Essentially Monthly Income Credit Issue + rant

[sometimewoodworker]

The UK visit visa process, although more arduous than previous, is a cut and dried application process with a cut and dried review procedure and a cut and dried expected date of approval (or otherwise) and no, you can't bung a few baht under the table to get faster or better outcomes.

PS: So "probably" 15 days for a UK visit visa notification versus the 30-day approval of a marriage extension? It's amazing what some folk will put up with

PPS: Don't forget the tip jar, ok?

OH hat a wonderful life you must lead with the fairies and rainbows!

There is so much false information above I’m likely to miss some
1) cut an dried! Not remotely, a statement on the site is don’t give too much information! There isn’t a required list.
2) dried expected date of approval (or otherwise)! absolutely not 90% to be decided within 3 weeks; 98% within 6 weeks and 100% within 12 weeks of the application date (where 1 week is 5 working days);. Cut and dried!!!
3) and no, you can't bung a few baht under the table to get faster or better outcomes.; correct only that it’s not under the table and not a few baht! The faster fee is ฿22,000 (£500) and the much faster fee is ฿45,000 (£1000)

4) dried review procedure not for a visit visa you have no right of appeal if you have been refused a visitor visa

So they virtually guarantee a result in 84 days but refuse to allow an application more than 3 months before.


As I said the British bureaucracy is so far above the Thai one in bloody mindedness it’s no even a competition t

[tamada]

"Nonsense. They're government workers who already get paid to do their jobs, badly and otherwise plus they retire at 60 with a pension. Sod them and their bloody tip jars. After all, "it's only once a year..."

Remember Government Officials can speak English and likely read Udonmap

Oh lawks! Not you as well?

Do not project your silly fears on me. Please.

(Meanwhile, in the tea room at Udon Immi, someone marks "Doodoo" as one of the UM good guys).

[tamada]

The UK visit visa process, although more arduous than previous, is a cut and dried application process with a cut and dried review procedure and a cut and dried expected date of approval (or otherwise) and no, you can't bung a few baht under the table to get faster or better outcomes.

PS: So "probably" 15 days for a UK visit visa notification versus the 30-day approval of a marriage extension? It's amazing what some folk will put up with

PPS: Don't forget the tip jar, ok?

OH what a wonderful life you must lead with the fairies and rainbows!

There is so much false information above I’m likely to miss some
1) cut an dried! Not remotely, a statement on the site is don’t give too much information! There isn’t a required list.
2) dried expected date of approval (or otherwise)! absolutely not 90% to be decided within 3 weeks; 98% within 6 weeks and 100% within 12 weeks of the application date (where 1 week is 5 working days);. Cut and dried!!!
3) and no, you can't bung a few baht under the table to get faster or better outcomes.; correct only that it’s not under the table and not a few baht! The faster fee is ฿22,000 (£500) and the much faster fee is ฿45,000 (£1000)

4) dried review procedure not for a visit visa you have no right of appeal if you have been refused a visitor visa



As I said the British bureaucracy is so far above the Thai one in bloody mindedness it’s no even a competition t

Well bugger me... there's some toys floating past the boat here, over in Bali.

They yours?

[Laan Yaa Mo]

I'm glad that I live in Khon Kaen.

How does the annual retirement extension renewal using the monthly income method go at the Khon Kaen immigration office?

It worked fine the one time I applied for the extension. Initially, I was flummoxed by the proper procedure. I got mixed assistance by posting the question here and by a few ex-pats in Khon Kaen. Eventually, sometimewoodworker and a visit to Khon Kaen Immigration put me on the right path. The Immigration office was professional, helpful and friendly. I paid the fee, got my change with a receipt and left. Apparently, there was a complete overhaul of staff a few years ago.

My friend in Sawang Daen Din indicated to me that he takes a number of bottles of whisky to contribute to the Immigration Office in Sakon Nakhon.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

I forgot to mention that owing to the Thai New Year, I was two days late applying for the extension; however, Khon Kaen Immigration said there was no problem, and no fine was levied for not appearing on the scheduled date.

[rick]

I sympathise with Brian's problem, but immigration is what it is - there is also the catch all 'any other document the IO requires'. Having been doing extensions for 10 years and using Multi-entry 'O' visas before that i have had my share of problems.
Got booted off the Multi-entry 'O' after a big increase in the income requirement at short notice. Had plenty of cash in the bank but they only wanted pension/pay credits, so had to use tourist visas until i got officially married. After that used the embassy letter until that got ditched. There were already people straight away being knocked back for one months under payment under monthly income, and forced to leave the country and reapply, so Brian was lucky. I decided for that very reason and because i saw no point in sending 40,000 baht a month to Thailand when i was back in the UK for a few months most years, to go the 400,000 baht in the bank route - because it was(?) problem free. I didn't have that much floating around free at the time so i borrowed it in the UK at a nice low interest rate, now nearly all paid off.

Other issues 'your photo not show whole house', 'your face not clear enough', 'kor ror 2 out of date' and your statement is 1,000 baht different to your bank book (updated on the day!). Just grin and bear it, fix the issue and get the stamp in your passport. I do not think it is the IO trying to be difficult, just paranoid of being told they have failed to ensure the application meets ALL the rules. Oh also sometimes they do not like the passport photocopies. I let them photocopy whatever pages they want - they are not going to refuse their own copies! they get their 2,000 baht (covers the cost of extra photocopies) and i get my extension.

Try dealing with bureaucracy in West Africa - nothing gets done without a 'tip' - and often everybody up the line.

[Brian Davis]

..... Other issues 'your photo not show whole house', 'your face not clear enough', 'kor ror 2 out of date' and your statement is 1,000 baht different to your bank book (updated on the day!)..........

Difficult to know whether to laugh or cry at the IO antics. Of course, depends which officer and which office you're dealing with. Your last example - my understanding is that you'll only receive a bank statement updated to the day before (i.e. update is run overnight by the bank) and it was necessary to make a deposit to your account on the day you visit immigration- the two amounts WILL be different!

[sometimewoodworker]

Your last example - my understanding is that you'll only receive a bank statement updated to the day before (i.e. update is run overnight by the bank) and it was necessary to make a deposit to your account on the day you visit immigration- the two amounts WILL be different!

The bank letter will show the amount in your account the day it is processed. (Correct)
A statement will not show a deposit/withdrawal on the day it’s issued. (Correct)

The requirement (it isn’t cast in stone) for you to make a transaction the day of application is to ensure that the latest date in the passbook is consistent with the date of application.

The statement requirement is dependent on the IO, I didn’t offer one last year, it wasn’t requested

On previous years a made a deposit the day before applying, statement accepted , no problem.

[Brian Davis]

Change the payment day to avoid future issues

I didn't forget your suggestion. I've received a reply from my main pension provider, the one usually paid at the end of the month. Whilst they do pay early at Christmas, UK bank holidays, they won't vary the payroll payment date otherwise - as I expected.
Of course, I think it's the Thai bank holidays occurring towards the end of the month, which is ther problem anyway.

[rick]

In the case of the 1,000 baht disctepsncy, the bank woudn't provife a new statement thatnday. I wondered what to do - then realised i just had to withdraw the 1,000 baht i had added. Made the bankbook match the statement, instead of the otherway round. Accepted......

[tamada]

Meanwhile, some well-meaning members consider these profligate bouts of immigration office tomfoolery and their enduring bureaucratic obfuscation and time-wasting is somehow more acceptable than, say, a formal British visa application?

Not my circus, not my monkeys.

[sometimewoodworker]

Meanwhile, some well-meaning members consider these profligate bouts of immigration office tomfoolery and their enduring bureaucratic obfuscation and time-wasting is somehow more acceptable than, say, a formal British visa application?

They are both Versions of excessiveness The difference is that with the Thai version the requirements are more clearly defined and you can add a needed document if you forgot or something changed.

The British version is a Black Box and the answer is either
Computer says Yes
or
Computer says No



It is designed so there is a total disconnect between VFS and the vision maker.

And that doesn't even address the elephant in the room that one is a tourist visa and the other a 1 year extension.
Compare a similar application and it’s likely to be more extensive.

[tamada]

They are both rigorous rather than excessive. In fact the "Thai version" is comparatively simple and ridiculously easy, ⁣but only if they chose not to make it up as they go along and bugger people about. I think we have more disgruntled and dissatisfied members than happy and satisfied ones when it comes to immigration's annual anal probe. The need to qualify one's experiences with 'it is what it is' and 'just go along with it' and 'leave the change' suggests a browbeaten admission that they've just dealt with a proper bunch of ar5e than any profound expression of customer satisfaction.

The fact that the "British version" doesn't make up after-the-fact and ad-hoc demands for extra paperwork, alludes to the the 'cut and dried' premise I raised earlier which is undeniably better than 30-days on tenterhooks. Maybe the ex- special forces types like the suspense?

I'd far rather be told "No, end of story" than "No... but if you print this, or add that, come back tomorrow (and leave a tip)..."

[jackspratt]

I'd far rather be told "No, end of story" than "No... but if you print this, or add that, come back tomorrow (and leave a tip)..."

How strange, that you are more focussed on the process than the result.

[samster]

I think we have more disgruntled and dissatisfied members than happy and satisfied ones when it comes to immigration's annual anal probe.

Or is it that more tend to not whinge about any and everything, analyse every political and social situation, bitch about burgers etc.

[sometimewoodworker]

They are both rigorous rather than excessive.

In your dreams!!
The Thai annual extension, I agree is rigorous and has become more so due the people trying to game the system so the requirements changed to block them.

The British visit visa application is vastly, stupendously, stupidly excessive.

The fact that the "British version" doesn't make up after-the-fact and ad-hoc demands for extra paperwork,

They can, they sometimes do
But usually can’t be arsed so just deny the visa

alludes to the the 'cut and dried' premise I raised earlier which is undeniably better than 30-days on tenterhooks.

I know of nobody who has been denied after the paperwork has been accepted, so your “ 30-days on tenterhooks.” it can be up to 75 days actually, is just your imagination or that you enjoy the fantasy that you could be uniquely refused.

Certainly immigration may call for a document that they missed, but that is very shortly after receipt and not usual.

I'd far rather be told "No…….

So you want to be refused!!! Rather than have an opportunity to correct a mistake, usually a zero cost, but even if a cost the amount is fraction of the cost of starting again

[sometimewoodworker]

I think we have more disgruntled and dissatisfied members than happy and satisfied ones when it comes to immigration

How often do those who have no problem ever comment? Virtually never
How frequently do those who have a problem post? Almost always.

[tamada]

I think we have more disgruntled and dissatisfied members than happy and satisfied ones when it comes to immigration's annual anal probe.

Or is it that more tend to not whinge about any and everything, analyse every political and social situation, bitch about burgers etc.

...and go off-topic?

Don't you ever forget about going off-topic.

[glalt]

What will be will be. The best advice I ever received really pissed me off at the time but turned out to be true. It was to not concern myself with things I have no control over, Expats here pay a lot of money via the VAT. I seriously doubt the government would tax pensions and and discourage future expats from retiring here. Then again, nothing the Thai government does would surprise me.

[tamada]

In your dreams!!
...

Oh my goodness. We are in a proper multi-quote tizzy aren't we?

No "dreams" or "imagination or "fantasy" here. My Thai wife has had three timely and successful UK visit visa approvals. Never, ever been anywhere near this alleged "up to 75 days" that you seem so deeply upset about so I'm sorry if it didn't work out for yours or she was refused.

The last one granted to my wife has 10-year validity, so you're excused while you go and gather your miscellaneous bits of paper for your ANNUAL cap-in-hand homage to the swamp on Phosri in the vain hope they won't ask for something else (again) this year.

BTW, the "30-days on tenterhooks" refers to the pointless bureaucratic ritual of waiting for the Thai marriage extension approval. The UK visit visa approval is quicker than that in my wife's personal experience.

No, I don't "want to be refused" so stop your nonsense. Nobody wants to be refused, but it can happen. For me personally, it's preferred to know why it's been refused rather than be compelled to provide a 'consideration' in order to get something right when there was nothing wrong with it in the first place.

Anyway, you opened with a ridiculous claim that the local immigration wallet scrape is "due the people trying to game the system." What is using the tip jar, acquiescing to their 'keep the change' attitudes and agreeing to the under the table or after-hours 'consideration' if not gaming the bloody system?

Ta
tam