Immigration At Samutprakarn

[Who, me ?]

I am due to renew my yearly extension of stay (marriage). I always went to Suan Phlu, but I am now asked to go to Samutprakarn. Any one has experience there? Does it take long? How friendly are they? Anything special?

Thanks guys

[tonytigerbkk]

I have been using Samutprakarn Immigration for about 9 years now and the current staff are very helpful.

There used to be a farang hating battleaxe in charge of visas but she’s gone now, thank god.

It is only a small office so go early and expect a wait of about 1 hour, coffee and biscuits are available for free of charge.

My visa is a work visa and they give me a one month visa and send my passport to Bangkok for the remaining 11 month stamp, which takes 1 month to process.

I do not know if this is the same procedure for the marriage visa, I can only inform you about my personal experience.

Best of luck,

Tiger.

[singa-traz]

Let us know how it went. Will need to go there as well.

[dragonfly94]

I am due to renew my yearly extension of stay (marriage). I always went to Suan Phlu, but I am now asked to go to Samutprakarn. Any one has experience there? Does it take long? How friendly are they? Anything special?

Thanks guys

Nightmare! went there two years ago to extend visa, before anyone tells me you cannot that's what their sign says down the road. Started off well but the bitch in uniform must have been having a bad day. After looking at all the correct paperwork she informed me the non imm o visa was out of date, I politely said it was not. Then she went through all the other stuff seemingly looking for something to fault me on. In the end she said I had gone too early (about three weeks before visa ran out) and told me to go back in two weeks time. I made the fatal error of daring to question her on this and she told my wife in thai that she did not know how she could live with somebody too stupid to understand the immigration rules! as if some of them do. In the end, and to my astonishment, she said they did not really do extensions there, even though they gave me the form to fill in, and told me to go to Bangkok, even though I lived in SP. Should really have complained about the outrageous service and insults, the worst I have ever met in thailand. Going to Bkk office is a pleasure compared to seeing that cow, you might do well to avoid her, about 50 looking like hel_l and seated in the far corner.

I see Tonytiger reports that the cow has gone, so you might be OK, absolute disgrace that woman was.

[Who, me ?]

Thank you all....I think that all will be OK (actually same as when I go to Suan Phlu)

I'll definitely will update you on the outcome

[tonytigerbkk]

Hi Dragonfly,

I am presuming that this is the same battleaxe, and if so she has definitely gone.

I had several runnings with her and in the end I advised her that I would be reporting her and she went all nice.

I thought that the problems that I was having with her were because she had taken a dislike to me personally but after talking to other farangs in the area they all informed me that they had problems with her.

Incidentally whenever I had a member of my Thai staff with me to process the documents, she was as nice as pie with them.

after she left I never had another problem (and have not heard any other farangs complaining).

The current staff seem to be very efficient and are really friendly.

Besr Regards,

Tiger

[singa-traz]

BTW, where is this immigration office?

[Lite Beer]

BTW, where is this immigration office?

Have a look here. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp...amp;t=h&z=6

[tonytigerbkk]

The Immigration at Samutprakarn is in Pak Nam in the same area as all of the government offices but it is not in the same complex.

The easiest way to find the Immigration office is to enter the government offices complex, head to the water front, turn right and follow round the water front.

I have attached an aerial picture showing the Immigration office.

Best regards,

Tiger.

[Who, me ?]

I went there this morning

You were right, officers are friendly , and very helpful. They had to clean a Poopoo from Suanphlu (see below)

I used to apply for my extension of stay every year at SuanPhlu, facing a long queue (except for maybe once or twice). All was OK, but officers not really nice. Anyway always got my stamps without troubles. Last year they advised that I now have to go to Samutprakarn for extensions and reports. They even gave me a paper that I signed in acknowledgement.

Here I am this morning with all paper work and copies. I am informed that they need two sets of copies. No problem, they have the copy machine.

The officer is a nice chap, speaking a good English (he seemed happy to use his English, so...), and very relax. But he informed me that he can't proceed because I had first to get my file from Suanphlu. Of course there was never had any mention of this at Suanphlu. However, this guy could see my disappointment, and understood that it was no easy for us (My wife took a leave for this day) to come again tomorrow. So he took my application, stamped my extension (30 days first as usual) and asked us to go to Suanphlu to pick up the file. We go all the way there, and got......one sheet of paper. That was it! Now, why did not they fax it? Why could not they inform us last time? Why did not they manage to forward it to Samutprakarn office by themselves when they notified the change? Usual stuff here.

Back to Samutprakarn where the officer took the document with a big thank you. All was OK, just have to go again in 30 days for the 1 year stamp.

All in one it took less than 4 hours, but we could have avoided the trip to Suanphlu, and keep it around 30-45 mn.

So if some of you guys have to change from Suanphlu to another office, make sure you check this point

Samutprakarn office seems to be quite OK, with nice and helpful officers.

[tonytigerbkk]

Glad to hear everything went well for you.

Tiger.