each of them ?

what is the bloody problem ? a copy is a copy, it had to be each page on a seperate paper ... off course, 15 people in front of me, and only one copy machine handled by a very busy lady

the waiting and number drawing, that was outside, in the bloody heat + a torrential rain just came over

but that was in samut prakan office, for the info

Edited May 9, 2014 by belg

[BradinAsia]

That's why every time I go, I literally take the kitchen sink (and a copy of it) with me!! That's including an ATM receipt as well as a bank letter dated that day.

Ever seen a guy in a queue with a wheelbarrow? That's me!!

Amazingly, I've never had an ounce of stress nor ever stood in line at immigration. I don't even go to immigration.

When I first arrived, I went to Assist Thai Visa Service in Chiang Mai, gave them my passport and my proof of income

(which I composed myself at U.S. Consulate), paid the fee, and about a week later I went back to Assist Thai Visa and

picked up my passport with my retirement visa. Also, I don't do any 90 days reports, they do it, 1,000 baht per year.

For me, the whole thing is easier than falling off a chair -- couldn't believe how simple, quick and painless, especially

after several years reading all the moaning and groaning on TV.

If I couldn't afford the fee charged by Assist Thai visa Service, I would just stay in farangland.

[tookwan cottage]

That's why every time I go, I literally take the kitchen sink (and a copy of it) with me!! That's including an ATM receipt as well as a bank letter dated that day.

Ever seen a guy in a queue with a wheelbarrow? That's me!!

Amazingly, I've never had an ounce of stress nor ever stood in line at immigration. I don't even go to immigration.

When I first arrived, I went to Assist Thai Visa Service in Chiang Mai, gave them my passport and my proof of income

(which I composed myself at U.S. Consulate), paid the fee, and about a week later I went back to Assist Thai Visa and

picked up my passport with my retirement visa. Also, I don't do any 90 days reports, they do it, 1,000 baht per year.

For me, the whole thing is easier than falling off a chair -- couldn't believe how simple, quick and painless, especially

after several years reading all the moaning and groaning on TV.

If I couldn't afford the fee charged by Assist Thai visa Service, I would just stay in farangland.

Wow, 1K baht per year is NOTHING. This is great info for those it applies to!

Now I understand the ordeal: You were doing a 90-day report, or something else related to a retirement visa? When I went to extend a 60-day tourist visa, it was very straightforward and I think I spent 40 mins there all up.

[AyG]

Amazingly, I've never had an ounce of stress nor ever stood in line at immigration. I don't even go to immigration.

When I first arrived, I went to Assist Thai Visa Service in Chiang Mai, gave them my passport and my proof of income

(which I composed myself at U.S. Consulate), paid the fee, and about a week later I went back to Assist Thai Visa and

picked up my passport with my retirement visa. Also, I don't do any 90 days reports, they do it, 1,000 baht per year.

For me, the whole thing is easier than falling off a chair -- couldn't believe how simple, quick and painless, especially

after several years reading all the moaning and groaning on TV.

If I couldn't afford the fee charged by Assist Thai visa Service, I would just stay in farangland.

The 90 day reporting is fine, but you're breaking the law with the extension of stay. The TM7 form explicitly states "APPLICATION MUST BE MADE IN PERSON".

It surprises me that 1,000 Baht provides enough of a backhander for the immigration official to break the rules. Perhaps the stamp in the passport is fake?

[Will2011]

Amazingly, I've never had an ounce of stress nor ever stood in line at immigration. I don't even go to immigration.

When I first arrived, I went to Assist Thai Visa Service in Chiang Mai, gave them my passport and my proof of income

(which I composed myself at U.S. Consulate), paid the fee, and about a week later I went back to Assist Thai Visa and

picked up my passport with my retirement visa. Also, I don't do any 90 days reports, they do it, 1,000 baht per year.

For me, the whole thing is easier than falling off a chair -- couldn't believe how simple, quick and painless, especially

after several years reading all the moaning and groaning on TV.

If I couldn't afford the fee charged by Assist Thai visa Service, I would just stay in farangland.

The 90 day reporting is fine, but you're breaking the law with the extension of stay. The TM7 form explicitly states "APPLICATION MUST BE MADE IN PERSON".

It surprises me that 1,000 Baht provides enough of a backhander for the immigration official to break the rules. Perhaps the stamp in the passport is fake?

Lol, the OP telling others they are breaking the law, but the one who doesn't respect the rules is you by not having an up-to-date passbook! No offense, as it can happen to anybody, but this is quite laughable.

[AyG]

Lol, the OP telling others they are breaking the law, but the one who doesn't respect the rules is you by not having an up-to-date passbook! No offense, as it can happen to anybody, but this is quite laughable.

For the last 10 years I have extended my stay using a passbook which has been updated a day or two before and a corresponding bank letter. That is across three different immigration offices, including Chaeng Wattana. Never had a problem. Never been asked to make a small withdrawal and to update the passbook.

As for "the rules", could you perhaps point out where they are written down? Thai or English. Don't mind either. I'd particularly like to see the rule that says you have to make a withdrawal from your account, get a bank letter and come to immigration all on the same day.

Apart from the limited information on the Immigration Department website, all we have to rely upon are other people's experiences, which are sometimes wildly inconsistent. It's a deeply unsatisfactory situation, and reflects the very poor way that Immigration is managed.

[johninbkk71]

You can get in before 10.30 if you use the lifts in the carpark. But you still have to wait for immigration to open at 10.30.

[Mario2008]

Lol, the OP telling others they are breaking the law, but the one who doesn't respect the rules is you by not having an up-to-date passbook! No offense, as it can happen to anybody, but this is quite laughable.

For the last 10 years I have extended my stay using a passbook which has been updated a day or two before and a corresponding bank letter. That is across three different immigration offices, including Chaeng Wattana. Never had a problem. Never been asked to make a small withdrawal and to update the passbook.

As for "the rules", could you perhaps point out where they are written down? Thai or English. Don't mind either. I'd particularly like to see the rule that says you have to make a withdrawal from your account, get a bank letter and come to immigration all on the same day.

Apart from the limited information on the Immigration Department website, all we have to rely upon are other people's experiences, which are sometimes wildly inconsistent. It's a deeply unsatisfactory situation, and reflects the very poor way that Immigration is managed.

There is no such specific rule, but the rules do say that you need to have the money and also say that immigration can ask for additional information as they see appropriate. That is the leeway immigration has in demanding documents and why it differs per office the documents you must show. The rules for an extension do (or should not) be different at any immirgaiton office, the requested proof (documents) can differ within reason.

[AyG]

Lol, the OP telling others they are breaking the law, but the one who doesn't respect the rules is you by not having an up-to-date passbook! No offense, as it can happen to anybody, but this is quite laughable.

For the last 10 years I have extended my stay using a passbook which has been updated a day or two before and a corresponding bank letter. That is across three different immigration offices, including Chaeng Wattana. Never had a problem. Never been asked to make a small withdrawal and to update the passbook.

As for "the rules", could you perhaps point out where they are written down? Thai or English. Don't mind either. I'd particularly like to see the rule that says you have to make a withdrawal from your account, get a bank letter and come to immigration all on the same day.

Apart from the limited information on the Immigration Department website, all we have to rely upon are other people's experiences, which are sometimes wildly inconsistent. It's a deeply unsatisfactory situation, and reflects the very poor way that Immigration is managed.

There is no such specific rule, but the rules do say that you need to have the money and also say that immigration can ask for additional information as they see appropriate. That is the leeway immigration has in demanding documents and why it differs per office the documents you must show. The rules for an extension do (or should not) be different at any immirgaiton office, the requested proof (documents) can differ within reason.

So, there's no rule that you have to get the bank letter and update the passbook on the same day.

Could someone now please explain the logic of asking for a small withdrawal and an updated passbook on the day? Do they really worry that I might have withdrawn all the money since yesterday? And if so, how is that different from withdrawing all my money the moment I get my extension of stay? It seems to me utterly pointless.

I don't mind doing utterly pointless to satisfy an immigration official if it's reasonable, and going to the basement in Chaeng Wattana to withdraw money would be fine, but to be expected to traipse across town and back to go to the nearest bank branch is, in my opinion, totally unreasonable.

[ubonjoe]

I can recall many posts on this forum going back a significant amount of time that Bangkok immigration and many other offices wanting a bank book update on the date you apply. In fact I can recall CW wanting the letter done the same day because you could get it done downstairs.

Every office can set their own policy about the letter and bank book updates.

They do want the update to be sure you did not pull the money out as soon as your got the letter and an update of the bank book.

[AyG]

They do want the update to be sure you did not pull the money out as soon as your got the letter and an update of the bank book.

But what's the point of that when you can pull the money out the moment you've got your extension of stay? It's a difference of 24 hours.