A little Bangkok immigration info for those who don't know.

[narisarasgroove]

Not long back from Bangkok immigration after completing my yearly visa extension. I used the online booking system and have to say that it works like a charm. Was seen 15 minutes earlier than the appointment time of 10.15 and all done in 10 minutes plus 30 min wait for passport to get stamped and returned.

There was however one change to the place which is that my bank, SCB, no longer has a presence in the building. How long ago this happened I do not know and possibly someone else has already posted this but it could be useful for those who use SCB and don't already know about it.

 

Fortunately I had given myself plenty of time for the journey and so after some inquiries discovered that an SCB is a five minute motorcycle ride away and the riders are aware of where it is. It was open (this was 09.30 by now) and the staff were aware of the immigration requirement of depositing a sum and updating the book. They even made fresh photocopies for me unasked. So a big thanks and sigh of relief later I was back to immigration in no time.

The weather was good today for a ride but if I had to do it in the rainy season I might not be too happy so if you normally deposit and update at immigration as I have in the past it may well be time to rethink.

By the way. The motorbike driver initially asked for 200 Baht for the journey. When I choked and let him realise I enjoyed the joke he quietly told me it was 100 Baht. Maybe still too much, I don't know as I rarely use bikes, but well worth the price for getting me back on track.

 

Hope you all have a merry Christmas and as good a New Year as you can safely have in these trying times.

 

[fangless]

13 minutes ago, narisarasgroove said:

By the way. The motorbike driver initially asked for 200 Baht for the journey. When I choked and let him realise I enjoyed the joke he quietly told me it was 100 Baht. Maybe still too much, I don't know as I rarely use bikes, but well worth the price for getting me back on track.

Was that for the round trip and his waiting time?

If so it was a bargain given what you were trying to achieve IMHO.

 

 

[narisarasgroove]

As I said, I don't know much about motorcycle taxi prices but I also added it was well worth the price. I wasn't complaining at all.

[TaoNow]

Thanks very much for this information.

 

Could you also name the branch of SCB that you went to?

 

Much appreciated.

[rabas]

2 hours ago, narisarasgroove said:

Not long back from Bangkok immigration after completing my yearly visa extension. I used the online booking system and have to say that it works like a charm. Was seen 15 minutes earlier than the appointment time of 10.15 and all done in 10 minutes plus 30 min wait for passport to get stamped and returned.

There was however one change to the place which is that my bank, SCB, no longer has a presence in the building. How long ago this happened I do not know and possibly someone else has already posted this but it could be useful for those who use SCB and don't already know about it.

 

Fortunately I had given myself plenty of time for the journey and so after some inquiries discovered that an SCB is a five minute motorcycle ride away and the riders are aware of where it is. It was open (this was 09.30 by now) and the staff were aware of the immigration requirement of depositing a sum and updating the book. They even made fresh photocopies for me unasked. So a big thanks and sigh of relief later I was back to immigration in no time.

The weather was good today for a ride but if I had to do it in the rainy season I might not be too happy so if you normally deposit and update at immigration as I have in the past it may well be time to rethink.

By the way. The motorbike driver initially asked for 200 Baht for the journey. When I choked and let him realise I enjoyed the joke he quietly told me it was 100 Baht. Maybe still too much, I don't know as I rarely use bikes, but well worth the price for getting me back on track.

 

Hope you all have a merry Christmas and as good a New Year as you can safely have in these trying times.

Thanks, valuable information as I use SCB and need to extend in 2 weeks. Just to confirm, you mean Chaengwattana Branch, the large B building in the government complex, which used to have an SCB branch just down the stairway/escalator from immigration?

 

Was the SCB branch you went to in a Big C complex along the main road?

 

Can I also ask where to find the on line booking system. I don''t see it on Immigration I's website.

 

 

 

[narisarasgroove]

2 hours ago, TaoNow said:

Thanks very much for this information.

 

Could you also name the branch of SCB that you went to?

 

Much appreciated.

I don't know the actual name of the branch. Staff inside immigration told me it was at Big C at xxxxxxx (hadn't a clue where that was) and told me motorcycle people know. Sure enough they were well aware. Took me there and waited, not busy so in and out in 4 or 5 mins, and back then again. Hope that helps. 

[narisarasgroove]

2 hours ago, rabas said:

Thanks, valuable information as I use SCB and need to extend in 2 weeks. Just to confirm, you mean Chaengwattana Branch, the large B building in the government complex, which used to have an SCB branch just down the stairway/escalator from immigration?

 

Was the SCB branch you went to in a Big C complex along the main road?

 

Can I also ask where to find the on line booking system. I don''t see it on Immigration I's website.

 

 

 

Hi Rabas. I can confirm all you say above. I didn't know about the online system until 2 days ago when I was informed by Ubonjoe.

The web address is http://203.151.166.132/immigrant_queue/booking/

Hope that helps.

[rabas]

4 hours ago, TaoNow said:

Thanks very much for this information.

 

Could you also name the branch of SCB that you went to?

 

Much appreciated.

---

I go there often, it's the main branch along Chaengwattana. They know about immigration requirements. The do not open until 10:30 AM.

 

Question: Can you still OK get the bank letter and update the day before?

 

Address:  Big C Building, Chaengwattana Rd, Thung Song Hong, Lak Si, Bangkok 10210

Hours:   10:30AM–7:30PM

Phone: 02 990 7631

[narisarasgroove]

14 hours ago, rabas said:

---

I go there often, it's the main branch along Chaengwattana. They know about immigration requirements. The do not open until 10:30 AM.

 

Question: Can you still OK get the bank letter and update the day before?

 

Address:  Big C Building, Chaengwattana Rd, Thung Song Hong, Lak Si, Bangkok 10210

Hours:   10:30AM–7:30PM

Phone: 02 990 7631

I can't confirm if we are talking about the same branch or not but the one I was taken to was open when I arrived at around 9.35 and was pretty small so I would be surprised if it is the main branch you mention.

[rabas]

9 minutes ago, narisarasgroove said:

I can't confirm if we are talking about the same branch or not but the one I was taken to was open when I arrived at around 9.35 and was pretty small so I would be surprised if it is the main branch you mention.

I called the BigC branch and they open at 10:30am. You may have gone to one farther on listed as no.2  below, which opens at 8:30am. Presumably a taxi will know.

 

Siam Commercial Banks near Bangkok Immigration division 1 at Chaengwattana Road:

 

1)  0.5 km inside big C shopping center

Address:  Big C Building, Chaengwattana Rd, Thung Song Hong, Lak Si, Bangkok 10210

Hours:   10:30AM–7:30PM

Phone: 02 990 7631

 

2)  1.5 km along Chaengwattana Rd. in direction of Pak Kret (west)

Address:  5/6 Chaengwattana Rd, ตำบลปากเกร็ด Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi 11120

Hours:   8:30AM–3:30PM

Phone: 02 -777-7777 (SCB help line)

 

[BudRight]

On 12/24/2020 at 1:50 PM, narisarasgroove said:

As I said, I don't know much about motorcycle taxi prices but I also added it was well worth the price. I wasn't complaining at all.

A lot of posters here get really offended if you negotiate with locals - they want you to just hand it over like they do. 

 

[Thingamabob]

On 12/24/2020 at 1:32 PM, narisarasgroove said:

Not long back from Bangkok immigration after completing my yearly visa extension. I used the online booking system and have to say that it works like a charm. Was seen 15 minutes earlier than the appointment time of 10.15 and all done in 10 minutes plus 30 min wait for passport to get stamped and returned.

There was however one change to the place which is that my bank, SCB, no longer has a presence in the building. How long ago this happened I do not know and possibly someone else has already posted this but it could be useful for those who use SCB and don't already know about it.

 

Fortunately I had given myself plenty of time for the journey and so after some inquiries discovered that an SCB is a five minute motorcycle ride away and the riders are aware of where it is. It was open (this was 09.30 by now) and the staff were aware of the immigration requirement of depositing a sum and updating the book. They even made fresh photocopies for me unasked. So a big thanks and sigh of relief later I was back to immigration in no time.

The weather was good today for a ride but if I had to do it in the rainy season I might not be too happy so if you normally deposit and update at immigration as I have in the past it may well be time to rethink.

By the way. The motorbike driver initially asked for 200 Baht for the journey. When I choked and let him realise I enjoyed the joke he quietly told me it was 100 Baht. Maybe still too much, I don't know as I rarely use bikes, but well worth the price for getting me back on track.

 

Hope you all have a merry Christmas and as good a New Year as you can safely have in these trying times.

 

Just given my one year retirement 'O' extension with SCB letter and bank book dated a day earlier.

[Bradmeister]

Yearly Visa Extentions should be online by now.

 

Yeah, let's think about that for a second...The Planet is in the largest Pandemic since the Black Plague.... and were still coralling people like cattle in Chiang Wattanna Govt. Center Division One? 

 

What?   One of the largest buildings in Thailand with migrant workers from bordering countries hacking and weezing they're lungs out!

 

But let's keep them in close proximity to each other, waste their time, energy, and lives and see if we can get a few if them sick!

 

Glad the OP enjoyed himself, and hopefully was not exposed to anything contagious. 

 

 

[Toany]

SCB is becoming more and more Farang unfriendly..I have stopped using them

[LuangSteve]

Big C opens at 10:00am but we actually found a SCB branch at Chulabhorn Graduate Institute building Hospital complex that opens 8:30am  to 3:30pm Mon. to Fri. They  also printed out the bank statements and signed.

It is just behind the Changwatthana immigration building.

[cormanr7]

The SCB office in the Govt. Building has been closed for something like 10 months now. It is not just farangs who complain about this. Officially there business has been moved to the office in the Big C Chaeng Wattana (a 40-45 Baht taxi ride away) but this opens late (10.30). Why it was closed remains unclear but according to the Big C CW staff it will not open again (?). As noted above, there are some other SCB offices nearby that open earlier and are familiar with bank statements etc required for permit of stay extensions. Nevertheless it is very inconvenient: you could go to the Govt Building early morning and get an early que ticket then go to a Bank nearby and hope your que number has not passed when you come back  (sometimes they will help you, sometimes not). Alternatively, you can go to a bank first at 08.30, then to Govt. building and get a que number but this will likely result in a long wait. Last April I took another option: went to Big C CW at 10.30, arrived at Govt Building by 11 am, got que ticket, took lunch and was processed just after two pm (just regard it as a 'day out' joked the IO).  

On-line appointment (not available then) would be preferable but I have no personal experience with this. Do they reserve a fixed number per day for this?

[JTXR]

On 12/25/2020 at 5:29 PM, Bradmeister said:

What?   One of the largest buildings in Thailand with migrant workers from bordering countries hacking and weezing they're lungs out!

The vast majority of "migrant workers from bordering countries" are from Lao PDR, Myanmar and Cambodia.  They do not do their immigration stuff at CW.

That said, your point that we should be able to do extensions online is well taken.  Not likely in the foreseeable future, though, given all the documents that are now required.

 

[narisarasgroove]

On 12/25/2020 at 5:55 PM, Toany said:

SCB is becoming more and more Farang unfriendly..I have stopped using them

I think it must depend on the branch. I have never had anything but good service from them in the 8 years I have had my account.

[narisarasgroove]

On 12/26/2020 at 11:12 AM, cormanr7 said:

The SCB office in the Govt. Building has been closed for something like 10 months now. It is not just farangs who complain about this. Officially there business has been moved to the office in the Big C Chaeng Wattana (a 40-45 Baht taxi ride away) but this opens late (10.30). Why it was closed remains unclear but according to the Big C CW staff it will not open again (?). As noted above, there are some other SCB offices nearby that open earlier and are familiar with bank statements etc required for permit of stay extensions. Nevertheless it is very inconvenient: you could go to the Govt Building early morning and get an early que ticket then go to a Bank nearby and hope your que number has not passed when you come back  (sometimes they will help you, sometimes not). Alternatively, you can go to a bank first at 08.30, then to Govt. building and get a que number but this will likely result in a long wait. Last April I took another option: went to Big C CW at 10.30, arrived at Govt Building by 11 am, got que ticket, took lunch and was processed just after two pm (just regard it as a 'day out' joked the IO).  

On-line appointment (not available then) would be preferable but I have no personal experience with this. Do they reserve a fixed number per day for this?

Visit the on-line site and once you are passed the introduction page you pick a date and you are then offered the available time slots for that day which are 15 minutes apart. That being so it would see at this time that there are a fixed number per day. Once it becomes more widely known and used I imagine it will become more difficult unless they open up more desks to the system. It does work well just now though and well worth a try as you can plan your day much better than the queue early and hope for the best lottery.

[JJBloke]

Your appointment confirmation needs to be printed out, like everything else. I had mine on my phone and was sent running around for an internet and print shop downstairs.

[The Artful Dodger]

Thanks for the info. I will be doing my annual extension of my "non - O for retirement"  in a couple  of weeks. I didn't know there was a functioning website for immigration,  I will track it down and book an appointment.

 

You mention extra paperwork -- what has changed since last year?

 

Also, I gather no insurance is needed for an "non - O" extension, but were you asked for any covid specific insurance?

 

Many thx,

 

TAD

[kotsak]

I had posted about the SCB branch closing down back in March 2020

 

 

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, The Artful Dodger said:

Thanks for the info. I will be doing my annual extension of my "non - O for retirement"  in a couple  of weeks. I didn't know there was a functioning website for immigration,  I will track it down and book an appointment.

 

You mention extra paperwork -- what has changed since last year?

 

Also, I gather no insurance is needed for an "non - O" extension, but were you asked for any covid specific insurance?

 

Many thx,

 

TAD

http://203.151.166.132/immigrant_queue/booking/

No insurance for non o extension based on retirement.

No extra paperwork apart from couple of pages to sign. You are aware of overstay rules etc 

BTW I made few comments regarding appointment system in current thread running. Have a read.

 

 

[cusanus]

These days I'm always forgetting something or unaware of changes, so let me ask. Last year I had to have a copy of the BB fixed deposit updated the same day and a letter of confirmation from the bank AND a NEW (redundant) bank statement confirming the length of balance. Appears the additional letter (for fixed deposits anyway) was dropped by the time a friend extended his retirement visa in September. I'll need a fresh copy of the fixed account book after updating I believe. Is one copy of the TM7  and passport enough, or are they wanting two copies now (in Chiang Mai)? Also, one or two copies of the photo? I also read about requirement for a map to your residence. Never had to do that before in the last 15 years, thought that was for marriage. Anyone had to do a map for retirement?  

 

Dumb questions, but I don't want to get bounced or overdo it. Also, in September, my friend was not required to go in and sit for an hour as last year, but took only five minutes at a drive thru. I'll let you know how it goes. 

[cusanus]

These days I'm always forgetting something or unaware of changes, so let me ask....

and another thing I notice that concerns me is a website stating that at least 18 months validity must be left on your passport. When I renewed my passport a few years ago I was told by the IO that at least six months validity was required. Eighteen seems like an awful long time and could catch a person unaware. However, thaiembassy.com/thailand states at least one year before expiration for the Non-O application, says nothing about the extension (but three photos required). Anyone required three photos? 

 

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, cusanus said:

Is one copy of the TM7  and passport enough, or are they wanting two copies now (in Chiang Mai)? Also, one or two copies of the photo?

Only one TM7 form and one photo.

Maybe some from Chiang Mai can answer you other questions.

You must have a year of validity remaining on your passport when you apply for a extension or it will only be issued to the day it expires, 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, cusanus said:

These days I'm always forgetting something or unaware of changes, so let me ask. Last year I had to have a copy of the BB fixed deposit updated the same day and a letter of confirmation from the bank AND a NEW (redundant) bank statement confirming the length of balance. Appears the additional letter (for fixed deposits anyway) was dropped by the time a friend extended his retirement visa in September. I'll need a fresh copy of the fixed account book after updating I believe. Is one copy of the TM7  and passport enough, or are they wanting two copies now (in Chiang Mai)? Also, one or two copies of the photo? I also read about requirement for a map to your residence. Never had to do that before in the last 15 years, thought that was for marriage. Anyone had to do a map for retirement?  

 

Dumb questions, but I don't want to get bounced or overdo it. Also, in September, my friend was not required to go in and sit for an hour as last year, but took only five minutes at a drive thru. I'll let you know how it goes. 

in CM two copies of everything, including TM7, passport photo and the map on their forms.

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

n CM two copies of everything, including TM7, passport photo and the map on their forms.

For a extension based upon retirement. Those are required for one based upon marriage.