Re-entry Permit Chaos

[brewsterbudgen]

As you can no longer get a re-entry permit at the airport I went to Suan Plu (I live in Bangkok) today to get one there. I arrived at around 10.00 and picked up my queue ticket - #755. The place was busy throughout but by desk 7, which issues the permits, it was packed with people queueing, sitting on the (few) seats and generally just milling about clutching their re-entry forms and passports. The number displayed on the board was 740, so I thought I must be in luck and made my way to the counter. In front of me was a girl who I noticed had the same number as me, but it turned out she had picked up her ticket much earlier in the morning and I was 100 places behind her in the queue! Her ticket had 8.50am printed underneath the number; mine had 10.02! There seemed to be two officers accepting the forms and money, handing out a receipt and then another officer handing back the passports. It was also apparent that at the rate it was moving my number would not be called for a very long time.

As I had some business to attend to in Silom, I took off, still clutching my queue ticket, attended to my business, had lunch and a pint in Molly Malone's on soi Convent and returned to Immigration around 1.30pm. The board was displaying 750, so I politely made my way through the crowd to the counter. Many people holding tickets with the displayed numbers were being turned away because they were 100 or 200 people too early and there were a number of very irate customers who had realised that they were going to be in for a long wait. I got talking to an English guy and agreed he could submit his application with mine as one queue ticket was good for up to 5 passports.

Finally got to the counter at about 2pm and submitted my form, passport and cash (and the other guy's). Took the receipt and my grateful buddy bought me a big Leo around the corner. Went back about 30 minutes later and a separate display board showed the queue numbers for passport collection. Needless to say, everyone collecting passports was milling round the window shoving their receipts in the face of the one officer handing back passports. The displayed number never changed but it didn't seem to matter. Eventually I reached the window, picked up the two passports and got the hel_l out of there.

So what had used to take around 30 minutes at the airport had taken about 5 hours. Maybe it was because of the forthcoming Songkran holiday, but I would advise anyone needing a re-entry permit and using Suan Plu to get there early and bring a book!

[Mario2008]

You can apply by e-mail, should be quicker.

[brewsterbudgen]

You can apply by e-mail, should be quicker.

Will definitely do that next time although I usually only need one re-entry a year. It would be interesting to know if the online application works efficiently though, as the online counter outside appeared to be closed!

[JR Texas]

You can apply by e-mail, should be quicker.

Will definitely do that next time although I usually only need one re-entry a year. It would be interesting to know if the online application works efficiently though, as the online counter outside appeared to be closed!

YOU CAN APPLY VIA EMAIL? Are you serious? Please explain. I have a one year visa (90 day extensions) based on marriage to a Thai woman.

As it stands now, if I want to leave this expat-unfriendly country, I will have to travel 1200 km round trip for the permit.

Some people on TV think this is "no problem." Think again: It will take me at least two days to get the permit.

This rule change is one of the worst of the bunch. I only wish our governments would start treating Thai expats the same way we are being treated.

I am a US citizen. If we played a tit-for-tat game, a Thai expat living in southern Texas would have to travel to Denver, Colorado to get a permit to enter Mexico. Inconvenient? Think they would be happy about it?

(As an aside, that same Thai expat would have to make 5 times the monthly income of an average American to stay in the USA w/ his American wife.......in most cases that would be impossible.)

TIME TO START COMPLAINING TO OUR EMBASSIES

[jamesjdaly]

TIME TO START COMPLAINING TO OUR EMBASSIES

Our embassies don't give a dam_n about us either. We're still nuisances and pests to them.

[brewsterbudgen]

You can apply by e-mail, should be quicker.

Will definitely do that next time although I usually only need one re-entry a year. It would be interesting to know if the online application works efficiently though, as the online counter outside appeared to be closed!

YOU CAN APPLY VIA EMAIL? Are you serious? Please explain. I have a one year visa (90 day extensions) based on marriage to a Thai woman.

As it stands now, if I want to leave this expat-unfriendly country, I will have to travel 1200 km round trip for the permit.

Some people on TV think this is "no problem." Think again: It will take me at least two days to get the permit.

This rule change is one of the worst of the bunch. I only wish our governments would start treating Thai expats the same way we are being treated.

I am a US citizen. If we played a tit-for-tat game, a Thai expat living in southern Texas would have to travel to Denver, Colorado to get a permit to enter Mexico. Inconvenient? Think they would be happy about it?

(As an aside, that same Thai expat would have to make 5 times the monthly income of an average American to stay in the USA w/ his American wife.......in most cases that would be impossible.)

TIME TO START COMPLAINING TO OUR EMBASSIES

You can complete the application form online and email it in - however, you still have to go to Immigration to get your re-entry stamp and to pay! It would be interesting to know how much faster the "online" process is once you get to Immigration. I didn't see many/any online applicants jumping the queues yesterday.

It also doesn't help you as you'll still have to make the 1,200km round trip. Best get a Multiple Re-entry permit.

[Mario2008]

Email application is only for Bangkok. It is still listed on the immirgaiton website. But brewsterbudgen reported that the outside window to collect the re-entry permit seems to be closed. So I would check first if you want to make use of the service, if it really is faster. if you still have to get in line at the normal lines it isn't of much use.

Procedure: (from immigration website)

For a re-entry permit,if you are in Bangkok area and you have an Internet access, you could fill in a TM. 8 form and send it to [email protected]

— You should e-mail the completed form 1 day in advance.

— You have to submit a 2" photo and pay a permit fee at counter 7, the Immigration Bureau (soi suanplu office.)

— Fee for re-entry permit:

1,000 Bahts for single

3,800 Bahts for multiple

[stbkk]

As you can no longer get a re-entry permit at the airport I went to Suan Plu (I live in Bangkok) today to get one there. I arrived at around 10.00 and picked up my queue ticket - #755. The place was busy throughout but by desk 7, which issues the permits, it was packed with people queueing, sitting on the (few) seats and generally just milling about clutching their re-entry forms and passports. The number displayed on the board was 740, so I thought I must be in luck and made my way to the counter. In front of me was a girl who I noticed had the same number as me, but it turned out she had picked up her ticket much earlier in the morning and I was 100 places behind her in the queue! Her ticket had 8.50am printed underneath the number; mine had 10.02! There seemed to be two officers accepting the forms and money, handing out a receipt and then another officer handing back the passports. It was also apparent that at the rate it was moving my number would not be called for a very long time.

As I had some business to attend to in Silom, I took off, still clutching my queue ticket, attended to my business, had lunch and a pint in Molly Malone's on soi Convent and returned to Immigration around 1.30pm. The board was displaying 750, so I politely made my way through the crowd to the counter. Many people holding tickets with the displayed numbers were being turned away because they were 100 or 200 people too early and there were a number of very irate customers who had realised that they were going to be in for a long wait. I got talking to an English guy and agreed he could submit his application with mine as one queue ticket was good for up to 5 passports.

Finally got to the counter at about 2pm and submitted my form, passport and cash (and the other guy's). Took the receipt and my grateful buddy bought me a big Leo around the corner. Went back about 30 minutes later and a separate display board showed the queue numbers for passport collection. Needless to say, everyone collecting passports was milling round the window shoving their receipts in the face of the one officer handing back passports. The displayed number never changed but it didn't seem to matter. Eventually I reached the window, picked up the two passports and got the hel_l out of there.

So what had used to take around 30 minutes at the airport had taken about 5 hours. Maybe it was because of the forthcoming Songkran holiday, but I would advise anyone needing a re-entry permit and using Suan Plu to get there early and bring a book!

Maybe it was just a pre-Songkran rush problem.

I was there in February, (after they closed the airport desk), and did the whole thing in less than an hour.

Might be an idea to get a multiple entry, though...

[PoorSucker]

I have a one year visa (90 day extensions) based on marriage to a Thai woman.

Sounds like you have a multiple entry Non-O.

If this is the case you don't need a reentry permit.

[bendshead]

I have a NonB and a ticket out of the country for Wednesday the 15th of April. I need to get a re-entry visa. Will immigration offices be opened on Monday and Tuesday given the holiday?

Also, my "local" office where I acquired the NonB is Kanchanaburi. Can I get the re-entry in Bangkok (preferred as I plan to stay in town days prior to departing), or can I only get the re-entry stamp in Kan?

cluster-f@%#

thx

[Lite Beer]

I have a NonB and a ticket out of the country for Wednesday the 15th of April. I need to get a re-entry visa. Will immigration offices be opened on Monday and Tuesday given the holiday?

Also, my "local" office where I acquired the NonB is Kanchanaburi. Can I get the re-entry in Bangkok (preferred as I plan to stay in town days prior to departing), or can I only get the re-entry stamp in Kan?

thx

You are probably talking about an extension of stay. Immigration do not issue Non B Visas.

As far as I know you have to apply for the Re Entry Permit at your local office. Immigration Offices are closed 13th.14th,15th.

This may help. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Immi...ic-t256093.html

[Maestro]

For re-entry permit, see here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2652819

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Maestro