New immigration office in Hua Hin

[gamini]

The immigration office in Hua Hin has moved again.  We spent about an hour trying to find it. It was located way out of the town in a completely unheard-of area. To our dismay, we noted that it was a three-storey building with the offices on the top floor. No lift. Only a long, steep ramp going up to the top. Quite out of the question for me at 88 years old and I doubt whether I would have been able to make it even if I was 10 years younger.

So out comes my electric wheelchair. However , the ramp was too steep and the battery packed up. There was no way that my wife or her friend or both of them could possibly push my large body up the ramp. There was a contingent of police assembled on the ground for and four were needed to get me up and down. Everybody was smiling and laughing and taking photos. When they managed to get me up to the top. I was very impressed. There was a special counter for disabled and elderly people and we were directed straight there and my Visa application extension started straight away. Everyone in the office was smiling, friendly and pleasant. All the counters had separate printers . And in my case. Quite a few extra copies of my documents were made on the spot free of charge.

When the police had helped me to the bottom again the immigration officer in charge was taking photos of the whole procedure. No doubt to forward to her superiors to point out this ridiculous situation and demand something should be done because obviously a lot of elderly retirees are not going to be able to reach the office even with a wheelchair.

Unfortunately(not really) a picture being pulled out of my chair by the police has gone viral on Facebook with the heading mafia kingpin arrested in Hua Hin and other hilarious remarks like fined for speeding in my wheelchair.  I'm not smiling and looking quite worried , so quite a few of my friends actually thought I had been arrested and made queries to find out what was going on

[glegolo]

Hahaha good story, especially the last part of your post.... Take it with a smile Mr Corleone...

 

glegolo

[from the home of CC]

 Do you know by chance how 'elderly' do you have to be to use the 'special counter' . Every time I go to immigration here it's all 'elderly' people. Glad they helped you out and things went well and I hope your plight may have helped others down the road. That's me in a couple of months so thanks for the info. 

[JimHuaHin]

Thank you for your story - a mixture of outrage and comedy (sorry).

 

I agree with your concerns of having to travel up to the 3rd floor, but no elevator insight.

 

There are many elderly people who have to go to Hua Hin immigration, and over the years I have seen several in wheelchairs or with walking aids at the previous Hua Hin immigration Hua Hin.

 

When I first visited the new building, just before it opened, I walked around looking for the elevator - no success.

 

This is yet another example of poor planning, and dare I say discrimination against the physically challenged in Thailand - just look at the most BTS and MRT stations in Bangkok.

[hobz]

18 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

 Do you know by chance how 'elderly' do you have to be to use the 'special counter' . Every time I go to immigration here it's all 'elderly' people. Glad they helped you out and things went well and I hope your plight may have helped others down the road. That's me in a couple of months so thanks for the info. 

As usual in Thailand it doesn't matter what the official definition is, if there even is one. What matters is the mood of whoever is sitting behind that counter each day.

[TTSIssues]

Reminds me of the new CCTV control room in phuket that was built so that disabled people could work in it - great idea as its difficult for them to find work here -  not such a great idea to have it on the third floor with stairs only ! ???? 

[Psychic]

Well a 3rd floor office with no access for the disabled is ridiculous.

Who exactly picks these locations?

Apparently the Petchaburi office is moving to Khao Yoi which makes absolutely no sense since Chaam constitutes the bulk of the foreigners with some in Petchaburi city.

Tha Yang served both. A little far from Chaam but not bad.

Moving the office to the extreme north of the province will mean a 3 hour round trip for a lot of people.

It will be closer to Hua Hin's office so I guess I will do things like 90 days there.

Never used the online reporting, how does that work now.

Also another thread said you could do reporting after leaving the country (which Petchaburi now requires)with an app now.

Haven't read the whole thing but, hilariously, when I clicked on the link to Google Play Store it said "not available in your country."

 

 

 

[Aquaman2016]

Well a 3rd floor office with no access for the disabled is ridiculous.
Who exactly picks these locations?
Apparently the Petchaburi office is moving to Khao Yoi which makes absolutely no sense since Chaam constitutes the bulk of the foreigners with some in Petchaburi city.
Tha Yang served both. A little far from Chaam but not bad.
Moving the office to the extreme north of the province will mean a 3 hour round trip for a lot of people.
It will be closer to Hua Hin's office so I guess I will do things like 90 days there.
Never used the online reporting, how does that work now.
Also another thread said you could do reporting after leaving the country (which Petchaburi now requires)with an app now.
Haven't read the whole thing but, hilariously, when I clicked on the link to Google Play Store it said "not available in your country."
 
 
 

I suspect that your Google account was set up in your home country and that is why you cannot get the app. If you change your settings you might have more success.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Psychic]

5 minutes ago, Aquaman2016 said:

I suspect that your Google account was set up in your home country and that is why you cannot get the app. If you change your settings you might have more success.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

OK Thanks for that.

Just assumed, since Google seems to know what I had for breakfast this morning they'd know my location.

????

[jvs]

15 minutes ago, Aquaman2016 said:

It will be closer to Hua Hin's office so I guess I will do things like 90 days there.

As far as i know you have to report in the province you live in?

[poppysdad]

Whilst agreeing with some of the op’s posting to say it’s in an unheard of part of town is far from the truth. A great many expats live in the area and there are possibly more new developments in the area than any other part of town. 

As to finding it it is very easy but then I live in that area and I’m sure I might have difficulties finding a place in his locality that to him is easy. 

But yes very efficient there apart from the 3rd floor location. 

[RJRS1301]

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Thank you for your story - a mixture of outrage and comedy (sorry).

 

I agree with your concerns of having to travel up to the 3rd floor, but no elevator insight.

 

There are many elderly people who have to go to Hua Hin immigration, and over the years I have seen several in wheelchairs or with walking aids at the previous Hua Hin immigration Hua Hin.

 

When I first visited the new building, just before it opened, I walked around looking for the elevator - no success.

 

This is yet another example of poor planning, and dare I say discrimination against the physically challenged in Thailand - just look at the most BTS and MRT stations in Bangkok.

Planning????????

[rwill]

Ratchaburi immigration is on the second floor of the bus station.  There are escalators but they are always turned off.

[nicknick28uk]

Just a question but why didn't you go to the hua hin immigration office in Blueport? It's on the ground floor. Never busy and the service is so fast. Recently did an extension there in under 10 minutes. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

46 minutes ago, nicknick28uk said:

Just a question but why didn't you go to the hua hin immigration office in Blueport? It's on the ground floor. Never busy and the service is so fast. Recently did an extension there in under 10 minutes. 

But not a Retirement or Marriage Extension?

[nicknick28uk]

No not either of those. I didn't know you couldn't do marriage or retirement at Blueport location. 

[bluebluewater]

23 hours ago, gamini said:

When the police had helped me to the bottom again the immigration officer in charge was taking photos of the whole procedure. No doubt to forward to her superiors to point out this ridiculous situation and demand something should be done . . . 

I would suggest that there is a LOT of doubt that those photos were going to be used for any such thing.

[NoshowJones]

I am assuming you were going to do a ninety day report or similar, at your age and condition, you should not have to do this, you have probably been here for many years.

It just shows again how heartless the Thai government and their immigration really are.

[madmen]

3 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I am assuming you were going to do a ninety day report or similar, at your age and condition, you should not have to do this, you have probably been here for many years.

It just shows again how heartless the Thai government and their immigration really are.

On line or by post is available  lol

[Mavideol]

nice post, do feel sorry for your troubles and glad you kept your sanity until the end without a fuss ????

[NoshowJones]

11 minutes ago, madmen said:

On line or by post is available  lol

 Really? I don't think many people at 88 years old are going to be all that computer literate.

Besides, not all IOs accept postal reports although most do.

[RocketDog]

The question was never answered.

Do they process retirement extensions in Bluport?

 

Anybody know for sure?

 

Thanks

[poppysdad]

In answer to rocketdog the answer is no to retirement extensions. All they do is 90 day reports and tourist extensions but I have also done change of address there. 

[connda]

But, but, but - Thais have the utmost respect for the elderly!!!

[nickstav]

7 hours ago, nicknick28uk said:

Just a question but why didn't you go to the hua hin immigration office in Blueport? It's on the ground floor. Never busy and the service is so fast. Recently did an extension there in under 10 minutes. 

You can't do long stay extensions at Blueport. I'm assuming you're here on a tourist visa, which can be done there.