Delays At Immigration - Bkk?

[HowardJohnson]

Hi,

I'm just trying to plan my transfer from BKK and have noticed that some people have complained about the queues at immigration being very long. I have heard some say 2 hours or more?

Are there any recent arrivals who can confirm if this is the case?

Thanks.

[Rinrada]

Last visit no more than about 10 minutes each way.

Yesterday departed D.M.with K.W and went through the "Thai Passports only" lane and it was even quicker.

[JohnC]

I came through from UK last month and waited nearly two hours, the reason being they are taking everyones picture that enters the country and it was sunday and not many immigration desks open.

[sonthaya]

My last arrival in September waiting time in immigration was 15 min.

[cobra]

Yes, ~ about an hour and a half on my previous,

I think it has more to do with flight schedules than manning,

When you get half a dozen large body carriers dumping some ~ 400+ people around the same time, lines build quickly,

[Smokin Joe]

I think Cobra is correct.

I've been through twice in the last couple of months and the arriving lines were 15 min max. It took longer to get stamped out , about 20 min, one time.

[britmaveric]

Avg seems to be 10-20minutes! No grumbles here seen heaps worse in other countries.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Changi is superb

[NguuMuu]

Until last time, I have never waited more than 15 minutes (coming in to Thailand) although with the fact that they now are taking everyone's picture the time seems to have about doubled. Although 25-30 minutes is still relatively quick IMHO.

Customs has never been a problem...they don't even have you fill out a form anymore if you have nothing to declare.

[Axel]

Arriving between 1:00 and 4:00 pm is bad. Too many passengers.

Last Saturday took me 45 min. (landed 1:10 pm)

[Crossy]

Sunday 2 weeks ago (3 pm) 20 mins, no problems.

They seem to have got the hang of the new piccy taking stuff.

On the way out they even snapped a baby in his/her buggy

[numpty]

2 hours once, the day after the bomb at the airport

it was usually ok, i used to come in often from dhaka and arrive abot the same time, sometimes it was a breeze, sometimes up to an hour or so it seemed

[Firefan]

"On the way out they even snapped a baby in his/her buggy"

He,he - I feel much safer now knowing they have a pic in case the baby gets up to no good!

Cheers!

[lomatopo]

Hi,

I'm just trying to plan my transfer from BKK and have noticed that some people have complained about the queues at immigration being very long. I have heard some say 2 hours or more?

Are there any recent arrivals who can confirm if this is the case?

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you arriving and terminating, arriving and connecting (to a domestic flight, if so, what is your final destination as you may be able to clear immigration and customs there) or departing? What day of the week? What time?

Personally I have never waited more than 10 minutes, departing (05:00 departure to NRT, or 21:00 departure to FRA/MUC), or arriving (23:45 arrival{UA} from NRT, or 06:30{TG}/14:00{LH} arrivals from FRA/MUC).

Returning to the U.S.A., and arriving at either SFO or ORD, has resulted in interminable waits for me, 60 minutes or more, sometimes making it challenging to catch my connecting domestic flght. I obviously arrive in a bank of flights.

Edited November 15, 2005 by lomatopo

[soibangla]

wow, i guess some things have changed w/ Thai immigration since i was there last year in december... they are taking pictures of every person who passes through immigration now, as i've seen before in Cambodia? i take it they are utilizing similar little webcam looking units as well then..?

[think_too_mut]

wow, i guess some things have changed w/ Thai immigration since i was there last year in december... they are taking pictures of every person who passes through immigration now, as i've seen before in Cambodia? i take it they are utilizing similar little webcam looking units as well then..?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It has. The queues are longer, may take an hour or so to go through. This is what it looks like. Note the step pad, the cam (te apology baner was there but not any more):

[HowardJohnson]

Thanks to all for your replies. It looks like its going to be hit or miss. I could be lucky or might have to wait a while. I'm sure the driver waiting for me will understand!

Arriving New Year Eve at 4.30pm so there had better not be too much of wait as there is some serious partying to be done in Pattaya!!!

Cheers!

[lomatopo]

I arrived BKK Friday, 2 Dec ~ 23:45, and passed through the Terminal 2 Arrival Immigration area (south side of terminal). There was no wait. I was one of the first off the bus, from the remote gate, and there were no other passengers waiting in line.

Note that there are two banks of immigration counters for arriving passengers. One serving terminal 1 (north side) and one serving terminal 2 (south side).

If you were to arrive and find the lines unbearably long you might try to venture to the other immigration area as it may be less crowded. This would involve a walk (probably not a bad thing to do after being on an aircraft for a long time) and might possibly yield longer lines.

[Patsycat]

Just don't stop for the first cigarette in 16 hours and you should be ok!!

[Axel]

....

If you were to arrive and find the lines unbearably long you might try to venture to the other immigration area as it may be less crowded. This would involve a walk (probably not a bad thing to do after being on an aircraft for a long time) and might possibly yield longer lines.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Immigration is not too happy about this, and they know, of course, which flights arrived in which terminal.

If they let you pass, don't forget to walk back downstairs, for luggage arriving in the original terminal.

[lomatopo]

Immigration is not too happy about this, and they know, of course, which flights arrived in which terminal.

If they let you pass, don't forget to walk back downstairs, for luggage arriving in the original terminal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why are they unhappy with this? Have you tried this and met with some sort of negative response? I honestly cannot envision any reason why they might find this objectionable?

After you clear immigration you pretty much have to go down one level in order to clear customs. For those who've checked bags, check the monitor for the baggage carousel associated with your flight. I normally do not have checked bags. Also you can purchase limited items from duty free on arrival here on that lower level.

[jef]

I arrived 21st nov around 15.15 terminal 2, had around 10 people in front at every line, 10 minutes.

[Axel]

Why are they unhappy with this? Have you tried this and met with some sort of negative response? I honestly cannot envision any reason why they might find this objectionable?

After you clear immigration you pretty much have to go down one level in order to clear customs. For those who've checked bags, check the monitor for the baggage carousel associated with your flight. I normally do not have checked bags. Also you can purchase limited items from duty free on arrival here on that lower level.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, lomatopo, I not only tried it, but do it all the time.

Some officers reject, claiming that I am in the wrong terminal.

Others might be unhappy, to have to do extra work, who knows?

Occassionally, they tried to send me away, to which I responded that the colleague over there sent me to here, as over there too busy... (usually not true)

OK, wonce you know how the airport works, you can do a lot, still th markings guide you for your flight to the proper terminal.

Walking after a flight? Sure, arrive in T1, walk to immigration T2, got down and back to T1 to pick up your luggage and back to T2 where normally my car is parked.

[Jack Jones]

I've only ever waited 20 mins max. What ever the queues are now I guarantee that they don't match the queues getting back into the UK at terminal 3 - I've never waited so long and they don't even stamp your passport or take your photo.

[karazyal]

Hi,

I'm just trying to plan my transfer from BKK and have noticed that some people have complained about the queues at immigration being very long. I have heard some say 2 hours or more?

Are there any recent arrivals who can confirm if this is the case?

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I usually try to avoid lines with a lot of contract workers from China standing in line. The Thai immigratiion employees seem to take a lot of time checking them out thoroughly, other countries like Japan, Australia, and the U.S. get to breeze through. The Chinese contract workers often have the same style jacket on with some sort of logo on the back.

[Krub]

Saturday afternoon between 13:45 and 15:00 can be bad in Terminal 2

I have done it in no time several times but Saturday 3 Dec had a 45 minutes wait

[markuk]

Hi,

I'm just trying to plan my transfer from BKK and have noticed that some people have complained about the queues at immigration being very long. I have heard some say 2 hours or more?

Are there any recent arrivals who can confirm if this is the case?

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you have child with you they take you out of the Q and deal seperately.

[HowardJohnson]

If you have child with you they take you out of the Q and deal seperately.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll see if I can stand next to a single mom with a kid then. (Without looking suspicious of course!)

[OldAsiaHand]

Why are they unhappy with this? Have you tried this and met with some sort of negative response? I honestly cannot envision any reason why they might find this objectionable?

After you clear immigration you pretty much have to go down one level in order to clear customs. For those who've checked bags, check the monitor for the baggage carousel associated with your flight. I normally do not have checked bags. Also you can purchase limited items from duty free on arrival here on that lower level.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, lomatopo, I not only tried it, but do it all the time.

Some officers reject, claiming that I am in the wrong terminal.

Others might be unhappy, to have to do extra work, who knows?

Occassionally, they tried to send me away, to which I responded that the colleague over there sent me to here, as over there too busy... (usually not true)

OK, wonce you know how the airport works, you can do a lot, still th markings guide you for your flight to the proper terminal.

Walking after a flight? Sure, arrive in T1, walk to immigration T2, got down and back to T1 to pick up your luggage and back to T2 where normally my car is parked.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tried it once when I had carry-on only and, after waiting in a short line at T1 following an arrival at (a very crowded) T2, they refused to clear me, insisting that I had to go back to T2 to clear since that was where my flight had arrived. I have since witnessed on other occasions other people being sent away after reaching the immigration desk where they were trying to clear as well for the same reason. Maybe you can get away with it, but I didn't and I have seen others who didn't. My advice then is not to take the chance.

[thaiflyer1]

Got back from Singapore last night............queue 45 mins (that was with 8 Immigration controls open 5pm).

Changi...........no queue either way

Wonder if Howard Johnson (OP) is stuck in a queue somewhere?

Edited December 9, 2005 by thaiflyer1