Udon Thani Immigration Office

[Tafia]

Tafia,

I will be grateful if you let us know whether they process your reentry permit in Nong Khai or send you back to Udon.

NK did no probs or comments...when I called into Udon they said it will be 2-4 weeks before operating fully

[seymourbutts]

I think bad mannered ignorant farangs who think thais are beneath them are probably the reason we all have such a hard time at NK.. Ive seen it myself, once i was nearly cringing in the corner and just so embarrassed to be a farang in that room...

As the saying goes... You reap what you sow!!!

[bumper]

Yep that is fact.

[lopburi3]

The rule is 800k for 3 months (or 2 months first time) - there is no officer discretion involved - it is clearly listed as the requirement in Police Order 777/2551. Only a police inspector or above could request an exception and it would have to be approved at the General Staff level. It is not normally done.

[laphanphon]

hmm, haven't been to NK too much, have you. no consistent enforcement of rules, depending on the day, the person, the mood of same. ever changing, always interesting, though getting excited and rude surely will not help anyone's case, or the next one in line. you know the rules, i know the rules, they know the rules.................but

[arjay]

For discussion about Yellow Books, please go here:

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/y ... t2606.html

[lopburi3]

I am well aware of extra requirements sometimes being asked and that is a discretion point - but not meeting the requirements is not. Currently that is working to the advantage of many using that office as they allow use of Embassy letter for three years.

[stattointhailand]

Just got back from NK, and they think that Udon will be fully operational in "ABOUT 2 WEEKS" ...... so that's probably 6 months to the rest of the world.

They are really being thorough there this year ..... even took my arrival/dep slip out of my passport so as they could check the back (first time it's been moved since the guy stapled it there 5 years ago). Had to re-sign one photocopy, as the signature didn't quite match that on the other 10 (my wrist was getting tired by then!!), and then when Mrs "Arfur Daley" passed the paperwork over to be countersigned, the other guy re checked everything, ringing all the relevant things, and initialing them. Every year until now all the counter signitury has done is make sure that all the proper pages are there.

So, if you need to visit NK in the next couple of weeks (before Udon is open fully), my advice is to check all your paperwork is OK, then re-check it, and if you find anything slightly wrong, get it done BEFORE you go. If you think you can get away with something, coz it didn't matter last year ....... THINK AGAIN.

Good luck to all who need it

[polehawk]

I'm almost sorry to not have to go to NK for my extension next year. The last two have been a breeze, especially this year when they weren't interested at all in looking at my banking documents once they looked over the embassy letter. They finally seem to "get it". I'm hoping Mr Happy is transferred to Udon. He is now a born-again government service worker.

Will miss those trips up to Nong Khai. Still haven't found Billy Bob's bar on the river. Or the New York Deli. Have to just drive up and make it a day. Might stop off at the NK Immigration office just to say "Hi".

[stattointhailand]

Mr "Happy" was flitting about in the area outside the office this morning ......... gave me a smile and a nod as I walked past to enter the waiting room. Perhaps it was only a "do you know what you are about to encounter type smug grin" but it LOOKED like a smile

[Scouser Bob]

The Problem at NK Immigration Office is the bad mannered ignorant Dragon Lady who thinks Farangs R beneath her. I have experienced it myself.

[Frankie 1]

The Problem at NK Immigration Office is the bad mannered ignorant Dragon Lady who thinks Farangs R beneath her. I have experienced it myself.

I don't agree. I never had a problem with any of them.

I think it's a part of Thai culture. A person in such a position has to act bossy and tough.
They also try you out and try to see what your social status is and the social status of your girlfriend or wife. Then, if they think you are ok, they will be very kind and helpful.

If they think you are not ok, impolite or ignorant, they will treat you like dirt and send you away with some excuse, and let you come back several times because of some newly invented rule or document.

This is not about Farang, they will treat everybody like that, also Thai people.
Rule number one. When going to a government office in Thailand, you should behave properly and wear proper clothes. This is part of their culture and if you can't respect that, why should they respect you?

[pondlife]

If they think you are not ok, impolite or ignorant, they will treat you like dirt and send you away with some excuse, and let you come back several times because of some newly invented rule or document.

Each time I have attended the NK office, I coudn't say that I have ever been treated rudely but with a distainful grudging service. I make sure to be polite myself as well as well dressed. I thought it was pretty much the norm but yesterday had the pleasure of using the Pattaya Imm office. What a contrast, pleasant, knowledgble and helpful people, well organised, can't speak highly enough of their service. These People were as good as if not better than most Western equivilents. When I pulled out my passports photos the officer noticed my daughters photos so than equired about age etc. Just nice peolple and not at all patronising.
Well done Pattaya, plse send some of your personal up here to train and educate the staff on #1 rules as thet don't understand some of the current legislation #2 Customer service

[Frankie 1]

Customer service and Immigration offices. Hmmm.

To compare with farang service, take your Thai girlfriend to Holland. We have the worst Immigration Offices and the worst kind of staff in the world. Thai Immigration and the attitude of Thai staff at their worst are still angels compared to IND-immigration (gestapo is a better word) in Holland.

[doo]

Hi,
Went to immag. at Udon Airport this morning to try and get a "retirement visa" First bloke passed me to a second bloke and the second bloke passed me on to a third bloke. I stated to all three i wanted to get a "O-A" visa for retirement. I had letter from British Embassey in BKK. and all relevent forms etc. even a letter stating I had bought and paid for the house in 2005. All three said no such thing. I said you can not convert you "O" visa into a "O-A" visa in LOS. My mate did this 10 months ago at NK office. I felt like saying something to them but thought better of it.
Off I go to NK office, only one customer in, so seen the lady at the left hand side. She said no such thing as a retirement or "O-A" visa, All she had to say was you have to get a "O" visa outside of LOS. Explained to her politely that i already had a "O" visa, been in LOS 60 days and wish to change it to a "O-A" visa. All she could say was that my visa expires on the 18 Nov, HELP, I said I knew this and this is why I'm applying for a "O-A" visa. After about 10 minutes of getting nowhere I decided to leave the office before I said something i should not have said.
Is it only me having this trouble, I was polite all the time. I think it might be best to go down to BKK to sort it out. Does anyone have there address. I have been told that they have moved to a new address.
Cheers Doug.

[jackspratt]

Thank your lucky stars you didn't say something out of turn.

You cannot get an O-A visa in Thailand - you (generally) must get it from your home country, as it requires a police check.

Now if you were looking for an extension of your O visa (based on retirement), that is another question.

[Khun Paul]

read the rules and abide by them you will have no problems, going to bangkok will not ion my expereince change a damm thing as in any case you NOW have to use your local Immigration office.
But you can but try, but do not say you have not been warned.

[Bandung_Dero]

Doug,
Your best bet is to get onto ThaiVisa.com and read the 'Pinned' guidelines for visa issues.

Do a search for 'lopburi3' and spend an hour reading what he has to say then try again. Save yourself a headache! [-o<

[doo]

Hi,
I abided by all the rules and regulations and read them fully. Quote by Thai Embassy in U.K. e.g. Hull Thai Consulate. and London Thai. Embassy. You MUST get a "O" type visa, NOT obtainable in LOS, must be obtained in your country of residence outside of LOS. Once you have obtained a "O" type visa, whither single or multi.in your country of residance, outside of LOS, you must spend 60 days in LOS before applying for a extension i.e. a retirement or "O-A" visa in LOS. which I applied for. Which is only issued in LOS and CANNOT be obtained outside of LOS. These are the rules and cannot be changed. This is simple.Please check with immigration. I stuck to the rules an obeyed them. When I was in BKK last week I had to go to a firm to get the letter from the British Embassy translated into Thai. They offered to do the "O-A" visa for me but thinking it would be simple I said i would get it in Udon and I refused,. More fool me. So you can get it outside of your own region.
If you would like I will go to Udon or NK immigration with you to confirm this. This happened to ME and not a friend, today, and is fact. If I am wrong you have a day out with a meal chucked in. If i am right you pay for fuel and meal. Long time since I had a free meal.
Jacksprat you Cannot get a "O-A" visa outside of LOS. You can only obtain a "O" visa outside of LOS. and must convert it to a "O-A" in LOS THIS IS THE LAW. and is in black and white. Look it up.
KP. my local im. office in Udon Thani i.e. at airport, WOULD NOT DO IT so what do you suggest. I tried this morning before going to N.K. so your information is no good to me. I had all the right papers with me etc..
The lady at NK's only helpful response was go to VT and get a "O" type visa there for 90 days. They do not do a multi entry "O" type visa like U.K. After conversing with two friends she said fill out this form, being so pi==ed of I walked out or I would have blown, as I was in that mood.

[jackspratt]

doo I suspect you will not be enjoying a trouble free stay in Thailand.

It is widely known that the "advice" on O-A visas given by the consulate in Hull (which is part of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Thai Immigration) is incorrect.

Follow Bandung Dero's good advice, and have a look on Thai Visa. There are numerous posts there on the subject of correct visas.

Or hopefully, in the meantime, lopburi3 will check in, and give you the good oil on what is required.

Then comeback to me so we can arrange my free lunch