While I can not in all honesty condone all the charges, I must in all honesty state that all the 32 mins I was there , it was fine. I did not ask why the fee for quick issuance when you do not pay when you wait for one month, that was an oversight, but in all honesty not for me a serious problem as I had a need to get everything sorted. next year I will wait.

fdimike wrote: The delay may be due to the fact that the government uncovered about 100 illegal visas issued out of the UT office last year.

Mike, I am not sure of the explanations given or logic behind this processing "delay".

According to reports on TV, Udon is the only office in Thailand doing this (there may be one other - can't be bothered looking at TV again).

When I applied for my extension last September, I was told the delay was due to the "senior officer being away at a conference", and that he/she must approve all extensions.

Others are being told about the requirement for senior officer "approval", but now (as per KP), he/she has to do follow-up checks.

However, if you choose the "expedited service", these checks mysteriously disappear.

Questions:

1. why is it only happening in Udon?
2. why do the follow-up checks disappear?
3. if it is an official service, why are receipts not being issued?

While your information about the illegal visas from the Udon office wouldn't surprise me, all the reports I have heard about dodgy extensions have been done with a stamp bearing the Chonburi office name, via an agent based in Udon.

perhaps you could present your three questions to the Thai Government's Farang complaint line at 1111

FrazeeDK wrote:perhaps you could present your three questions to the Thai Government's Farang complaint line at 1111

When/if it affects me, I will keep your suggestion in mind.

In the meantime, for those who are being impacted, they can make their own decisions.

I go in tomorrow after waiting the 30 days. There is no way in the world I was going to pay the one or two thousand baht to have it expedited. Of course on the day I applied they then wanted to see my bankbook ( I use a stat dec from the Australian Embassy) and was told I had to have it up dated. Ok, I had it updated and then returned to be told I had to make a deposit to show todays balance. Off again to comply and on my return I asked if all the bankbook nonsense was because I did not pay the extra. a sickly, slimy, smile was all the answer I got.

Brian

Yeah I'm not too familiar with this "Express Service" BS other than no one has ever received a receipt for this service as far as i know. This makes me think it is under the table money (geez imagine that). Maybe KP did receive a receipt which would be a new thing. I always renew my visa early and do not plan to supplement their income with 1,000B just to process the visa quickly. Heck I'm retired and have nothing but time on my hands.

wokkawombat wrote:( I use a stat dec from the Australian Embassy) and was told I had to have it up dated. Ok, I had it updated.....)

At that time the Embassy statement was about 2 months old? They have to accept Embassy statements up to 6 months old!

I saw receipts filled out and attaqched to the relevant paperwork for each and all expenditure
1 For the Visa
2 For the 500 cancellation
3 Re-entry stamp
4 Expedited service atached to the paperwork that WINGS IT WAY I ASSUME TO THE SENIOR OFFICER.
i ALSO HAD TO SIGN NUMEROUS BITS OF PAPER AS WELL

ASs I was happy to finalise my dealings so I could go on holiday, i was not too bothered, what I ask is 1000 baht compared to the cancellations costs of an international airline, peanuts.
I will look into this more but I will have my holiday first and then deal with it upon my return unless of course others wish to take up the mantle.

waanjai wrote:

wokkawombat wrote:( I use a stat dec from the Australian Embassy) and was told I had to have it up dated. Ok, I had it updated.....)

At that time the Embassy statement was about 2 months old? They have to accept Embassy statements up to 6 months old!

Sorry, I expressed myself poorly. The Stat Dec from the Embassy was no more than a few days old. What I meant was I use proof of income rather than money in the bank to meet their income requirements. This is my 9th extension using proof of income via an Embassy document and never before have I had to show my bankbook.

No receipt for me for the 1000 baht extra but going to be difficult me going back in 30 days.Sometimes wonder with these receipts anymore,used to view them that you have a proper visa in your passport however had my photo taken at least 3 times at the Immo desk so that is proof enough
Hopefully by the time I have to show myself in 90 days the lass has broken her water and is out of there

Since I started to use the Embassy route for providing a letter for proof of income, I have never been asked to provide any form of bank book, which would be rather hard in any event as my bank is internet based and there are no hard copies of anything unless you print.
I did notice and even had a short conversation on the fact that the British Embassy provides the original letter with an embossed seal , now that has a obviously a raised feel to the signature block where it is embossed, they knew this ( IO's ) and commented on it. So it seems to me they are catching up on the letters and which embassy provides what , so to submit a letter from the British Embassy without the embossed seal would be considered a fake or a copy, which to them is unacceptable.
A short note, I personally have never hada problem with the lady who is currently pregnant, and always found her to be polite and helpful, I appreciate that others have had fallings out with various officers in the present and past, but reiterate again, that you possibly may catch them after they have had to deal with a particular awkward and annoying visitor . having been at the officer end of the Public, I can tell you from personal experience that there is nothing polite about many members of the public, especially when they know you really have to help them even if they do not warrant that help. Sometimes the effect can rub off onto the next person you deal with. That in noway excuses some of the attitudes I have read about but just bear that in mind.
We are NOT stupid neither are we ignorant so really those who have been here as long as myself or even longer, should in fact know what to do and how the system works, and either make allowances or check before turning up to see if there has been any changes.

it is interesting to note that I was informed yesterday that a Marriage visa no longer allows you to get a Work permit , that came from the Work Permit office who state the rules have changed ( information courtesy of a friend who tried ) as well as confirmed by the Immigration office.

It would also seem to me that the Work permit office and the Immigration office are working closer together, which in itself is not a bad thing but it does mean that whereas before one could get a Work permit on almost any visa, that is no longer the case and will possibly cause some people hardship.

These changes are not actively trumpeted from the roof-tops, so everyone should check and ask the questions before embarking on a new venture , be that working or anything else, to ensure you are not abusing the Visa regulations. We may quite possibly complain about their lack of publicity but we all know deep down, that this is the way they do things, we just have to accept it .

So sumarise, we have now
1. fee for exopediting your Visa, which has come about following an edict in Aug 2014, to ensure checking Income and addresses
2. No work permits for those ona marriage visa reason I have absolutely no ide3a, but one can see the logic. ( As people got married in name only and it was a cheaper way of staying in the country, but the marriage was a marriage of convenience I would think and they have found that out )
3 The ability to to 90 days on line, although i [personally will pop in to show my face and keep the personal contact alive. ( personal contact is worth its weight in gold I think ) .


The End.

Brian Davis wrote:

pomps wrote:No receipt for me for the 1000 baht extra

Heh, look on the positive side, Pomps You've probably provided the 'impoverished' officer with free nappies/diapers for many weeks.

Hopefully better put towards a mop and bucket and a health n safety sign saying slippery floor when the water breakage occurs

Their April fools joke today will be no extra charges,cmon down

No BD it was reference to the changes and the way they are imlemented. Let us at least accept their communication skills are at best poor, then we can move forward. They are not perfect but judging by some I have read and seen neither are we by a long shot.

Source: YouTube
published: march 31, 2015

fdimike wrote:Brian

The delay may be due to the fact that the government uncovered about 100 illegal visas issued out of the UT office last year.

Since there isn't an Immigration office anywhere in Thailand that issues visas, illegal or otherwise, this unsubstantiated 'fact' is just that.

Tamada

The terms visa and extension of stay are routinely interchanged by those discussing the subject here and in the media.