Bangkok Immigration Temporary Office

[Finlaco]

Hi

 

I relied heavily on other posters so I'm just passing on to others my experience today.  Please try not to swamp this OP with non relevant issues.

 

I was using a Letter from my embassy for a second extension for my Visa-exempt entry.

 

The entrance isn't easy to find even using google maps (takes u down a closed lane way) - Google coordinates 13.919008,100.547199 for the gate entrance, other posters are confusing it by give the co-ordinates of the building.

 

I arrived 05:15 - about twenty people ahead of me.  The gate opens at 6am and its a 700 metre walk to Immigration

6am to 7am - Musical chairs assigned loosely by those who were queueing at the gate - sit outside until 7am

7am - Temperature check and new set of chairs on the 2nd floor car park

8am - Check papers and asked to fill out two additional forms about visa overstay & not working along with TM7

8:30am - Third set of chairs and issued a queue number

9am - Fourth set of chairs (in aircon) in front of the Immigration Officers

9:15 to 09:35 - Fifth set of chairs - Waiting for the passport to be returned

 

 

Please be advised that today we were given 28 days (2 April to 30 April) and the stamp advised 'Application of stay is under consideration.  Application must contact again in person'.  My extension ends April 7 and like most today was expecting April 7 + 30 days.

 

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, Finlaco said:

Application must contact again in person'.  My extension ends April 7 and like most today was expecting April 7 + 30 days.

Your ' common sense ' does not apply here ...

In times of a Pandemic where people are advised to ' self isolate ' , they are still forced to queue up at immigration ?

Should be granted an amnesty because stuck here ... Other neighboring  countries do that , but not Thailand .

<removed>

Edited April 2, 2020 by ubonjoe
off topic comment removed

[ubonjoe]

A off topic inflammatory post has been removed.

[audaciousnomad]

Thanks for this detailed report @Finlaco!  Definitely a useful post.  To further make it helpful, could you share what documents you were required to supply to complete your application?

[eppic]

Thanks for the report, I hope you can answer a couple of quick questions:

 

1.  Did you see a carpark area for those that are driving?  (we will have a car)

 

2.  How large were the queues by opening time (8:00 am).  We must bring our 4-yr old boy (for his own extension) and going at 5:00 am is not feasible.

 

3. To your knowledge were the "emergency" extensions queuing in the same line as the regular extensions?  We only need a regular.

 

Appreciate any response from the OP or anyone else that has been to the temp office in that last day or two.  We had hoped to avoid this mess after the announcement from MFA indicating automatic extensions, but alas this seems to be fake news so we have no option but to go by Monday.

Edited April 2, 2020 by eppic

[Finlaco]

4 hours ago, eppic said:

 

@epic

1. Yes.  Once the gate opens at 6am, you can drive right to the building.

 

2. Opening time is 8:30.  I can only offer a very weak guess at 200.  On our floor 100 and others directed to queue on floor above.

 

3. Yes.

 

Monday is a public holiday and immigration will be closed.

 

As the day gets hotter and ur queue without fan or Aircon, earlier would be better with a kid.  Try to find a sympathetic IO and see if u can move up the queue.

 

Any other questions, just ask

 

 

[audaciousnomad]

1 hour ago, Finlaco said:

@epic

1. Yes.  Once the gate opens at 6am, you can drive right to the building.

 

2. Opening time is 8:30.  I can only offer a very weak guess at 200.  On our floor 100 and others directed to queue on floor above.

 

3. Yes.

 

Monday is a public holiday and immigration will be closed.

 

As the day gets hotter and ur queue without fan or Aircon, earlier would be better with a kid.  Try to find a sympathetic IO and see if u can move up the queue.

 

Any other questions, just ask

 

 

What documents were you required to submit ??

[Smooth]

For those extending with young child: I extended my 1-year-old son and my stay at MTT last week. Got there at 6:30. (Suggest getting there by 6:00.) Although you have to wait outside under an awning (coming early enough gets you seats under the awning, otherwise you stand in the sun as it comes up), when they open for processing (@8:00), an officer will (or should) come take you to a priority area (for those with young children/elderly/frail/injured, and you'll be among the first let in and processed--before they have the rest of the people (with numbers) come in. Was done by 9:30 a.m. The main issue to be aware of now is whether MTT will begin ask for the extra documentation (and landlord's presence) mentioned in the thread: "Nine separate documents are now required."

[audaciousnomad]

6 minutes ago, Smooth said:

For those extending with young child: I extended my 1-year-old son and my stay at MTT last week. Got there at 6:30. (Suggest getting there by 6:00.) Although you have to wait outside under an awning (coming early enough gets you seats under the awning, otherwise you stand in the sun as it comes up), when they open for processing (@8:00), an officer will (or should) come take you to a priority area (for those with young children/elderly/frail/injured, and you'll be among the first let in and processed--before they have the rest of the people (with numbers) come in. Was done by 9:30 a.m. The main issue to be aware of now is whether MTT will begin ask for the extra documentation (and landlord's presence) mentioned in the thread: "Nine separate documents are now required."

You said "whether".  So were you asked to provide those Nine documents? And what type of visa did you have prior to extending?

[ubonjoe]

Just now, audaciousnomad said:

You said "whether".  So were you asked to provide those Nine documents? And what type of visa did you have prior to extending?

I am sure that immigration in Bangkok will not start asking for the extra documents. 

The offices I have seen reported as wanting them were all in the central region of the country that is under Immigration Division 3 that apparently wants them to give approval. Bangkok is under Division 1.

[cauchy]

Hi,

 

I went through the same process at new MTT office yesterday (April 2nd) for a second extension of my visa-exempt stamp (French passport).

 

Arrived at 7am and queued outside (new comers are directed to chairs, row by row, by immigration staff).

Was let inside to 3rd floor at 7.30 just as the sun started getting uncomfortable outside; temperature check on the way and more queuing in rows

Was directed to 2nd floor at ~9:00 - similar setup as in floor 3; first document check and was given a couple of extra forms to sign (acknowledgement of conditions for visa extension and penalties for overstay) 

By the end of 2nd floor queue, documents are checked, applicants are sorted by visa type (K/J) and given a number 

Was let inside into ground floor (climatized area where the processing actually happen) just before 10:00

Another 10min or so queuing, then 3min processing - no question asked, and another longish queue to collect my passport.

I was out by 11:20 with the same "under probation" stamp that everybody on a 2nd tourist visa extension seems to be getting these days, due to come back on April 30th.

 

A few comments to add to Finlaco's post:

- Whatever your arrival time, be prepared to spend 4H to go through the whole process. I don't think passports processing inside starts before 8 or 8:30 so would dispute the advantage of showing up at 5 or 6 am

- There are photocopiers available on 2nd floor (I assume for a fee); also basic food and water were for sale on same floor (it will take 2H to get there though so bring some water)

- I only handed my TM7 and handed forms, passport, copy of main page + stamps and embassy letter (an obvious color scan/copy that was sent to me by email) - no further documentation was required nor any question asked

 

Although I see the whole requirement to apply for extensions as borderline irresponsible given the circumstances, I found the process itself (surprisingly) smooth - if lengthy, and the staff on site polite and doing what they could to make it as relatively painless as possible. Distances of 2 meters are kept between seats during all queuing sessions. 

 

Overall a 4H and 1900THB loss but not the worst experience I have had with immigration in Thailand.

 

[ChomDo]

Just a quick question about the normal extension for a 60 day SETV. I entered on Feb 9 and my normal +30 day extension is on April 9, so do I just follow the process as usual. I mean just go to CW with my passport+photocopy and one photo or should I expect some surprises?

 

I'm of course hoping all this nonsense would stop before that and we would all get automatic extensions or an online option. Like most of us here in the forum, I'm not up for going to the immigration to fool around and risk anything. If the immigration is still operating normally next week, can I use an agent (or hire someone else) to do my extension. Never done this so I'm wondering if someone could tell me how that might work?  Thanks.

[BangkokReady]

@Finlaco and @cauchy, thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

 

This is an extremely stressful time and since Bangkok Post "kindly" shared the information about insane document requirements as though it was required by all immigration departments, I have been pretty flipping stressed about going next week.

 

Thanks as well to @ubonjoe for starting another thread and commenting regularly to answer people's questions.

 

It's incredibly helpful for people to share their experiences and what was asked of them here and I realise that you have zero obligation to do so.

 

Hard to fully explain how much this means to other desperate travelers (many of whom are solo travelers and therefore are in complete isolation during this period).  Because we are online, there is not a lot people can do to express thanks (no doubt if this information was given in person you would be able to see relieved looks on peoples' faces and receive warm thanks, hand shakes and pats on the back), so I want to make it very clear to you that you are having a very positive impact on peoples' lives simply by contributing here.

 

Thank you again.

Edited April 3, 2020 by BangkokReady

[audaciousnomad]

 

8 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

@Finlaco and @cauchy, thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

 

This is an extremely stressful time and since Bangkok Post "kindly" shared the information about insane document requirements as though it was required by all immigration departments, I have been pretty flipping stressed about going next week.

 

Thanks as well to @ubonjoe for starting another thread and commenting regularly to answer people's questions.

 

It's incredibly helpful for people to share their experiences and what was asked of them here and I realise that you have zero obligation to do so.

 

Hard to fully explain how much this means to other desperate travelers (many of whom are solo travelers and therefore are in complete isolation during this period).  Because we are online, there is not a lot people can do to express thanks (no doubt if this information was given in person you would be able to see relieved looks on peoples' faces and receive warm thanks, hand shakes and pats on the back), so I want to make it very clear to you that you are having a very positive impact on peoples' lives simply by contributing here.

 

Thank you again.

Yes! Kudos to those who are taking the time to post their experience here. It does help calm the nerves for those of us who are anticipating our next visit to immigration.  One thing I am curious about, which we won't know until the last week of April, for those who get the "under consideration" stamp, what happens when they come back to the office on the scheduled "return" date?
1) Get approved with 30 days from the original application date? Some folks had their under consideration return date fall 28 days from when they first applied. This would only give them 2 days to come back in and repeat the process if they needed an additional extension.
2) Get approved with 30 days from the "under consideration" date?  That would help remove some stress of going back and forth to immigration.

If 1, then a person conceivably would be visiting immigration 3-4 times in a month. That is hellish.

If 2, it would reduce that to perhaps 3-4 times in 6 weeks, a little bit better, though still not ideal.

Anyone care to share their thoughts on this?

[BangkokReady]

14 minutes ago, audaciousnomad said:

Anyone care to share their thoughts on this?

I think one person said that the IO they saw said something like "you will need another letter next month".

 

As you say, if we got say 20 days, then 10 days visiting twice each month, it would be quite a pain.

 

I wonder if they are using that stamp as they really have no other stamp to use and they will allow another 20 or so days with the same stamp when you go again.  I'm sure those that go for a second emergency extension will be taking all the normal forms, plus a "new" letter from their embassy.

 

Reports from BKK immigration would at least seem to suggest that, as long as you have the correct documents, it is being treated similarly to the regular extension.  (I.e. queue up, check forms, pay, get stamp, go.)

 

Fingers crossed that if the circumstances don't change it will remain this way.  If we have to go once every 20 days until things return to normal without too much fuss, it's not too bad given the situation.

Edited April 3, 2020 by BangkokReady

[Finlaco]

@audaciousnomad 

 

The usual. No additional photocopies

- Passport detail page

- Copy of visa and entry stamp

- Copy of TM card

- 1 Photo

 

Cos I was using a letter from my Embassy

- Original Embassy letter (they kept it)

- Copy of my previous extension of my Visa Exempt

[audaciousnomad]

31 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Fingers crossed that if the circumstances don't change it will remain this way.  If we have to go once every 20 days until things return to normal without too much fuss, it's not too bad given the situation.

Except...it is not once every 20 days.(depending on what we see reported from the first ones to come back on their appointed dates towards the end of April.)
Example:
1. *FIRST VISIT* Person came in on 26-Mar. Completed the process, got the Under Consideration stamp with instructions to return on 22-April *FIRST VISIT*
2. *SECOND VISIT* Person comes back on 22-April, gets the APPROVED stamp with a Stay Until date (possibly 25-April, if immig counts 30 days from 26-Mar from step one.
3. *THIRD VISIT* Person would need to come back on 25-April to avoid overstay, and repeat the extension process again with letter in hand, 1900baht, etc. Then they would get another Under Consideration stamp to return again sometime in middle of May.
4. *FOURTH VISIT* Middle of May.

You see where this is going?  That is 4 visits in a month and a half. Might as well camp out right next to immigration office if this is how it will be handled moving forward.  Now if in STEP 2 above, they grant 30 days from 22-April (Not 26-Mar), that would be more reasonable in terms of number of times a person will have to return to that office per month.  
 

[eppic]

4 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

@Finlaco and @cauchy, thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

I echo this sentiment, very much appreciated. 

 

8 hours ago, Finlaco said:

Monday is a public holiday and immigration will be closed

Ouch, didn't know this.   We delayed getting an extension after seeing the bogus MFA announcement that specifically tells people arriving after March 1st "no need to queue for extension".  WRONG.  Our exemption stamp expires Monday, so it appears our family will be on overstay (not to mention especially massive queues because of the 3 day weekend) when applying Tuesday and subject to fine of 3x500.  Hopefully, won't affect the actual extension.

[pervaud]

I went to MTT for 1st 30 day extension with 2 kids under 5 year old. 
 

Document:

1. Passport + copy

2. TM6 + copy

3. recent photo 4x6

4. TM7 form

5. embassy letter

6. cash THB 1900

 

We come through at 1pm, ask the IO if there is special lane for families, that guys not sure. Its located on car park where no lift so we need to fold the pram and climb the stair. At the end we queue to same lane with others. In front of us about 200 people, take 2.5 hour to get our turn and wait another 30 minutes to get the passport back. They give us full 30 day extension.

 

This journey really exhausting especially for the kids, i hope our flight re-open soon so we will not experience the same nightmare again.

[Finlaco]

@eppic I sent u a direct message 

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, pervaud said:

I went to MTT for 1st 30 day extension with 2 kids under 5 year old. 
 

Document:

1. Passport + copy

2. TM6 + copy

3. recent photo 4x6

4. TM7 form

5. embassy letter

6. cash THB 1900

 

We come through at 1pm, ask the IO if there is special lane for families, that guys not sure. Its located on car park where no lift so we need to fold the pram and climb the stair. At the end we queue to same lane with others. In front of us about 200 people, take 2.5 hour to get our turn and wait another 30 minutes to get the passport back. They give us full 30 day extension.

For the first extension, was an embassy letter really needed? I thought the embassy letter was only a requirement when you do not qualify for an extension under normal circumstances.