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  1. #1
    FarangRed
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    Being serviced by airport immigration

    This also happened to a mate of mine a few weeks ago coming back from Singapore

    Thai was in the Issues and Answers in the Phuket Gazette



    Being serviced by airport immigration When I recently came home to Phuket from a business trip, I was charged a 500-baht “service fee” at the immigration counter.

    My papers and stamps were 100 per cent correct. There were no errors to find anywhere.

    The “immigration officer” asked me a few questions regarding my work, how long I have lived in Thailand, and so on.

    Then he asked me if I would mind giving him 500 baht. He indicated that it was a small “service fee” for his signature in my passport. He told me to hide the money inside my passport and hand it to him. He took the money and stamped my passport.

    I know very well that we don’t have to pay a service fee upon arrival if all documents are correct. We all know about Thailand’s problems with corruption, but does it have to be that obvious?

    Is immigration not worried about first time visitors to this country witnessing such frustrating behavior from immigration staff?

    What a disgrace and what a great loss of face for the Phuket Immigration. Does the airport have no qualms about hiring these type of “officers” and not training them properly?

    Are you - whoever is responsible - aware of the negative image Phuket already has?

    I know that probably nothing will be done at all and I personally know how to avoid this incidents in the future but this should be a clear warning to anybody entering Thailand or Phuket. Don’t speak Thai with the immigration officers and be very careful to ensure a nice stay from the beginning.
    Not welcome, Phuket. Tuesday, August 23, 2011 “Tourists coming to Phuket don’t need to pay any fees apart from 1,000 baht when asking for a visa on arrival and a 500 baht fine for every day they have overstayed their visa.

    If the case above really happened, please send me an email with all information including the officer’s name and surname, your name, the date and time of your arrival and details regarding what happened at hktairportimm[at]hotmail.com or call 076-327138 between 8:30am to 4:30pm.

    I will investigate this occurrence to the best of my ability because this kind of behavior gives Thailand a bad image.”
    Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Pol Col Theerayut Budnampeth, Superintendent, Phuket International Airport Immigration.

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by FarangRed
    I will investigate this occurrence to the best of my ability because this kind of behavior gives Thailand a bad image.” Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Pol Col Theerayut Budnampeth, Superintendent, Phuket International Airport Immigration.
    And how much will he charge?

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by FarangRed View Post
    This also happened to a mate of mine a few weeks ago coming back from Singapore

    Thai was in the Issues and Answers in the Phuket Gazette



    Being serviced by airport immigration When I recently came home to Phuket from a business trip, I was charged a 500-baht “service fee” at the immigration counter.

    My papers and stamps were 100 per cent correct. There were no errors to find anywhere.

    The “immigration officer” asked me a few questions regarding my work, how long I have lived in Thailand, and so on.

    Then he asked me if I would mind giving him 500 baht. He indicated that it was a small “service fee” for his signature in my passport. He told me to hide the money inside my passport and hand it to him. He took the money and stamped my passport.
    If your papers were in order why the h£ll would you even consider paying?

    It's people like you (I'm being polite here - I can think of several better words) who meekly hand over cash for absolutely NO REASON (if your story is to be believed) and make Immigration and other Government Officials see Farang as an easy target.

    IF your papers were in order, politely refuse to pay and ask to see a superior Officer - problem solved.

    Seriously, words fail me.

    Patrick

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat
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    Comprehension not a strong point Patrick ?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mid View Post
    Comprehension not a strong point Patrick ?
    You clearly read something into the OPs' Post which I do not.

    Simple question - if his papers were in order WHY would he pay a single Baht for a "Service Fee"?

    Perhaps you "comprehend" something I do not?

    If so, please explain - clearly.

    Patrick

  6. #6
    Elite Mumbler
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    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick
    Perhaps you "comprehend" something I do not?
    The comprehension he refers to is the fact that the OP wasn't the one who paid the "fee".

  7. #7
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    Perhaps Mid has been in LOS so long that tea money is the norm for him and just pays?

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat
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    Nah pickel has it

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldgit
    Perhaps Mid has been in LOS so long that tea money is the norm for him and just pays?
    Perhaps comprehension isn't your strong point either?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by pickel View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick
    Perhaps you "comprehend" something I do not?
    The comprehension he refers to is the fact that the OP wasn't the one who paid the "fee".
    OK, (very minor) point accepted, my error.

    The question still remains, why would anyone pay a "Service Fee" if all their papers were in order?

    I repeat - it's idiotic (OK, I said it) people like this who for some reason roll over and pay bribes for no reason (except maybe fear, an inferiority complex, when faced with a man in Uniform) - they simply make other Farang a far more likey target for the same Scams.

    Totally idiotic - (OK, I said it again).

    Patrick

  11. #11
    Have you got any cheese Thetyim's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick
    why would anyone pay a "Service Fee" if all their papers were in order?
    His papers might be in order but the Immigration Officer holds the trump card.
    The Permission to Stay date is at the discretion of the officer.

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat klong toey's Avatar
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    I don't do this at the airport.
    But when i go too Piopet to avoid queuing i slip 100 baht into my passport walk to the front of the queue.
    The immigration officer knows its tea time.
    And the backpackers are none the wiser.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thetyim View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick
    why would anyone pay a "Service Fee" if all their papers were in order?
    His papers might be in order but the Immigration Officer holds the trump card.
    The Permission to Stay date is at the discretion of the officer.
    Precisely!

    What's the fuss about? This sort of thing is the norm.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat superman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Morden
    What's the fuss about? This sort of thing is the norm.
    It's "norm" cuz 'idiots', as Patrick pointed out, let them get away with it. They're the same 'idiots' that pay police when they've done nowt wrong. Tossers is a more befitting name. Let the argument begin. To pay, or not to pay ?

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by superman View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Morden
    What's the fuss about? This sort of thing is the norm.
    It's "norm" cuz 'idiots', as Patrick pointed out, let them get away with it. They're the same 'idiots' that pay police when they've done nowt wrong. Tossers is a more befitting name. Let the argument begin. To pay, or not to pay ?
    At Immigration I wouldn't argue over a few Baht.

  16. #16
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    ^ A "few" hundred baht maybe?...

  17. #17
    FarangRed
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    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Mid View Post
    Comprehension not a strong point Patrick ?
    You clearly read something into the OPs' Post which I do not.
    Please read my post properly it was not me. I posted from the phuket gazette

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat superman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FarangRed
    Please read my post properly it was not me. I posted from the phuket gazette
    That doesn't count on Teakdoor. Sorry.

  19. #19
    The Dentist English Noodles's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FarangRed
    Please read my post properly it was not me. I posted from the phuket gazette
    You should have posted a link to the original page then.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Morden View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Thetyim View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick
    why would anyone pay a "Service Fee" if all their papers were in order?
    His papers might be in order but the Immigration Officer holds the trump card.
    The Permission to Stay date is at the discretion of the officer.
    Precisely!

    What's the fuss about? This sort of thing is the norm.
    Total rubbish.

    Non of this is "the norm".

    The Permission to Stay is in the regulations.

    The Immigration Officer has no personal, individual, discrection (choice).

    If you encounter a Problem - as said said before - politely ask to speak to a superior Officer,

    If papers / Visas are correct, one should not be denied entry and there is NO need to pay a "Service Fee".

    Patrick

  21. #21
    FarangRed
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  22. #22
    Have you got any cheese Thetyim's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick
    The Permission to Stay is in the regulations.

    The Immigration Officer has no personal, individual, discrection (choice).
    From the immigration website/;
    "5. Period of Stay: Travellers coming to Thailand with this type of visa will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period not exceeding 30 days."

    "5. PERIOD OF STAY
    Upon arrival, travellers with this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 30 days or 60 days."

    "5. PERIOD OF STAY
    The holders of this type of visa are initially granted a period of stay in the Kingdom not exceeding 90 days"

    The period of stay is decided when you arrive

  23. #23
    Have you got any cheese Thetyim's Avatar
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    And here from the Royal Thai Consulate PNG


    "A Tourist visa is valid for a stay of 60 days. Permission of stay will be granted at the Immigration Checkpoint. The length of stay is subject to the discretion of the Thai Immigration Bureau upon entry into the Kingdom. "

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by pickel View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by oldgit
    Perhaps Mid has been in LOS so long that tea money is the norm for him and just pays?
    Perhaps comprehension isn't your strong point either?
    You are the one not comprehending! I was talking about tea money, not Farangreds' mate, understand now?

  25. #25
    Elite Mumbler
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    ^
    You assumed Mid supports bribing immigration officials, because he merely made a jibe at Patrick for not comprehending the OP.
    My assumption of your comprehension skills still stands.

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