Extending 'permission to stay' at Kap Cheong

I lodged my paperwork with KCI this morning to extend my permission to stay for a further year. My application is based on retirement, not marriage. The IO at the entry desk, inside the front door on the left, checked the paperwork on arrival (no wait) and commented to 3 ladies standing with him that it was unusual to see such a complete set of documents. However, it was not complete enough as I had to fill in 2 more forms, written in Thai only and seemed locally produced, and then my darling wife had to take these now completed forms into town to obtain a couple of photocopies. Interestingly he discarded from the pile of documents that I had presented to him our marriage certificate and my wife's declaration that I resided with her. After my wife returned with the photocopies he sorted these into order, stamped each document and then he returned them to me. We were ushered into the room on the right, the room manned by 2 Immigration Officers, including the 'boss', and a young lady assistant. The automatic ticket machine was not working or not switched on. I suppose I was kept waiting for about 5 minutes before being called to the desk. The paperwork was reviewed again, some rubber stamps applied, a new 90-day report produced and 1,900 Baht accepted for the processing fee. Change was given from 2,000 Baht. I was then asked to return to my seat to await final processing by the 'boss'. He was busy with another applicant although I did not have to wait too long, maybe 10 minutes at the most. He then called me to his desk to hand back my passport, complete with an 'under consideration stamp' and a new 90-day report. I was told to return, in person, on 15th January 2016. I was informed that we would receive a visit from the Crime Suppression Unit sometime within the next 30 days.

All in all quite painless. Total time to complete the process was nearly 1 hour 30 minutes. We had arrived early, just after 08.30. Someone checking in mid morning might not be so lucky.
 
gotlost said:
PS . The boss is up stairs. :pThe person you dealt with is a supervisor and can be overridden.:rolleyes:
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That was my experience. The guys on the ground floor have the authority to deal with 90 day reports and collation of the extension paperwork but when it comes to finally authorising the extension, that appears to be done upstairs. And woe betide the IO if there's a mistake! :fearscream::fearscream:
 
I need to go the KCI the first week of New Year to obtain a re-entry permit (multiple). Having PR, I need 2 multiple entry stamps, one in passport and the other in the PR book. Have to pay for 2. Total 5,700baht

Last time (jan 15) it took 4 hours, because they did not have the correct stamps. They used what they had eventually and adapted them. The end result was a smudged stamp in my passport.

4 weeks ago when going to and also when returning from Vietnam via Don Muang, I was told that my re-entry was unacceptable in itself and also because it was dirty and smudged. I pointed out that this was the handy work of KCI, and that I had not made the stamp dirty, and that I was totally in the hands of KCI as to what stamps they put in my passport. After much humminh and hahing, and the threat of not being allowed back in, the IO relented, but told me to ensure all was in order next time I went through Don Muang.

How can I politely tell that to KCI next month?
 
Prakhonchai Nick said:
I need to go the KCI the first week of New Year to obtain a re-entry permit (multiple). Having PR, I need 2 multiple entry stamps, one in passport and the other in the PR book. Have to pay for 2. Total 5,700baht

Last time (jan 15) it took 4 hours, because they did not have the correct stamps. They used what they had eventually and adapted them. The end result was a smudged stamp in my passport.

4 weeks ago when going to and also when returning from Vietnam via Don Muang, I was told that my re-entry was unacceptable in itself and also because it was dirty and smudged. I pointed out that this was the handy work of KCI, and that I had not made the stamp dirty, and that I was totally in the hands of KCI as to what stamps they put in my passport. After much humminh and hahing, and the threat of not being allowed back in, the IO relented, but told me to ensure all was in order next time I went through Don Muang.

How can I politely tell that to KCI next month?
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I am sure you will display your usual tact and diplomacy, Nick. As a Permanent Resident, you would have long learned to apply the Thai smile in all situations.

One would think that a PR would always be allowed back into Thailand!
 
Had a police visit yesterday and the local plod took a couple of photos, smiled a lot and shook my hand 4 times. Tried in my best Thai to tell him that my missus was attending a local funeral - that failed, so a quick call to her and they arranged he would call again today to get her to sign some papers.

He duly turned up this morning when I was in the shower; by the time I was out the paperwork was signed and he was off. Asked whether they were checking all Farangs, he indicated that it was only the long-stayers they were interested in.

I don't do my extension until June but I think this visit was triggered after my visit to KCI for an address verification. We were called into the suppression unit, system updated and house location noted. The police visited whilst I was away recently in Vietnam and they had already spoken with the PYB and a local businessman who knows us.

I imagine my extension will be issued immediately.
 
AussieBill said:
I am sure you will display your usual tact and diplomacy, Nick. As a Permanent Resident, you would have long learned to apply the Thai smile in all situations.

One would think that a PR would always be allowed back into Thailand!
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Obviously not, with smudged stamps!
 
Prakhonchai Nick said:
How can I politely tell that to KCI next month?
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I had a similar incident in Indonesia some years back, there was some problem with my visa that I was issued at The Darwin consulate.

I politely asked them to detail all their grief in a letter and I would submit it to the Australian Indonesian Ambassador in Canberra. They politely shoved the passport back in my face and told me to piss off.
My excuse was, I have no idea what you are talking about, you should address it to the appropriate authority. But having said that Immigration do throw the onus back on you by stating. "It is your responsibility to make sure everything is order before you leave the office".
 
Rice said:
But having said that Immigration do throw the onus back on you by stating. "It is your responsibility to make sure everything is order before you leave the office".
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Ignorance of the law is no excuse?
 
I must have missed you Nomad. I arrived at around 1030 am and there were a lot of people there. About 3 farangs were in the foyer getting paperwork checked I assume and about 3 inside. An officer assisting the front desk lady quickly asked me what I was there for and I showed him my under consideration stamp, he told me to go inside. The number machine hasn't been working since November 10 when I was last there. After about 10 minutes I told the wife to tell them what I was there for, she did and I waited another 15 minutes and was asked to "approach the bench". About 30 minutes later after a bit of desk shuffling I had my extension stamp. It took an hour and it was quite busy, it seemed that a lot of farang are still doing their 90 day reports in person. I enquired about a multi entry stamp and was told to go and photocopy 3 pages from my passport and come back with the completed application form and the copies, I did this in 10 minutes and got my stamp just before midday. So 90 minutes all up which I thought was pretty good considering they were very busy.

I did notice that customers come in waves, at one stage just before my extension was approved the office was empty, however in the next 5 minutes it filled up again and as I was leaving about 10 Cambodians turned up carrying paperwork. One of the officers told my wife that it was bedlam yesterday and he did not get a lunch break till 1400.
having had experience working in a busy customer service area, a busy Police Station reception area, I think the officers did a terrific job under a fair amount of stress. I was relieved to walk out after only 90 minutes as the atmosphere was quite oppressive.
 
I remember the days when the immigration office was in a wooden shack about 1 km north of Kab Cheong. Maybe there were fewer foreigners then but I didn't detect any stress whatsoever from the staff at that time. I haven't changed (much) and my situation hasn't changed.
 
I believe the phrase is "making a rod for your own back".

However, in this case, maybe making a rod for everyone's back.
 
yes Yorky, those were the simple days ... no hassle, no worries ... a few bath left and right to the coppers and everybody was happy ... 10 baht for a big bowl of "kwettiau" ... cambo's helping you on your land for 100 baht a day plus food and accomodation ... 3 bottles of Chang for less than 100 baht ... AND a lot less of whining foreigners ... we were three or four in Lahansai, now more than 50 that I can count ...
 
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