Is it common to be asked for informal payments when renewing a Thai non-O marriage visa?

Aug 17, 2023
a year ago
Bri ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just been asked for 500bht from I.O. to come out and see if I live at my address, renew non "O" (marriage) visa, I politely declined.

(The office is very busy so we can come out after office hours, can you pay for overtime and fuel? )

Be aware people's it does happen.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the experience of an expat who was asked for a 500 THB payment by an Immigration Officer (I.O.) for a visit to verify residence during the renewal of their non-O (marriage) visa, which they declined. They highlighted the busy nature of the office and shared concerns about potential bribery becoming a habit that escalates over time. Several comments echoed similar experiences, with some suggesting it was better to pay the small amount to avoid future hassle, while others criticized the practice of informal payments. Ultimately, the original poster reported that the I.O. conducted the home visit without any mention of the requested payment, suggesting a positive outcome despite initial concerns.
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Bri ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Update and closing.

I.O. arrived today 3 days after submitting all the paperwork for the Visa (non o marriage)

Same I.O. who ask for tea money.

Not a mention of cash whilst at our house taking photos and more paper work.

All smiles , thank you bye.

I will call you when to come and get your passport stamped.

Thanks for all comments, peace be with you 🙏
Colin *********
@Bri ***
that's good to hear. A polite decline and nothing bad came of it. Being a fairly generous person, though not well off by any means, I might be inclined to offer a small tip if seeing the same I.O. After all, most Thai people are very poorly paid. When going to get the Passport stamped. Declined him/her tea (politely attempted bribe) initially, but part at completion with maybe a smile and goodwill toward future dealings.
Tohksic ******
I applaud you for having a backbone, and also think you're an idiot.😂
Bri ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yippee I'm not an invertebrate.
Paul ********
@Tohksic *****
I will be using your answer many times in the future. Brilliant!
Brown ********
They seriously requested this? TIT right there lmfao
Marty *********
A good reason to extend as a retiree
Gary ************
U just pissed everyone in that office for a lousy $15.
Simon **********
No doubt your application is now glued to the bottom of the pile.
Gary ************
@Simon *********
" It was at this moment, he knew he messed up"
Michael *******
Thailand is a pay to play society. It's ingrained in the culture. For me the pros always outweigh the cons.
Paul ********
@Michael ******
Well said.
Daren *********
It's people who pay lead to the problem in the first place.

I was never asked and I wouldn't have paid.

Wait your turn and don't pay
Colin ********
Probably not even an IO officer but a phone scam.
Kool *******
Let's just hope there are no problems discovered
Shannon ********
Just 500 baht and then have a beer. U might end up making a friend. Lifes short
Gary ************
@Shannon *******
He didn't see the bigger picture.
Coilean *********
@Shannon *******
I like your style Shannon. I only ever had one visit from a police captain who I meet every year for extension renewal a very nice man.
Braulio *********
@Shannon *******
TIT, 500 Bt is a tiny sum to pay.....
Ally ************
@Shannon *******
We did make a friend.. but it didn't cost a flying fart.. though was happy to offer him one.. lol 🤣
Bri ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
You do not have to pay separately for the I.O. to come out and check your address.

The fee for a one year non o visa today was 1,900 bht.

Not the extra 500 bht

If they come out to check or not it's not your fault.

I read here that some pay extra

Why ?

You still get your visa even if you don't line the pockets of crooked I.O.s.
Twiggy ******
I agree. When they drive to the applicant’s house to check, they claim the cost from the government. No need to pay. They cannot do anything but approve when the marriage is real.
George *********
Surely it's up to the government to pay overtime wages
George *********
I wouldnt pay..except by qr code, possibly if I REALLY had to
Martyn ***********
Just pay it... Your card could be marked for hassle next time.
Oliver ********
Bargain.
Jo **********
about 12 hrs before they come eat about 750 grams of beans and onions. then when come they will wiff your acky and not come back
Andrew ***********
@Jo *********
is that what you normally do lol
Jo **********
@Andrew **********
i load up on things like beans, cabbage and onions so me can make poo poo sound
Andrew ***********
@Jo *********
well all I can say is good for you, I just hope you don't follow thru lol
Steve *******
@Jo *********
FFS! How old are you, 12?
Jo **********
@Steve ******
yes and happy not take myself too seriously.
Steve *******
@Jo *********
And nobody else takes a 12 year old seriously!
Jo **********
@Steve ******
anyone who takes them so seriously is unlikeable.
Mark ******
Video call on Line
Colin *********
Ask for an official Immigration receipt if they want to do that
Paul *******
@Colin ********
In this particular case, yes.
Paul *******
@Colin ********
Bribery is common in at least half the world's countries. That's not a "tiny number".
Colin *********
@Paul ******
ok, so it is better to pay up you reckon?
Bri ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin ********
for the last 5 years no problems.

A new I.O. starts and asking for tea money.

We all know the amount starts small then gets more every year.

No thanks.
Daniel **********
@Colin ********
are you serious?
Colin *********
@Daniel *********
would they continue this kind of bribery if everyone asked for an official receipt? As someone else said, 'keep feeding the beast' and it will only get worse, they will keep wanting more.
Paul *******
@Colin ********
Yawn. It's Asia. Just pay and stop whining. It's part of the culture here. I'd rather pay something and be left alone.
Colin *********
@Paul ******
"part of the culture"...because it's allowed to be. All but Thailand or a tiny number of countries, you pay the official fees and that's it.

"Pay something and be left alone"...until the next bribe!
Ally ************
What people seem to forget.. is that if you feed the habit then that habit eventually gets bigger and more expensive over time.. what starts out as a few hundred bht soon becomes a few thousand and so on.. paying back-handers to IO's that are effectively scamming you is making a rod for your own back.. as well as everyone else that uses the immigration service.. they already use a process that makes you apply and then re-apply for what is effectively the same visa.. spinning you in circles until you are glad to pay anything they ask just to get to the end of the process.. the system could easily be streamlined to make it more efficient and less expensive to run.. with much better turnaround times and greater uniformity nationally.. but this would destroy the ability of IO's to 'moonlight' and make it difficult for said corrupticians to serve the agents that need some flexibility.. the shadow industry of profiting from non-qualifying visa applicants would be eradicated.. but that is clearly not an important objective for the authorities.. imo the current system is designed to maximize revenue before finally allowing somebody to hold a long term visa.. and is abused wherever there is extra money to be made!
Paul ********
@Ally ***********
This explanation while it has some merit, reminds me of the old saying, “don’t let your search for perfection prevent you from achieving the merely good.”

Even with alleged corruption issues, Thailand is a far better place to live than the alternatives.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Don’t try to boil the ocean. Thailand is here for us to take or leave as it is. More than many other places, foreigners meddling in politics here is more than frowned upon.
Dennis ***********
@Ally ***********
So TRUE, The TAT ministry should open up the antiquated VISA restrictions,one should be able to appply for a 6 mth-1 yr tourist visa at a economical cost and remove the 60 day need (for visa runs to Cambodia etc0 just have a 90 day reporting at he nearest Imm Office where ypou are in during your travels
Jeffrey *********
@Ally ***********
Well said sir.. 👍
Scott ********
Gio *****
@Ally ***********
totally agree with you
Ross ********
Leslie *********
Never had to pay this for 5 years
Gianni ******
You pay for a thai wife (🤣🤣🤣)

And you dont wanna pay few quid to an innocent genuine naive thai officer.
Justin ***********
Gianni Tela innocent … naive ???? Whhahaha
Bri ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gianni *****
pay for Thai wife ??
Paul ********
In Thailand when you say, “ha ha, I win,” for sure you not win.
Vic *********
A no brainer, pay it.
John *********
FFS 500 baht! Pay it.
John ********
My friend had to pay 5000thb
Peter *******
500 for a quick sign off i would have gone for it
Mitchell *******
John *******
Then wait a few weeks in line.
Nigel *********
Second one today. Just tell them not to stress and come out when it suits them. Or just do it via line app.
Nigel *********
@John ******
yep. Nothing bad will happen whilst under consideration. No rush.
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