Maptaput (Rayong) Immigration

[OJAS]

I have just posted about my frustrating trip there today on the Eastern Thailand forum at http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/543981-excellent-service-from-rayong-immigration/ (#17). However, since the topic is also germane to this forum, my posting is reproduced below for ease of reference:-

A somewhat less than positive experience at Maptaput this morning for my latest 90-day report, unfortunately. No overt unpleasantness from behind the windows, but the sole female officer processing 90-day reports seemed so S--L--O--W. It took 30 minutes for my number to be eventually called, even though there were only 5 in front of me. After attending to one person she then seemed to faff around for 5 minutes before calling the next number! That said, she was also subject to constant interruptions for blank TM47’s - why on earth these forms can’t be displayed out front instead of having to be asked for escapes me.

The whole process from start to finish took 45 minutes, the longest to date on record for a 90-day report in my experience. However, the whole place was packed out, although I only observed 1 other Western farang who did not seem to be there for 90-day reporting purposes. I suspect that a further contributory factor to my delay was that at least 2 people in front of me appeared to be couriers seeking reports on behalf of whole battalions.

I may well have been particularly unlucky in my timing on this occasion. Next time, therefore, I plan to give it a go in the early afternoon to see whether there are less people around then.

[Soutpeel]

"I suspect that a further contributory factor to my delay was that at least 2 people in front of me appeared to be couriers seeking reports on behalf of whole battalions"

And this will be the root of the problem some of the agents go in there packing 15-20 passports at a time, you need to pick your timing these days in MPT - same thing happened to me my last 90 day, I hung around for about 15 minutes seen what was happening and went home, came back day in an out in 10 minutes

[JusMe]

"I suspect that a further contributory factor to my delay was that at least 2 people in front of me appeared to be couriers seeking reports on behalf of whole battalions"

And this will be the root of the problem some of the agents go in there packing 15-20 passports at a time, you need to pick your timing these days in MPT - same thing happened to me my last 90 day, I hung around for about 15 minutes seen what was happening and went home, came back day in an out in 10 minutes

I had a similar experience a few months ago, but was lucky enough to have the courier permit me to go ahead of him - he had about 20 passports, and I took only a few minutes to do my 90 day report. Definitely thanked him for the consideration.

[Eff1n2ret]

"I suspect that a further contributory factor to my delay was that at least 2 people in front of me appeared to be couriers seeking reports on behalf of whole battalions"

And this will be the root of the problem some of the agents go in there packing 15-20 passports at a time, you need to pick your timing these days in MPT - same thing happened to me my last 90 day, I hung around for about 15 minutes seen what was happening and went home, came back day in an out in 10 minutes

Could well have had a lot to do with it. But I had the opposite experience to the OP when I went a few weeks ago. For some reason I had it in my head that the doors open at 09.30, and turned about about ten minutes before that, to see that it is actually 08.30. To my dismay there were loads of cars parked outside and about 20 people on the pavement. I wondered whether it was worth the wait and nearly decided to come back in the afternoon, but went inside, where it was packed, and took a ticket. To my surorise the number that came up was displayed above the 90-day counter - up I went, the lady did the biz and off I went. I wasn't inside the building more than a minute.

I agree that interruptions from people wanting a form are a pain, but I suspect the reason they don't put them out front is that they've already tried it, and the chaos caused by applicants arriving at the desk with the wrong form is worse than what happens now. That island in front of the door where there are separate panels displaying each of the forms with sample data completed in red has shelves underneath which were presumably designed to carry stocks of blank forms. It's a good idea and should be foolproof, but I guess they overestimated the intelligence or the ability to follow Thai or English language of a lot of the people who walk through that door.

[lopburi3]

I suspect budget, if any, for paper/copies is very limited and open display invites excess consumption (and not only mistakes).

[OJAS]

Thanks for all the replies.

"I suspect that a further contributory factor to my delay was that at least 2 people in front of me appeared to be couriers seeking reports on behalf of whole battalions"

And this will be the root of the problem some of the agents go in there packing 15-20 passports at a time, you need to pick your timing these days in MPT - same thing happened to me my last 90 day, I hung around for about 15 minutes seen what was happening and went home, came back day in an out in 10 minutes

Who are these foreigners who need couriers to submit 90-day reports on their behalf en masse? And is this a problem peculiar to Maptaput or are other immigration offices also affected? IMHO Immigration HQ should insist on all 90-day reports being made in person (as in the case of extensions of stay and re-entry permits) or by post. But that, of course, would probably prove a too obvious and straightforward solution for the Thai bureaucratic mind to embrace.

I had a similar experience a few months ago, but was lucky enough to have the courier permit me to go ahead of him - he had about 20 passports, and I took only a few minutes to do my 90 day report. Definitely thanked him for the consideration.

Unfortunately queue-jumping was not an option for me on this occasion since the person immediately in front was also a single applicant.

[ubonjoe]

Who are these foreigners who need couriers to submit 90-day reports on their behalf en masse? And is this a problem peculiar to Maptaput or are other immigration offices also affected? IMHO Immigration HQ should insist on all 90-day reports being made in person (as in the case of extensions of stay and re-entry permits) or by post. But that, of course, would probably prove a too obvious and straightforward solution for the Thai bureaucratic mind to embrace.

They are probably from Laos, Cambodia or Burma that are here on an employment contracts.

The couriers are probably some one from their employer who hired them.

My wife makes most of my 90 day reports so lets not talk about having that taken away.

[Soutpeel]

Who are these foreigners who need couriers to submit 90-day reports on their behalf en masse? And is this a problem peculiar to Maptaput or are other immigration offices also affected? IMHO Immigration HQ should insist on all 90-day reports being made in person (as in the case of extensions of stay and re-entry permits) or by post. But that, of course, would probably prove a too obvious and straightforward solution for the Thai bureaucratic mind to embrace.

MPT immigration office was set up service the industrial area, as there was/are large number of foreigners working construction etc on various projects on the industrial estates, hence the reason it is located where it is

Sending some from from the company office or by courier with all the passports for the 90 day reports is standard practice, as if you didnt you would have various people "disappearing" from the work sites and not the most efficient way for an employer to operate

By all means suggest it needs to be done in person, but suspect you will run the wrath of the people who do postal reporting in various parts of the country, but as you have suggested they maybe could provide a postal service

Visiting there once in 3 months, even if you have to come back the next day if you choose to do so, is hardly an inconvienience, I have been using MPT imigration for nearly the last 10 years, and it appears this is a bit of recent issue and maybe to do with the number of projects on-going in the MPT industrial estate

Next time your in there why dont you suggest they start postal reporting, from experience with MPT they are pretty good and do listen people, so they may take up your suggestion

[OJAS]

Visiting there once in 3 months, even if you have to come back the next day if you choose to do so, is hardly an inconvienience,

It IS an inconvenience for me since each trip necessitates a 2-hour return drive (I live out in the sticks between Ban Phe and Klaeng to the E of Rayong City).

Regarding the rest of your posting, I was under the impression from a TV posting dating back 5-6 years (which, unfortunately, I am now unable to track down) that Maptaput did offer a postal service at one time at any rate. Presumably, therefore, it has now been discontinued (assuming, of course, that it ever existed in the first place)?

Another suggestion which might be worth considering is that they reverse the current situation whereby 2 windows are available for extensions of stay, etc but only 1 for 90-day reports. Both extension of stay windows have seemed lightly patronised throughout all my visits to date. That said, my view might well change when I next apply for an extension of stay, only to find massive queues at both windows but none at the 90-day one!

A similar situation existed at the Thai Embassy in London when I applied for my OA visa 4 years ago. Only 1 window (with a lengthy queue) was available for new applications but 2 for subsequent passport collection. So maybe we foreigners may have just to accept what might seem to us perverse logic.

I very much agree with you that individual staff members are friendly and helpful. Once I had received my new 90-day report confirmation yesterday, I took the opportunity to ask the officer what was needed in order to transfer my stamps to a new passport once I had renewed my existing one early next year. The advice she gave me was clear and unambiguous.

[BigRick]

I was just there two weeks ago doing my tourist extension. They were really quick in and out in under 10 minutes actually I was very surprised. There were a ton of Thais in there with stacks of papers looked like 100's applications but they were using another window. They were also very professional and courtous. Everytime I got to immigation I find the services to be very good even in Bkk.

[OJAS]

I was just there two weeks ago doing my tourist extension. They were really quick in and out in under 10 minutes actually I was very surprised. There were a ton of Thais in there with stacks of papers looked like 100's applications but they were using another window. They were also very professional and courtous. Everytime I got to immigation I find the services to be very good even in Bkk.

They were also quick in dealing with my most recent retirement extension in July, which might well have been processed at the same window your tourist extension was: as stated in my previous posting, there are 2 windows dedicated to extensions. I strongly suspect that the ton of Thais to whom you refer were couriers seeking 90-day reports at a third window for the Laotian, Cambodian, Burmese, etc hordes who now seem to call Maptaput home.

[JusMe]

I've figured on showing up personally for my 90 day reports, as it ensures I at least make a shopping trip into Rayong!

But I know I've been offered several times by the officials at Map Tha Phut office the option of doing it all by mail.

That would mean planning a trip to the post office with an envelope, ensuring I had a return envelope included, and sending it all off about a week or so ahead of time. Oh, the onerous effort involved!

I rather enjoy my occasional trip into the office there, even if sometimes it does get crowded and there's a long lineup testing my patience. Good to have a test once in a while.

[OJAS]

I've figured on showing up personally for my 90 day reports, as it ensures I at least make a shopping trip into Rayong!

But I know I've been offered several times by the officials at Map Tha Phut office the option of doing it all by mail.

That would mean planning a trip to the post office with an envelope, ensuring I had a return envelope included, and sending it all off about a week or so ahead of time. Oh, the onerous effort involved!

I rather enjoy my occasional trip into the office there, even if sometimes it does get crowded and there's a long lineup testing my patience. Good to have a test once in a while.

So they do offer a postal service, then. Like you, however, I prefer to do my 90-day reports in person for the same reason as you - usually in the form of a trip to the Big C off the bypass (Highway 36) on our way home afterwards. But to ensure that these occasional trips remain enjoyable experiences for me, I shall probably make them after lunch from now on for 90-day reports - although mornings might generally still be OK for extensions of stay and re-entry permits.

Were I ever minded to do a 90-day report by post, at least I would probably not have to queue up for ages for the necessary stamps at a post office out here, unlike back in the UK! Of all my post office visits with wifey since moving out here 4 years ago, I can only recall 1 occasion (in Ban Phe) where we had to queue up for any length of time.