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.