Suvarnabhumi Immigration Ensures 20-Min Wait or Less for Tourists

[webfact]

 

In less than 20 minutes! Thai Immigration Department is gearing up to welcome an influx of Chinese and Kazakh tourists following the government's announcement of visa-free travel.

 

Deputy Chief of Immigration held a meeting to prepare for the expected surge in visitors and ensure smooth entry at Suvarnabhumi Airport, reported Daily News.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

On September 18th, in a meeting at the Immigration Division 2, 4th floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport, officers discussed readiness to handle an anticipated influx of foreign tourists, especially Chinese citizens.

 

The government's tourism policy, which includes visa-free access, prompted the preparations. Immigration will deploy over 150 officers to support and facilitate travelers from September 25th to February 2024, ensuring swift processing at the 119 entry points.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Additionally, language-trained staff will assist tourists, particularly Chinese and Kazakh visitors. The policy also includes specialized lanes to accommodate group travelers.

 

Previously, it was estimated that around 300,000 Chinese tourists would visit Thailand monthly, but with the introduction of visa-free access, this number is expected to increase to 500,000.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

The government is confident in its ability to manage this influx efficiently, aiming to process each visitor in under 20 minutes.

 

Security measures have also been tightened, ensuring the safety of all tourists. Immigration officials have collaborated with airport authorities to prepare for the expected surge, ensuring a smooth experience for travelers.

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2023-09-19

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[richard_smith237]

Absolute tosh & they know it.

Excessive wait times have been an issue for years.

 

Last year there was a report that it was 90 seconds… great, if true.

That was the actual processing time per passport… again great if true !!! 
it’s closer to 3mins.

 

So, this 20 second wait time is rubbish. They mean they are targeting a 20 second processing time. 

 

All pretty irrelevant if they don’t have enough immigration booths open & the problems always exist when immigration don’t tie in their ‘manning’ with flight patterns.

 

[Pique Dard]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

The government is confident in its ability to manage this influx efficiently, aiming to process each visitor in under 20 seconds.

 

tell you what!  i want to see before i believe

[ezzra]

Nothing worse that reading a ridicules statement in the morning coming from the people who are the least trusted to make such promises, i think they meant 1 hour and 20 second,

Relating to that, my sister is currently staying in a 5+ stars resort in Pattaya and while there are plenty of staff very few of them speaks english, much less than Kazakh and Chinese...

Edited September 18, 2023 by ezzra

[treetops]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In less than 20 seconds! Thai Immigration Department is gearing up to welcome an influx of Chinese and Kazakh tourists following the government's announcement of visa-free travel.

The original article in The Daily News says 20 minutes (20 นาที) not 20 seconds (20 วินาที) which is still a stretch but much more believable.

[Gsxrnz]

They're talking "Thai time", 20 seconds could mean 3 minutes, or the day after tomorrow......maybe.  Get with the programme.

[impulse]

28 minutes ago, treetops said:

The original article in The Daily News says 20 minutes (20 นาที) not 20 seconds (20 วินาที) which is still a stretch but much more believable.

I'm reading it as 20 seconds per passenger, and no more than 20 minutes in the queue. 

 

Last time I flew in (last Wednesday) there were 6-8 Immigration officers and nobody in line.  Took me less than a minute.  Sadly, then I waited 45 minutes for my luggage.

 

[Peabody]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Nevermind

 

Edited September 19, 2023 by Peabody

[bkk6060]

The entire area has been modernized with many more stations and officers.   In the past 2 years never waited more then 5 minutes. 

[NE1]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

September 25th to February 67th,

okay !

[stoner]

pfffft.

[circa02]

Why can't they just do like Singapore and stop this reinventing the wheel nonsense. Biometric passport (40+ countries). Scan, approved, done. 10 seconds. Next. No need to see a dinosaur. No or minimal queue.

 

Is it because the Thai economy is more valuable than Singapore and thus needs a greater degree of protection?

Edited September 19, 2023 by circa02

[Taboo2]

Would be great if they can stick to this timeline during High Season.

[gungadin1]

Great can't wait 

[thaiowl]

Immigration has been hit and miss in my more than 30 years in Thailand. Could be a 2-hour wait, or could be 10mins. I suspect the 20-minute maximum wait will be difficult to achieve,

[cjinchiangrai]

55555 At 09:00 maybe, of course the leaders are never there at 00:30.

 

[1happykamper]

7 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

it’s closer to 3mins.

That's because the IO reads my passport like he's reading a novel! 555. I open my passport to my non o visa page... and they flip through every page! Why? Then they check me on the computer! ????????... they just really are dumb or don't care. 

[Nickcage49]

That's hilarious. I'll have my stopwatch out in a couple weeks.

 

Of course, I'm not a tourist, I'm a resident, so it may take longer for me, lol

[khunjeff]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

In less than 20 minutes! Thai Immigration Department is gearing up to welcome an influx of Chinese and Kazakh tourists

Hour-plus waits were fine earlier this year, but now OH MY GOD the Chinese are coming, can't keep 'em waiting!

[arick]

Waiting for a surge. Well it open happen during a penial pause.  Will it.  There is still only 14% of Chinese airlines flying.  

[Jumbo1968]

4 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

That's because the IO reads my passport like he's reading a novel! 555. I open my passport to my non o visa page... and they flip through every page! Why? Then they check me on the computer! ????????... they just really are dumb or don't care. 

As I have numerous visas I put a paper clip indicating where my visa is, the first thing the IO does is take it out then starts looking at page after page in my passport ?

[Smokey and the Bandit]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

The entire area has been modernized with many more stations and officers.   In the past 2 years never waited more then 5 minutes. 

It all depends what time of day you arrive. Early morning say before 9.00 am it is pretty fast, I arrived 2 days ago at 8.00 am, waited 3 minutes, but if you arrive late afternoon it is a different story!

[stix40]

Great more Chinese and Kazaks ? 

Excellent news ????

[retarius]

Lies but maybe they will keep you on ehe plane for a few hours before letting you disembark. I was so sick of waiting in lines that I now use the fast lane. At my time of life I cannot afford to wait around in queues., I might not have that much time left.

[wombat]

Only a maximum of 20 minutes wait or your money refunded ?

[wombat]

14 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

That's because the IO reads my passport like he's reading a novel! 555. I open my passport to my non o visa page... and they flip through every page! Why? Then they check me on the computer! ????????... they just really are dumb or don't care. 

Protocol must be followed...silly farang.

[Zapitapi]

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Absolute tosh & they know it.

Excessive wait times have been an issue for years.

 

Last year there was a report that it was 90 seconds… great, if true.

That was the actual processing time per passport… again great if true !!! 
it’s closer to 3mins.

 

So, this 20 second wait time is rubbish. They mean they are targeting a 20 second processing time. 

 

All pretty irrelevant if they don’t have enough immigration booths open & the problems always exist when immigration don’t tie in their ‘manning’ with flight patterns.

 

didnt it say less than 20 MINUTES:))

[Quit]

Took me 3 minutes a while ago in low season. Landed in the morning with Thai Airways. Even my suitcase came out early although I flew Economy.

[damo1967]

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Absolute tosh & they know it.

Excessive wait times have been an issue for years.

 

Last year there was a report that it was 90 seconds… great, if true.

That was the actual processing time per passport… again great if true !!! 
it’s closer to 3mins.

 

So, this 20 second wait time is rubbish. They mean they are targeting a 20 second processing time. 

 

All pretty irrelevant if they don’t have enough immigration booths open & the problems always exist when immigration don’t tie in their ‘manning’ with flight patterns.

 

Sounds like you could solve world peace and hunger you know-it-all

ps. they say 20 minutes...  NOT 20 seconds you dill

[damo1967]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

The entire area has been modernized with many more stations and officers.   In the past 2 years never waited more then 5 minutes. 

At last.. someone with some actual facts and reasoning.. I commend you on your reply.

Too many old sad lazy gits just waiting to have a whinge about ANYTHING...  those people should take a look in the mirror, and get out more...