Can't find the thread about experienced feedback on REAL visa renewals, so Mods move me if required.
Renewed my retirement visa today. Armed to the teeth with documents. They didn't want my medical record, marriage certificate and bank book. Didn't even check how long my money had been in Thailand. Filled in the forms and got the stamps AND they changed my 90 day reporting to coincide with my visa renewal. In all it took 15 minutes!!!!!
Felt like taking them out to buy them beer
Might change tomorrow though. My advice is to still go armed to the teeth with everything you've got on paper
Feel like going out for some bevys tonight to celebrate
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
richard wrote:
Feel like going out for some bevys tonight to celebrate
Good stuff, I know that feeling, my annual visa renewal is a stressed filled time and one I dread because it gets no easier no matter how many times I've done it before. Yes, the briefcase brimming with paperwork helps.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Yeah, I was in there a week or so ago asking about a "marriage" extension. Only asking, mind you. I was pretty certain what they would need.
Wasn't disappointed with the info given and when I said "I know the marriage one can take three months", the bloke just said "no two weeks".
Time will tell.
It's always taken longer for us "married" people go gain acceptance then you old people. Only joking.
BTW, this should be on the other thread, but every time I try to move one, it gets lost. So, I'll leave it alone.
Been so stressed out for the past couple of weeks obviously fed by all the bad news you hear. Probably why I've been on the beer too much recently
TO ALL AND SUNDRY........I've, so far, never had any problems with HH immigration. Secret?............Go in well dressed and adopt a humble/help me mode and they respect you...and
Hope this posting helps others
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
I'm already wearing pistols but for differing reasons, I prefer to go down the marriage route.
Two weeks for renewal of marriage entitlement!!!!! I'm waiting with baited breath .
I've got about 3 months to go for my third renewal and I don't expect to get it in under 3 months.
Onlyme.
Glad to hear of all the good stories. However, each year I always have problems. When I went to renew a marriage visa early this year, although I had the requisite 400,000 baht in the bank transferred from Europe, I was told out of the blue that I had to have 40,000 per month AS WELL as the 400,000. I didn't have the time to argue the toss and go to Bangkok, so I transferred another 400,000 baht and applied for a retirement visa. No problem as long as I gave them another 10,000 baht under the table. Pisses me off.
My bank book shows that I've brought in over 10 mill baht over the last 2 years (spent on a house and given locals jobs etc) but didn't count for nothing.
This is more of a question for the government, but I'll never get an answer. Why can't the Thai government treat foreigners here similarly to the way each individual government treats Thai citizens? For example, when I took my wife back to the UK many years ago, she was given a 1 year stamp at the airport (and allowed to work). One year later, by post, that was upgraded to an indefinate stamp. 3 years after that, and again by post, she was given British Citizenship and applied successfully for her British passport. She never brought any money into the UK but is now entitled to a retirement pension based on my contributions until the day she dies.
Well said some people.
It took my wife 3 days to get her visa to the UK last year. It was only a VV. The thing is that we got that on XY&Z. Easy. Why? Because we're true.
The British Embassy are reputed to be really hostile and negative.
Rubbish. Try it the other way round.
Well done Richard. It is always best to have as many docs as possible, if you don't the one you thought you didn't need is the one asked for.
However it was your remark re being reasonably turned out that caught my eye.
When i did my retirment visa back in September in and out 20 mins. However there was an English guy in the corrider as i was leaving who related his frustration with the "ineffiiency of immigration". It turns out he had been there since 9am ,it was now 3 30pm. He said he had been passed from pillar to post. Every time he got back to the officer he was asked for some other document.
The guy was dressed in a singlet vest, not shinny clean, and a pair of grubby shorts and fliflops. He looked awful. I beleive they were teaching this guy a lesson. I hope he has realised this and presents himself somewhat better dressed next time and i'm sure he will receive better treatment.
I have nothing but praise for the immigration people. The service i have had has been first class. How they tolerate some of the idiots i have heard trying to get visa's they were not entitled to, yet sit there still asking the same question, over and over again!!
The guy was dressed in a singlet vest, not shinny clean, and a pair of grubby shorts and fliflops. He looked awful. I beleive they were teaching this guy a lesson. I hope he has realised this and presents himself somewhat better dressed next time and i'm sure he will receive better treatment.
I took a friend to immigration, one of the most affable people you would ever meet in this country, he met every requirement and was turned down! The Thai's reasoning..........Drug money!
You only have to be interviewed by one arsehole and your thoughts will be diminished in one nano second!
BTW. The interview was conducted by a chap at Huahin.
For example, when I took my wife back to the UK many years ago, she was given a 1 year stamp at the airport (and allowed to work). One year later, by post, that was upgraded to an indefinate stamp. 3 years after that, and again by post, she was given British Citizenship and applied successfully for her British passport. She never brought any money into the UK but is now entitled to a retirement pension based on my contributions until the day she dies.
Is that at all fair? TIT.[/quote]
I think this post really sums up all the frustrations that many posters feel,for all its faults the uk government has a straight set of rules you are either in or out as many other people have stated in past posts.In thailand you are never totally in and thats the way they want it to stay.As Buksida quoted the other day Thai authorities really do not give a toss what farangs think about thai affairs,but what he did not say they also do not give toss about any farang who chooses to set up home in Thailand.Argentina is very much a third world country like Thailand,corrupt police and politicians but at least I am about to go to the departmento de Estrangeros and pick up my Residencia permit which will alleviate me from having to do a visa run every 3 months so at least i can feel part of the country that I have chosen to set up home in.
As to your comment on retirement benefits.the uk brought in a rule a few years ago to protect female divorcees. After divorce each partner was allowed highest benefits that either partner had achieved in their total NI contributions.However it worked for me as my former spouse had 26 paid years and I only had 13 so I was immediately credited with 26 even though the system was actually set up really to work the other way
Glad to hear of all the good stories. However, each year I always have problems. When I went to renew a marriage visa early this year, although I had the requisite 400,000 baht in the bank transferred from Europe, I was told out of the blue that I had to have 40,000 per month AS WELL as the 400,000. I didn't have the time to argue the toss and go to Bangkok, so I transferred another 400,000 baht and applied for a retirement visa. No problem as long as I gave them another 10,000 baht under the table. Pisses me off.
This is the type of thing that "pisses" me off about Thailand.
I would do my best to be in a position whereby, I gave the greedy "bastards."F*** a**!
I'll never give a Thai official "tea money."I'd sooner leave the country!!!!
BTW. HHTel. Always go a few days early. If I have any problems with HH Immigration, I will post on this branch and let you all know the outcome.
It won't change and we can't change it, so live with it
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
Only joking.
Pete 
.
