Retirement extension

[Gary 4,119]

Unfortunately the immigration office you will be forced to use will simply be the luck of the draw. You can have a friendly officer or you can get an asshole. When I first used the Loei immigration office, I had the income letter from the US Embassy. That officer didn't like those letters. He had me make another trip to Bangkok to have that document "legalized".I had to take the document to Laksi in Bangkok. I had never heard of anyone having to do that. That old asshole then told me straight out that some people lie. He told me that if I had 800,000 in a Thai bank account, things would go a lot smoother. I put the 800,000 baht in my local bank and although the old guy always accepted my paperwork, he always found something to complain about. He retired and there was a new boss. He was a really nice guy and I never had any problems. After him came a snotty bitch. She accepted nothing that would help you. Even the 800,000 in a Thai bank was not accepted. It was in the wrong type of account even though it was fine before. I offered to change accounts the very next day. That also was not good enough. The money had to be in the savings account for 3 months. That was the worst hassle I ever had. I ended up going to the Bangkok embassy for an income statement. After I returned to immigration I had to pay a thousand baht fine for two days overstay.

 

The next time, I got the letter from the bank verifying my account the day before I went to immigration. It was dated the day before but I still had to go to my bank and make a transaction the same day for an update before I went to immigration. I know I didn't help myself by loudly complaining but it made me feel better and made the bitch uncomfortable.

 

Now even for the 90 day check ins, I have problems. A copy of every page in your passport and the form filled out is required. Before the bitch took over, no copies or form were required. They scanned the bar code and I signed a form. That was it. In and out in ten minutes. The bitch also told me that I needed a yellow house book. That was another SNAFU. The local amphur is run by another woman. She really didn't know how to process a yellow book and told me I had to go to Bangkok for some other bullshit paperwork. When I went back to immigration the bitch said "Never mind". My wife then spent about an hour filling out forms for me and making copies of her house book.

 

I don't mind following the rules and jumping through the hoops, BUT, it would be great if they all followed the same rules.

 

ADDED - After the big hassle, I went back for my 90 day check in. The bitch wasn't there. Everything went smoothly. I asked where the bitch was and the gal who was taking care of me started laughing and asked me if I missed the bitch. I told her I missed the bitch the same as I would miss a migraine headache. Several other officers were listening and they all started laughing. I had hoped the bitch had gotten transferred but no such luck.

Edited March 9, 2017 by Gary

[forcebwithu 4,856]

Unfortunately the immigration office you will be forced to use will simply be the luck of the draw. ...

 

Experiences like this make me appreciate the speed and efficiency of the Pattaya immigration office all the more. Feel for you Gary, glad I don't have to deal with those sorts here.

[nkped 1,208]

Got there about 2pm. They no longer have students checking your documents at the front counter. Rather, it was a uniformed officer handing out numbers. Wonder if he was being rewarded or punished.

 

I had number 842. When I got to counter 8, they were servicing 841. I was called within 5 minutes. The students (interns?) are know at the counter where they check for required documents and signatures. Apparently, I had not copied one needed page of the passport. I think it was the one for when I was stamped out for my excursion to Siem Reap in January, my last departure. He made a copy of that one page. I had the TM7, two photos (only one was needed),my lease, the embassy letter for proof of income and copies of the passport pages. He also had me sign two pages of advisals, collected 1,900 baht and I was on way within 10-15 minutes of walking in the door. Now, if I get the passport back tomorrow with the extension, I'll be good for another year.