90 Day Reporting In Bangkok At Chaeng Wattana

[IMA_FARANG]

Just got back from my 90 day reporting today 26th March 2012. Some comments.

1. Avoid Mondays like the plague. Because immigration is closed on saturday and sunday, monday is very busy. It will be crowded. Go early on Friday if you're scheduled for a Monday.

2. Any day you go arrive early. 8 a.m. if possible.

3. Today 26th March (Monday) I failed to arrive early...got there at 10 a.m. Big mistake. I got my number and it was A192. Went into the 90 day reporting area (it is seperated from other areas in it's own room now). They were processing A112 as I entered...so the queue was 80 already applications ahead pending before mine when I arrived. As the girl who gave ne the number said. "Long queue today, sir".

4. There were 2 desks active...there are only 4 desks in that particular room. One is used for the supervisor's office...one was not used but had a big sign in English saying, "Monk and Priest get priority" on it. While I was waiting I actually saw a monk go through that desk..ahead of all the queue and escorted by an immigration officer...so immigration isn't lieing about monks getting priority.

5. At 12:00 they closed the room for lunch. from 10 to12 they processed 61 applications...about one every 2 minutes. Guess I can't fault them for that. Therefore at noon, when they closed for lunch...just like the sign said they would...they were on A173 or 61 applications processed in 2 hours. Fair enough.

6. They re-opened exactly at 1 p.m. with number A174. At roughly 1.30 p.m. my number A192 was called. Took only 2 moments for her to sign the form, stamp my slip with my next reporting date, and put it in my passport.

7. Really can't complain about the immigration officers...roughly 2 minutes per application seems okay to me.

8. But, like I said Mondays are murder. AVOID MONDAYS if at all possible. If you CAN'T avoid Monday, go EARLY to get a low number.

9. This was my 2nd 90 day report. My first report I went early, not on Monday, and was in and out in 15 minutes. Today, I spent nearly 4 hours waiting. I won't be making that same mistake again.

Footnote:

There seemed to be alot of Thais with Thai passport going to those two 90 day reporting desks. The guy that sat in front of me had a clear Thai passport and a form applying fo for 90 day reporting. That still baffles me...why would someone with a Thai passport be applying for a 90 day reporting? I don't know, but I clearly saw it.

Edited March 26, 2012 by IMA_FARANG

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Note, you can, if you want to, do the 90-day report by mail at Chang Wattana.

I used to do so when Suan Plu handled the process, can't no longer as I'm in Pathum Thani, and the Sam Koke office doesn't handle mail-ins.

Mac

[Pib]

Sounds like my experience about a month ago...I arrived around 10am (forget what day)...got a queue number in the 190's with 93 folks ahead me...the room was overflowing/no where to setdown, so I walked around the building/did some shopping...took about 1 hr 45 min before they called my number, but at least I got out before their lunch break. Sure hope Cheang Wattana in-person 90 day reporting don't turn into trying to process through Suvarnabhumi immigration. They had 4 windows/desks calling numbers...they just seemed to be s.....l.......o.......w. Occasionally I report via mail, but generally report in person just to visit that part of Bangkok every 90 days, see how various construction projects are going, etc.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I did my mail-in to CW a month or so back... everything went fine as usual...

Though they were a bit slower than normal in mailing back my future reporting slip. They got my documents about a week ahead of my due date, and I didn't receive their receipt until 2+ weeks after my original due date.

For me, spending 50 baht or so on the combined EMS postage and included self-addressed envelope with a 10 baht return stamp definitely beats the joys of an excursion to far away CW.

[purushanti]

Note, you can, if you want to, do the 90-day report by mail at Chang Wattana.

I used to do so when Suan Plu handled the process, can't no longer as I'm in Pathum Thani, and the Sam Koke office doesn't handle mail-ins.

Mac

This brings up an important question: Is the mail-in service to Chaeng Wattana only for Bangkok-resident expats, or is it for all of Thailand? I ask because I have been advised by a helpful expat here in Chiang Mai that I could simply mail (next time) the 90-day report to CW-BKK,and receive my reply back in Chiang Mai by mail. True or not? Or just for BKK and CM? Thank you!

[ccarbaugh]

Great! I will be due for my first 90-day reporting next month. Exactly what forms are needed and what's the procedure for "mailing-in?" (Non-Imm B - Working at a government school in Bangkok.)

[sms747]

For me, spending 50 baht or so on the combined EMS postage and included self-addressed envelope with a 10 baht return stamp definitely beats the joys of an excursion to far away CW.

It's not such a joy when the return gets lost in the post as has happened to me twice, easier to go in the end.

[lopburi3]

Bangkok handles only Bangkok since the change to regional offices.

Notification by registered mail

Copy of all passport pages (up to the latest arrival stamp in the Kingdom or latest visa stamp)

Copy of arrival/departure card TM.6 (front and back)

Previous notifications of staying over 90 days (if any)

Completely filled in and signed notification form TM.47

Envelope with 5 [10 baht stamp suggested by others] Baht stamp affixed and return address of foreigner for the officer in charge to send back the lower part of form TM. 47 after having received the notification. This part must be kept for reference and for future notifications of staying over 90 days.

The above mentioned documents must be sent by registered mail and the receipt of the registration kept by the foreigner.

Send the mail before the renewal date 7 days to

90 DAYS REGISTRATION,

IMMIGRATION DIVISION 1

120 MOO 3, CHAENGWATTANA ROAD,SOI 7,

LAKSI, BANGKOK. 10210

[duiter]

@ SMS 747

Do you get refund/ compensation from The Thai EMS Service ?

Because your documents were lost by Royal Thai Post, how did you explain it to Immigration Dept ?

Thanks

[Lammbock]

Do you talking about Retirement Visas?

How about Non-B Visas? Is it possible to avoid a Visa run by going to the Immigration Office to extend for another 90days?

[lopburi3]

We are talking about 90 day address reporting for those on extensions of stay for any reason. If you are on a 90 day visa entry you do not have to do them. And unless you qualify for annual extensions of stay (work permit and meeting financial and company requirements) you can not extend a non immigrant B visa entry.

[Cuchulainn]

This brings up an old question.............................exactly WHAT is the point/purpose of a 90 day report? A total waste of time and paper!!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

@ SMS 747

Do you get refund/ compensation from The Thai EMS Service ?

Because your documents were lost by Royal Thai Post, how did you explain it to Immigration Dept ?

He didn't say the document he SENT was lost or never received... though he didn't confirm it was received or that he had used EMS tracking.

But he did appear to say that the RETURN receipt being sent back to him by Immigration never arrived. Immigration doesn't send those by EMS so they can be tracked.

Normally Immigration just uses the SASE (10 baht stamped self-addressed envelope) you send along with your original submission to return the receipt. And no tracking or guaranteed delivery for those.