Long day at Chaengwattana May 8th 2019

arrived 8:30am got que #74 to apply for my annual retirement extension (5th one here). Looked to me like about the normal crowd for a Wednesday. My number was not called until 1:30 pm L counter. 1st officer checked my paperwork and issued me 3 new documents to fill out and told me not to fill them out until I was with the next officer, she then issued me a que  for a different counter L39. About 30 minutes later I was called to this counter. Filled out the 3 new documents in front of this officer as she looked through my application, they were a notice of penalties for overstay, a notice of visa limitations and a notice of penalties for violations of visa.

Was then given a 4th document to sign with the new extension rules on it.

everything now good was told to go to the que counter and get a que number for counter b and given another document (2pages) to fill out and told to draw a map to my condo for the Thai police. The new 2 page document is a notification of your address to the Thai police and provide a list of all people living at your address with their passport numbers on page 2 of the document. Luckily I live alone because there is no way I would have passport numbers of anyone living with me along with me if there were any. My que number for “B” was 294 with 151 people in front of me at 2:30 in the afternoon. 2 and 1/2 hours later my number was called oh and by the way you will need an additional copy of your passport picture page for this even though the screen they were using for this new function has the photo page of your passport clearly displayed during your interaction with “B”. After finishing here I was told to return to “L” with the stamped receipt for this new address document and give the receipt to the officer at L39. The officer at L39 made a copy of the receipt and had me sign that again. She went through all my paperwork including the many new pages (oh by the way I was using the income letter from the USA embassy and no other proof of income) and then told me to sit in the waiting area.

Another 30 minutes go by and I am finally given my passport with my extension.

It is now 5:pm 8 and 1/2 hours at Chaengwattana.

Edited May 9, 20197 yr by 5633572526

How much is the elite visa again! No wonder I refer to CW as bkk ZOO

The form was a TM30 I expect and Desk B is TM30 reporting desk, did you have to pay a fine? 

The lack of a valid TM-30 (visit to Counter B) definitely added to your time ( 2 1/2 hours ).

 

I think CW (only) is closed today, Royal Ploughing Ceremony, which along with Monday, may have contributed to a heavier load yesterday? May 20th is the next holiday closure to plan for, AFAIK

 

 

The angst and patience involved in this necessary exercise really turns me off and diminishes the Thai experience.

 

Having to think about, prepare, and participate in the immigration inane process is most unbearable for many expats...????

17 minutes ago, asiaexpat said:

The form was a TM30 I expect and Desk B is TM30 reporting desk, did you have to pay a fine? 

Form was not a tm30 I have done those before 

18 minutes ago, asiaexpat said:

The form was a TM30 I expect and Desk B is TM30 reporting desk, did you have to pay a fine? 

No fine

12 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

The lack of a valid TM-30 (visit to Counter B) definitely added to your time ( 2 1/2 hours ).

 

I think CW (only) is closed today, Royal Ploughing Ceremony, which along with Monday, may have contributed to a heavier load yesterday? May 20th is the next holiday closure to plan for, AFAIK

 

 

Form was not a tm30

Just now, 5633572526 said:

Form was not a tm30 I have done those before 

 

What was it? TM-28?

 

AFAIK, Counter B was constructed solely for the processing of TM-30's.

Just now, mtls2005 said:

 

What was it? TM-28?

 

AFAIK, Counter B was constructed solely for the processing of TM-30's.

Nope this is a new form for the Thai police. My assumption is that they will use it for home visits as you have to list everyone who lives at the address with their passport numbers included. Desk “B” has been changed to accommodate more people since the last time I was there and since the que number topped 500 while I was waiting I assume they were expecting a large increase in volume.

27 minutes ago, 5633572526 said:

Nope this is a new form for the Thai police. My assumption is that they will use it for home visits as you have to list everyone who lives at the address with their passport numbers included.

 

Well the TM-30 is a two-page form, the second page looks a bit like a spreadsheet with ~ 10 columns for each resident alien.

 

It would be awesome if you could better define this "new form"?

 

 

 

 

 

tm30form-1.pdf TM30 (1).doc

Edited May 9, 20197 yr by mtls2005

TM-30 Page 2

27 minutes ago, 5633572526 said:

Nope this is a new form for the Thai police. My assumption is that they will use it for home visits as you have to list everyone who lives at the address with their passport numbers included. Desk “B” has been changed to accommodate more people since the last time I was there and since the que number topped 500 while I was waiting I assume they were expecting a large increase in volume.

I am sure it is a TM30 form.

You do not need to list everybody staying at your residence. You would only be reporting yourself.

It is standard form and all the extra lines on page 2 are for when a hotel, guesthouse and etc report all of their guests.

1 hour ago, 5633572526 said:

1 hour ago, 5633572526 said:

My number was not called until 1:30 pm

.....arrived 8:30am got que #74 to apply for my annual retirement extension (5th one here).

If you were the 5th one there, why #74 and why did you have to wait until after lunch to be seem?

So 8 hours a year of our precious "retirement" time to get the one year extension. 

Quite acceptable in my book. 

My retirement extension took over 4 hours in 2018, but will plan on another 4 hours of book reading, people watching, coffee drinking, and "window shopping" at Chaengwattana this year. 

Similar activities I participate in several times a week anyway, so no real change other than the locale.

6 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

If you were the 5th one there

 

I guess that he meant he was doing his fifth annual extension of stay renewal.

 

And that he was given the queue number L74.

 

L74 seems quite high for morning arrival, seems like the average is L40-ish for that scenario, but Monday holiday maybe threw things off this week?

5 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

I guess that he meant he was doing his fifth annual extension of stay renewal.

 

And that he was given the queue number L74.

 

L74 seems quite high for morning arrival, seems like the average is L40-ish for that scenario, but Monday holiday maybe threw things off this week?

I read it that he was 74th in the general queue, but 5th for specific retirement extension.

3 minutes ago, pagallim said:

I read it that he was 74th in the general queue, but 5th for specific retirement extension.

The L counters are used for ext stay/ret or marriage.

 

There is no general queue, at least that I am aware of.

1 hour ago, 5633572526 said:

Long day at Chaengwattana May 8th 2019

 

Thanks to the OP for the very interesting report on the latest from CW....

 

As for the daylong experience itself, all I can say is, what a cluster <deleted>!!!

 

 

6 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

As for the daylong experience itself, all I can say is, what a cluster <deleted>!!!

 

I'm considering getting a hotel nearby, also have to get a reentry permit, and do a 90-day report. Possibly on day 2?

 

Just worried about the hotel stay mucking up the TM-30 address.

 

 

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

 

I'm considering getting a hotel nearby, also have to get a reentry permit, and do a 90-day report. Possibly on day 2?

 

Just worried about the hotel stay mucking up the TM-30 address.

 

 

 

Just use the hotel as your address and you should then have no problems, no need to visit the TM30 desk as the hotel should have filed a TM30 for you. 

I just applied for a new USA passport and expect to receive it in two weeks. Another two weeks after that my retirement visa expires on June 3rd and I will apply for another year. I know I need to have my visa 'transferred' over to my new passport using the letter they give me. Can I do it all in one trip to immigration? Get the visa transferred over and renew my retirement visa in one trip? How will that work? Thanks. 

9 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

I just applied for a new USA passport and expect to receive it in two weeks. Another two weeks after that my retirement visa expires on June 3rd and I will apply for another year. I know I need to have my visa 'transferred' over to my new passport using the letter they give me. Can I do it all in one trip to immigration? Get the visa transferred over and renew my retirement visa in one trip? How will that work? Thanks. 

In pattaya it's 2 trips,  They can't multitask. too difficult.     Maybe CW can

20 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

I just applied for a new USA passport and expect to receive it in two weeks. Another two weeks after that my retirement visa expires on June 3rd and I will apply for another year. I know I need to have my visa 'transferred' over to my new passport using the letter they give me. Can I do it all in one trip to immigration? Get the visa transferred over and renew my retirement visa in one trip? How will that work? Thanks. 

Yes, I did exactly that at CW a year ago after a new US passport. They first transfer the old visa and then do the extension. All one go. It was 2+ months from new passport to extension. I called or talked to a friend who works there and was told that is not a problem. All went smooth and no questions were asked.

 

Of course, with a new passport the number is not the same as in the 90 days reporting system so online 90 day reporting will no longer work until you exit and re-enter the country. I complain every 90 days.

Edited May 9, 20197 yr by rabas

18 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

I just applied for a new USA passport and expect to receive it in two weeks. Another two weeks after that my retirement visa expires on June 3rd and I will apply for another year. I know I need to have my visa 'transferred' over to my new passport using the letter they give me. Can I do it all in one trip to immigration? Get the visa transferred over and renew my retirement visa in one trip? How will that work? Thanks. 

 

Don't see why you can't do the transfer, then go make the resulting copies, then get in the queue for the TM-7?

 

Obviously factor in the TM-30 requirement.

 

 

Transfer_Visa_To_New_Passport_Bangkoki.pdf

Takes 15 minutes in Pattaya. All with a smile and help even for the numerous genius farangs who can not prepare some basic forms properly or dress halfway decent for a day. Ever tried to become a resident of another country? Or do retirement extensions? With exception of a few, you would not believe the efforts and cost. There is much wrong here, but retirement ext. is just fine IMO and Jomtien is efficient and friendly on every desk. MS>

op move to Pathum Thani takes me 45 minutes

Are you looking forward doing the exact same procedure in 90 days?

its going from bad to worse!

lets all leave!

5 hours ago, Skallywag said:

6 hours ago, 5633572526 said:

6 hours ago, 5633572526 said:

My number was not called until 1:30 pm

.....arrived 8:30am got que #74 to apply for my annual retirement extension (5th one here).

If you were the 5th one there, why #74 and why did you have to wait until after lunch to be seem?

So 8 hours a year of our precious "retirement" time to get the one year extension. 

Quite acceptable in my book. 

My retirement extension took over 4 hours in 2018, but will plan on another 4 hours of book reading, people watching, coffee drinking, and "window shopping" at Chaengwattana this year. 

Similar activities I participate in several times a week anyway, so no real change other than the locale

 

forgive my inane thinking but the concept of retirement might mean getting rid of hassles and annoyances for some and to include concepts like smooth sailing.  being retired does not invalidate the value of ones time.

with a holiday on may 6 and may 9, this whole week should be considered a 'no go' to CW.  i learned the hard way, arrived at 9:15am during a week with a holiday.  got a queue number of approx L70.  done at 3pm.  on 'normal' trips to CW, i arrive at 9:15am and 50/50 on whether i get it done by noon lunch break.  if i don't get the passport back before lunch, usually by 1:30pm so not long after lunch ends.  always check the holiday calendar.  i have to go this month.  targeting mon or tues next week to avoid the back up that will come into play with the upcoming may 20 holiday.  try to avoid 2 days before and 2 days after the holiday.