New Visa Agency at Promenada Mall

[jak2002003]

4 hours ago, NancyL said:

I am no longer president or on the Board of CEC, so any assumption that I am cheerleading for their sponsors is totally out-of-line.

What is CEC?

 

No idea about people being of Boards of anything or sponsoring immigration.

 

 

[Thailand]

2 hours ago, Dante99 said:

The old airport office was to small to add staff and Prominada suffers the same problem.  The new offices will have much larger space so staff can be effectively added.  It only takes about 3 or 4 new service stations to significantly improve service.  Add two each to retirement and 90 day reporting and you have doubled the service and cut waits in half.  Those two seem to be the bottlenecks.

 

The systems certainly could be better but are really not that bad now for most things.  The hang ups mostly come from unprepared people coming for service and people coming in to bla bla bla wanting to know exactly what the rules are or whatever rather than doing their business and getting out.  

 

To think that they are building a much larger facility with no plans to improve service is a stretch.

 

You want to bitch about parking, you are barking up the wrong tree, it sucks almost everywhere in Thailand.  You want state of the art IT, you came to the wrong place and should have known it.  You want to make Thailand into Michigan good luck with that windmill.

 

 

The obvious solution but adding those personnel to the two cash cows would be unlikely.

[ThaiPauly]

I really don't think that there is any need for posters to be known as agent bashers or line bashers.

 

We are stuck with only two possibilities when it comes to our visas.

 

Line up early and don't pay for the services of an agent

 

Pay an agent to line up on your behalf and you just make a cameo appearance and off you go.

 

All my friends do one or the other, we discuss it but we don't fall out over our various ways of obtaining our visas

 

EACH TO HIS OWN.

 

This is an argument that nobody can win. Some say you are making it worse by lining up early, others say you are making it worse by paying agents. Either way Immigration wins.

 

Thats it my friends, "to pay or not to pay that is the question"

 

There will be no solution on this thread, so why bother?.

 

 

 

 

 

[scottiejohn]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Seems so trivial for people to complain about 90 day reports.

I think you will find that the majority of complaints on this thread are about how the various reports/submissions and applications have to be made rather than the individual (90 day) reports etc; themselves.

 

PS; I think everyone would agree that both TM30 & 90 day is excessive, one or the other, or if possible neither as the address for long stay is on other forms etc.

[ThaiPauly]

The amount of paperwork we have to generate is astounding.

 

They must need an aircraft hanger to store it all, or maybe they burn it all once a year, hence the burning season, it's not the farmers at all it's all the documentation we have generated going up in smoke!!!

[KiChakayan]

1 hour ago, ThaiPauly said:

I really don't think that there is any need for posters to be known as agent bashers or line bashers.

 

We are stuck with only two possibilities when it comes to our visas.

 

Line up early and don't pay for the services of an agent

 

Pay an agent to line up on your behalf and you just make a cameo appearance and off you go.

 

All my friends do one or the other, we discuss it but we don't fall out over our various ways of obtaining our visas

 

EACH TO HIS OWN.

 

This is an argument that nobody can win. Some say you are making it worse by lining up early, others say you are making it worse by paying agents. Either way Immigration wins.

 

Thats it my friends, "to pay or not to pay that is the question"

 

There will be no solution on this thread, so why bother?.

Using an agent to me is just plain common sense. It is a win win win case.

 

a) I spend a minimum of time confronting IOs in various states of stress, contempt, confusion, insecurity, etc. and can enjoy my time eating cake, croissants and sip coffee.

The agent has a job and makes good money.

c) The IO can process half a dozen of files in hour instead of one or two, and doesn't have to interiorize his great contempt for all Frangs.

 

Yes I dish out the money, but the going rate is 3 or 4 thousand Bahts, gotta be kidding, some guys may become really mean with old age. Remember some people have paid up to 2 million bahts for Thailand elite who are just a glorified Visa Agent.

 

[Dante99]

2 hours ago, ThaiPauly said:

 

 

We are stuck with only two possibilities when it comes to our visas.

 

Line up early and don't pay for the services of an agent

 

Pay an agent to line up on your behalf and you just make a cameo appearance and off you go.

 

 

 

 

If you read enough posts in immigration topics you will find that there is a significant number of people who found and use another alternative which is free and reasonably effective.

 

I shall not give details but rather let you find them for yourself if interested.

[ThaiPauly]

Not really interested mate

[Dante99]

That is what I thought.  There are many people who have negative views posted here who really are most concerned with maintaining those views rather than finding a better way.  It is like a club of some sort.  Like you said "Each to his own."

 

Incidentally the large volume of paper you refer to is sold for recycle not burned, but continue to let your imagination run wild, Nancy appreciated it.

[worgeordie]

2 hours ago, Dante99 said:

If you read enough posts in immigration topics you will find that there is a significant number of people who found and use another alternative which is free and reasonably effective.

 

I shall not give details but rather let you find them for yourself if interested.

That must be the Priority queue ,that you don't want others to know about ,or am

I assuming too much.

regards worgeordie

[Genericnic]

3 hours ago, Dante99 said:

If you read enough posts in immigration topics you will find that there is a significant number of people who found and use another alternative which is free and reasonably effective.

 

I shall not give details but rather let you find them for yourself if interested.

At least in terms of extending a retirement visa yes, I know it is really extending my permission to stay), it requires an in-person visit to immigration - with the limited exception of handicapped patients or persons with disabilities (see the note on the new TM 7 form). How you get to the proper desk is limited. You can do it using an agent or you can stand in line, take a number, etc. If there is another way, I have yet to see it in action or hear about it. If you know a legal way to do it, please share. You would make many of the TV readers very happy.

 

As for the alternatives you mentioned being "reasonably effective," I'm curious to know what you mean. When it comes to my legal status in the Kingdom, I prefer effective, i.e. properly and formally done, as opposed to reasonably effective. 

 

David

 

[Dante99]

The results are the same, proper and legal.  It is the process that is reasonably effective meaning that it is not 100% guaranteed but probably more than 90%.

 

If TV members wanted to be happy, they easily can, and about Immigration requirements.  Many prefer to suffer their own bitching and moaning.

[thaibeachlovers]

7 minutes ago, Dante99 said:

The results are the same, proper and legal.  It is the process that is reasonably effective meaning that it is not 100% guaranteed but probably more than 90%.

 

If TV members wanted to be happy, they easily can, and about Immigration requirements.  Many prefer to suffer their own bitching and moaning.

If not willing to explain it is a pointless post apparently intended to annoy.

[chuang]

Stop whinnying....

[BuddyDean]

On 11/16/2017 at 6:05 PM, ThaiPauly said:

The amount of paperwork we have to generate is astounding.

 

They must need an aircraft hanger to store it all, or maybe they burn it all once a year, hence the burning season, it's not the farmers at all it's all the documentation we have generated going up in smoke!!!

I hope they burn it.  I am going on six years with the same photos.  Very detail oriented law enforcement, indeed.

[Bill97]

I hope they burn it.  I am going on six years with the same photos.  Very detail oriented law enforcement, indeed.

Surely much better if they demanded new photos every time y o u Came in.


Sent from my iPod touch using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Bill97]

If not willing to explain it is a pointless post apparently intended to annoy.

Annoying oneself is quite popular here. Some even claim that it is others annoying them rather than accepting the truth that being annoyed is their chosen response.


Sent from my iPod touch using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Mark1066]

On 11/15/2017 at 11:42 AM, NancyL said:

Hah, they need more Chinese signs in front of the place if the goal is to get the Chinese punters out of the queues and upstairs paying someone to fills out the forms for them.  Instead, all I saw were old white men who didn't want to wait in queues and wanted young Thai women to fuss over them, i.e. the usual G4T customers.

You're making yourself look quite ridiculous with these comments. I'm neither particularly old nor white and my wife comes with with me for extensions based on marriage (for obvious reasons). I'm not in the least bit interested in whether the people assisting me are young or old, male or female, as long as they get the job done. It's not simply a question of waiting in queues when it comes to applying for an extension of stay - I'd have to get up at some unholy hour and spend the best part of a day at Promenada. I'd also have to ask my wife to take time off work to be there at some unspecified time and I don't want to make life difficult for her. Why is it so difficult for you to understand that some people lead active lives here and value their time more than you value yours? If I can spend around $120 to save myself waiting around for 5-6 hours, I consider that money well spent. My time is worth far more than $20 an hour. Perhaps yours isn't.

[triffid]

On 11/15/2017 at 4:42 PM, Genericnic said:

Just a quick report on the new agency that replaced G4T. 

 

Was time for me to do my retirement extension and multi-entry permit. Stopped by today to check their prices. All their listed prices are inclusive of the immigration office fees. 

 

The retirement extension was 6,900 baht which was a 2,000 baht increase over what G4T charged if I remember correctly. The fee also includes 4 90-day reports as well. Useless for me since I am in and out of the country often but might be useful for others. I asked about the increase and the staff person said that the new owner had raised the fee. The fee for the multi-entry permit was 4,300 baht which, from what I remember from last year, was the same. I decided to do the multi-entry permit on my own.

 

The retirement extension went smoothly. I arrived about 2:30 p.m. I had filled in and printed out the TM 7 that I had used last year. In their review, they noticed that it was the prior version of the form and filled out the current version for me. The took my passport, all the documents, and money and went around the corner on the second floor to where you file  your TM 30 forms. I waited about 20 minutes and then they came and asked me to follow them. Went around the corner. They took my picture and handed me my passport with the extension. All told, in and out in less than an hour. Was it worth the fee? For me it was. I would have been happier with last years fee but the convenience of not having to come back, not having to queue up to get a number, and not having to wait in line it was worth it. 

 

So, I took the new extension, went down stairs and got copies to add to the TM 8, had a brief wait, and was out with the multi-entry permit in about 10 minutes. 

 

Overall, it was less than 2 hours for my once a year visit to immigration. 

 

Miss the lower fees from G4T but hard to beat the service.

 

David

 

p.s. I have attached a PDF file of the new TM 7.

 

 

form_tm7_2017.pdf

Hullo David

Just to be absolutely sure, may I verify that their visa extension fee was 6,900 baht all-in, to include immigration fee, any accompanying copy-making, photos, etc,  as well as four subsequent 90-day notices? (Which leaves only the re-entry visas/fees - I can do those myself at the airport when departing Thailand).

[Genericnic]

3 minutes ago, triffid said:

Hullo David

Just to be absolutely sure, may I verify that their visa extension fee was 6,900 baht all-in, to include immigration fee, any accompanying copy-making, photos, etc,  as well as four subsequent 90-day notices? (Which leaves only the re-entry visas/fees - I can do those myself at the airport when departing Thailand).

@triffid

 

That is correct. The 6,900 baht fee was inclusive of the extension fee and the 90-day notices.

 

David

 

[JimGant]

Quote

That is correct. The 6,900 baht fee was inclusive of the extension fee and the 90-day notices.

I wonder if they give a discount if you don't want the 90 day notice service (online or mail has worked just fine for me, and saves me a trip to town)?

[triffid]

10 minutes ago, Genericnic said:

@triffid

 

That is correct. The 6,900 baht fee was inclusive of the extension fee and the 90-day notices.

 

David

 

Thanks. This together with the 2 hours in & out time for everything from start to passport-delivery makes for an unbeatable service, I think. I shall use them.

 

By the way, if I'm not mistaken the 90-day notice can be done at any immigration office in Thailand, if one is nearer than Promenada, even if one's residence is in Chiangmai. Am I mistaken? (I know many years ago I did it in Udon or thereabouts though I wasn't living in Isaan.)

[Genericnic]

2 minutes ago, triffid said:

Thanks. This together with the 2 hours in & out time for everything from start to passport-delivery makes for an unbeatable service, I think. I shall use them.

 

By the way, if I'm not mistaken the 90-day notice can be done at any immigration office in Thailand, if one is nearer than Promenada, even if one's residence is in Chiangmai. Am I mistaken? (I know many years ago I did it in Udon or thereabouts though I wasn't living in Isaan.)

Not sure about the 90-day notices. I am in and out of the country so often I haven't had to do one in about 3 years.

 

David

 

[triffid]

1 minute ago, Genericnic said:

Not sure about the 90-day notices. I am in and out of the country so often I haven't had to do one in about 3 years.

 

David

 

I shall check with them if there is a time limit by when the four 90 notice service must be availed. That could be relevant to me as I too am out of Thailand a bit though not necessarily within a 90 day period.

[JimGant]

Quote

Thanks. This together with the 2 hours in & out time for everything from start to passport-delivery makes for an unbeatable service, I think. I shall use them.

I think it would have been well under an hour, had he paid the extra 500 baht service fee to obtain his multi-entry permit, rather than doing it himself. In any event, certainly well worth the cost, to erase the possibility of standing around for hours, and to be able to show up at your leisure, and not early morning. Just hope the same service is available when they move back to the airport -- and that adequate parking also exists.

[buddhalady]

Seems to me this thread is yet another prime example of exactly where the so-called expat ‘community in CM is heading.

 

Whatever expats’ preferences are as regards using or not using a visa agent as well as which of several to use, one thing’s for certain – criticising anyone who’s used their time and commitment to the community in an attempt to make things easier for expatriates demonstrates a very poor standard of behaviour.

 

Whatever your personal feelings about Nancy, she fought for the expat community to the detriment of her own position with the immigration authorities, not a comfortable position to be in and one which the vast majority of posters on this forum wouldn’t have the sheer guts to take on in the first place.

 

I’ve used am efficient British-run visa agency ever since my late husband got caught up in the CMU fiasco at a time when he was in poor health. His student visa renewal was due, and he’d used the former ‘president’ of CEC’s sidekick to deal with his application as he’d wanted to continue studying Thai. The sidekick said everything was fine, but immigration gave him 7 days to leave despite his health problems. My appeal to the immigration officer was not well received. The mess got sorted in the end, the sidekick was dumped and I swore I would never make a personal application to immigration again.

 

I’d have loved to have had someone like Nancy to call and at least get some straight answers, It’s sad that immigration seem to have it in for Nancy for simply doing her best for the expat community, such a it is, and posters on this forum should also remember the work she’s done and is still doing with Lanna Care Net. Right now, expats need all the help they can get on many issues, and it isn’t likely to get any easier.

 

Perhaps those who’re criticising Nancy would like to put their best feet forward to help the expat community? No? - thought not!

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, triffid said:

Hullo David

Just to be absolutely sure, may I verify that their visa extension fee was 6,900 baht all-in, to include immigration fee, any accompanying copy-making, photos, etc,  as well as four subsequent 90-day notices? (Which leaves only the re-entry visas/fees - I can do those myself at the airport when departing Thailand).

That is correct as at the time I asked them recently.

[Mark1066]

43 minutes ago, buddhalady said:

Seems to me this thread is yet another prime example of exactly where the so-called expat ‘community in CM is heading.

 

 

 

Whatever expats’ preferences are as regards using or not using a visa agent as well as which of several to use, one thing’s for certain – criticising anyone who’s used their time and commitment to the community in an attempt to make things easier for expatriates demonstrates a very poor standard of behaviour.

 

 

 

Whatever your personal feelings about Nancy, she fought for the expat community to the detriment of her own position with the immigration authorities, not a comfortable position to be in and one which the vast majority of posters on this forum wouldn’t have the sheer guts to take on in the first place.

 

 

 

I’ve used am efficient British-run visa agency ever since my late husband got caught up in the CMU fiasco at a time when he was in poor health. His student visa renewal was due, and he’d used the former ‘president’ of CEC’s sidekick to deal with his application as he’d wanted to continue studying Thai. The sidekick said everything was fine, but immigration gave him 7 days to leave despite his health problems. My appeal to the immigration officer was not well received. The mess got sorted in the end, the sidekick was dumped and I swore I would never make a personal application to immigration again.

 

 

 

I’d have loved to have had someone like Nancy to call and at least get some straight answers, It’s sad that immigration seem to have it in for Nancy for simply doing her best for the expat community, such a it is, and posters on this forum should also remember the work she’s done and is still doing with Lanna Care Net. Right now, expats need all the help they can get on many issues, and it isn’t likely to get any easier.

 

 

 

Perhaps those who’re criticising Nancy would like to put their best feet forward to help the expat community? No? - thought not!

 

I'm not sure I understand your point. Are you saying that anybody who has at some point attempted to help others should be given carte blanche to make offensive generalisations based on their own prejudices whenever they feel like it?

[scottiejohn]

36 minutes ago, Mark1066 said:

Whatever your personal feelings about Nancy, she fought for the expat community to the detriment of her own position with the immigration authorities

And probably to the detriment of the rest of the Expat community who rely on the Immigration Department.  If she had kept her nose out of it there is every chance that many  improvements/change of practices may have taken place but by badgering people to the extent she has it is only natural (especially in Thailand) that the Imm department upper staff just dug in and would not allow themselves to be seen to "give in" to a farang, woman.

 

PS;  The above in no way detracts from the other splendid works that NancL no doubt carries out in the CM community.

[Mark1066]

17 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

And probably to the detriment of the rest of the Expat community who rely on the Immigration Department.  If she had kept her nose out of it there is every chance that many  improvements/change of practices may have taken place but by badgering people to the extent she has it is only natural (especially in Thailand) that the Imm department upper staff just dug in and would not allow themselves to be seen to "give in" to a farang, woman.

 

PS;  The above in no way detracts from the other splendid works that NancL no doubt carries out in the CM community.

My feelings exactly (although you seem to have quoted me by mistake)