Pattaya Immigration - submitting the 90-day address report

[Jun]

When I had to physically go to immigration, I tried to ask why my reports have been getting rejected, but all I got was annoyed, gruff responses that told me nothing.

They're hardly going to say "if we were efficient, no one would use agencies and we get no tea money".

Although, it does look like that's exactly how they operate.

[Gaybutton]

They're hardly going to say "if we were efficient, no one would use agencies and we get no tea money".

I don't know why not. The clerks dealing with the applicants are hardly the ones who would be benefiting from tea money. I would think, if tea money truly is involved, they would resent not getting any of it or getting extremely little. If they are resentful about their jobs, so be it, but don't take it out on me.

[Jun]

Just imagine if you or I were stuck in a job where the objective was to be as useless as possible, in order to drive customers to the agencies. We might just struggle to get any satisfaction out of that.

As for whether or not tea money is involved, well we know the agencies can get visas even for people who don't meet the requirements. For a fee.

[Gaybutton]

I don't disagree, but I'm hoping that since this time my online submission was approved it will stay that way and I won't have to deal with those clerks again, much less actually have to go to immigration.

If they really are trying to get people to use the agencies, the system they have now is a good way to do it. Before they came up with this, the only requirement to submit the address report via a trip to immigration was to get a queue number, wait your turn, and the agent would simply remove your old receipt from your passport and staple in the new one. Most of the time I would be in and out in less than 5 minutes.

Now it takes forever just to get a queue number. When it is called, now you have to have several pages of paperwork along with a TM-30 receipt in your passport. If anything is lacking, no service until you have what they want. Once they accept your passport and documents. now you have to wait until they have an armload of passports which they take to another office. It's a good 20 minute wait until they are back with the passports and new receipts - and you wait again until they call your number to take your passport. What used to usually take less than 5 minutes now takes 45 minutes to an hour. Good luck if there is a crowd and you have any questions for the clerks.

If I'm lucky the only times I'll have to personally go to immigration will be once a year to extend my retirement visa and go again the next day to pick up my passport.

[2lz2p]

After I received my new passport, I didn't want the hassle of going to Immigration to get the stamps changed and to do my 90 day report (if new passport the next 90 day report cannot be done online). I also have some mobility issues, so I decided to use an agent.

I waited until my 90 day report was about due and used an agent recommended to me by a friend to do both. If tea money is involved, it can't be too much as the agent (VIP Visa) did both very cheaply. VIP Visa's fees were 500 baht for the stamp transfer and 300 baht for the 90 day report (I mistyped that in my earlier post and said their fee was 200 instead 300 baht for the 90 day report).

The drawback to using an agent is it will take two trips to their office - the first to deliver your passport and pay their fee (I didn't have to fill out any forms or make copies, they did want me write my current address on a piece of paper) - this took about 15 minutes - and then come back to pick it up with the 90 day report receipt. But even so, less time is spent with minimal paperwork.

[Gaybutton]

I also have some mobility issues, so I decided to use an agent.

Some of these agents offer free transportation to and from their office. Check with the agency.

[Jun]

If tea money is involved, it can't be too much as the agent (VIP Visa) did both very cheaply. VIP Visa's fees were 500 baht for the stamp transfer and 300 baht for the 90 day report (I mistyped that in my earlier post and said their fee was 200 instead 300 baht for the 90 day report).

You're entitled to that.
I suspect the tea money only gets serious if you want someting you're not entitled to.
A couple of years ago, I was quoted about 14,000 for a retirement visa, without needing the 800k in a bank acvount for a period of time.
Or approximately 22,000 for a covid extension, which I didn't actually qualify for.

Also, several boys have told me they're paying 1000~1500 for VIP service at Aranya Prathet, so they can spend most of the year in Pattaya without questions being asked.
The same border has a deliberate go slow, so the queue to be stamped in lasts about 2.5 hours. For those who don't want to wait, there's VIP service, for a fee.

[2lz2p]

I also have some mobility issues, so I decided to use an agent.

Some of these agents offer free transportation to and from their office. Check with the agency.

Transport was not an issue - I have a double cab pickup and a driver to take me where I want to go. I didn't want to spend time at Immigration Office, thus using the agent even though it involved two trips was more convenient and less time consuming.

[2lz2p]

Online 90 day report is still working for me. I received notice that it was coming due, submitted the online report, and received approval notice. Emails received:

Tue, Jan 14, 9:12 AM - Notification for alien before the next appointment

Mon, Jan 20, 5:31 PM - FORM FOR ALIEN TO NOTIFY OF STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS RECEIVED

Thu, Jan 23, 5:10 PM - FORM FOR ALIEN TO NOTIFY OF STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS HAS BEEN APPROVED

[Dodger]

I just did my 90 day reporting on Thursday.

Went in person as always. Arrived at 8:10 AM...only a few people in line in front of me when they opened the counter at 8:30 AM...turned in my papers/passport...took a seat...chatted with a farang and his cute son sitting next to me for 15 minutes...they called my number...and I was out of there. Total time spent at immigration = 35 minutes.

I usually plan 45 minutes...don't mind the visit at all.