Immigration Visit

[secosteve]

Had a home visit from Buriram Immigration today. they told me this was a national initiative to seek out overstayers and invalid extensions. They ask me for the bank book I used for my visa but I showed them a copy of my embassy letter confirming my income instead and they were happy. They took pictures of me and the missus and copies of her and my sister in law's i/d cards. The two officers were very polite and asked me a few question as to my income and length of relationship with my wife. This is the first time in eleven years this has happened although Kap Chong  threatened a few times.

[urleft]

How did they schedule it?  The just show up?  Or did they set it up during one of your visits to BI?

[Smithy]

This is the first time in eleven years this has happened although Kap Chong  threatened a few times.

If you have never had one then I guess it just a matter of time before you're checked  out . I remember 15 years ago before home Visits for marriage extensions were the norm I had to go to the local Police Station with my Wife and in-laws plus the Village head to be interviewed.
Even now I still get unannounced visits from time to time. No big deal if your 100% legitimate and as you have pointed out they are always very polite .

[secosteve]

They called me the phone asking for directions and arrived as I was speaking to them, no previous notification.

[DeputyDavid]

Is your extension based on marriage or retirement?

[secosteve]

DeputyDavid - retirement

[DeputyDavid]

Oh interesting. Something for me to look forward to then.

[Freddy]

Personally I have nothing to hide and if they want to turn up for home visit it's up to them. However, it makes little sense to check up on the expats who process their extensions ( be it marriage/retirement) at the Buriram Office, show up for their 90 day reports and have already provided all the required information on a yearly basis. How exactly would that seek out over stayers and invalid extensions.
Rocking up at Farang bars or the addresses of those who use agents or proxys for their extensions and 90 day reports may result in achieving what they claim to be seeking out.
Same old story, waste time hassling the legitimate expats who try to do things above board because it's the easiest way to tick a box. Ignore the obvious because it's a bit harder.

[secosteve]

Freddy, agree with you but unfortunately this government feels it is necessary. Other problems are that there are several people advertising retirement and marriage extensions on facebook for 15000b with no proof of the financial requirements needs, obviously illegal but people are taking up these offers, so I imagine that is why they are checking bankbooks.

[Smithy]

Freddy, agree with you but unfortunately this government feels it is necessary. Other problems are that there are several people advertising retirement and marriage extensions on facebook for 15000b with no proof of the financial requirements needs, obviously illegal but people are taking up these offers, so I imagine that is why they are checking bankbooks.

I know people that have used these Visa agents and have had home visits without problems . If they had been arrested then the IO that has signed their Visa extension  would then have to be charged with Corruption......and I can't see that happening   

[DeputyDavid]

Just finished extension based on retirement. Boy what a difference between today’s  visit and this one. I came armed to the teeth with documents showing paper trail of my funds in Thailand. I presented the embassy letter copy of all used pages of passport and a photo. Thirty minutes done with new extension and multiple entry in hand.

The IO did confirm that a home visit was forthcoming and all foreigners were being visited. They are concerned with those who have teaching permits and those who do not have legitimate extensions. Told him sure come on we can sit and have a beer!  They all laughed.

[Starman]

Immigration come out with these ideas every now and then. I guess the time is upon us now for another round.

They won't be able to visit all foreigners in Buriram as many of those on agent arranged visas are not registered as Buriram residents.

Also,I can't understand why they are concerned about teachers, who have work permits and not teaching permits, as they are perfectly legal. Like Freddy said, they should be looking in other places to find what they say they are looking for.

[Smithy]

Immigration come out with these ideas every now and then. I guess the time is upon us now for another round.
They won't be able to visit all foreigners in Buriram as many of those on agent arranged visas are not registered as Buriram residents.

I don't know about Buriram's Villages/Tambon's but I do know in my locale all the Poo Yai Baan's ( Village-Headman ) were all sent a letter a while back telling them they must inform the Local Police of any Farang's that lived in their Village. So if your on a Visa extension obtained from an Agent and registered or send your 90 Day reports to Pattaya ( or from where the Agent proceed the extension ) the worst they can fine you for is not living at your registered address .As far as I'm aware I have never heard of anybody that has ever been arrested or deported for having a Visa extension obtained from an Agent but I have heard of many English teachers being arrested for teaching without a work permit or working on a Marriage or Retirement extension.


The simplest way to stop the Visa Agents for obtaining illegal Visa/Visa Extensions it to stop the avalibilaty at Source..... it ain't rocket science 
To check on people when they first go through the procces of a Visa extention seems fair to me,which is easier to do in the Provinces but not that easy in places like Bangkok and Pattaya !!!

[Starman]

Immigration come out with these ideas every now and then. I guess the time is upon us now for another round.
They won't be able to visit all foreigners in Buriram as many of those on agent arranged visas are not registered as Buriram residents.

English teachers being arrested for teaching without a work permit or working on a Marriage or Retirement extension.

Without a work permit is the only reason that you could get arrested. Not the type of visa or extension.There is not any visa type that allows employment. If you have a non B or a non O (based on marriage) you can apply for a work permit.

[Freddy]

Your thoughts on this one Gents.
I took early retirement and moved over here aged 51 (now 55). we don't have a large plot of land so I pretty much ran out of projects to keep me busy at home a while ago.
I also have some health issues making it vital that I remain active and as fit as possible.
(Blood flow, circulation, weight etc).
What I do now is help friends with their home projects, mostly hard landscaping related.
I do this because I enjoy it, it keeps me busy, active and I feel like I have a job.
I do this unpaid for close friends only.
I've read reports and posts on other sites that immigration could/would class this as working??
I can't believe that retirees are expected to just sit and watch TV, surf Internet, play golf, etc....but TIT.
So, immigration arrive at my house unannounced, I'm 5 minutes down the road helping a friend build a terrace, the wife calls me and I arrive in work clothes covered in dust, cement etc.
a proble or not?