What should I expect during a home visit by an immigration officer in Thailand for a marriage-based visa?

Jun 11, 2018
6 years ago
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Good evening everyone,

My husband received a phone call from the immigration officer today saying that he wants to come and interview us and our neighbors šŸ™ˆ anybody had any experience of the immigration officer visited your houses? Thank you so muchšŸ™
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster shares that their husband received a phone call from an immigration officer requesting a home visit for an interview, raising concerns about what to expect. In the comments, others describe similar experiences, noting that home visits typically occur for those applying for extensions based on marriage to a Thai national. It is mentioned that it's common for officers to visit the applicant's residence during the first year of application, sometimes requiring neighbors to act as witnesses. There are discussions on the importance of complying with local regulations and the reasons behind increased immigration scrutiny due to abuse of the visa system by some foreigners.
Tod *********
seeing as this is turning into more of a look how corrupt things are post and the O/P has their answers I'd say we're done. :/

Good Luck.
Tod *********
Quite a few immigration offices either come and visit you at your house OR tell you to bring two neighbors and show up at their office :O

Bangkok doesn't do home visits or tell you to bring neighbors and I don't think Chiang Mai or Jomtien does either.

I know some people who have a visit every year and I know some who have a visit only the very first year they apply for an extension. AFAIK: It only happens when you have an extension based on marriage to a thai or raising half-thai children.

Good Luck, (y) report back and let us know how it goes.
Tod *********
@Farwy ***********
There is no fee to check the papwerwork :/ If they don't give a receipt don't pay.
Tod *********
@Pas***
and I would laugh in their faces IF they tried that. It's their policy and they need to pay their own transportation fee.
Pascal ********
@Farwy ***********
kanchanaburi immigration will call an hour prior to the visit, telling you with how many officers they come, mentioning that they use their own car, and ask you to prepare some envelopes with gas money
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Do you know? When I took my husband to Pathumthani Immigration, not only I had to pay 1900 baht (itā€™s fine) but I had to pay for their service to check the paper work for me!?!?!!!šŸ˜¦ extra 1000 baht. My mother asked if they would give me the receipt but they didnā€™t even look at us. Itā€™s defiantly a corruption!!! We were sooooooo angryšŸ˜” we had to pay 2,900 baht! Every year?????? I canā€™t believe this sigh
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lance ******
thatā€™s nice! You guys are luckyšŸ‘
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Will do
@Tod ********
! Thank you for the information:D
Lance *******
When i asked about changing to extention of stay at pathum Thani they said they would visit. The wife said we stay in an apartment and neighbors change often they told the wife not a problem.
Joseph ********
a day out for them out of the office
Alex *********
Yes it's suppose to be people from the village, who can see you living there.
Thomas *****
This happens very common. If they do not make paper work they do not have a job
Tony ********
@Farwy ***********
in what language were you asking these questions ??
James ********
Sharif Hamid if you have been following recent news of the fraudulent use by foreigners of the Thai marriage visa to gain long term stay in Thailand you would see why Thai Immigration is stepping up their enforcement of rules. Similar problem in the USA with so called fraud of getting Married for the Visa.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sharif Hamid yes at The Pathumthani immigration, the workers their are so rude and not giving me any information. I had to ask them myself. Itā€™s very bad! I was asking them about 90 days report and they do not try to explain šŸ˜ž sooooo frustrating.
Tony ********
Sharif Hamid because it is an easy place to retire to. Most western countries arent going to let you just decide to go and live there indefinitely no matter how many restrictions youre willing to put up with. so many foreigners are abusing their system, no bloody wonder they are checking up on people.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I meant to say ā€œSupport Thai wife visaā€ that what the lady at immigration told me last year. Iā€™m not sure why? šŸ˜…
Lance *******
Pathum Thani are normally very relaxed.
Robert *******
Good opportunity to get to know them better, after Immigration has visited you, make a small bbq and give neighbors a drink.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
yes I assumed itā€™s very strict . I feel bad because I had to ask my mother for help with the neighbors:(
Robert *******
Like the picture, text is almost the same as I described. If your Immigration office is that strict and want to see people as witness that live nearby your house you have no alternative and go ask them to cooperate.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
the officer said it has to be people around your house šŸ˜ž at first I though I could have my friends or my motherā€™s friends but he said it must be neighbors or people around your housešŸ¤Ø
Robert *******
No problem, it does not have to be 2 neighbors, get some friends over. Lots of people do have problems with the correct names, sometimes it take a little longer to get where we both want to be. Enjoy your time with your husband and relax now.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
thank you very much for the clarification. Iā€™m sorry if I didnā€™t explain this clearly. I am just frustrated because I donā€™t know the neighbors and he asked me to get 2 witnesses and copies of their house registrations and ID cards šŸ˜…
Robert *******
Okay, so he applied for the 1 year Extension of Stay based on marriage with a Thai National. If you look in his passport you will see the last stamp it start with Pathumthani Immigration and the next line is: Application of Extension of Stay is under consideration of the immigration bureau and the applicant must contact the immigration again in person on ../../.. (date). You can get a house visit during this period, it is just say hello, picture of him and you with Immigration officer. This to check that your address is correct and you live together as husband and wife. On the last day he visits Immigration with his passport and get 11 more months of stay stamped in his passport.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Robert Lagas I meant when he applied for Non immigrant-O visa initially he did it at Thai embassy in Washington DC. His visa will be expired next week so I took him to the Pathumthani immigration to extend his 1 year visa last week.
Robert *******
Never heard that an Embassy is doing house visits to check the application for a Visa. Immigration called you, at least that is what you wrote down. US Immigration called you? He is not in Thailand so it could not be Thai Immigration.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
he applied from the Thai Embassy in Washington DC
Robert *******
Where did he apply?
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you very much for the advice. I appreciated for your help šŸ™
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
I believe he applied for non Immigrant-O visa with multiple entry visa base on Thai national.
Robert *******
She said this because it is easy to understand. Unfortunately different visa and Extension of Stay called the same name. But they all have different requirements and regulations. I can not see your passport from here, so I have to make sure we're talking about the same thing to give you the correct advice.
Robert *******
Yes, I guess your husband applied for the 1 year Extension of Stay, got 1 month under consideration stamp and Immigration goes around to check if he really is staying on mentioned address and is married and living with his wife.
Steven ***********
@Biff ******
everyone loves a brown nose šŸ˜‚
Biff *******
Things would be so much easier if the correct terminology was used. Obviously not everyone knows the correct terms so we rely on those who do to correct them. Usually without the need to criticise them when they do.
Christopher ***********
@Alex ********
Wow! Thanks for the information.
Alex *********
Yes I have been here for ten years and immigration officer comes every year
Steven ***********
Thanks for the insight.
Robert *******
Thai Wife visa just for your information
@Steven **********
could be 1) Non Immigrant O single entry visa based on married with Thai National 2) Non Immigrant O multiple entry visa based on married with Thai National 3) Extension of Stay based on married with Thai National.
Steven ***********
I'm far less knowledgeable on visa related issued. Hence being member of this awesome group. However I knew exactly what she was talking about with "Thai wife visa" - just saying what I see.
Robert *******
@Steven **********
, Please do a better job in giving advice. You're more than welcome, I shall read them and will not comment that you are pedantic.
Robert *******
Most Immigration offices only make house calls on your first application for Extension of Stay.
Steven ***********
The replies from admin get more and more pedantic everyday.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Will the officer visit him every year too?
Robert *******
New name for me, support "Thai wife visa". It is called an Extension of Stay based on marriage with Thai National. He applies at Immigration, get 1 month under consideration and when he goes back on last day he will get the remaining 11 months of stay in his passport, And yes he has to do this every year.
Farwy ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
My apology. I forgot to mention that he applied for Support ā€œThai wife visaā€ do you know that he will have to visit every year?
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