CM immigration - going downhill?

[Gweiloman]

I had a hassle free immigration experience when I renewed my temporary extension of stay last year. Arrived in the afternoon, got my queue number, waited a bit, got my extension and multiple reentry permit even though it was after closing hours.
Sadly, a slightly different experience this time round. Went on Tuesday at about 11:30 am and was told to return the next day before 8 am. Got there yesterday at 7:30 am and already about 40 people ahead of me. Queued for about 40 minutes before getting number 24. Nothing else to do but wait. Finally got my extension approved for another year just before noon. 
Side note: my show of funds are fixed deposits in CIMB bank. My last updated entry in my passbook was 04 Dec. My branch was not able to make and update without an actual transaction (which would mean another deposit). So I had them make copies of my passbook and stamped and dated on every page. Sure enough the Imm officer pointed to the last entry on my passbook (04 Dec) and wanted an updated entry. Fortunately I was able to convince him to accept the bank photocopies which was signed and dated 17 Dec. Next year (if I’m still living here) I would make a deposit instead, the preceding day in order to have an ‘up-to-date’ entry in my passbook.  

[jackdd]

So the only real "problem" was that they were busy on Tuesday / Wednesday? Totally going downhill.

[Gweiloman]

11 minutes ago, jackdd said:

So the only real "problem" was that they were busy on Tuesday / Wednesday? Totally going downhill.

No, the problem is that, as one of the biggest immigration office in the country, they should be able to attend to any major issue (such as extensions of stay) at any time of the day. Imagine if you went to your bank to make a withdrawal in the afternoon and they tell you that withdrawals are only possible between 9-10 am. 

[glegolo]

I have read so enormously many posts and threads about CM Immigration and the struggle people have there. YOU seems to have a breeze and still complains... It is a sure thing to have your bankbook updated.... everybody knows that, so why even bother to mentioned it, like it was CM immigrtion fault of some kind.......

 

'Cheek up, all good.

glegolo

[DrJack54]

OP, at CW I obtain bank letter on the day of application for extension. I also need to show activity on the day. Since I used an FD account I deposit 2000baht. Minimum deposit for FD account for my bank. 

Anyway point is your moan is about nothing. Just follow what is required.

[ukrules]

This level of service is pathetic and should be regarded an an embarrassment to the country.

Edited December 19, 2019 by ukrules

[Martyp]

Hmmm. In October I showed up at 8:30am and had both my 1 year extension and multiple entry permit by 11:30am. Best service ever. You are either lucky or not on any given day.

[ukrules]

2 minutes ago, Martyp said:

Hmmm. In October I showed up at 8:30am and had both my 1 year extension and multiple entry permit by 11:30am. Best service ever. You are either lucky or not on any given day.

The fact that you think this is a good level of service is funny in itself.

[Martyp]

11 minutes ago, ukrules said:

The fact that you think this is a good level of service is funny in itself.

There was a line of people ahead of me, of course, but it went fairly quickly. The IO was business like and efficient. The final IO gave me a smile when I left L section. I have nothing to complain about. 
 

I don’t understand people getting there at 6am to get a queue number just to get a queue number. Or people who show up after lunch thinking they are not going to be there after hours. 

[Number 6]

14 minutes ago, Martyp said:

I don’t understand people getting there at 6am to get a queue number

Maybe they have a life and want to get out of there before noon.

[Martyp]

6 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

Maybe they have a life and want to get out of there before noon.

That would be the only reason. I can get that. It's good to be retired . . . 

[legend49]

14 hours ago, Martyp said:

Hmmm. In October I showed up at 8:30am and had both my 1 year extension and multiple entry permit by 11:30am. Best service ever. You are either lucky or not on any given day.

3 hours to do some simple checks and a stamp and thats best service ever???

[Martyp]

2 minutes ago, legend49 said:

3 hours to do some simple checks and a stamp and thats best service ever???

If that were the case then no. A one year extension is not some simple checks and a stamp. The actual processing of the paperwork and examining your financials for a one year extension takes about 45 minutes. About 15 minutes for the multiple entry stamp. In your home country, without an appointment, you’ve never had to wait for your turn at a government office, motor vehicle department, doctors office, bank? Heck . . . I’ve waited hours just to be seen in an emergency room. I waited in two queues that morning. 
 

And to get a little more technical about it, if you’ve studied a little industrial engineering, they are doing batch processing. They look at the applications of several applicants in a batch. They may finish processing your application more quickly but you have to wait for the batch to complete.

 

Just bring something to do while you are there. I usually have lunch and do a little shopping. There is often a large food festival on the main floor at CW. Relax and enjoy. Sabai Sabai.

 

And . . . get organized and be prepared with everything you need for whatever you are doing. Be nice to the IO’s and they will be nice to you. You will encounter fewer frustrations.

[worgeordie]

I have a friend who went there on Friday 11.00,which is

about the soonest you can arrive after getting Bank letter

and update on the book....no tickets left,come back sharp

on Monday, so he gets there at 5.00 in morning,gets ticket

number 3, When he gets up to Immigration officer,you have

to update your bank book !.

So off he goes to update the book, he says there are all new

staff there and new boss,looks like it's back to Promenade

carry on where you had to be there 4-5 o'clock to get a

ticket,where you were feel you were been steered to use

an agent, about 6 months ago I did my extension,from getting

letter at bank, driving to offices,getting my extension and out

total time approx 2 hours,now it looks  like things have changed,

back to the old ways .☹️    P.S. it was 4.00 went he left Immigration.

regards Worgeordie

 

[prism]

I read another post about someone having to return to CM immigration between 07:00 - 08:00 to obtain a queue number for his retirement extension. This is appears to be a new development.  

[Martyp]

5 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I have a friend who went there on Friday 11.00,which is

about the soonest you can arrive after getting Bank letter

and update on the book....no tickets left,come back sharp

on Monday, so he gets there at 5.00 in morning,gets ticket

number 3, When he gets up to Immigration officer,you have

to update your bank book !.

So off he goes to update the book, he says there are all new

staff there and new boss,looks like it's back to Promenade

carry on where you had to be there 4-5 o'clock to get a

ticket,where you were feel you were been steered to use

an agent, about 6 months ago I did my extension,from getting

letter at bank, driving to offices,getting my extension and out

total time approx 2 hours,now it looks  like things have changed,

back to the old ways .☹️    P.S. it was 4.00 went he left Immigration.

regards Worgeordie

 

5 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

What immigration office did you go to?

Edited December 20, 2019 by Martyp

[Srikcir]

18 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

Next year (if I’m still living here) I would make a deposit instead, the preceding day in order to have an ‘up-to-date’ entry in my passbook.  

For my extension at CW Immigration in August the IO insisted on a record of 100 baht deposit in my KB passbook the same day of application for extension. As KB didn't open in the Government Complex until 10am and didn't have an automated passbook update machine outside the bank, completion of my extension application was delayed. So much for my No.1 cue for my extension application.

As I was using the income method with monthly foreign bank transfers on or about the 28th of each month, I asked why was the 100 baht passbook recording made on the day of my application necessary considering I had a bank letter itemizing my 12 monthly deposits, each documented by bank-issued Credit Advice Receipts and my passbooks. IO says, It's the Law. When pressed as to legal specifics, the IO said all my documentation might be fake and only a passbook showing a deposit on the day of my application confirms authenticity.???

[worgeordie]

Just now, Martyp said:

 

What immigration office did you go to?

I went to Chiang Mai Immigration same as my friend.different result.

regards Worgeordie

 

[saengd]

I think some of it depends on the time of year you visit Immigration, in April and May it's pretty easy and quiet but in December it's probably heaving.

[baansgr]

Move to Jomtien, can't fault them in anyway there.

[sfokevin]

I use the agent across the street for extensions and such...

Never spent more than 15 minutes in the actual immigration office... 

 

Btw - It is a bit of a disgrace that a brand new facility has no wheelchair access/elevator, minuscule parking facilities and for a agency that requires a suitcase full of randomly prescribed copies for the simplest thing there is no on site copy facilities!

Edited December 20, 2019 by sfokevin

[Martyp]

19 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

For my extension at CW Immigration in August the IO insisted on a record of 100 baht deposit in my KB passbook the same day of application for extension. As KB didn't open in the Government Complex until 10am and didn't have an automated passbook update machine outside the bank, completion of my extension application was delayed. So much for my No.1 cue for my extension application.

As I was using the income method with monthly foreign bank transfers on or about the 28th of each month, I asked why was the 100 baht passbook recording made on the day of my application necessary considering I had a bank letter itemizing my 12 monthly deposits, each documented by bank-issued Credit Advice Receipts and my passbooks. IO says, It's the Law. When pressed as to legal specifics, the IO said all my documentation might be fake and only a passbook showing a deposit on the day of my application confirms authenticity.???

My first 1 year extension at CW didn't go entirely smoothly with regard to bank documents. I didn't know what was needed and it was my error. The IO wrote a note in Thai to the bank so I could go downstairs and get the proper documents. The process added an hour to my time at CW. I took notes on what was need and in October this year I returned with all the proper documents and all went smoothly.

 

It is unfortunate that your bank doesn't have a bank passbook update machine at CW. Next time find an update machine at your local branch before heading out to CW. Kasikorn has an update machine outside their office at CW. After getting my queue number I make a 1000 baht withdrawal at the ATM and then update my passbook. Your monthly income records are irrelevant regarding the same day passbook update. Don't overthink it. Just add passbook update to your checklist of things to do next time. 

[Martyp]

36 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I have a friend who went there on Friday 11.00,which is

about the soonest you can arrive after getting Bank letter

and update on the book....no tickets left,come back sharp

on Monday, so he gets there at 5.00 in morning,gets ticket

number 3, When he gets up to Immigration officer,you have

to update your bank book !.

So off he goes to update the book, he says there are all new

staff there and new boss,looks like it's back to Promenade

carry on where you had to be there 4-5 o'clock to get a

ticket,where you were feel you were been steered to use

an agent, about 6 months ago I did my extension,from getting

letter at bank, driving to offices,getting my extension and out

total time approx 2 hours,now it looks  like things have changed,

back to the old ways .☹️    P.S. it was 4.00 went he left Immigration.

regards Worgeordie

 

I'm familiar with updating the bank book same day but can't the letter be gotten a few days ahead of time at CM?

[dvg]

21 minutes ago, Martyp said:

I'm familiar with updating the bank book same day but can't the letter be gotten a few days ahead of time at CM?

I came in at 7.30 for my extension and after it was my turn,was told I had to update my bankbook NOW.

I had the bankletter from the day before,same as 10 times before.Tried to say I came here at 7.30 and the bank was then closed.Was also told now need 3 pictures one extra in the bedroom with 2 people,which is difficult to do when you are only with 2 people,so had to ask the neighbor.

[worgeordie]

36 minutes ago, Martyp said:

I'm familiar with updating the bank book same day but can't the letter be gotten a few days ahead of time at CM?

Yes. 7 days they said,but they have new staff there,so who knows.

regards Worgeordie

 

[Martyp]

10 minutes ago, dvg said:

I came in at 7.30 for my extension and after it was my turn,was told I had to update my bankbook NOW.

I had the bankletter from the day before,same as 10 times before.Tried to say I came here at 7.30 and the bank was then closed.Was also told now need 3 pictures one extra in the bedroom with 2 people,which is difficult to do when you are only with 2 people,so had to ask the neighbor.

The same thing happened to me my first time. I went to update my bank book at the branch downstairs and returned and didn’t have to wait in line. She saw me right away. Not a problem. 
 

The pictures are definitely a problem if you don’t have them. I assume this was a marriage extension? This is info you should have been able to get by visiting the Immigration office beforehand to get a list of the requirements. It is also widely posted on TVF. Even in my case, using the banked money method, I took several selfies of myself in the condo lobby and in front of the building before going for my extension. I didn’t think I would need them but it doesn’t hurt to be over prepared.

[Captain 776]

I disagree on this one.

I commend them for being extremely efficient.

It is absolute PEAK HIGH TIME right now,........keep that in mind.

Will be crazy now until after Jan 15

[fredge45]

36 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Yes. 7 days they said,but they have new staff there,so who knows.

regards Worgeordie

 

During my 20 minute visit to Chiang Mai Immigration to process my Retirement Extension this week my bank letter from the day before was accepted without comment.  Seems that any longer period is questioned.  My understanding is that the account is locked for 24 hours after the letter is given so withdrawals wouldn't happen in that time period.

[saengd]

10 minutes ago, fredge45 said:

During my 20 minute visit to Chiang Mai Immigration to process my Retirement Extension this week my bank letter from the day before was accepted without comment.  Seems that any longer period is questioned.  My understanding is that the account is locked for 24 hours after the letter is given so withdrawals wouldn't happen in that time period.

I've not had a problem when the letter was issued three or four days prior and my account is certainly never locked. That said, Phuket Immigration, ten years ago, insisted the letter was dated the same day, when HSBC Bangkok was my bank that meant flying back with the letter in the morning and visiting Immi. around lunch time, crazy stuff indeed!

[Martyp]

13 minutes ago, fredge45 said:

My understanding is that the account is locked for 24 hours after the letter is given so withdrawals wouldn't happen in that time period.

Which bank? I got my Kasikorn letter on a Saturday for use on a Monday at CW. I have no problem making withdrawals at any time. The same day bank book update verifies that your account hasn’t fallen below the requirements between getting the letter and going to Immigration.