Time for the annual pilgrimage to renew my retirement visa.
The immigration office has always been a busy place; and recent reports of a dramatic increase in visa applications meant that it was likely that my visit would be something of an ordeal. I needed a plan.
Yesterday I went down to the office to pick up the necessary form and have my photo taken. It was mid-afternoon and the place was like a zoo. Frantic foreigners in varying states of undress and of limited personal hygiene were jostling for position around a harassed official who seemed to be advising all of them to “come back tomorrow”. Unpleasant.
Then off to the bank. For a retirement visa you have to prove you can support yourself by either having a lump of cash in the bank, or a proven income. In previous years I have gone the proven income route and this has required me to hand over an obscene amount of money to the British consulate for a letter confirming my pension. This year I decided to go the lump of cash route, partly because I was sick of paying nearly 2,000 baht for a piece of paper, but also because the consulate here has shut down and I would have to go to the Embassy in Bangkok to arrange the letter; no thank you.
Instead I went to the bank where 100 baht bought me a letter confirming my bank balance and a nice smile from the cashier who wanted to sell me an investment. Not now dear, I have a visa to arrange.
Back home to photocopy my passport, bank book, house book and anything else they could possibly ask for, and gather everything together, ready for a dawn raid.
The immigration office opens at 0830. I planned to be there at 0800 this morning, but found myself outside the door at 0750. I was not the only one with the come early strategy, there were already ten people in front of me. The office very kindly opens their doors shortly after 0800, so we can sit inside in the aircon and wait. I had ticket number four in the retirement visa queue and amused myself for twenty minutes watching the place fill up. By 0830 the place was rammed to the doors and would likely remain so for the rest of the day.
By 0840 my number had been called and a young lady checked my documents and as usual found something extra I needed to copy. Then on to the first level checking man who then passes everything to the second level checking man who highlights everything with the yellow highlighter of doom and hands out the little red plastic token which I can exchange for my completed passport this afternoon.
I was out the door before 0900 (as was the queue by this time) and home for coffee with she who must be obeyed who pretended to be pleased that she was stuck with me for yet another year.
Respect to the staff at the immigration office who are always polite and helpful in an environment which is not one I would wish to work in.
Comments 🔗
2013-02-19| Grant saysHearty congratulations on your annual sleight-of-hand, well done! Try getting past the dull thud plods at LAX in that sort of time. “Homeland Security” old chap, the anally retentive last refuge of the scoundrel (used to be “patriotism…”)
2013-02-19| Jock saysCongrats Spike … you´ve obviously got the process down pat … please pass on my sympathies to SWMBO …
2013-02-20| Wally saysFor those readers who are not yet aware, Key Visa Co on Soi LK Metro will obtain the annual extension letter from the British Embassy on your behalf. Their fee for this service is Baht 300, plus of course the ridiculously high Embassy fee.
2013-02-20| Grant saysClearly you are nowt but a satisfied customer Wally, and this ringing endorsement comes entirely clear of any faint tint of commercial imperitive?
2013-02-21| Wally saysI have not yet had the need to use their services. Just passing on, hopefully useful, info for others.
2013-02-21| Spike saysIt’s a good deal. Would cost way more than 300 baht to make your own way to Bangkok, let alone suffering the hassle and mind-numbing bureaucracy of the British Embassy.