seagulls wrote:The posting by Samuel showing the stamp in his passport maybe confusing to those who do not read
Thai .The stamp is in English but the" Heading" is in Thai . It says in big red letters "Thai Wife"
Is it conceivable that more time is needed to check the applicants that are using a marriage visa
which is a little more complex to validate time wise?

I meant to ask that mine is single although I'm married just seems to be easier.

Yes right is right and wrong is wrong. But I won't ruin my entire year over five dollars.

As to what our rights are they are whatever the Thai Government decides they are.. I have to say guys this is easy compared to twelve years ago. In those day on immigration Office demanded you have 800K in the bank and 65 K a month proven income. That is the only time I really fought. That officer is long gone. I will stand tall when I need to.

I thought Marriage visa's, at least the original had to go to Bangkok for approval ?

I know there are a lot of other requirements not seen on the single visa, so we maybe talking apples and oranges here

"It is an optional, (and to some welcome), additional service. but of course the girl doesn't tell you, but neither does she tell you the service IS compulsory. , so, of course, the naive among us make the assumption, as they are intended to do, that it is compulsory She greeted me with a lovely smile and, in response to her "kind offer" to prepare the form & photo, I stopped briefly, thanked her, (with a possibly less attractive return smile ). explaining I had altready prepared all my necessary documents, and then continued on to my seat to await my turn."

Thanks Mathusalah, I assumed that was probably the case, but was a bit worried that previous posters had indicated it was not.

It seems possible that Immigration are being more thorough in the processing of Marriage Visas.Our Neighbors recently
had a visit from Immigration who took Photographs ect . The neighbors called my wife over as a witness to vouch their
validity to immigration .As Bumper said in his post "It may be a question of Apples and Oranges" and they haven,t
sorted out the Fruits yet! I also find quibbling over a paltry 150 baht a little pathetic
Rod (Harpman)

Marriage visa and witnesses and photos and and and

Excellent Satato. were you doing a single annual and if so did you get back in one day?

So far doesn't sound like anything changed for me

seagulls wrote:....... I also find quibbling over a paltry 150 baht a little pathetic Rod (Harpman)

You're entitled to your opinion and I agree, on an individual basis, it's a paltry sum. But, accepting that the income probably goes into an office pool, let's assume this single officer deals with just 6 applicants a day - it's probably more. One day 900 baht, say 20 days work a month, equates to 18,000 baht. Now that's not to be sniffed at, is it? Covers possibly e.g. the payment for the new car and a very nice addition to normal salary.
Here the officer is using the computer to fill in the blanks in a standard form and add digital photos, a 'service' at cost, which actually appears unnecessary if you've organized yourself properly anyway. Yes, it may be a help to some applicants but, as another post indicated, it's typical they're taking money from many who don't know it's not needed (against handwritten forms and normal photos being provided) and have the right to say no thanks.
Not quite blatant corruption as in asking 500 baht for transferring a visa from old to new passport - a recognised free service, but nevertheless, a little devious.
You may feel it's pathetic. For me it is a matter of principle and I'm not prepared just to fall in line to help these people in good jobs fill their pockets. Everyone seems to recognize the police service needs reform and I've made my own suggestions on how e.g. Immigration can increase revenue officially and perhaps increase salaries - if, indeed, they are considered poor.
Still nobody has confirmed they received an official receipt for the 150 baht.

Is it still possible to ask for the visa extension form and fill it in yourself ?
Or are they automatically taking a photo when we we ask for the application paper work.

plumbers wrote:Is it still possible to ask for the visa extension form and fill it in yourself ?
Or are they automatically taking a photo when we we ask for the application paper work.

No need to ask for the form (TM 7), download it from here and try it on your next visit.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en ... e=download

Brian Davis wrote:

seagulls wrote:....... I also find quibbling over a paltry 150 baht a little pathetic Rod (Harpman)

You're entitled to your opinion and I agree, on an individual basis, it's a paltry sum. But, accepting that the income probably goes into an office pool, let's assume this single officer deals with just 6 applicants a day - it's probably more. One day 900 baht, say 20 days work a month, equates to 18,000 baht. Now that's not to be sniffed at, is it? Covers possibly e.g. the payment for the new car and a very nice addition to normal salary.
Here the officer is using the computer to fill in the blanks in a standard form and add digital photos, a 'service' at cost, which actually appears unnecessary if you've organized yourself properly anyway. Yes, it may be a help to some applicants but, as another post indicated, it's typical they're taking money from many who don't know it's not needed (against handwritten forms and normal photos being provided) and have the right to say no thanks.
Not quite blatant corruption as in asking 500 baht for transferring a visa from old to new passport - a recognised free service, but nevertheless, a little devious.
You may feel it's pathetic. For me it is a matter of principle and I'm not prepared just to fall in line to help these people in good jobs fill their pockets. Everyone seems to recognize the police service needs reform and I've made my own suggestions on how e.g. Immigration can increase revenue officially and perhaps increase salaries - if, indeed, they are considered poor.
Still nobody has confirmed they received an official receipt for the 150 baht.

Very first post said receipt no problem so I take it they did get one. I must say that when I went last friday I did question the service and was told by the young lady that I must use the service and I did question the price for 3 min work but hey its only the price of 2 x small San migs.

I know someone going for his extension based on retirement in November,will let him know of the charge and not to use his same photo that has been submitted for the last 3 years Appearance has changed somewhat
To him a loss of 2 large and one small Leos, which will anger him, but nevermind

If the answer is MUST use it, why therefore is it not itemised on the RTP website for Immigration. Must is a legal requirement, on paper i would agree from the mouth of a girl Is not legally binding i think.

Brian Davis wrote:

seagulls wrote:....... I also find quibbling over a paltry 150 baht a little pathetic Rod (Harpman)

Not quite blatant corruption as in asking 500 baht for transferring a visa from old to new passport - a recognised free service, but nevertheless, a little devious.

What on earth is a "Recognised free service ? In all my years of living on three continents I have yet to encounter
anything Free from the civil service ,nor would I expect any .

seagulls wrote:

Brian Davis wrote:

seagulls wrote:....... I also find quibbling over a paltry 150 baht a little pathetic Rod (Harpman)

Not quite blatant corruption as in asking 500 baht for transferring a visa from old to new passport - a recognised free service, but nevertheless, a little devious.

What on earth is a "Recognised free service ? In all my years of living on three continents I have yet to encounter
anything Free from the civil service ,nor would I expect any .

Sometime ago I was nearly gouged for the passport visa transfer fee. I had read accounts from others being asked for 300bt, 500bt and even a 1000bt for a service that is not listed in the *fee schedule. I went prepared and after being asked for 500bt service fee, I politely asked for a receipt. The immigration officer said no receipt to which I replied: "no receipt no baht". SHE was clearly not happy with my reply, but SHE didn't push the issue. Later, with my wife's help, we reported the incident to the Udon Immigration Inspector over the phone. He confirmed to me there is no fee for such service and that perhaps I misunderstood the immigration officer, that SHE may have simply been asking for a donation, yeah right.

Granted it's time consuming work and I wouldn't have a problem paying a service fee if it's legitimate. Meaning an internal office policy, standardized with the fee schedule posted somewhere in the office and a receipt provided then I won't have a problem paying for services rendered, but I refuse to supplement someones income just because they can demand it.

*The fee schedule referred to me by the Immigration Inspector is contained in the Immigration website:

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en ... p?page=fee

Sorry if I'm flogging this, but to me it's an important issue, particularly as many Thai are themselves recognizing that corruption has to stop.

Reddevil
"Very first post said receipt no problem so I take it they did get one. I must say that when I went last friday I did question the service and was told by the young lady that I must use the service"

I recall the first post, but I wasn't sure whether he meant he received one, or wasn't bothered about getting one.
But, did YOU get a receipt on Friday? If so, was it numbered and like the one issued for payment of the visa fee? If not, you've made a small contribution to the Officer's apartment rental! A must? No, I wouldn't believe the young lady and Mathusalah80 has indicated it's optional and he used his own forms.

Seagulls
"What on earth is a "Recognised free service ? In all my years of living on three continents I have yet to encounter
anything Free from the civil service ,nor would I expect any"

Please see Khun Paul and Papaguido's posts. (My example similar to Papaguido's)
I think I know what you mean, Seagulls. It's difficult to imagine going into any government-type office and not paying to get something done, one way or another.
But it does happen at Immigration, in that you don't always officially have to put cash across the counter. As Paul indicates, there is a official list of services and fees applicable - the visa fee obviously, re-entry fee etc. If it's not on the list, they shouldn't be charging. Those of us around for a while, with posts to the effect on this site, know that e.g.transfer of visa details from old to new passport is free (yet THE female officer wanted 500 baht from me for a few minutes work), forms/letters needed for the Amphoe or Driving Centre also cost nothing etc. - they are not on the list, no official receipt is given - BUT my point is that officers will sometimes try to charge you.
I suggest it's a lack of proper organization that there aren't fees for everything. Nobody has got round to sorting it out properly and thus the temptation to make money on the side. Many, like yourself, seem ok with putting money in officers' back pockets and wouldn't presumably object to paying a reasonable, official fee to get this or that done. Then it is official and not corruption. I certainly have no problem with paying officially, proper receipt issued and, again, I've suggested the additional income might be recycled into officers' salaries. Seems fair enough to me.

The rider to these new arrangements would then be that it should be made perfectly clear that Officers found to be corrupt should be thrown out of the Service.

plumbers wrote:Is it still possible to ask for the visa extension form and fill it in yourself ?
Or are they automatically taking a photo when we we ask for the application paper work.

Yes they are on the table on the left a you enter.

You could decline the special service and do things just a you had in the past, problem solved.

someone is always on the hussel here, I only wish I had only lost 150 baht in WBU. You've done your part now bringing it peoples attention. That was a good ting now it's up to the individual to deal with as they see fit. If it is computerized photos about the same as getting a passport photo and one less stop.

But it you want to change it file a complaint with the Army, if it's not worth that. Might be time to just let it go.

I am going for my 3 monthly, I am alive report in a few days, I may just ask the question and will let you know the naswer I get.

If there is still a choice, I will still give my business to the guy in the little photo shop who has taken my pic every year since I arrived.
Never had a problem (he even adjusts my tie for me) and he gives me half a dozen other copies that can be used for membership cards/passport renewals etc.
It's these guys that will notice the difference of not getting several hundred "pathetic" B150's each year whilst others are lining their pockets due to the laziness of the many

bumper wrote:.....But it you want to change it file a complaint with the Army,........

Maybe someone has already written! Perhaps with no result?

As I said, this scenario is not quite as blatant as on other occasions and Immigration might argue they're trying to speed the process and help applicants who haven't got paperwork/photos already.

OP hastens to respond re receipt!
Having looked a little closer, it certainly is NOT an official receipt - silly me, it's taken from a book available at any office supplies store!
Just done the extension and got what is definately an official receipt for the 1900 baht extension fee.
2 additional comments for what they are worth:
People are being referred, by immigration officers, to the new "service" desk to get the form done electronically for 15O baht
Speed up the process? 1 immigration officer working behind the desk this morning - there are 5 desks available

Thanks Hairyharry, but it doesn't come as any surprise to me.