The word police are at it again. I'm quite happy to call it a "retirement visa" and will continue to call it that. "a non-immigrant O visa extension based on retirement" sounds a bit OCD to me.

Just as you are quite happy to call an apple an "orange" I have no doubt - on the grounds that an "apple" also sounds a bit OCD (whatever that's supposed to mean) to you.

It is still an apple, and everyone on this forum knows what you mean if you say retirement visa or marriage visa it is not apples and oranges, why do all the barbs come out when people mention retirement visa instead of all the non imm O stuff, please get over it

yes we on tv.knows what he means when he says A RETIREMENT VISA but if you ask an immigration officer who has got out of the wrong side of his bed you could get an answer like,NO CAN HAVE.so its an EXTENSION.

And continue jumping through hoops to find the continually moving goal posts. Yep that's me, a gutless payer of corruption. I've got the ending I wanted but you would prefer I be a marked man for the rest of my Thai life. Do you honestly think I would have received my extension after the consideration period if I had kicked up a stink?

you done right giving her 1,000bht.just remember next extension have 2,000bht.in an envelope ready.

Exactly,what are you gunna do when they hit you up for 10k,you gunna complain then?

Unless the goal posts move again, without my knowledge, next year I will be prepared with a game plan in place and should NOT need to pay for an additional "under the table" service.

But TiT where anything can happen and even with sites like this not all current information/rule changes reach we mere mortals. I will continue assess each dealing with the Thai authorities and act accordingly. That does not include making my life a misery.

It amazes me that Thailand (rightly) gets a lot of posters on here saying that corruption is the number one problem here, and then at the first inconvenience to themselves just roll over and pay a bribe/extortion/blackmail call it what you will, it's still being complicit in corruption. I have had people telling me about paying bribes to immigration as if there was something clever about it, or some sort of achievement. At least Thais have the excuse they were brought up with it. Nobody needs to pay 'under the table' for services you are legally entitled to from people in jobs many would love to have. If you do you are just helping to perpetuate corruption.

Edited December 30, 201411 yr by jacky54

It amazes me that Thailand (rightly) gets a lot of posters on here saying that corruption is the number one problem here, and then at the first inconvenience to themselves just roll over and pay a bribe/extortion/blackmail call it what you will, it's still being complicit in corruption. I have had people telling me about paying bribes to immigration as if there was something clever about it, or some sort of achievement. At least Thais have the excuse they were brought up with it. Nobody needs to pay 'under the table' for services you are legally entitled to from people in jobs many would love to have. If you do you are just helping to perpetuate corruption.

This constant 'Thai bashing' and 'Immigration bashing' on this site annoys me. Yes, things are not perfect here, but where are they? And I do not condone corruption at all, don't get me wrong and all traffic fines I paid, I got a receipt for. Immigration? Instead of being grateful how easy immigration rules here are, there is constant bitching and complaining (and I assume that Immigration staff read these forums too?).

Before coming to live in Thailand, I lived in a country for over 10 years where visa renewals took between three and nine months, no rules were followed. All depended on the 'mood of the day', the staff were incompetent and rude as hell! And that was ultimately the reason why I left that country, I could not take it any longer.

Yes, I have also been asked whether I needed my change back (Baht 200 or so), me so happy that I got my visa renewed within a week, I could not have cared less. Immigration staff have always been pleasant to me, and I appreciate that. When I see the kinds of people they sometimes have to deal with...

The word police are at it again. I'm quite happy to call it a "retirement visa" and will continue to call it that. "a non-immigrant O visa extension based on retirement" sounds a bit OCD to me.

Just as you are quite happy to call an apple an "orange" I have no doubt - on the grounds that an "apple" also sounds a bit OCD (whatever that's supposed to mean) to you.

It is still an apple, and everyone on this forum knows what you mean if you say retirement visa or marriage visa it is not apples and oranges, why do all the barbs come out when people mention retirement visa instead of all the non imm O stuff, please get over it

Actually no, not everyone here on ThaiVisa (not even the experts) knows what a poster means when he says he has a retirement visa, unless it's clear from the context of the post. Multiple entry Non-Immigrant O visas, Non-immigrant OA visa and retirement extensions are all frequently referred to here on the forum as a "retirement visa", and they all have very different characteristics. The same is the case for "marriage visas" used interchangeably for both multiple entry Non-Imjmigrant O visas and extensions based on marriage.

Almost daily there are new topics here where the first several posts are asking for more details from the OP to determine exactly what it is he has, in order to give correct advice.

Sophon

Edited December 30, 201411 yr by Sophon

Some immigration officials must love a few of the mugs on here!

Seems to me like there are plenty of big noters on here berating the OP for paying tea money. Wonder how many of them have been confronted with such a situation and what they would really do.

When you front up at the office and they ask for more papers or say it has to go to Bangkok how do you know its bullshit or not? even if you know, how many of you really have the guts to speak up and face problems with your visa for the rest of your time in Thailand. I'm thinking not many.

How many havent paid tea money to the traffic cops I'm venturing not many.

Its all well and good being high and mighty but what happens when its your turn.

I have been asked (once) for a 500b service fee from immigration and refused telling the lady I did not pay tea money as it was corruption, she said wait till next time.

When I got home I found a small red sticker in an unused page of my passport which I discarded.

That's it

I have been back since with no problems.

Have never and will never support corruption.

The word police are at it again. I'm quite happy to call it a "retirement visa" and will continue to call it that. "a non-immigrant O visa extension based on retirement" sounds a bit OCD to me.

Just as you are quite happy to call an apple an "orange" I have no doubt - on the grounds that an "apple" also sounds a bit OCD (whatever that's supposed to mean) to you.

It is still an apple, and everyone on this forum knows what you mean if you say retirement visa or marriage visa it is not apples and oranges, why do all the barbs come out when people mention retirement visa instead of all the non imm O stuff, please get over it

Actually no, not everyone here on ThaiVisa (not even the experts) knows what a poster means when he says he has a retirement visa, unless it's clear from the context of the post. Multiple entry Non-Immigrant O visas, Non-immigrant OA visa and retirement extensions are all frequently referred to here on the forum as a "retirement visa", and they all have very different characteristics. The same is the case for "marriage visas" used interchangeably for both multiple entry Non-Imjmigrant O visas and extensions based on marriage.

Almost daily there are new topics here where the first several posts are asking for more details from the OP to determine exactly what it is he has, in order to give correct advice.

Sophon

Lucky for this forum we have people like you to make everything crystal clear for anyone who is confused. As for the other 99%, "retirement visa" is perfectly clear and will do just fine as an informal description.

Lucky for this forum we have people like you to make everything crystal clear for anyone who is confused. As for the other 99%, "retirement visa" is perfectly clear and will do just fine as an informal description.

One of the many specialists in generating unnecessary confusion and ambiguity on this forum has spoken again, folks!

Edited December 31, 201411 yr by OJAS

To slightly hijack this topic, I remember how many on retirement visas made really nasty remarks when the crackdown on the visa runs were happening. As I said, many times, to these people let's hope your visa requirements don't change so they would have problems. And so here it is, as reported people are getting problems at immigration. I'm on a retirement extension as well. And will deal with anything when it's time for my extension. But here you go, never say never. Btw I'm not talking about this OP.

Sent from my S4 LTE

Edited December 31, 201411 yr by boike

Why people pay these bribes beats me. I would have made a scene, demanded to speak to the senior officer and if I didn't get satisfaction I would have been straight onto the Immigration helpline in Bangkok. This is a crime, report it. To pay is moral cowardice.

Edited December 31, 201411 yr by Seekingasylum

Why people pay these bribes beats me. I would have made a scene, demanded to speak to the senior officer and if I didn't get satisfaction I would have been straight onto the Immigration helpline in Bangkok. This is a crime, report it. To pay is moral cowardice.

This was NOT a bride as it was not offered, more a fee for "additional services", as stated earlier in this thread. AND it was the senior officer who counter signed the desk clerk's/officer's work - as is the normal procedure during the extension process.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO way I am going to higher authority on this matter, if doing their job properly they should be following this thread.

Edited December 31, 201411 yr by bdenner

Lucky for this forum we have people like you to make everything crystal clear for anyone who is confused. As for the other 99%, "retirement visa" is perfectly clear and will do just fine as an informal description.

One of the many specialists in generating unnecessary confusion and ambiguity on this forum has spoken again, folks!

What did you find confusing and/or ambiguous?

Edited December 31, 201411 yr by tropo

It is still an apple, and everyone on this forum knows what you mean if you say retirement visa or marriage visa it is not apples and oranges, why do all the barbs come out when people mention retirement visa instead of all the non imm O stuff, please get over it

Actually no, not everyone here on ThaiVisa (not even the experts) knows what a poster means when he says he has a retirement visa, unless it's clear from the context of the post. Multiple entry Non-Immigrant O visas, Non-immigrant OA visa and retirement extensions are all frequently referred to here on the forum as a "retirement visa", and they all have very different characteristics. The same is the case for "marriage visas" used interchangeably for both multiple entry Non-Imjmigrant O visas and extensions based on marriage.

Almost daily there are new topics here where the first several posts are asking for more details from the OP to determine exactly what it is he has, in order to give correct advice.

Sophon

Lucky for this forum we have people like you to make everything crystal clear for anyone who is confused. As for the other 99%, "retirement visa" is perfectly clear and will do just fine as an informal description.

No it is not perfectly clear when the same "informal description" is used for more than one thing. Nobody is suggesting you write "a non-immigrant O visa extension based on retirement", but are the extra 5 letters in "retirement extension" really that much of a burden for you? It seems you take some kind of absurd pleasure in knowingly using the incorrect term despite knowing better.

Sophon

Edited January 1, 201511 yr by Sophon

Lucky for this forum we have people like you to make everything crystal clear for anyone who is confused. As for the other 99%, "retirement visa" is perfectly clear and will do just fine as an informal description.

No it is not perfectly clear when the same "informal description" is used for more than one thing. Nobody is suggesting you write "a non-immigrant O visa extension based on retirement", but are the extra 5 letters in "retirement extension" really that much of a burden for you? It seems you take some kind of absurd pleasure in knowingly using the incorrect term despite knowing better.

Sophon

I'm not referring to extensions. I'm referring to my non-Immigrant O visa which I informally call a "retirement visa". Of course I get extensions on my "retirement visa" every year (hopefully).

As I said, most people know exactly what it is. This thread is not discussing the technicalities of getting a retirement extension so informal terminology should be adequate. We have you to help the 1% who are still confused.

Why people pay these bribes beats me. I would have made a scene, demanded to speak to the senior officer and if I didn't get satisfaction I would have been straight onto the Immigration helpline in Bangkok. This is a crime, report it. To pay is moral cowardice.

This was NOT a bride as it was not offered, more a fee for "additional services", as stated earlier in this thread. AND it was the senior officer who counter signed the desk clerk's/officer's work - as is the normal procedure during the extension process.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO way I am going to higher authority on this matter, if doing their job properly they should be following this thread.

Who are you trying to kid? of course it was a bribe to get the extension there and then without causing you a wait, and you paid it, stop deluding yourself it was anything else. Just because you did not offer first does not make it any less corrupt.

I would not report it now either as you could be done for paying an asked for bribe, and it's not part of immigrations job to read this site, any more than it is to extort payments for free services.

Edited January 1, 201511 yr by jacky54

Seems to me like there are plenty of big noters on here berating the OP for paying tea money. Wonder how many of them have been confronted with such a situation and what they would really do.

When you front up at the office and they ask for more papers or say it has to go to Bangkok how do you know its bullshit or not? even if you know, how many of you really have the guts to speak up and face problems with your visa for the rest of your time in Thailand. I'm thinking not many.

How many havent paid tea money to the traffic cops I'm venturing not many.

Its all well and good being high and mighty but what happens when its your turn.

I have been asked (once) for a 500b service fee from immigration and refused telling the lady I did not pay tea money as it was corruption, she said wait till next time.

When I got home I found a small red sticker in an unused page of my passport which I discarded.

a stick.JPG

That's it

I have been back since with no problems.

Have never and will never support corruption.

It's no secret that corruption is endemic in Thailand. You're supporting it the moment you arrive.

Why people pay these bribes beats me. I would have made a scene, demanded to speak to the senior officer and if I didn't get satisfaction I would have been straight onto the Immigration helpline in Bangkok. This is a crime, report it. To pay is moral cowardice.

This was NOT a bride as it was not offered, more a fee for "additional services", as stated earlier in this thread. AND it was the senior officer who counter signed the desk clerk's/officer's work - as is the normal procedure during the extension process.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO way I am going to higher authority on this matter, if doing their job properly they should be following this thread.

Who are you trying to kid? of course it was a bribe to get the extension there and then without causing you a wait, and you paid it, stop deluding yourself it was anything else. Just because you did not offer first does not make it any less corrupt.

I would not report it now either as you could be done for paying an asked for bribe, and it's not part of immigrations job to read this site, any more than it is to extort payments for free services.

"asked for bribe"? LOL Twist it anyway you like, but it wasn't a bribe.

A possible way to prevent these (additional) payments could be to ask for an official receipt, which is their legal obligation to provide. How would they get out of that? It could be a gentle way out of the predicament.

I've never been asked for "additional fees", but that's what I would do.

"asked for bribe"? LOL Twist it anyway you like, but it wasn't a bribe.

A possible way to prevent these (additional) payments could be to ask for an official receipt, which is their legal obligation to provide. How would they get out of that? It could be a gentle way out of the predicament.

I've never been asked for "additional fees", but that's what I would do.

Your flogging a dead horse, these self righteous people will continue to beat their drums until they find themselves in a difficult situation. Oh, to be a fly on the wall then!

"asked for bribe"? LOL Twist it anyway you like, but it wasn't a bribe.

A possible way to prevent these (additional) payments could be to ask for an official receipt, which is their legal obligation to provide. How would they get out of that? It could be a gentle way out of the predicament.

I've never been asked for "additional fees", but that's what I would do.

Your flogging a dead horse, these self righteous people will continue to beat their drums until they find themselves in a difficult situation. Oh, to be a fly on the wall then!

I think by now, everybody on this forum know what a 'retirement visa' is (or is not), what a 'non-immigrant O visa' is (or is not) and whether an 'additional payment' is just that or only 'tea money'. Seems it is the holidays, everybody bored? And if some people are that upset about 'tea money' or whatever, maybe Australia, New Zealand or Canada look better by the day???

Edited January 2, 201511 yr by ubonjoe
moved reply from quoted text

By the way, being asked money to be given something that is your right to have is straight extortion, not corruption.

In my country, that has a long history of corruption, we also have a special legal term to describe it. It is derived from the Latin for "shaking".

You have no right to an extension of stay, it is at the discretion of Immigration.