is that far from apart, map is in thai... i do not even see where is the old and new builiing on that map...

everything moves? just some thing ?

not really clear...

why not cancel that all 90 report shit and save as all some time and money

I am using a legal service (a Thai lawer) to help me through the Marriage extension visa process.

We will go to Suan Plu on Sept. 17.

The lawer said that Suan Plu is still opened to people outside of Bangkok.

Only the people that live in Bangkok have to change to the new location on Chang Watana.

I am in Nonthaburi

is that far from apart, map is in thai... i do not even see where is the old and new builiing on that map...

everything moves? just some thing ?

not really clear...

why not cancel that all 90 report shit and save as all some time and money

I am using a legal service (a Thai lawer) to help me through the Marriage extension visa process.

We will go to Suan Plu on Sept. 17.

The lawer said that Suan Plu is still opened to people outside of Bangkok.

Only the people that live in Bangkok have to change to the new location on Chang Watana.

I am in Nonthaburi

They didn't move yet.

As for your extension, why do you use a lawyer? There is no need for a lawyer, everything is very straight forward. Note that the extension costs 1,900 baht.

Below is the official announcement with good maps/transport information.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/move.html

13 52 51.59N, 100 33 57.17E

Having measured it on Google Earth, it is slightly over 1 km from the mouth of the soi to the building. That's presuming it IS that large, white building with the stripes on the roof.

Did you see the traffic on the main road?!!

the place is easy to find, u just need GPS and explain things clearly to a taxi driver who cannot speak any English and has never seen GPS. In time they will figure out how to get there. It is all intentional to make life of foreigners easier during their vacation time in Bkk. Given enough complaints the relevant authorities may consider setting up a small immigration office again in the city. I strongly recommend as this is only going to serve the good image on Thailand.

Also the fact that you cannot get a re-entry permit at the airport is terrible, why would it be such a problem to have it at the airport for those who have emergency trip for example?

I love this place but I see a lot of room for improvement.

Immigration office - please don't move it!

Edited September 22, 200916 yr by macwalen

13 52 51.59N, 100 33 57.17E...That's presuming it IS that large, white building with the stripes on the roof..

Yes, it is.

View Thailand Immigration Offices in a larger map

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Maestro

Suggestion - move the pointer to the South Entry or the South-East Corner now that we know where the Immigration office is actually located in the building.

I think that is probably the main entrance. The V-shaped road is possibly one way. The bottom one is for incoming traffic and the top one is for outgoing.

The South entry is used for entrance to Immigration per there building plan I posted link to earlier. This is one big building.

I was of two minds where to put the green placemark:

1. At the V-shaped driveway, which I think leads to the main entrance and where one would get dropped off by the car, tuk-tuk or motorcycle taxi, then directly enter the air-conditioned building and go to the immigration office from the inside, around a few corners.

2. At the South end of the building, where I think one cannot drive up to the entrance but would have to walk around one outside corner of the building. This might be a pleasant walk, with the moat and the greenery, but perhaps a bit hot.

I think I will wait a while and see what entrance members report they are taking. If I were in Bangkok I would go and reconnoitre it myself.

--

Maestro

IMPORTANT

Please note that most immigration procedures start at Chaeng Wattana on Monday September 28! Not October 1!

Was at Suan Phlu today and this was posted.

I like the way they give instructions on how to get there by bus, as if anyone's actually going to use them!

I know you didn't mean anything by it, but I just want to caution you that attitudes like this are exactly what Thai people use to tell themselves its ok to cheat westerners (because they're too stupid to figure out "complicated" Thai things and too rich to care). Many foreigners actually rely quite heavily on the bus system, because it's cheap and if you can't afford taxis all the time it still connects you to pretty much anywhere else in the city.

The Nation is reporting that Chaengwattana will be open from 28 September. Anyone have any idea about those of us using the 5th floor (non-bangkokians from Nonthaburi, Patumthani etc) at Suan Plu, are we being moved too? On my last 90 day report almost 3 months ago I was told that office would not move... Any ideas?

Yes.

The old office will only be used for laos,burmese visa's etc and the rest go to the new office.

I was at the new bureau on Monday afternoon for my re-entry permit. It is a very large building!

South entrance is best to use for immigration (GPS 13,52,47,34 N 100,33,52,13E) as the immigration bureau is directly on right side as you enter. I went in the eastern entrance, but it was not too difficult to find the office.

The building has a huge atrium with a good food court downstairs. There is a photo place inside the building too in case you forgot to bring a photo.

They had not got the electronic queue number generators or displays installed yet, so you had to listen for your number being called, but apart from that it seemed to be all up and running.

One good thing is that parking is not a problem.

For those using public transport, it looks like shuttle busses run into the complex from Chaeng Wattana road - it is a very long walk otherwise.

Traffic was very heavy when I got out (about 4.15pm) but I turned left and went to 2nd Expressway, this route was not congested.

13,52,47,34 N 100,33,52,13E

Turkey is a long way to go just for a re entry permit!!!

You mean 13 52 47.34N 100 33 52.13E

Sorry, couldn't resist that!!

Edited September 30, 200916 yr by jamesjdaly

…South entrance is best to use for immigration (GPS 13,52,47,34 N 100,33,52,13E) as the immigration bureau is directly on right side as you enter. I went in the eastern entrance, but it was not too difficult to find the office…One good thing is that parking is not a problem…

I wish I were in Bangkok and could check it out myself, but I am not and hope you don’t my my asking some basic questions.

1. Parking. Is it in the same building, on a subterranean floor? It would seem not, as apparently you entered the building from the outside after parking your car. How long is the walk from the car park to the building?

2. Arrival by public transport. What public transports go to the immigration office in soi 7? Obviously, taxi and motorcycle taxi. Is there also a bus or minibus? Where would a taxi drop you off, at the East entrance, or can it drop you off at the South entrance?

Having travelled with your own car you may not know the answer to the second question so if anyone else does, kindly post it here.

--

Maestro

13,52,47,34 N 100,33,52,13E...You mean 13 52 47.34N 100 33 52.13E

Sorry, couldn't resist that!!

Google, and Google Maps, are usually quite forgiving about wrongly typed search queries but in that example it was not able to guess the true intention and it was good of you, jamesjdaly, to point out the correct format. Some GPS navigation devices apparently allow entering a destination in the form of co-ordinates, as does Google Maps, which increasingly more people have on their mobile phones.

--

Maestro

Finally!

Just back from the new office in Bangkok. I was very negative and moody in the taxi on my way there but I was very surprised how good it is. All paperwork are done fast and efficient. Imagine, when I arrived only saw smiling staff. One even offered to help me fill in the form.

I went there a couple of days ago, taking BTS to Mor Chit station, then taxi. I forget the exact taxi cost, but it was over 100 baht and under 150 baht. It was a very long way from Mor Chit / Chatuchak.

I used the maps and other info, including the picture of the slanted-side building, and had a Thai woman as guide. She had never been there, but reads Thai better than me and directed the driver. When we finally got there, I could see the slanted building quite a ways away, but the lady and driver insisted that the big building on Chaeng Wattana was the correct one. We went inside, and there were no English signs for Immigration, so I knew we were at the wrong building. We asked for directions, and were told to walk a hundred meters or so to the mouth of Soi 7, where two large shuttle buses were waiting. The buses are free.

Five minutes after we boarded the bus, it started moving and a few minutes later, pulled into the entrance of the slanted side building.

Inside, we found signs in English for Immigration, directing us to the second floor.

On that floor, though, it was difficult to find any signs at all. After wandering around a while, we found a photocopied sign taped to a column, and followed the arrow to the Immigration Department. There was no queue at all, as well as no numbered signs or any queue management mechanism.

The Immi lady served me immediately, I paid my fee, but there was a 15 or 20 minute wait as a total of 4 people handled the application and passport before it was handed back.

The building itself is huge and has many government departments. The bottom floor has several food courts, a Chesters greasy fried chicken outlet, several coffee shops, and a very long shopping mall with only half the shops occupied, but the ones that were included a toy store, a computer store, a flower shop, and an AIS company outlet (which sells GPRS/EDGE modems in USB-stick style).

According to the sales lady, that modem supports 3G, and it costs 4000 baht including a SIM and phone number and 6 months free Internet access. This would be ideal for someone living in a rural village with no land lines.

The taxi back from there to Sukhumvit Soi 4 was about 190 baht plus 55 baht toll on the Expressway; all was fine until the off-ramp to Sukhumvit, which was backed up and caused a 20 minute delay.

If you take a taxi there, you need to ask for Chaeng Wattana Soi 7, then look for the slanted side building.

I wish I were in Bangkok and could check it out myself, but I am not and hope you don’t my my asking some basic questions.

1. Parking. Is it in the same building, on a subterranean floor? It would seem not, as apparently you entered the building from the outside after parking your car. How long is the walk from the car park to the building?

2. Arrival by public transport. What public transports go to the immigration office in soi 7? Obviously, taxi and motorcycle taxi. Is there also a bus or minibus? Where would a taxi drop you off, at the East entrance, or can it drop you off at the South entrance?

Having travelled with your own car you may not know the answer to the second question so if anyone else does, kindly post it here.

--

Maestro

The parking building is a separate above ground building connected by walkways. No underground floors. The walk from carpark to bldg is short. The taxis are at the east entrance only, seems like. Any entrance is fine, it gets you into the big atrium and you go from there. I think you go by bus from downtown to the Department of Consular Affairs on Chaeng Wattana Road (bldg A) and take a shuttle to bldg B.

I went at 10:00 am today, Monday, and it was great. I drove myself and parked in section 2D, then walked right across the walkway into the building. This is the west entrance. The lady guard kindly showed me where immigration is, because otherwise I would be lost. The building is like a huge airport or a futuristic space ship. And I have no sense of direction!

Hours are 8:30 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:30. There is a sign for the shuttle bus as follows: the red line runs from 6:30 to 20:00 and goes from Chaeng Wattana, to Bldg A, to the Convention Center, and to Bldg B. The blue line runs from 11:30 to 13:00 and goes from CAT canteen, to post office canteen, to Bldg B. Not only is Bldg B home to immigration, it also houses the Ministry of Information and Commercial Technology, the Office of the Election Commission, The Dept of Marine and Coastal Resources, The National Health Security Office, The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, Office of the National Human Rights Commission, the Bio-diversity Based Economy Development Office and more.

Floor 1 is the basement. There is a dry cleaner, florist, copy center and places to eat. Floor 2 has a small library called the Public Health Library! The place is amazing. You enter on floor 2. That's the floor for Immigration for BKK. At the info desk, I was told to go upstairs to the Nonthaburi residents immigration. After I submitted my 90 day form and the man stamped it and handed me the bottom portion (only passport and form needed, no photocopies or pics), he handed me a little slip of paper in Thai. It was the address where Nonthaburi residents will soon have to go for immigration. But call first to make sure it's open.

Nonthaburi Immigration

#62 Moo 7, Tambon Bang Rak Pattana

Amphur Bang Bua Tong, Nonthaburi

tel. 02 834 2223

inside inside inside the atrium basement with restaurants parking structure with walkways over a canal outdoor walkway

Thank you for your information, Ragnarok.

I have put a placemark for the approximate location of the new Nonthaburi immigration office on Google Maps:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&sou...304ca6c84ceab32

As usual, the address information given by immigration is insufficient to locate the place on Google Maps, but I do not blame immigration for this. The quaint Thai addressing system existed long before Google came into existence. If anybody can in due time help me place this office correctly on the map I shall be grateful. A photo of the new office would also be welcome.

--

Maestro

Thanks to the people that posted the location information for the new offic, the immigration office webpage wasn't very helpful at all.

While the buildings look nice and all I feel very anoyed at the idea of having to go all the way "out there" to get a simple reentry stamp. Was it really that hard to have a desk for such stamps at the airport itself???

Thanks to the people that posted the location information for the new offic, the immigration office webpage wasn't very helpful at all.

While the buildings look nice and all I feel very anoyed at the idea of having to go all the way "out there" to get a simple reentry stamp. Was it really that hard to have a desk for such stamps at the airport itself???

There seems to be lots of complaints about the distance involved in getting to Cheangwattana. What about those of us who up to now (for many years) have been making 100km or more round trips to get to Suan Plu?? Stop whingeing. There's nothing you can do about it.

Thanks to the people that posted the location information for the new offic, the immigration office webpage wasn't very helpful at all.

While the buildings look nice and all I feel very anoyed at the idea of having to go all the way "out there" to get a simple reentry stamp. Was it really that hard to have a desk for such stamps at the airport itself???

There seems to be lots of complaints about the distance involved in getting to Cheangwattana. What about those of us who up to now (for many years) have been making 100km or more round trips to get to Suan Plu?? Stop whingeing. There's nothing you can do about it.

Whingeing? Do you think is unreasonable to have an office or desk for reentry visas at the airport?

Hi Guys,

My GPS "Garmin Nuvi 203" indicated N13 52.902 E100 34.020 for the Bangkok Immigration Office; I was standing in the very front of the building. Was quite an impressive place.

Anyhow, I did the trip by motorbike from Ratchada, it was a little tough to get too (but only gotta do it every 90 days). When driving in (Once off the main road) just keep following the BLUE SIGNS that indicate Immigration when you are inside the complex, which essentially means head straight until you cannot head straight anymore, u-turn at the end , come up about 50 yards and park. All, and all a very pleasant experience once inside; Pretty quick with the paperwork, prompt answers to any questions I had regarding future stamps, and swithcing vise etc.

Edited October 6, 200916 yr by Newguy70

On that floor, though, it was difficult to find any signs at all. After wandering around a while, we found a photocopied sign taped to a column, and followed the arrow to the Immigration Department. There was no queue at all, as well as no numbered signs or any queue management mechanism.

Seriously, what the hel_l is wrong with this country? A brand new building designed for the public with signs taped onto columns. Is it too much to ask for a few plastic signs giving information? Same as the airport.

Forward planning? Alai wah??!! What's that?

On that floor, though, it was difficult to find any signs at all. After wandering around a while, we found a photocopied sign taped to a column, and followed the arrow to the Immigration Department. There was no queue at all, as well as no numbered signs or any queue management mechanism.

Seriously, what the hel_l is wrong with this country? A brand new building designed for the public with signs taped onto columns. Is it too much to ask for a few plastic signs giving information? Same as the airport.

Forward planning? Alai wah??!! What's that?

Send me an email.

I will meet you anywhere and give you 800 baht for a round trip taxi to the new office.

After, if you think it is worse than Suan Phlu, I will then give you another 1,000 baht.

I will bet anything you are slagging on a facility you have not seen.

I have. And I know you read the report I wrote.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Chaengwattan...ri-t302394.html

If you cannot get out of your chair to experience what many already have, then please save your "Thailand Continues to Blow" comments until you do.

Edited October 6, 200916 yr by Twin

Actually the signage is rather crude (to be polite) and the building a huge space waste. I hate to think of the amount of air conditioning required to keep that huge area cool but expect it could run a space ship to the heavens and back several times. The percentage of usable space must be in single digits.

It is nice to look at and the area for Immigration is a huge improvement and for customers it should prove much more pleasant.

Twin

I am sure it is much better than Suan Plu. I do not dispute that. All I'm asking is why are there aren't any signs directing the public? Can you answer that without raising your blood pressure too much? Same as the airport, it cost billions and the signage there is still poor.

FWIW, most hospitals which cater to foreign clientele will do the 90 day reporting for you as it doesn't need to be done in person.

I just called Bumrungrad as they used to charge 200 baht to do the 90 day reporting for you, when Immigrations was at Suan Plu. The lady at their visa services office said they have raised their price to 500 baht given immigrations has moved.

Still for those bitching, pissing and moaning about making the trip out to the new office, it's probably 500 baht well spent.