Current tactics for visiting Chaengwattana

[brewsterbudgen]

As the appointment system for Work Extensions has broken down (it's permanently fully booked) and I need 3 consecutive appointments anyway, we will have to take our chances and just turn up on the day.

 

What is the recommended time to get to Immigration for the queue ticket (section N).  I've read reports of people getting there before it opens (5am?) but does that involve sitting outside for 3 hours? Not something I would want to do with my family in-tow.

 

If we get there just before it opens, presumably there is a line before you can get into the office?  How quickly does it go before you get a queue ticket?

 

Does arriving a bit later (9am) mean avoiding the lines but getting a queue ticket that means you are unlikely to be seen until much later in the day, most likely after lunch?

 

Does a queue ticket guarantee that you will be processed that day/

 

Dreading it.

 

 

[DrJack54]

For the times that I have been unable to obtain appointment (extension retirement) my plan is to arrive just prior to 12 (lunch break) 

 

Use the one hour break to attend to paperwork, any photocopying, banking etc.

To get a ticket you need show application form filled in.

The ticket will allow you to bypass que for entry after lunch.

 

With a que ticket you will be seen in the afternoon. 

[BrandonJT]

This information is over a year old, so it may have changed.  But if you arrived before the office opened you would get queue ticket, but not a queue ticket for your actual counter, it is just a ticket for entering the immigration office.  Then when the office opened they would let people in based on the queues they held, and then you can go to get your actual queue for your counter.  When I arrived about 30 minutes early I was already well past #100 to enter the office when it opened.  Obviously not all of these people are going to the same counter as you though.

[Martyp]

I used to arrive at 8:15am. I would have my section queue number by 8:45. For my 1 year extension I would have to wait about an hour to see an immigration officer. I saw no advantage to arriving at 5am or 6am.

[brewsterbudgen]

1 hour ago, Martyp said:

I used to arrive at 8:15am. I would have my section queue number by 8:45. For my 1 year extension I would have to wait about an hour to see an immigration officer. I saw no advantage to arriving at 5am or 6am.

 Thanks, and to the others who have posted.  I will do this and just accept that it may take all day to get everything done!

[Lorry]

14 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 Thanks, and to the others who have posted.  I will do this and just accept that it may take all day to get everything done!

7.30- 8.00 is better. 

Best is Dr Jack's way - if you are confident that  everything can be done in one afternoon

[DrJack54]

6 hours ago, Lorry said:

- if you are confident that  everything can be done in one afternoon

If you obtain a que ticket you will be seen on that day..

Obtaining one just prior to lunch break will ensure that. 

The OP has family in tow and there is food court level 1. 

Same level as banks, photocopy shops. 

[Lorry]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

If you obtain a que ticket you will be seen on that day.

Usually, yes.

But I once was sent home.  It was thursday before a long weekend (I didn't realize that), and the guy before me took about 2 hours.  So, when I finally got called,  it was time for the IO to go home.  They quickly found an excuse (like "you cannot transfer stamps to new passport without bringing your bank book ") and sent me home.

[saakura]

I go to section E for my annual visa extension (WP holder). As with every year, arrived at 9am and was out by 9.10am with the visa stamped.

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, Lorry said:

They quickly found an excuse (like "you cannot transfer stamps to new passport without bringing your bank book ") and sent me home.

I obtained new pp this year and went to CW to transfer stamps.

To my surprise the io wanted my bank books and photocopies of pages back to date of current extension and to go down to level 1 and make transaction.

I complained that was never previously required but the head io wouldn't have a bar of it.

Fortunately had my bank books with me. 

[brewsterbudgen]

4 hours ago, saakura said:

I go to section E for my annual visa extension (WP holder). As with every year, arrived at 9am and was out by 9.10am with the visa stamped.

Wish I could use Section E!  Section N is always rammed, as it's for Teachers...

[Rob Browder]

On 11/10/2024 at 10:28 AM, Lorry said:

They quickly found an excuse (like "you cannot transfer stamps to new passport without bringing your bank book ") and sent me home.

This is a "real" new/undocumented rule at some offices.  Basically, if you used an agent to take care of the financials for your extension, you then need to pay another agent-fee for the "free" service of transferring stamps - is why they are doing it. 

[OJAS]

On 11/9/2024 at 8:52 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

 Thanks, and to the others who have posted.  I will do this and just accept that it may take all day to get everything done!

 

Why can't you obtain your work extension (presumably based on an original non-B visa) at Rayong Immigration? Something to do with your employer being based in Bangkok, perhaps? Or maybe because work extensions are the sole preserve of CW nationwide (just as non-O conversions were once upon a time in the dim and distant past)? 

 

[it is what it is]

On 11/9/2024 at 12:34 AM, Martyp said:

I used to arrive at 8:15am. I would have my section queue number by 8:45. For my 1 year extension I would have to wait about an hour to see an immigration officer. I saw no advantage to arriving at 5am or 6am.

 

agree, due to all the sub queues once you get inside. last time i went i arrived 08.30, quite a long, but quickly moving, queue to get inside, then, once at my sub queue i was third in line! had i arrived earlier i would have hung around for ages waiting for the place to open, then ended up as number one or two, clearly a waste of time.

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

agree, due to all the sub queues once you get inside.

What were you attending CW for? 

Do not understand your post

[BrandonJT]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

What were you attending CW for? 

Do not understand your post

If you arrive before they open you get a queue for the queue. So you might be #100 then, but by the time everyone in front of you gets to the queue where they are going, your queue might still only have a couple of people because not everyone wants your counter.

[brewsterbudgen]

10 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Why can't you obtain your work extension (presumably based on an original non-B visa) at Rayong Immigration? Something to do with your employer being based in Bangkok, perhaps? Or maybe because work extensions are the sole preserve of CW nationwide (just as non-O conversions were once upon a time in the dim and distant past)? 

 

Unfortunately because my employer is based in Bangkok, we have to process our annual extensions there.  A year ago there was a scare when it was thought the school's online teachers were not going to get their extensions any more as "Covid is over and there's no longer a requirement for online teaching"!  Only those with a Bangkok TM30 would get one!  Fortunately it proved to just be a scare, although I think 'technically' I am commuting from Rayong to Bangkok for work!

[OJAS]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Unfortunately because my employer is based in Bangkok, we have to process our annual extensions there.  A year ago there was a scare when it was thought the school's online teachers were not going to get their extensions any more as "Covid is over and there's no longer a requirement for online teaching"!  Only those with a Bangkok TM30 would get one!  Fortunately it proved to just be a scare, although I think 'technically' I am commuting from Rayong to Bangkok for work!

 

Do you also have to do all other IMM-related business (in particular 90-day reports) with CW?

 

[brewsterbudgen]

4 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

Do you also have to do all other IMM-related business (in particular 90-day reports) with CW?

 

No.  Our TM30 is for our address in Rayong and I believe Rayong also process our online 90-day reports.  Actually, they must do, as we had to one 'in person' after leaving Thailand for a short trip.  It's only the work extension that has to be processed at CW.