Certificate of Residence.......how much?

[Pattaya46]

300baht at jontien for one, 500 baht for two

300 baht is to get it the same day,

200 baht you will get it the next day

0 baht you get it the next week...?

[KittenKong]

300baht at jontien for one, 500 baht for two

300 baht is to get it the same day,

200 baht you will get it the next day

0 baht you get it the next week...?

As far as I know this is still the case at Jomtien.

[KittenKong]

It is and unofficial fee not a bribe or any other form of corruption. The money does not go into anybodies pocket.

Believe that if you will.

Where do you think the money does go?

Free Wi-Fi, LED TV, free drinking water, tidy garden etc perhaps.

And that cant be provided from all the other money that they do raise officially?

[KittenKong]

This topic has been discussed dozens of times.

It is and unofficial fee not a bribe or any other form of corruption. The money does not go into anybodies pocket.

How can paying a fee and not getting a receipt be anything other than a bribe? This is not a rhetorical question. I really would like to know, because, as far as I know (please correct me if I'm wrong,) paying a bribe is illegal in Thailand.

For one thing it does not fit under the standard definition of a bribe.

"dishonestly persuade (someone) to act in one's favour by a gift of money or other inducement.[/size]

"they attempted to bribe opponents into losing""

You are paying for service so it is not a bribe.

It seems to me that if you pay they do indeed act in your favour by providing the certificate on the same day rather than making you wait for a week or so. So this would indeed appear to be a bribe by your definition.

The absence of both a properly listed price and a proper government receipt certainly makes it look like a bribe to me.

[Pattaya46]

Does anyone know what happened about this "fee" in Phuket ?

I remember falangs complaining about these 500 baht,

then Phuket Governor demands explanation of immigration extortion complaint

and also Phuket expats, tourists called upon to report corrupt officials

but then...?

[sfokevin]

Does anyone know what happened about this "fee" in Phuket ?

I remember falangs complaining about these 500 baht,

then Phuket Governor demands explanation of immigration extortion complaint

and also Phuket expats, tourists called upon to report corrupt officials

but then...?

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-Immigration-denies-allegations-foreigners-pay-services/37149

[sfokevin]

I agree that it's not a bribe... More like extortion...

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/extortion

That being said I would happily pay a 500 baht "fee" for a same day que spot that can be collected after 8am at the Chiang Mai Immigration...

Edited December 20, 2014 by sfokevin

[nrasmussen]

This topic has been discussed dozens of times.

It is and unofficial fee not a bribe or any other form of corruption. The money does not go into anybodies pocket.

How can paying a fee and not getting a receipt be anything other than a bribe? This is not a rhetorical question. I really would like to know, because, as far as I know (please correct me if I'm wrong,) paying a bribe is illegal in Thailand.

For one thing it does not fit under the standard definition of a bribe.

"dishonestly persuade (someone) to act in one's favour by a gift of money or other inducement.

"they attempted to bribe opponents into losing""

You are paying for service so it is not a bribe.

I see. Thank you.

So I guess this is more like extortion, in which case I assume that it isn't illegal to be paying these kinds of fees. Nothing to worry about then.

[flinty]

ya all live in Thailand and expect every thing for free. go back to your home country and pay for some off the services there and see how much it is.

[mgjackson69]

500 THB for my last one in Korat Immigration.

I try to be pragmatic about such things. I consider what my time and aggravation are worth, and what a similar service would cost in my home country.

I am about making my life a bit easier, and if paying a small unofficial fee makes that happen, I am fine with it.

For the same reason, I will gladly give Officer Somchai 200 THB on the highway ("buy beer for my friend"), get my license back, and go on my way. As opposed to a 400 THB fine, my license is kept, and I have to go to the police station and wait around until my license shows up.

With the caveat that I was actually doing something wrong (speeding)...which in most of these situations I was.

[Pattaya46]

ya all live in Thailand and expect every thing for free.

go back to your home country and pay for some off the services there and see how much it is.

We don't expect them free

but would like them to add this Certificate on the list of prices of Immigration services.

The problem for me is not the amount paid,

but the fact they don't give us a receipt for this "fee".

Edited December 20, 2014 by Pattaya46

[KittenKong]

We don't expect them free

but would like them to add this Certificate on the list of prices of Immigration services.

The problem for me is not the amount paid,

but the fact they don't give us a receipt for this "fee".

Yes. Some offices charge 500B, some charge 200B, some do it for free, some dont do it at all and few if any will give a receipt. This is at best a mess and is surely some sort of scam (hardly worth arguing whether it is technically a bribe or extortion).

Personally I think that as the cost of 90-day reporting is included as part of the payment you make for a visa extension, issuing these letters should be included also. They could even make the 90-day reporting do the job of a residence certificate, just by adding your address to the reminder form that is left in the passport.

[laislica]

Got mine in Chiang Mai this year, the notice on the office that issues them said it's free but it took two weeks to get.

[Duvidl]

Certificates of Residence should not be required for anyone who has a current 90-day report receipt in their passport. It's a waste of resources at immigration that could be devoted to more important functions like the processing of visas and extensions. The same applies to getting a driver's license. A utility bill or recent cable or internet bill should be sufficient to show where you live, just like in most countries.

[uptheos]

Certificates of Residence should not be required for anyone who has a current 90-day report receipt in their passport. It's a waste of resources at immigration that could be devoted to more important functions like the processing of visas and extensions. The same applies to getting a driver's license. A utility bill or recent cable or internet bill should be sufficient to show where you live, just like in most countries.

It's obviously cost effective at Chiang Mai and no wasted resources, as they've set up their special Certificate of Residence only office, which is nowhere near the regular immigration office.

[Duvidl]

They could move the processing of visa extensions to the new office and utilize the officers who issue the Residence Certificates to process the extensions. This would ease the burden at the main Chiang Mai Immigration and perhaps even eliminate the need for 5am show-ups.

[uptheos]

They could move the processing of visa extensions to the new office and utilize the officers who issue the Residence Certificates to process the extensions. This would ease the burden at the main Chiang Mai Immigration and perhaps even eliminate the need for 5am show-ups.

Did you read the previous post?

"they've set up their special Certificate of Residence only office, which is nowhere near the regular immigration office".

Edited December 21, 2014 by uptheos

[Duvidl]

The point is: eliminating the Residence Certificate, which is a waste of immigration resources imho, would free-up officials for more important, and in Chiang Mai, critically needed functions.

[uptheos]

The point is: eliminating the Residence Certificate, which is a waste of immigration resources imho, would free-up officials for more important, and in Chiang Mai, critically needed functions.

Why would they eliminate issuing Residence Certificates, whilst no receipts are provided?

Think about it.

What critically needed functions are required at CM immigration?

They give out a quota of numbers for the day and that's what they do.

If you don't get your 'whatever' that day, then that's your problem not theirs.

I can assure you they don't go home worrying about you.

[SpokaneAl]

As long as we are wishing, why not allow the 90 day reporting to be accomplished via the Internet? IMO that does not seem like much of a stretch beyond the mail in option.

[uptheos]

As long as we are wishing, why not allow the 90 day reporting to be accomplished via the Internet? IMO that does not seem like much of a stretch beyond the mail in option.

And after the first report disappears into cyberspace, it will be business as usual.

You could be living in another country and reporting by email.

[Duvidl]

I think it is clear that the Chiang Mai Immigration Office is over-taxed. People are not required to show-up in other Thailand offices at 5am to get their visas processed. And if people don't get their "whatever that day" - no, it is not their problem. It's the problem of an over-burdened immigration office. I really appreciate the efforts and politeness of the officials of the Chiang Mai office, but I'm sure if you asked any one of them if they needed more resources they would answer in the affirmative.

Edited December 21, 2014 by Duvidl

[MikeOwen]

£300 Baht Jontiem

[sfokevin]

What happened to the 90 Day reporting at 7-11 that was mooted?

[ubonjoe]

What happened to the 90 Day reporting at 7-11 that was mooted?

That was just a rumor.

[Chao Lao Beach]

There is no official fee for it. The unofficial fee varies from 200 to 500 baht dependent upon the office doing it.

And some offices are FREE

[padsterj]

anyone got the address for the imagration I need to go to in bangkok to get letter of residence ?

[koolbreez]

Certificates of Residence should not be required for anyone who has a current 90-day report receipt in their passport. It's a waste of resources at immigration that could be devoted to more important functions like the processing of visas and extensions. The same applies to getting a driver's license. A utility bill or recent cable or internet bill should be sufficient to show where you live, just like in most countries.

That is exactly what the main drivers license office in Bangkok, across from ChatuChak market accepted from me, both this year when I renewed, and the year before when I first got my Thai drivers licenses, my True, and TOT bills, that clearly have my address on them, and that the bills get delivered to. They never once asked for a certificate of residence when I showed them those bills, on both occasions.

[ubonjoe]

anyone got the address for the imagration I need to go to in bangkok to get letter of residence ?

That would be Chaeng Wattana immigration. Map and info: http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/location1.html

But you will not get certificate of residence there unless you are making 90 day reports to them.

[Ulic]

I paid 300 in Jomtien 18 months ago. I thought it was an official fee. In and out in 20 minutes.