Time to stand in line at CM immigration

[Trujillo]

Any recent knowledge of what time one might turn up at Promenada to stand in line for a one-year extension of visa (and get a number to be served when they open)? 

 

Actual information would be appreciated. 

[beavercreek]

If you have transport; you could get there at 7:30 midweek, then come back in the afternoon.  I got there at 4:30 in late November, and was fifth, behind four line sitters.  Two of the line sitters left without a customer, and they just about live there. So I was third and done at 9:30, and had to wait about 45 minutes to have it in hand.  Door to door, under seven hours...so even with an agent, still will take three hours, at best, including transport.  So save 5000 for chatting with a few interesting people for four hours....It would be ashamed to line up and have TM30 problems.  I would prefer doing a 1040 long, but not by much...

 

Got burned for 240 by red in the middle of the night and listened to his complaints about Uber stealing his livelihood, but got back to Wororat Market for 15 baht on White taxi, by walking 15 minutes to 1007.

Edited January 25, 2018 by beavercreek

[Trujillo]

You arrived at 4:30am in line? 

[Dante99]

1 hour ago, Trujillo said:

You arrived at 4:30am in line? 

No he got there at 4:30pm and finished at 9:30pm.  Immigration has special night time hours for those who qualify for the service.  You need to fill out form TM70 and submit it with your other documents.

[Trujillo]

9:30pm? I don't think so. 

Whatever a TM 70 is, I am sure it doesn't make the people work FIVE HOURS overtime. 

[beavercreek]

1 hour ago, Trujillo said:

You arrived at 4:30am in line? 

Yes, but had I got there at 6:30..I would not have got my passport back until 2 or 3 pm..but if I had wheels, I would have made two trips..but you still risk not getting a number at all, or missing them calling you, if by some cold day in hell they process more before lunch.  I think it has gotten better A) the folks in neighboring provinces now have their own offices for renewals many moved to more friendly provinces C) many gave up and went home. D) quite a few deaths of long timers, too.  But, as stated, use an agent, and it will still be three hours plus, door to door.  Sometimes its the brooders in line, like you go to a bar and wonder why you didn't just stay home and drink alone with better quality people or person, other times you make a few new friends.  IO was in a much better mood this year.  

Edited January 25, 2018 by beavercreek

[elektrified]

Nonsense. I got there at 14:30 and was done and on my way at 15:45.

[beavercreek]

43 minutes ago, elektrified said:

Nonsense. I got there at 14:30 and was done and on my way at 15:45.

not in high season..I was there for TM30 update on November 1..a Tuesday.  At 14:30, you would have been too late for a number to do a 90 day report, they probably would have laughed at you if you had asked about an extension.

Edited January 25, 2018 by beavercreek

[Saraphee]

Dante99 - Does the evening shift operate every evening or only on request?

[Trujillo]

The is no "evening shift." That's fake news. 

The last time I tried for an extension of one-year visa was two years ago. I was there at about 4:30am and did not get a number. 

In at 2:30pm and out by 3:45pm? Maybe for a 90-day, but not for a full visa extension. 

[beavercreek]

1 minute ago, Trujillo said:

The is no "evening shift." That's fake news. 

The last time I tried for an extension of one-year visa was two years ago. I was there at about 4:30am and did not get a number. 

In at 2:30pm and out by 3:45pm? Maybe for a 90-day, but not for a full visa extension. 

That's why there is an ignore list.  It isn't as bad as two years ago, but will still take some time and planning.  They no longer have to send them across town for big boss approval..that added a few hours, right there.  

[Saraphee]

10 minutes ago, Trujillo said:

The is no "evening shift." That's fake news. 

The question to Dante should be regarded as disingenuous parody, as everyone knows it's form TM 77 that you need.

Edited January 25, 2018 by Saraphee

[elektrified]

49 minutes ago, beavercreek said:

not in high season..I was there for TM30 update on November 1..a Tuesday.  At 14:30, you would have been too late for a number to do a 90 day report, they probably would have laughed at you if you had asked about an extension.

I did my extension. I never do 90 day reports in person.

[elektrified]

 

33 minutes ago, Trujillo said:

The is no "evening shift." That's fake news. 

The last time I tried for an extension of one-year visa was two years ago. I was there at about 4:30am and did not get a number. 

In at 2:30pm and out by 3:45pm? Maybe for a 90-day, but not for a full visa extension. 

Wrong! Full visa extension.

[beavercreek]

32 minutes ago, elektrified said:

I did my extension. I never do 90 day reports in person.

Yesterday, legal paper was 8.5 x 15, and today you missed the words HIGH SEASON....maybe you should check the meds and/or the bottle bottoms.  Welcome to my ignore list.

[Dante99]

59 minutes ago, beavercreek said:

Yesterday, legal paper was 8.5 x 15, and today you missed the words HIGH SEASON....maybe you should check the meds and/or the bottle bottoms.  Welcome to my ignore list.

I was there last week at 9:00 am and the place was rather quiet.  Clearly everybody was going to be served, lots of vacant chairs, no line outside.   Really could not call it a high season gridlock at all.  When is high season?

[NancyL]

The OP is not being specific as to what service he is asking about.  I was at Immigration on Wednesday for a retirement extension.  Arrived at 8 am and was number 19 in the queue.  Another person arrived right at 8.30 am as they started to hand out queue numbers and he received one, too.  No point in arriving early.  There were other queues for marriage, tourist and education extensions.  Everyone in those queues at 8.30 am appeared to receive a queue ticket.  No one was turned away unless they had a problem with their documents or were clueless about basic information like their address. 

 

Don't know about the 90 day report queue.  It seemed to be endless, but I presume everyone was served.  I was told to return in the afternoon for processing my retirement extension and when I did, I noticed that the two Imm. officers who handled 90 day reports where sitting under a queue sign that indicated they'd already served 147 people that day

[FolkGuitar]

There appears to be a trade-off going on... at least for Retirement Visa extensions.

Option 1: Arrive at 8am-8:30am, wait for a number, then come back again and wait some more in the afternoon.

Or else, Option 2: arrive very early, wait, but get everything done without needing to make a second trip... or it's alternative of hanging around an empty mall for 5-6 hours.

Neither of these seem particularly appealing.

I'll opt for option 3 - Pay 200 baht for a chair sitter, show up at 8:30 and be home by 10:00

 

 

[Bill97]

Option 4 Go at 230 and take a chance


Sent from my iPod touch using Thaivisa Connect

[Trujillo]

Arrived at 5:30am and was No. 8 for Non-imm O extension. Although a number of officials don't seem to have to show up to work at any given time...some at 8:50, another at 9:20...and some more or less sit there doing nothing most of the time, I was out of there with everything I wanted, including m-reentry permit by 11am. 

 

FYI -- the whole imm shebang will move back to the old digs in April. 

[Sparkles]

No 2 days are the same,dont put your house on how many will arrive on the day you choose.

 

Thats why the online appointment option(excluding 90 days) was so beneficial,albeit from memory only 20 spots available

 

That got diced of course,seemingly never to return, driving many people to Agents. 

 

Doing away with the passport bar code, resulting in abscence of countless photocopies, also down the gurgler with online 90 day reporting not working for many.

 

I use the post for 90 day,always have, but I'm guessing the hordes that turn up to do it at Promenada, clogging up the place, most would not even know the mail in is an option.A simple sign or flyer at the desk would correct that.

 

I just read, while having a coffee out yesterday, City Life's interview,dated October 16 2016 ,with one of the top CM  Imm guys with all sorts of promises for  improving the system.

 

Has anything really changed apart from creating a lot of business for Agents ? Well currently  parking for cars  and access but that will be reversed once the move is made back to the airport address.

 

You would be well advised to try not to be doing business that week or how ever long it takes to move it all back.

 

 

Edited January 26, 2018 by Sparkles

[evenstevens]

1 hour ago, Sparkles said:

No 2 days are the same,dont put your house on how many will arrive on the day you choose.

 

Thats why the online appointment option(excluding 90 days) was so beneficial,albeit from memory only 20 spots available

 

That got diced of course,seemingly never to return, driving many people to Agents. 

 

Doing away with the passport bar code, resulting in abscence of countless photocopies, also down the gurgler with online 90 day reporting not working for many.

 

I use the post for 90 day,always have, but I'm guessing the hordes that turn up to do it at Promenada, clogging up the place, most would not even know the mail in is an option.A simple sign or flyer at the desk would correct that.

 

I just read, while having a coffee out yesterday, City Life's interview,dated October 16 2016 ,with one of the top CM  Imm guys with all sorts of promises for  improving the system.

 

Has anything really changed apart from creating a lot of business for Agents ? Well currently  parking for cars  and access but that will be reversed once the move is made back to the airport address.

 

You would be well advised to try not to be doing business that week or how ever long it takes to move it all back.

 

 

from very recent reports that c.m. immgr dept have improved their services in .most areas to say a year ago.we  still have the complainers as above .but  i guess the c.m immgr dept cannot please everyone a very nice arvo to all

Edited January 26, 2018 by evenstevens

[beavercreek]

4 hours ago, Trujillo said:

Arrived at 5:30am and was No. 8 for Non-imm O extension. Although a number of officials don't seem to have to show up to work at any given time...some at 8:50, another at 9:20...and some more or less sit there doing nothing most of the time, I was out of there with everything I wanted, including m-reentry permit by 11am. 

 

FYI -- the whole imm shebang will move back to the old digs in April. 

Did they mention or check TM30?  

[NancyL]

They definitely looked over and wanted a copy of my TM30 receipt when I did my annual retirement extension this past week at Promenada and sent people up to the 2nd floor to sort out  their TM30 before giving them a queue ticket if they didn't have a TM 30 receipt.

[beavercreek]

6 minutes ago, NancyL said:

They definitely looked over and wanted a copy of my TM30 receipt when I did my annual retirement extension this past week at Promenada and sent people up to the 2nd floor to sort out  their TM30 before giving them a queue ticket if they didn't have a TM 30 receipt.

I would say 30% of those seeking retirement extensions are not in full compliance with TM30.  Do you think more or less, Nancy?

[NancyL]

14 minutes ago, beavercreek said:

I would say 30% of those seeking retirement extensions are not in full compliance with TM30.  Do you think more or less, Nancy?

I would think that number may be a little high based on the number of people sent upstairs ahead of me in the morning queue.  Same thing happened last month when I got a re-entry permit.  People without TM30 receipts were sent upstairs, even those who claimed they had filed, but just didn't have the receipt.  Again, not 30% of the people ahead of me.  More like 20 - 25%.  And  they are checking that the number of your TM6 (departure card) is listed on your TM30 receipt, so you can't show an old receipt if you've re-entered the country and neglected to refile.

 

At this time, they don't check for TM30s if you file your 90 day report in person.  They have done this from time-to-time, however.  Maybe when things are slow.  

[cyberfarang]

Recently went to the new Tian agency upstairs that used to be the G4T for my 90 day report. Arrived at 1.30 afternoon, paid the 300 baht fee, all completed within 15 minutes, even gave me a cup of coffee while I waited.

 

Asked about the retirement extensions, mine due next month, the nice little lady with the big thighs told me for 6900 baht, I get my retirement extension that includes the 1900 baht application fee and four free 90 day reports. Retirement extension process; arrive at the Tian at 10.00am the lady said; all done within 2 hours.

 

I know what side I`m on. If some of you mugs prefer to spend hours hanging about at immigration, fine, but I have better things to do.

Edited January 26, 2018 by cyberfarang

[beavercreek]

As I pointed out..if all goes smoothly, you are still looking at at least three hours, door to door, including travel time.  So you spend 5000 to save four hour, or less..A trip to Prom for a 90?  Even for free not as easy as going to the local PO.  Be.my guest...at 3000 I might have considered, not 5000, though...and next time will be at the airport office, which is much easier.

[NancyL]

10 hours ago, beavercreek said:

As I pointed out..if all goes smoothly, you are still looking at at least three hours, door to door, including travel time.  So you spend 5000 to save four hour, or less..A trip to Prom for a 90?  Even for free not as easy as going to the local PO.  Be.my guest...at 3000 I might have considered, not 5000, though...and next time will be at the airport office, which is much easier.

Yeah, but they don't show films, have a bank, sell electronics or serve nice meals at the "airport" office.  I'm going to miss Promenada, but I'll benefit from the exercise in walking to and from Central Airport Plaza for the same time-killing pursuits. I'd rather plan a "day out" and spend my money with businesses in the mall than give it to a visa agent to do what I'm perfectly capable of doing myself.

[cyberfarang]

40 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Yeah, but they don't show films, have a bank, sell electronics or serve nice meals at the "airport" office.  I'm going to miss Promenada, but I'll benefit from the exercise in walking to and from Central Airport Plaza for the same time-killing pursuits. I'd rather plan a "day out" and spend my money with businesses in the mall than give it to a visa agent to do what I'm perfectly capable of doing myself.

When immigration began preparing premises for the move to Promenada everyone thought the immigration process would flow with ease from then on, lots of waiting room, the Promenada facilities to make their wait more pleasurable, with still the same amount of slots available so that most were certain they would get their business done within a reasonable time without stress and not too much inconvenience. But as we know things didn`t quite work out that way, at first people had to queue outside come rain or shine, they substantially cut the available slots and all this created a bonanza for the agents. Except for now being able to wait inside the building the situation has hardly improved. Remember, it was you that nicknamed this place, the zoo, even apparently sending and trying to encourage us to write to our embassies explaining how bad the situation had become.  But suddenly you have changed your tune, now you are saying going through the immigration process at Promenada is a day out, although there is no disputing Chiang Mai immigration can be the most expensive or most stressful in the whole country.

 

Now prepare yourselves for the second saga, Zoo 2. I guess the new near airport facility will be more involved with the private sector and dealings with agents and the system will sway more of us towards using agents that will be able to charge whatever they feel fit to charge. If you really believe once the new building is in operation applicants will be able to arrive at reasonable times and have a nice stroll around the Airport Plaza into the bargain then you are living in dream land. Wake up, smell the coffee and brace yourselves it`s going to be a rough and much more expensive ride.