the new process at CW L desk

[buick]

as reported by a member recently, CW has a new process (leaving aside the TM30 issue).  you get called to a document check desk first.  they make a notation on your TM7 form in terms of where you are sent next, as an example 36/55.  36 is the desk you go to and 55 is the queue number you gave the document check people.  i didn't see this notation and went right to the 36 desk.  the officer there showed me a box with queue numbers, and there were only two, mine and another lower number.  she told me to wait outside, which was fine now that i understood about the numbers.  then came a rush of agents/customers and alot of people were processed in front of the two numbers in the officers box (no queue numbers were called for these customers).  it took about two hours just to submit my passport even though two hours prior there were only two numbers in the officer's box.  so that was two non agent customers helped in two hours.

 

the main point i want to make is you can no longer get your queue number and go downstairs and relax for an hour or two before your number is called.  that is because you really have no idea when it will be called.  in the past, if i got a number in the 50's (arriving around 9am), i knew i could stay downstairs for at least an hour, usually two, before they called my number (and i'd be lucky to get the passport submitted by noon, no way to get it back by noon).  but now, they roll threw the numbers pretty quick at the document check desk - which is great.  but then you get referred to the next desk and really have no idea how long it will be before you get called.  so the days of relaxing downstairs with food and drink appear to be over.  i still browsed the internet on my computer while waiting at the L desk so that helped kill the time somewhat.

 

in the end i got my passport back at 2pm.

 

edit:  i should add that i before i left i noted that the L desk i was at was working on L65 and others were on L80 and L100 so it appears you lose your 'priority' after the document check.  people that arrive after you will be done before you based on the secondary desk you get assigned to.  in the past, it didn't work that way.  the numbers were generally called in numerical order, a priority type system.

Edited May 16, 2019 by buick

[mtls2005]

So how do you know when your number is called? No PA announcements? No red LED status board?

 

Did you get number 55 from the front main desk, just inside the entrance?

 

What time did you arrive?

 

27 minutes ago, buick said:

the officer there showed me a box with queue numbers

 

What is this "box"?

 

How many were in the "rush" of agents? Five, ten, more, less?

 

29 minutes ago, buick said:

i should add that i before i left i noted that the L desk i was at was working on L65 and others were on L80 and L100 so it appears you lose your 'priority' after the document check.  people that arrive after you will be done before you based on the secondary desk you get assigned to. 

This bit is hard to follow.

 

 

29 minutes ago, buick said:

leaving aside the TM30 issue

 

So no TM30 issue for you? Did you happen to notice any TM30 activity?

[mtls2005]

 

 

2 hours ago, buick said:

leaving aside the TM30 issue

Have seen your subsequent TM30 experience in another thread. Thanks for this report, and that TM30 detail.

[buick]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

So how do you know when your number is called? No PA announcements? No red LED status board?

 

Did you get number 55 from the front main desk, just inside the entrance?

 

What time did you arrive?

 

 i arrived at 9am.  they still have the number boards and call your number (which i got from the usual queue desk in the big room, not the 'info desk in the smaller front room).

 

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

What is this "box"?

 

How many were in the "rush" of agents? Five, ten, more, less?

 

the 'box' was a tiny little box, something you might get in a jewelry store when you buy a ring.  my original queue number slip was placed in this box by an assistant from the doc check desk and the L desk officer said she'd call the number soon (which was 2 hrs 'soon').  i saw 3 different agents, one had one client, another had two clients, and a third had about 10.  the young guy with the two clients was a real classic.  in the cubicle, he was down on his knees behind the two clients in the chairs.  making sure to keep low and not have his head above those of higher authority !!!  the other agents did not 'get down'.

 

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

This bit is hard to follow.

i think there were 5 desks.  desk 40 for doc check.  after that check, you are directed to one of the other desks for the next step, desks 36-39.  at that point, the desks are operating independent of each other.  so number 80 might beat number 60 depending on which desk you are assigned.  maybe desk 37 turns into an 'agent desk' plus a bunch of marriage extensions (which i think take longer given the addtl paperwork) and desk 38 processes a couple stamp transfers (new passport) and retirement extensions and keeps rolling through the numbers while 37 is stalled out.  if you are at 37, you will wish you were at 38.

 

after so many years of doing extensions (i did alot of extensions to tourist visa's before i hit 50 to qualify for non o), i thought i had the program down pretty good.  arrive at 9am so you don't have to stand in line to enter and usually out by noon.  and you can just sit around downstairs or take a walk, etc... while you wait.  but now it seems you are stuck at the L desk area.  so i'm thinking i have to switch it up and arrive early and stand in the line.  i'd rather arrive early, get a low queue number and stand in the line.  that sounds more appealing than sitting at the L desk for several hours (and hope you beat the agents !!!).  i'm not too keen on coming in around 2pm given the traffic trying to get out of CW area.  i've been stuck in that before when i made mistakes and went to CW after or before a holiday (and it took 6 hrs instead of 3).

[buick]

just to clarify my comment about no numbers being called, that pertains to the agent clients.  they didn't seem to have a queue number.  they just milled around the front of the desk and many of the seats just outside the cubicle.  and followed each other, as one left, another one sat down.  i had no clue when the parade of these folks would end and i had seen the IO had only two slips in her box.  mine and another guy (who i talked with).

 

edit: and an analogy for the system - think of checking into economy class of thai airways at bkk.  you are in the 'snake' style line and will be served by the next available agent.  you aren't standing in single lines behind each desk where you get stuck behind people who need to change their flight to do a problem with a connection, lots of luggage etc...  before CW was a snake style.  now you are lining up at individual desks.

Edited May 16, 2019 by buick

[DrJack54]

So did io ask for your tm30?

[rabas]

6 hours ago, buick said:

officer there showed me a box with queue numbers, and there were only two, mine and another lower number.  she told me to wait outside, which was fine now that i understood about the numbers.  then came a rush of agents/customers and alot of people were processed in front of the two numbers in the officers box

Lol. That's called a first in last out queue. You probably got processed before the lower number in front of you. Good to know.

[soi3eddie]

I observed same when at CW 3 weeks ago. Arrived at 11am and got tickets for TM30 B desk and TM7 extension at L desk. The TM30 number came up at 2pm and was processed in 5 minutes. Then L ticket cam up at 2:30pm for check. Then waited another hour to see the IO (was asked for the TM30 which she copied for me). Then told to sit outside and wait. Finally got passport back at 4:30pm. Luck all my papers/copies were in order. Thank goodness it's only once a year!

[asiaexpat]

Exactly as when I got my last extension in Dec last year. Got called about 10 am for first desk, then again at 2PM for second desk. Then at 4PM supervisors desk. Finally got my passport at 5:30 PM. New process is screwed.

[mtls2005]

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

So did io ask for your tm30?

 

buick's TM30 experience during this experience is documented here: 

 

 

 

 

It sounds like buick arrived ~ 09:00, figure 09:00 - 10:00 L Doc Check, 10:00 - 11:30 for TM30, then 11:30 - 12:00 and then 13:00-14:00 for (~ 1 1/2 hours) TM7? If I pieced the bits of timeline, from the different posts in different threads, together correctly.

 

Other than the document check procedure seems about like my experience in October 2018, less the TM30 kerfuffle. Getting reported via the online TM30 system seems like a smart thing to do, where possible.

[buick]

On 5/16/2019 at 3:47 PM, mtls2005 said:

It sounds like buick arrived ~ 09:00, figure 09:00 - 10:00 L Doc Check, 10:00 - 11:30 for TM30, then 11:30 - 12:00 and then 13:00-14:00 for (~ 1 1/2 hours) TM7? If I pieced the bits of timeline, from the different posts in different threads, together correctly.

 

i arrived at 9am and the queue number desk gave me numbers for both B desk and L desk at the same time.  i went to B desk first and was there from 9-10am.  then over to L desk at 10am and doc check was done within 15 minutes.  just before lunch i saw the L desk officer and turned in my passport, etc..  i was the last person out of the area before they closed the doors.  it was about 12:15.  returned at 1:15pm and got passport back a little after 2pm.  

Edited May 18, 2019 by buick

[mtls2005]

2 hours ago, buick said:

i arrived at 9am

 

OK, thanks for the clarification.

 

So ~ 3:00 ( 10:00 - 12:15, then 13:15 - 14:00 ) for L desk. and 1:00 ( 09:00 - 10:00 ) for the B ( TM30 ) desk, or 4 hours all in ( excluding lunch break ). You're lucky, have seen reports of 2 1/2 hours at the B desk doing the TM30.

 

Not altogether different, other than process, than my past experiences, re: elapsed time. Obviously, I've never faced the TM30 hurdle, nor do I plan to - will have made sure I am registered.

 

In all of my previous renewals except my most recent one, I had to face each officer up the line, first level, stamp and pay, second level (shuffles paperwork), third level (asks a question or two, shuffles paperwork), then the fourth level BOSS (looks me up and down, then gives a thumbs up or down emperor/gladiator style). Now that face-to-face review ( 2nd, 3rd, 4th levels ) is opaque, it happens in the cubicle areas, while we are seated outside the L desks.

 

 

So jealous of the agent-escorted folks who swan in and out, with a wai or three, before I've read a tweet or two on my phone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2019 by mtls2005