Fun & Games at the UT Immigration Office

[Tafia]

Went in this morning for a 90 day report, and was out in 15 minutes. It would have been 5 minutes, but I am farang and when someone hands me a queue number, I wait for it to be called. As a result, number 14 and 15 were processed before me. No hints at donations or fees or anything else, just smiling faces and efficient work.

Just today's take on events.

KB

Thats why you took 15 mins. There's no queue numbers for 90 day check.
As for......

No hints at donations or fees or anything else, just smiling faces and efficient work.

That has always been my experience on every visit I have made whether 90 days or extension.
I have never encountered any of the experiences mentioned on this topic, lucky or what?

[papaguido]

Went in this morning for a 90 day report, and was out in 15 minutes. It would have been 5 minutes, but I am farang and when someone hands me a queue number, I wait for it to be called. As a result, number 14 and 15 were processed before me. No hints at donations or fees or anything else, just smiling faces and efficient work.

Just today's take on events.

KB

Thats why you took 15 mins. There's no queue numbers for 90 day check.
As for......

No hints at donations or fees or anything else, just smiling faces and efficient work.

That has always been my experience on every visit I have made whether 90 days or extension.
I have never encountered any of the experiences mentioned on this topic, lucky or what?

Was there last month for 90day report, they certainly did have queue numbers for 90 day reporting. Pink queue cards for 90 day and blue for all other business.

[Tafia]

Thats new then ..never had before.

[nkstan]

My suggestion is to never take a Thai wife/GF with you to immigration because they feel the pressure to buy something from the ''officer''!

[RLTrader]

Went in this morning for a 90 day report, and was out in 15 minutes. It would have been 5 minutes, but I am farang and when someone hands me a queue number, I wait for it to be called. As a result, number 14 and 15 were processed before me. No hints at donations or fees or anything else, just smiling faces and efficient work.

Just today's take on events.

KB

Thats why you took 15 mins. There's no queue numbers for 90 day check.
As for......

No hints at donations or fees or anything else, just smiling faces and efficient work.

That has always been my experience on every visit I have made whether 90 days or extension.
I have never encountered any of the experiences mentioned on this topic, lucky or what?

Was there last month for 90day report, they certainly did have queue numbers for 90 day reporting. Pink queue cards for 90 day and blue for all other business.

There has always been queue # for 90 days, it just most times except last Monday, there is no one else there for 90 days, so in and out in 5+ mins.

Monday, was jammed with 90 day'ers, went around 10:30 and could just get in the door, so left, came back in afternoon and it was just as bad.

[Bonanza]

I seem to have a different opinion from most of the posters on this topic. I don’t mind paying an extra 100 or 200 baht to have my paperwork processed quickly and pleasantly. Whereas this may be viewed in Western mores as ‘corruption’, it is not so in the East. Civil Service salaries in Thailand are low, and these ‘extras’ are the accepted way of making up the salary. In the West we think nothing of ‘tipping’ waiters and others ten percent, even though they are paid a salary for their service. It depends upon where/when you draw the line and there is a difference in demarcation between West and East.

I’m sure that most of the indignation is ‘on principle’ rather than the actual sums involved, so it’s worth remembering that this is not USA, UK, AUS etc. You cannot apply your cultural absolutes to another culture. Encouraging others to adopt an ‘holier than thou’ attitude towards the Immigration officers could very well be counterproductive. Why not ‘go with the flow’ ? Please don’t make waves for the rest of us.

[merchant seaman]

I for one totally agree with you Bonanza 100 or 200 baht seems most reasonable. Do is it help to get your paperwork processes quickly and pleantly? It doesn't hurt and never had a problem like some have expressed on here that refuse to tip.

[Techland]

> I seem to have a different opinion from most of the posters on this topic.

But it would help to read them. This thread starts with a 500 Baht request for a usually quick and free service. This is totally over the top. Most thais have to work 2 full days to earn that amount of money.

[fdimike]

Sorry but I have to disagree with Bonanza & MS. These people are not underpaid they are just greedy and feel they can take whatever they can get from the people who are here on a visa and who they think know no better. My gosh they even hit my sister-in-law (she's Lao married to a retired Thai teacher) for "TIP" money when she went to renew her visa. She just calmy ignored the female IO. This is corruption and Thailand is right up there with the biggies like China when it comes to this. There is no need to tip a civil servant for doing his/her job correctly/quickly and politely. I deal with many other government offices and have never been told I would have to pay a fee for something which is free, and oh by the way we cannot give you a receipt.. I just renewed my 5 year D/L. The government workers were all very pleasant and no one asked for a "TIP". Everything was handled professionally and I was in an out in about 45 mins to an hour with a receipt for all services. The people who are earning low wages are typically laborers and even they were being paid at 500Baht/day 7 years ago when we built our house.

Wait staff at a restaurant/bar are normally on a very low salary (ijn the US) and make up the difference with legal tips. Government workers do not fall into this category.

Bonanza you are way off base with your "holier than thou" comment. I will continue to resist whenever possible paying for anything under the table and hope others will do the same.

[Shado]

My suggestion is to never take a Thai wife/GF with you to immigration because they feel the pressure to buy something from the ''officer''!

Concur. I've not taken the wife along for 90 day reporting or for annual visa extension since the immigration office opened in Udon Thani. She liked to go along when we had to travel to Nong Khai just for a visit to the the market and lunch along the river. Now, in Udon, she nevers goes with me.

[MALC]

fdimike spot on gov workers well paid.

[jacob6]

I agree also with fdimikes' assessment. Paying up to bt1000 for a free service is absolute greed. Gov. employees are well paid compared to private employment. I have no intention of paying it so someone can get 'pleasant service' Put in a tip box.
From Bonanza .." I seem to have a different opinion from most of the posters on this topic" Perhaps it's you who needs to go with the flow, if MOST are of a differing opinion.

[merchant seaman]

How much are the Immigration Officer's in Udon paid ever month? My stepson a computer programer Gov't empoyled 12,000 baht a month. Well paid?

[rjb]

I'm with Mike. The police have an implied intimidation factor by virtue of the being "police". In fairness I found a website called thaiguri (or close) talking about the police in Thai. I don't know how dated it is but it claimed the starting salary for Thai Police is about 6,000 B a month, hardly well paid but probably consistent with most gov't workers. Our insurance agent has said the starting salary with a university degree is about 9,000 B a month so the incentive to try to earn a little more by other means must be tempting. Her daughter just finished dental school. Asking for a donation is one thing but simply taking it in the form of change or bogus fees is another. No receipt, no pay. The IO understand most foreigners don't want to make waves so they consider us easy pickings. My guess is this money is pooled and divided according to rank or position.

[jacob6]

Is this his 1st year? Some Gov, employees i know....IO employees no idea, not friends of mine. But, people i do know,
Teacher, i think level 2......... >20k /mth+ family medical and so on. level 5 about >40k
Nurse not sure how long.................>24k /mth+ as above
Accountant private building company....9000 /mth
Shop assistant private company..........5000/mth .........just a few i've bothered to ask.

[parrot]

[quote="merchant seaman"]How much are the Immigration Officer's in Udon paid ever month? My stepson a computer programer Gov't empoyled 12,000 baht a month. Well paid?[/quote]

My experience is that most any college graduate in Thailand would give their left nut to work for the government (full time).

JMHO, but anyone freely handing over 'tips' to the immigration staff for doing their job is doing a disservice to the rest of the expat community. If you want to help the poor and needy in Udon, there's a few thousand residing behind Wat Thiphayatat Nimit (วัด ทิพยรัฐนิมิตร) off of Atsawamit Rd (ถนนอัศวมิตร).

If public servants in Thailand were so poorly paid, they'd all be asking for a little bonus for their service. The reality is, they don't.......and at the Udon office, there seems to be a single leech who knows how to milk the system for a few extra baht.

[papaguido]

Asking for a donation is one thing but simply taking it in the form of change or bogus fees is another. No receipt, no pay.

=D>

[Bonanza]

[quote="fdimike"]Sorry but I have to disagree with Bonanza & MS.

I still read into your post outrage and indignation against a practice that is judged by your (western) cultural standards rather than the local way of doing things. In spite of what several others have stated, Civil Servants are not well paid - particularly at the lower levels. Every graduate seeks a civil service job for its security and the OPPORTUNITY to make extra "under the counter". As a Western expat you are not trying to live a 'middle class' existence and raise a family on 20,000 baht a month or less, so give a thought for those who do - and do so in an accepted (by Thais) method.

You are the wealthy one, so think of them as 'Robin Hoods' gang - robbing the rich to pay the poor!!!

[jackspratt]

The Immigration Police working the front desks at the Udon office are not "at the lower levels".

They (along with many other public servants) also receive benefits not available to workers in the private sector, including low interest loans, health benefits, and subsidised housing.

In Thai terms they are relatively privileged.

[fdimike]

Bonanza
If I were you I would stop reading anything into my post as there is no hidden meaning.
There's no outrage at all other than what one would normally feel when being "ripped off" whether here or in downtown NY. It has nothing to do with culture at all and it is not the local way of doing things as you state. It appears to be localized at the IO as I've not encountered it elsewhere (although I understand private schools are deeply involved as well). It has to do with simple greed and someone who believes they are in a position of power (which is hardly the case). It is not an accepted Thai practice as you say because many Thais are just as offended by the practice but are reluctant to speak up. Now this is what you would call culture. You can read newspaper editorial after editorial criticizing your so called "accepted (by Thais) method".

I can only assume from your own words that "tea money", corruption, "under the table" payments, graft, bribery etc are all ok in your mind. While the word honesty takes a back seat. Sounds pretty sad to me.