Visa Extension Experience At Kanchanburi

[boldfj]

Today I applied for a one-year extension to my visa at the Kanchanburi Immigration Office. This was the first time I've applied at the Kanchanaburi Office since the rules for people living outside of Bangkok changed, requiring us to use another Immigration Office. Previously, I had always used the Bangkok Office on Soi Suan Phlu. I am happy to report that my initial experience with the Kanchanburi Office was very possitive. I arrived at 7:30 am hoping to be the first in line. The cleaning person immediately advised that the office will open at 8:30am. So my wife and I waited on the very comfortable double swing outside under the shade trees for one hour. As it turned out, we were not only the first person in line, we were the only people in line at 8:30am. Once inside, we found the Immigration Officers to be very pleasant, very helpful and very efficient. I had prepared my paperwork based on reading the various posts on this forum regarding applying for a marriage-based extension. All of my paperwork was quickly reviewed, I was asked to sign each of the pages which were copies of originals, and I paid the appropriate fee. Within less than 1 hour, I recieved my receipt, my passport was stamped indicating that I had made application for a one year extension of stay based on marriage to a thai, and I was on my way home. There were no requests for additional "fees" and no silly questions that required me to do something I shouldn't be required to do. All in all, I was very pleased with my first experience and I look forward to returning in the future to this office for future immigration needs. I must admit, I was a little worried about having to go somewhere other than the Bangkok Office. But my worries were over nothing. I would give the Kanchanaburi Immigration Office an "A" rating, for sure.

[Nowhereman60]

I agree with you. I did my retirement visa extension last month arrived about 9 am waited about 45 minutes and was gone by 9:45.

[tutsiwarrior]

I was pleased to hear of the good service at this office as I will be using this facility to apply for a marriage extension when the time comes.

I called them this week to query if it was possible to have the required 400k baht in an equivalent euro amount in a foreign currency account in Thailand to use for my extension application. I was advised that the funds must on deposit in baht for 2 months prior to the application as is normally required for the first extension. The person spoke acceptable English and appeared to fully understand my question. Their number is 034 564279.

A small question but a big relief...now no need to further investigate foreign currency accounts in Thailand which I would only use for this purpose.

upward and onward...

[MHM]

We use the Kan office all the time and yes, they are great. They phone us with good/bad news, offer solutions and are always courteous and helpful. They put up with a great deal of nonsense from aggressive ill-informed idiots with great aplomb, and its sad they have to suffer such abuse. Agree the A grade.

[mkmike]

I to can vouch for the helpful staff at this office, I have used it for the past 3 years and it has always been the same. When I arrived in Thailand 3 years ago I could have used either Bangkok or Kanchanaburi, but all the expats I met in Ratchaburi said I would get a better service at Kanchanaburi. My only gripe is the length of time it can take to get my marriage extension approved, as they send everything to Bangkok. This June it took 10 weeks to arrive, they even missed their own deadline by several days, so my advice is always to call ahead and don't rely on the dates they may give you.