Another Horrible day at Khon Kaen Immigration.

[Costas2008]

After reading the post about Korat Immigration office,

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/772329-very-disappointing-90-day-immigration-visit/

I would like to share with you what I suffered in Khon Kaen this morning.

Gone there to renew my 90 day extension on retirement visa.

From the time I parked, outside the Immigration office, till I came back to the car, took me exactly 11 minutes and 35 seconds.

That includes the photocopying of my passport, outside the office, by a cute girl that asked me to put whatever I liked in a box next to the photocopying machine.

Of course me, not being a cheap Charlie, put a whole 20Baht note.

Inside the office, I was greeted with a wai from one of the officers, that processed my last 2 extensions, and I was even asked how is my wife, as she wasn't there with me today.

Going out, I noticed that the woman officer had changed her hairstyle, so I obliged with a "sway" and in return I got a broad smile from her.

That's what some of us have to go through with these Immigration offices.

[Soutpeel]

Costa's, the reason your in and out of immigration so quick is that when you turn up in a dress with pom poms on your shoes, long white socks on, a mammal under your arm, they want you our the place as quick as possible so you don't scare the other punters

[Seligne2]

You are ruining the reputation of TV with your unfailingly upbeat, helpful, and amusing posts here!

[glegolo]

Costas, exactly my experience as well since years back when they opened this office. Never have any problems just smiles....

One wonders some time if bad treatment comes from bad behaviour from the falang or from the officer....

Glegolo

[transam]

Yeh, but your incredibly hansum, you told us soooooooo...............

[pmarlin]

Never mind, deleted

[Costas2008]

Yeh, but your incredibly hansum, you told us soooooooo...............

Never boasted about how hansum I am......but the mirror cracked this morning as I was admiring myself..........

[chudless]

KK Immigration are great....always helpful and not on the lookout for any cash. They even gave me a 60 day visa when I was sick in hospital - the wife went and told them, no questions asked and stamp.given immediately.

[terak]

KK Immigration are great....always helpful and not on the lookout for any cash. They even gave me a 60 day visa when I was sick in hospital - the wife went and told them, no questions asked and stamp.given immediately.

I disagree - I was transferring from a 30 day stamp to O visa (based on retirement income) and the lady who sits furthest away from door wanted 5,000 Baht extra to do all in same day. So price was 2,000 (O visa 90 days) + (1,900 extension) & 5,000 for her !!!

I refused and went back after 90 days and got the extension for 1,900 Baht as per normal

[chudless]

Unlucky for you...I speak from multiple personal experiences there.

[technologybytes]

It sounds like Khon Kaen immigration is very easy.

It can be a different story however for those of us that do not live in Khon Kaen, experiences vary so much because the quality of service and even the requirements for an extension of stay do seem to vary between offices.

[terak]

Unlucky for you...I speak from multiple personal experiences there.

I have been in for few other reasons before I needed extension. All went smoothly, but i had read about this officer & I ended up at her desk. Maybe unlucky, maybe normal for her. I do hear that, gratuities are less frequently asked for nowadays due to army being more involved.

Lets see what happens next time !!!

[terryp]

happy for you, sadly many of us have to put up with very aggressive, rude and unpleasant IO

Dealing with these officials over the past 6 months (retirement extension) has seriously changed my attitude towards Thailand and that’s after quite a few decades here on Non o and Non B visas

[grumbleweed]

Ever since it opened I have had similar experiences with Phitsanulok immigration, usually strtaight in and out. However my last 90 day report was 11 days late, my stupid fault entirely. 2,000 baht - no receipt and no passport stamp (if indeed you get your passport stamped for late reporting)

G

[Rickster]

Seems a lot of positive posts regarding KK lately, fortunately my wife is from there and although currently living in UK we plan to spend a good amount of our holiday entitlement there and who knows maybe buy a holiday home for the future. Must admit when we got married there couldn't believe the friendliness from locals, mind you having being used to Phuket for 10yrs previous, wasn't difficult!!! lol

[Sadana]

I was at KK immigration on Monday to extend eith 60 days and eventhought it was quite busy All went smoothly.

I was helped by the lady at desk 4 (far out from the door) without problems or extra payments. I find all of the Immigration staff there very polite and clear in processing.

Always a joy to go there (when needed) especially now they have made things more pleasant by adding more seats and a coffee corner.

[RioMist]

Yeh, but your incredibly hansum, you told us soooooooo...............

Never boasted about how hansum I am......but the mirror cracked this morning as I was admiring myself..........

I bet your Mom told you that you were hansom too!

[JimGant]

Gone there to renew my 90 day extension on retirement visa.

What's a 90-day extension based on retirement?

[Costas2008]

Yeh, but your incredibly hansum, you told us soooooooo...............

Never boasted about how hansum I am......but the mirror cracked this morning as I was admiring myself..........

I bet your Mom told you that you were hansom too!

How do you know?

Yes, she always did...........but now my wife never let me forget it..........

[kinmaew]

I get confused (and bored) when things work but nice story. What a royal pain in the arse though having to renew every 90 days like you are a crim.

[godden]

and the fairy godmother said

[thailiketoo]

Gone there to renew my 90 day extension on retirement visa.

What's a 90-day extension based on retirement?

I'm betting he means address report and but didn't write that to confuse us.

[MobileContent]

My experience in the past 24 years with immigration has always been good. Never had a problem specially in the last 3 years in Isaan.

I found them humble, funny and often in for a joke.

Those pals and gals just do their job and if anyone speaks any Isaan this is actually a bonus when dealing with immigration in Isaan but the same counts for the army, border patrol, police that are in Isaan.

Well done Costa. You must be very handsum men with a touch to be able to communicate and I am sure this helps.

[tezzainthailand]

I'm moving to Khon Kaen after my hour of anguish at Hua Hin a fortnight ago. The rudest of officers snapping at me to get a photocopy of my passport, to do this, do that, and very rude with an older English gentleman while I was waiting. Having a new passport meant paying an extra 500 bt transfer fee on top of my 1900 bt Ed visa fee, but only receiving a receipt for 1900 bt and told I wouldn't get one for the transfer fee. Is this normal behaviour at Hua Hin Immigration because I'm not looking forward to my next visit there at the end of January.

[lucifer666]

11 mins ? wow, that's so slow. Whenever I go to Hua Hin Immigration, i'm in and out in 5 mins.

[Tuskfish]

Thanks for sharing Costa

My recent trip to Chiang Khan was fairly similar, except they also shared their lunch with me, offered wonderful travel advice about Chiang Mai and Laos, discussed fair house/land pricing and expressed their disappointment about how some farangs get treated by some Thai people

[Alan653]

Costas.....i envy you.

I live in Korat, and the immigration office where i have to report to,

is one of the most unfriendly, and non helping office's possibly in the whole country.

I know....i have choice's to move else where, but my gf and her family live here.

Oh the thing's we do for the love of a thai girl!

Any way, im happy you had such a good experience there.

All hail Costas....

Cheer's my friend.

P.S. I have this terrible itch in my croch, but i just cant seem to scratch it.....lol.

[Nuddy]

If one has been doing the same thing for years like for instance an extension based on retirement and one does not bring the correct paperwork or the correct photocopies one can expect the IO to be a bit snappy...!

I too use the KK immigration office and generally have had no issues.

I find the IO most courteous mostly.

[elliottm]

Had problems each time I visited my new Immigration office at Nakhon Sawan this year, do 90 days by post now, dreading upcoming 1 year extension.

[Suradit69]

Gone there to renew my 90 day extension on retirement visa.

Say what?

You mean do the 90-day report? (Retirement) visas aren't renewed and extensions of stay based on retirement are renewed for a year at a go.

Nice things went so smoothly. I would guess for 99% of people things go smoothly, but the 1% who tend to create their own problems are just more accustomed to blaming their frequent woes on everyone but themselves.