TB Immigration Info Letter No 003/23: Immigration Ratchaburi – Year Extension with Visa Support Letter
Notifier: Pieter
I was at the immigration office in Ratchaburi on Wednesday 11-01-2023 and was annoyed that you have to have the visa support letter checked at the head office in Bangkok Wattana. This can only be done via the internet make an appointment on 17-01-2023 I have an appointment. But then I have 3 days left. That was no problem, but he gave me an envelope with contents. He himself thought of 5000 baht and this is the big boss here from the immigration office in Ratchaburi.
I have been making my visa here for more than 6 years. What he also said is that it is a new rule from 01-10-2022. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Whether I'm going to pay 5000 baht to, I don't know yet, I don't think so.
Reaction RonnyLatYa
Isn't it legalizing your Visa Support Letter instead of checking at the head office in Bangkok?
As I often give as advice, it is never a good idea to wait until the last days to extend. You have at least 30 days. You don't lose anything with that in terms of stay and they can't threaten you with 5000 Baht because you will then be in overstay.
I don't know what new rule that could be. I am not aware that there would be any new rules, except that the Visa Exemption on that day has temporarily gone to 45 days and this until March 31. But that has nothing to do with your stay. Or maybe he means that now that visa letter has to be legalized from that day on. But that might be a local rule they put in place. So I'm just curious about that new rule that would have been introduced.
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I experienced almost the same thing in Jomtien 4 years ago. The immigration officer wanted me to translate the visa support letter in Bangkok. That was according to him and my rebuttal was useless. But it could be bought off against a payment of 4000 including the legal costs. Pure money laundering.
Corruption.
In mid-November 2022, I applied for my one-year extension of my NON-O marriage in Chiang Rai, also with the visa support letter. Very good, friendly and correct help and no legalization, as discussed above, is required.
Indeed, Immigration in Chiang Rai is correct and friendly.
I assume that it is indeed meant that the letter of support from the embassy is legalized at the foreign affairs office. This is also on Cheang Wattana.
There are of course costs associated with this, but in no case thb 5.000.
I did my one-year extension in Bangkok in December 2022, and had my visa support letter legalized at Foreign Affairs, this has been checked by Immigration for some time, the costs for legalization are THB 200, and can then be picked up the next day or have it sent by post , for express legalization the costs are 400 Thb., and can then be picked up a few hours later, please note that the time for express return is from 8.30 - 9.30 am
Legalization will cost you 200 bht, you can have this letter sent to your home address with EMS costs around 50 bht VIP is 400 bht, return the same day, in both cases make an appointment.
Send to Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Didn't know this was possible but am very curious about more info. Can this be done by mail or pee post. Which (mail).address. please more info.
Why would you pay that they can all speak english and all you have to do at immigration is everything in english
Legalization has nothing to do with the language either.
That it has to be translated is exceptional and seems to me more to extort an amount.
But you are there if it is demanded of course.
Or in any way other than proving your financial side.
And otherwise you might be on the other side of the border within a month
Who has a link or other info for making an appointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for legalization visa support letter from Embassy.
Send them an email with the question
https://www.mfa.go.th/en/publicservice/5d5bcc2615e39c306000a328?cate=5d5bcb4e15e39c30600068d3
E-mail : [email protected]
Making an appointment at foreign affairs in Bangkok is not really necessary. You can also just walk in with your documents. The point is that you have to wait longer until it's your turn. But if you have an appointment and it is after your stay period has expired, it is worth it.
What should I do with your response. I don't need that info because I don't need to be there.
The last time was 20 years ago before my marriage
What does he ask?
Info if he can make an appointment and I only answer that with an email address where he can get info.
I'm not claiming that it can't be done without an appointment.
One more thing about your response
“But if you have an appointment and it is after your period of stay has expired, it is worth it.”
Then you know that you are in the country illegally when your period of residence has expired, right?
You are then in Overstay. You will be arrested there for the same…..
Very clever, going to such authorities as illegal.
well,
I already mentioned a few years ago that the visa support letter from the embassy only had a black logo on the top, even then in Chiang Mai, several people came to look at it, first the boss, then the boss of the boss and then the boss of the boss, boss and he decided it could go on.
This is of course not possible, according to the law on commerce, a document must have an invoice, quotation or official document, a name, address and Chamber of Commerce number and the Dutch Embassy does not specify anything, now it says something more up, but in my opinion, still not enough.
This causes problems with immigration.
Just a colored letterhead and many Dutch lions on it and several stamps.
Please Dutch Embassy, listen to your sponsors.
Laksi
Don't get Laksi. “My” visa support letter has had a neat blue icon with the well-known crown with a lion head on the left and right for 5 years in a row. The stamp and signature are also 'wet' (original) and blue. I always have to hand in THIS original for my annual renewal (Imm. Korat). So no copy. It looks like someone is copying that letter ♂️. Assuming you don't work through an agent?
Chiang Mai immigration has no problem with the Dutch income support letter. After a bad experience in Jomtien, 4 times now without any problems in Chiang Mai. The last time was 4 weeks ago.