No Relief In Sight For Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang Airport Immigration Staff

[webfact]

No Relief in sight for Airport Immigration Staff

By Staff Reporter

BANGKOK: -- After the floods last year forced airlines to move services to Suvarnabhumi … this month sees Bangkok’s second airport, Don Mueang return to service after massive renovations.

Billions of baht has been invested in the duty free and passenger areas as flights are once again transferred back to, what was, the original airport for the capital. 10 year contracts have been agreed with the tax free shops and the lights are back on, waiting for the airlines to come home.

Weary passenger standing in queues at either airport, passport in hand, hand luggage at their feet wishing the immigration officer to speed up and get through the line of people ahead, will be unaware of the struggle faced by the, perhaps cute, uniformed officer who appears to take an eternity to check passports, before finally stamping the visa and offering a weary and repetitive smile to the next in line.

As new runways are planned for the already overloaded International hub, and Don Mueang reopens for business, so the plight of the Immigration officer becomes regular headline news.

According to sources, the job isn’t as simple as checking the expiry dates of the visa and passport of every single passenger, in fact that is just the tip of the iceberg.

A dozen passengers during any day are removed from the line as they show up on the internationally updated computer system as having outstanding warrants.

Hundreds arrive with expired visas, passports that are not actually their own or with other complications that mean they are not qualified to enter or leave the kingdom.

And then there are thousands of passengers who have either not completed their boarding cards or have filled them out incorrectly (bring your own Pen!!).

In each case the officer has to bring the line to a halt and review the case with a superior.

Full story: http://www.pattaya10...igration-staff/

-- pattaya103.com 2012-09-26

[moe666]

A few years ago arrived behind a 747 load of Chinese tourist none spoke English or wrote it. They hadn't filled out their cards arriving at immigration backing up the line to over an hour.

[Thai at Heart]

Why check people leaving?

[teatree]

I recently visited Canada and the US and passport wasn't checked when leaving the country.

[nullx8]

i remember well the travel's via Don Muang Airport,

abit clumsy but everything worked out somehow, with the opening of the Swamp Airport, everything went worse.

overloaded airport ? well Survanabhumi has just 2 runways as Don muang has it, also the proceedures are more complicated.

personally i do not see any improovement with the new Airport, since don muang and survanabhumi have the same capacity Don Muang is clearly the winner.

making something "bigger and more shiny" does not make it more efficient.

[Naam]

I recently visited Canada and the US and passport wasn't checked when leaving the country.

it's done by the airline when checking in.

[nullx8]

Why check people leaving?

because noone seriously staying here (most asked question from thais "when you go back home?")

so its very likely you may have a open Broadband invoice

[frankold]

Smile? lol...

The entry ques at Suvarabhumi immigration yesterday evening were que'd right down past the last minute duty free stands, worst I have ever seen it. For those without a fast track card that must have been a 2hr+ wait which for some will have been off the back of a 10hr+ flight.

[Katipo]

Duty Free Shops? I think they mean shop. I'd wager that the corrupt KP has once again secured a monopoly.

[Ajaan]

"unaware of the struggle faced by the, perhaps cute, uniformed officer"

What is this sexist drivel?! Is this 2012 or 1962? jeezus H. christ...

[siamjimi]

Why check people leaving?

Its all about the money machine - potential profits are outstanding for even the slightest hiccup - they hold out their hand for payment. I understand checking for overstay - this alone allows for revenues in the billions of baht per year - otherwise wave the person through without being concerned of other international issues (?) / warrants outside of Thailand - plllllleeeeaaassssse - anything that can potentially pad their pockets - they get BIG BIG payments for holding and surrendering international warrants - so you see we are right back to the money machine - its all about the baht. Do you really think the Thai government is concerned about crimes committed in other countries - its all about the baht.

[belg]

if at least, there was a direct train from one airport to the other, but hey, this is .... afterall

[Ajaan]

"A dozen passengers during any day are removed from the line as they show up on the internationally updated computer system as having outstanding warrants."

Hmm, my encounters in the bars of Pattaya and Sukhumvit Soi 4 would tend to indicate that they are MISSING about 60% of the hooligans with warrants, hahaha...

[WilliaminBKK]

Since the Government owns TG time for them to push online check in with passengers inputting their details and share the information with Immigration prior to arrival to ease the congestion. UK/Canada/USA/Australia all know you is on the plane prior to landing.

It's also not totally fair to blame Immigration the airlines only survive with a spoke and hub system so all the flights land at once to feed each other.

[Ajaan]

A few years ago arrived behind a 747 load of Chinese tourist none spoke English or wrote it. They hadn't filled out their cards arriving at immigration backing up the line to over an hour.

This is very true. Though I hate to generalize about a nation/cultural group, I have to agree that the Chinese are the rudest, most inconsiderate people on the planet...and NOW they have MONEY! You neglected to mention how they brazenly cut into immigration lines...one has to be alert and use one's elbows judiciously to avoid being pushed back by them.

Unfortunately, within 50 years they will--quite literally--rule the world. We are doomed.

[hawker9000]

'Might guess worse maybe? I understand that Canada, UK, and the US already have a database-sharing arrangement whereby arriving passengers are checked by the immigration officer, and with so much as a misdemeanor on their record (dui, shoplifting, whatever) from 30 yrs ago (doesn't matter how long) are denied entry. Could this expand to Thailand and other countries?

[mok199]

i stood in line for passport contron 2 hours,as the cue made its way to the officer,a familly of 5 russians stood in front of me,when thier turn came,they appeared stunned,as they strugggled to find a pen and then began to fill in all five entry cards,sometimes the ignorance of the traveler is matched,only by thier arrongance....

[bigbamboo]

Duty Free Shops? I think they mean shop. I'd wager that the corrupt KP has once again secured a monopoly.

Swampy is one big shop..... with aeroplanes around it.

[Matthew2027]

Why check people leaving?

Ummmmm, Let's have a think..... OH ! maybe they have committed crimes here, and trying to escape, or Interpol has updated outstanding Warrants.

[Sydebolle]

Look at the procedures here. Be it a re-entry (double page, arrival/departure flight, date, shoe size and favourite soda pop of grannie being asked) with photograph for something, which in essence serves to put money into the government's till. While latter is OK, why dont charge flat THB 10'000 for a one year visa extension which included multiple re-entries. Then open lanes for Thais and one-year visa holders while the tourists are processed by different lanes; eventually splitting those in more educated travellers (with completed forms) and those which are "used to queue". So done at various airports in Europe and it works.

In closing, many countries are glad if you leave = no passport check by immigration, only the airline checks, if the traveller can get off the plane at the destination. So you could move all those immigration officers in departure to arrival - how nice would that be!

[Theboy]

"unaware of the struggle faced by the, perhaps cute, uniformed officer"

What is this sexist drivel?! Is this 2012 or 1962? jeezus H. christ...

And what is wrong with that - some of the younger unfromed boys are cute

[finnomick1]

Shame the ' old style ' airline ticket is rarely used because it's about the same size as an immigration landing card. The airline issueing the ticket could pre-print a landing card at the time of issue -- or is that too simple ?

[khaowong1]

I recently visited Canada and the US and passport wasn't checked when leaving the country.

At least in the US, I know this is correct.

[Geratul]

Wow, what a nice words... what is the reason? to put the immigration officer in a sunny daylight? I always believe that respect you need to deserve. It never comes by itself and to for me, immigration is a pain in the ass. They never laugh and are always busy with things I ask myself, is that their job? sitting behind the counter, talking with a colleague sitting 50 meters further on and in the meantime let you wait. So please don't clear the immigration officers by excuse them with words like "Hundreds arrive with expired visas, passports that are not actually their own or with other complications that mean they are not qualified to enter or leave the kingdom...". About the immigration (arrival-/departure) card. Old-fashioned! Look to Malaysia... they skipped it already after a long time use as well. Reason? Much too complicated and ... passenger-unfriendly! Words out of the Malaysian media. And see now how fast immigration is, but not in Thailand, they almost do everything to make it unfriendly for visitors accept to spend money! Well, lots of money is invested... hmmm, then invest also some in a computer system which can skip the immigration card. Other countries can do it, but Thailand can't? And last but not least... invest some in communication-skills of the immigration-officers. They like to act in a way of "I have the power to let you in or not"... sick attitude and when you give a smile... mean in sincere and not give a fake smile which I can see all around Thailand when money is involved.

[khaowong1]

Why check people leaving?

Ummmmm, Let's have a think..... OH ! maybe they have committed crimes here, and trying to escape, or Interpol has updated outstanding Warrants.

They should do what they do in Canada or the US, check those passports at the ticket counter. Simple, yes?

[Fozfromoz]

"unaware of the struggle faced by the, perhaps cute, uniformed officer"

What is this sexist drivel?! Is this 2012 or 1962? jeezus H. christ...

yes my son?

[SeaVisionBurma]

Why is it that when anyone wants to exaggerate the amount of time spent in an immigration queue it is always 2 hours?

i stood in line for passport contron 2 hours,

The entry ques at Suvarabhumi immigration yesterday evening were que'd right down past the last minute duty free stands, worst I have ever seen it. For those without a fast track card that must have been a 2hr+ wait

Ridiculous

At a busy time it might stretch out to 30 minutes or so - but every post recently complaining about immigration (this & other threads) somehow manage to come up with a 2 hour waiting time.

[samjaidee]

Duty Free Shops? I think they mean shop. I'd wager that the corrupt KP has once again secured a monopoly.

I think you'll find that KP is a company that has the concession to run a number of retail outlets. Surely the corruption comes from the people within AOT, the people who issue concessions at the airport.

[DDuval]

A few years ago arrived behind a 747 load of Chinese tourist none spoke English or wrote it. They hadn't filled out their cards arriving at immigration backing up the line to over an hour.

This is very true. Though I hate to generalize about a nation/cultural group, I have to agree that the Chinese are the rudest, most inconsiderate people on the planet...and NOW they have MONEY! You neglected to mention how they brazenly cut into immigration lines...one has to be alert and use one's elbows judiciously to avoid being pushed back by them.

Unfortunately, within 50 years they will--quite literally--rule the world. We are doomed.

Couldn't agree more. Had 2 Chinese sat aside me on a flight to Singapore last year. Both of them where eating noodles and burping aloud and eating like 2 Soi starved Soi dogs....no disrespect Mr Soi dog....I really wanted to vomit.

Now I have a rule anybody who resembles Chinese on any flight on Emirates I asked to be moved, if that fails I get the Airmiles out and book Business Class.

A horrible bunch of peasants who really need to learn some human manors and Etiquette.

Edited September 26, 2012 by DDuval

[Konini]

Shame the ' old style ' airline ticket is rarely used because it's about the same size as an immigration landing card. The airline issueing the ticket could pre-print a landing card at the time of issue -- or is that too simple ?

I've often thought the same - they do this when you get a minibus to/from Malaysia, all you do is sign it. First time I was a bit weary, why is the driver taking my passport somewhere, but he took everyone else's so it must be OK. Came back a few minutes later with a pile of printed arrival cards, name, DoB, passport number/expiry etc, sign and go.