Retirement Extn. Under Consideration. New Hoops?

Post by **RLTrader** » February 12, 2015, 3:26 pm

Well wife just returned with stamped passport. I will guess that everything is OK, for it has stamp good til 1/24/16.

Don't know about the rest of you all, but seems a little more than scary to base where I live on the whim of some immigration official, with zero days notice to vacate, cause that seems to be what I went through the last 5 months.

Post by **parrot** » February 12, 2015, 3:28 pm

Jing Jing wrote:http://damrongthamsongkhla.go.th/frontpage

1567 or 074 321562

The 074 phone number is in Songkla.

The Udon office can be contacted at 042-221-890
http://www.xn--72czbpbbf5dflcac3due9ck9cvci51bxa.com/

I'm not sure why the people in Phuket contacted a Ministry of Interior office.....damrongtham, but that's apparently what they did. Seems they'd contact an office under the NACC. t.i.t., so who knows?

Post by **Brian Davis** » February 12, 2015, 4:27 pm

[quote="RLTrader"]Maybe the main problem is that we vent here and fail to inform Bangkok, which is my plan after I get my Retirement stamp....
Somebody may already have tried that :-" , seemingly to no avail, as they continue to do what they want. An armoured division pulling into the car park might do something. . You might try, on your way out, scattering copies of the Patong story about.

From a notice I found on my windscreen, numbers for reporting corruption are 1111 and 022831271-84.
I've said before I have no problem in paying reasonable fees for various administrative tasks, just make it official, use the extra income as they think fit(Officers' salaries?, if they are really that poorly paid) but also throw out any Officer putting money in his/her pocket.

I'm pleased some applicants have a smooth rise at Immigration. Personally, I don't like being 'had' and it's been tried on me for 500 baht and 700 baht respectively, similar to the Patong case. A stand up row with the Officer with glasses, two times into the office of the Senior - who agreed I was right. I suppose he really gave the junior a dressing down? So, whilst I've no desire for a fight, I'm certainly wary when I go there.

Perhaps I'm a known face now? Certainly on my recent visit, they weren't helpful.

The Thai wife doesn’t understand why I get frustrated!........
Off to Immigration for the yearly application for extension based on marriage. Priding myself on my preparation, I’m disappointed with myself to find the Officer wants the English version of “Affirmation of Freedom to Marry” form. I should know by now to bring EVERYTHING. The certified Thai translation which I have brought is, apparently, not sufficient alone. I enquire whether they keep files and a copy of the form will be there from last year. The response is that last year’s files are not there and, in any case, one has to start completely afresh. So the two copies of all that previous paperwork and whatever goes on the computer now means nothing?

So it’s going to take me the best part of two hours to go home and return with the missing document. As I have the Headman of the village with me as my witness, I asked if they would assist with interviewing him now, keep the papers pending my return, and I could drop him back home without taking up more of his time. No! Thanks for your understanding and flexibility.

I’m back after lunch (I know there’s no staggered lunch break, so no point in coming back before 1 pm) with the said document, wife, Head Man doing the round trip and young son now in tow too. Having signed perhaps 50 sheets of rubber-stamped papers, presumably to the effect that they are genuine and accurate, the Officer presents me with a document written completely in Thai. I understand this to be a summary of the information, which my wife has to sign too. There is no response from the Officer when I say I’d be stupid to sign a document I don’t understand and I’ve no idea if it’s accurate. (I could be guarantor for her new car, as far as I know! My wife, typically not wanting to make a fuss, points out that there’s a note at the bottom to the effect that the wife can translate for her husband. Not good enough, I feel. I’m the visa applicant, other documentation is translated into English, why not this? So I start to endorse the form ” Signed, as requested, but not understood”. That’s not acceptable to the Officer, who tears it up and prints a new copy. I sign!

Fortunately, there’s a request for the official 1900 baht fee ONLY. With my wife certainly hoping I don’t ‘rock the boat’ any more, I resist the temptation to query why my passport is stamped “visa under consideration’, I’m told to return in 5 weeks, when I understand other immigration offices issue the visa stamp approval immediately. Nothing to do with the 1000 baht, no receipt, request should the applicant actually need the passport quickly, I suppose?

Oh, then takes maybe 20 minutes to find the Officer who blocked my car in.

Post by **RLTrader** » February 12, 2015, 5:00 pm

Brian Davis wrote:The Thai wife doesn’t understand why I get frustrated!........

I think mine does, but to be sure her new job is everything, except for the 1st visit for renewal. So she gets to do the 90 day reports, I figure after a couple, she will hate it, but maybe not. I just do not need the aggravation anymore.

I reason I now carry a copy of the above report, is in case they want a tip, plan on showing them the thai translation copy, just to see the response I get.

Post by **boes** » March 3, 2015, 6:16 pm

Bandung_Dero wrote:I went into Udon Thani Immigration yesterday to do my annual extension, 4th on this current Non “O” visa. All my paperwork was in order, the officer puts a stamp into my passport then tells me to come back in 30 days to get my full extension. I cannot have a Re-entry Permit until then either

Whilst she was doing her thing I asked her, through TW, when this requirement was implemented she replied since August, “the army have instructed us to do it this way”! – OK, I thought that’s when the crack down on retirement extns, took place.

Why hadn’t I seen any mention of this goal post move on ThaiVisa or UdonMap?

I then asked her why 2 friends were granted their full extns., in the last two weeks. AND this was very inconvenient for me as TW and I are going to Australia early in the new year.

She then tells me, through TW, she can expedite “under consideration” for 1000 Baht.

Presto 12 Month extension and re-entry permit – the consideration lasted 5 minutes.

Excactly same thing happened to me today. First stamp tells me to report on April 2. I got the 1 year extn. and the usual slip in the passport about 90 days report on May 31. It doesn't give any meaning to go on April 2nd. Or should I ??
BTW B 3000 without receipt

Post by **Brian Davis** » March 10, 2015, 2:13 pm

Passing the front door, I thought I'd pop in quickly to check the procedure Nong Khai followed.

A rather lovely, youngish female officer, confirmed that retirement extensions are completed on the day, a One Stop Service as she said. There's no being asked to return weeks later.
As for extensions based on marriage, yes the papers have to be sent away to Korat and there is an 'under consideration' stamp and request to return - as we already knew. I enquired what of the situation that an applicant wanted to exit the country during the consideration period. She indicated a 30 day extension and re-entry permit could be given.

Post by **Hoopoe** » March 23, 2015, 4:42 am

Hoopoe wrote:Having monitored this since August, i read on a web page that it was 1 week of consideration for retirement visa ,UDon want 1 month ,then it seems to depend on where you live as to the cost of speed , ( ie we can do it now )within Udon eg, 5 kilometers it's 1000 bht, extra , outside 5 kilometers 2000 bht extra , on another note ,i renewed my passport 3 years ago ,was Charged 500 bht for the service ( no Bin ) of moving my Visa ,( this is supposed to be a free service ) they put the wrong date stamp on the visa ,,i pointed this out ,the reply was it's ok , SO 3 years later they point out that the date on my visa is wrong and want to see my old passport, Now it's 2000bht to correct their clerical error or pay 7000bht overstay, beware gents check the date's when they stamp your yearly renewal visa

heads up , the immigration office it at again ,just been called round to a friends house to look at his visa stamp ( albeit a bit late )the permission to stay date is wrong they only stamped it for 6 months not 12,(this is on a yearly marriage extension visa ) we will be going in to request this be correct in the next few days ,see what extortion they try this time,

Post by **fdimike** » March 23, 2015, 7:13 am

I assume you have already checked the expiration date of his passport. They will not renew a visa beyond the expiration date of the passport. I just picked up my visa extension a few days earlier than scheduled without any problem at all.

Post by **Hoopoe** » March 24, 2015, 6:56 am

fdimike wrote:I assume you have already checked the expiration date of his passport. They will not renew a visa beyond the expiration date of the passport. I just picked up my visa extension a few days earlier than scheduled without any problem at all.

your dead right , we got there, it transpires his passport needs renewing ,he said when asked that he knew this ( bollocks)so the good side to this is now he can start renewing his passport before he walks back in for a report with an out of date passport , iv'e also warned him they may ask for 500 bht to transfer the visa into his new passport , even though it's a supposedly free service,

Post by **fdimike** » March 24, 2015, 7:05 am

It's easy to overlook the expiration date of the passport. It happened to my wife who is a dual national here on an American passport. It also happened to a friend of mine as well. However, what I didn't appreciate is the IO not saying anything about it when they processed the vias extension.

Post by **Hoopoe** » March 24, 2015, 6:15 pm

fdimike wrote:It's easy to overlook the expiration date of the passport. It happened to my wife who is a dual national here on an American passport. It also happened to a friend of mine as well. However, what I didn't appreciate is the IO not saying anything about it when they processed the vias extension.

My friend also said IO didn't say anything about it at visa extension , but then i reminded him HE WAS NOT THERE,also latest info is he has to renew his passport , he has now found out someone from the American Embassy will be in Udonthani next month to do passport's ,so the light is finally switched on at the end of the tunnel , =D>

Post by **FrazeeDK** » March 24, 2015, 8:30 pm

yes, when the ACS folks are here in April they'll "do" passports.. That means you'll fill out the application with photo, hand them the money and an EMS self-addressed envelope for return of the new passport, and they'll take your passport back to Bangkok. Once they receive your new passport from the States (they do NOT make new passports at the embassy) they'll mail it and your cancelled old one back to you in the EMS envelope you gave them. Time frame to get the new one?? Several weeks although the ACS folks can give you a better estimate.

[url][/http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/passports.htmlurl]

Post by **Hoopoe** » March 25, 2015, 2:25 pm

so as i understand this ,they take your passport down to BKK,seems a bit strange as it's illegal to be without a passport in this country ,on the british side of this ,when i renewed my passport they understood the legal requirements of Thailand and requested only a photo copy of your passport , this was 3 years a go were passport renewals had to be sent to Hongkong , i believe that has changed now but can't be assed looking into it as it will change again before i need to renew ,i wonder if the Americans have an agreement with Thailand to not have a passport when renewing ?

Post by **merchant seaman** » March 25, 2015, 2:36 pm

The U.S. Embassy will give you a letter explaining the status of your passport. Good idea to have a photo copy of your passport though.

Post by **papaguido** » March 25, 2015, 2:57 pm

merchant seaman wrote:The U.S. Embassy will give you a letter explaining the status of your passport. Good idea to have a photo copy of your passport though.

Having a copy of the passport is advisable. I renewed my passport 2yrs ago at a consular visit and all I got was a receipt for the transaction, no letter. About 10 days later my passports, new and old, arrived by post including a letter for immigration explaining issuance of a new passport (it also may have stated something about transferring the visa, but not sure).

Post by **merchant seaman** » March 25, 2015, 3:15 pm

I did mine at the Embassy and asked them about not having a passport it was then they offered the letter, guess you have to ask for it

Post by **Shado** » March 25, 2015, 3:56 pm

I applied for a new USA passport in April of last year at the embassy outreach here in Udon Thani. I was given the letter without asking for it.

I guess the best advice would be to be prepared to ask if a letter is not offered.

Post by **papaguido** » March 25, 2015, 4:23 pm

Shado wrote:I applied for a new USA passport in April of last year at the embassy outreach here in Udon Thani. I was given the letter without asking for it.

I guess the best advice would be to be prepared to ask if a letter is not offered.

Well there you go...I never thought to ask and they may have overlooked it. Good thing the immigration police didn't come to my house asking to see my passport

Post by **merchant seaman** » March 25, 2015, 4:41 pm

There are a few things that could happen to ones self where not having a passport could be a real hassle, one could be a traffic accident. I'm sure in the long run things would work out. Same can be said about a yellow house book. Good to have but not mandatory.

Post by **RLTrader** » March 27, 2015, 12:34 pm

fdimike wrote:It's easy to overlook the expiration date of the passport. It happened to my wife who is a dual national here on an American passport. It also happened to a friend of mine as well. However, what I didn't appreciate is the IO not saying anything about it when they processed the vias extension.

Well I didn't overlook my expiration date of the passport. In fact a 1½ years before it expired, I ask if it would be a problem, and was told No Problem, that when I got new passport they would transfer it. But the only thing They Did Not tell me was that I would be paying 1,900 baht for a 4 month Visa and would then need to renew again with all new paperwork and another 1,900 baht!

.