Tourist Visa, Again, But Singapore Ain't Easy

[hotgeekus]

FYI, got another tourist visa in Singapore. Embassy is very easy to find, even easier than Shanghai. Right on Orchard road, can't miss it.

Make sure you get there EARLY. Got there just at 9:28 AM.....

-I would recommend getting there at least 8:45 AM, wait in line outside the embassy on the sidewalk but the guard.

-Once you get in, go inbetween the visa window and Thai passport window, and push button for a number

-Get the paperwork, go and fill it out. Fill the papers out AFTER you get the ticket, as you will wait a LONG, LONG time.

-Wait for your number to get called, give the money (50 Sing dollars) and come back next day after 2 pm to pick up.

Overall:

-I have been all over since Oct 1 last year, this was the most stressful tourist visa so far.....

-Overall process is easy, but I arrived at 9:28 AM, got served at 11:40 AM, approx. 150 people pulled numbers before me as they are allowed in at 9:15 am and they open the window at 9:30 am. In that 15 minutes, about 150 people were in front of me. The window says they shut at 11:30 am but I guess they were extended as it was just after holiday.

-There were many, many, many, many idiots who tried to jump the line, always making it longer for the rest of us. The poor lady at the window just kept telling them no, but there was at least 200 people who went asking for something or another, just so they would not have to wait in line. Every 15 minutes they would go away and a new flock of people who did not have the right paperwork etc, then argued with her, etc.

Overall, I can't see this going on for long. Tourist Visas are easy, just give the paperwork (fill out form, one passport picture, two photocopies -one of passport picture page, and one of entry stamp page) and then come back next day after 2 pm. The rest are people trying for non immigrant, and 90% had no paperwork ready.... You really have to play russian roulette going there with only one day to spare... I thought for sure I would have to go back as the line goes so slow with all the idiots jumping in line...

Having done this many times over the year, for TV i would recommend Penang (same amount of people, but ten times faster), or China (HK or Shanghai) (2 minutes total time) before Singapore.

I really feel sorry for the lady in there, as she is the one getting all those guys talking to her like she makes the laws....

[baboon]

Thanks for your report. Interesting post!

[Krub]

FYI, got another tourist visa in Singapore. Embassy is very easy to find, even easier than Shanghai. Right on Orchard road, can't miss it.

Make sure you get there EARLY. Got there just at 9:28 AM.....

-I would recommend getting there at least 8:45 AM, wait in line outside the embassy on the sidewalk but the guard.

-Once you get in, go inbetween the visa window and Thai passport window, and push button for a number

-Get the paperwork, go and fill it out. Fill the papers out AFTER you get the ticket, as you will wait a LONG, LONG time.

-Wait for your number to get called, give the money (50 Sing dollars) and come back next day after 2 pm to pick up.

Overall:

-I have been all over since Oct 1 last year, this was the most stressful tourist visa so far.....

-Overall process is easy, but I arrived at 9:28 AM, got served at 11:40 AM, approx. 150 people pulled numbers before me as they are allowed in at 9:15 am and they open the window at 9:30 am. In that 15 minutes, about 150 people were in front of me. The window says they shut at 11:30 am but I guess they were extended as it was just after holiday.

-There were many, many, many, many idiots who tried to jump the line, always making it longer for the rest of us. The poor lady at the window just kept telling them no, but there was at least 200 people who went asking for something or another, just so they would not have to wait in line. Every 15 minutes they would go away and a new flock of people who did not have the right paperwork etc, then argued with her, etc.

Overall, I can't see this going on for long. Tourist Visas are easy, just give the paperwork (fill out form, one passport picture, two photocopies -one of passport picture page, and one of entry stamp page) and then come back next day after 2 pm. The rest are people trying for non immigrant, and 90% had no paperwork ready.... You really have to play russian roulette going there with only one day to spare... I thought for sure I would have to go back as the line goes so slow with all the idiots jumping in line...

Having done this many times over the year, for TV i would recommend Penang (same amount of people, but ten times faster), or China (HK or Shanghai) (2 minutes total time) before Singapore.

I really feel sorry for the lady in there, as she is the one getting all those guys talking to her like she makes the laws....

SIngapore used to be very civilized and pretty straightforward with max an hour wait. It looks like to makeregular trips for the 60 days tourist visa will become too much for many