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buadhai

We went to Immigration at Kap Choeng, Surin, yesterday to process my extension of stay. It all went quite smoothly. We had to make the 200K drive (3 hours) because Korat Immigration does not yet process extensions of stay.

The stuff we had to submit was as follows:

Application form (TM7)
Passport
Departure card
Medical certificate
Proof of income
Tabien Baan
Ms. B's ID card

I was a little surprised by the last two. None of the official sources (Immigration web site, handout from Korat Immigration, telephone information from Kap Choeng Immigration) mentioned this. The first I heard of it being a requirement was in a post by RDN last week. Fortunately, Ms. B has a copy in her important documents folder so we were prepared.

I think her ID was required only because she served as translator for my "Interview". I applied for an extension based on retirement, not marriage.

The only real glitch for the day was that two copies of everything, including the application form and passport pages, was required. This necessitated a short (1K) trip to the photocopy shop where they charged only 50 satang per page. (When I was working my agency required me to charge a dollar a page for photocopies!) Oddly, before our visit no mention was made of the two-copy requirement.

I was also surprised at the little "Interview" that culminated the process. The Immigration Officer filled out a form based on answers to a few simple questions: my parents names, my age, my residence address, was I working, do I have a bank account, etc. She printed out the form, we signed it and that was it.

Incidentally, I told her that I do have a Thai bank account but don't much use it. She asked if I just use an ATM to withdraw funds from a US bank. I said "yes" and she seemed satisfied with that.

I have to add that I am very impressed with the way the office is managed; perhaps because I tried to run my own office the same way:

- Everyone who enters is immediately greeted, asked their business and told what to do first. This sure beats requiring customers to figure out what to do based on signs and posters on the wall.

- Customers are helped on an ad hoc basis rather than one-at-a-time and first-come-first-served. If one customer is busy filling out a form or looking for a document the officer just moves on to someone else who can be helped right away. This makes things go more quickly and eliminates idle time for the officer. This is efficient queue management.

- The office works as a team. The officers, including the big boss, work the front counter together, helping people simultaneously. This makes the customers feel good and enhances productivity and efficiency. (Don't you hate it when one person handles the front counter and everyone else sits around "doing paperwork"?)

I also liked the fact that the computer monitors are set into the desks so that the officers can maintain eye contact with the visitor.

Upon leaving we asked about a good place for lunch and were directed to a nearby dam where we had a nice, cool, breezy meal on the water.



Afterwards we took a few minutes to visit Prasat Ban Phluang which is a few kilometers north of the Kap Cheong Immigration office.

buadhai

I should add that since my passport expires next April, I was only granted an extension until then. However, if I present my old and new passports they'll transfer the permission to stay to the new passport and have it expire after the full year.

NickA

I have a picture of myself, wife and son in exactly the same place.

I went to Kap Choeng to get and extension to my tourist visa a few years back - I think they're just happy to have people visit as it seems very quiet - it was very useful for me as we were living not far from Prasat at the time.

I'll try and find that photo, although I don't have a scanner so I don't know what I'll do with it when I find it.

buadhai

You can describe it to us!

buadhai

One more thing I should add. The proof of income statement I had was the notarized form issued the the US Embassy. Mine was issued in January of this year. The Immigration officer told me that I can use it again next year, so they didn't take the original, just a couple of photocopies.

This is great because it means I can avoid the trip to Bangkok, the agonizing hours in the US Consular Section and the extortionate $40 fee.

Marmite the Dog

Quality post Mike.

Why don't TV have information regarding visas based upon facts and experience?

buadhai

Because FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) is part of their business model.

cantona

Do you know dental treatments fairly cheap in Thailand, Bud

buadhai

You don't like yellow?

RDN

Excellent OP Buadhai. Great to know that it all went OK. I've not heard of the "two photocopies" requirement either. So I'll make a note for next year to make an extra set.

But I'm a bit pissed off to hear that they charge 50 satang for copies up there! One baht per page down here! See? I told you all Phuket was damn expensive - 100% extra.

Damn! I'd forgotten to mention that. Yes, they have a form that's written in Thai and the guys at Phuket put it into a typewriter and fill out the details that you mentioned - with a little help in spelling the English names . I think that's been the case for every one of my extensions, but it's over so quickly that I always forget about it. I think it's just one more check that you are who you say you are! (I'm thinking somebody will check the answers you gave this time compared with previous times...)

Your description is very close to the way the Phuket office is run too. Very efficient and friendly.

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. "You don't pay them for the sex, you pay them to leave" - Charlie Sheen

NickA

Posts about visa terminology have now been moved to http://teakdoor.com/thai-visas-and-v...formation.html (More Thai Visa information)
just to clean this thread up a little

buadhai

^Good idea....