Counter staff at Chiang Mai Immigration

[chrisartist]

One of the people handing out tickets at Chiang Mai Immigration is a girl, short of hair and stature, and somewhat rotund of face and body. I have had the misfortune to get my ticket from her on my last two visits. On the first occasion, she couldn't find the tickets, so she wrote a number on one and handed it to me. It later transpired that a ticket with the same number on it had already been issued. Today, she gave me a ticket that had a number on it *less* than the one that was advertised as being served. I went to tell her about this and to ask for a new ticket. She did not wait to hear what I wanted to tell her. She merely said "Wait in line".

Has anyone else had negative experiences with this nitwit?

[jrtmedic]

Why not try speaking nicely to and about her----------Using the Thai language of course !

Edited August 29, 2013 by jrtmedic

[NancyL]

I know exactly who the OP is talking about. I, too, find her frustrating. It does help somewhat to speak Thai to her, but not much. She hasn't quite picked up the knack of understanding foreigners who are speaking Thai. Yes, I know we have a strange accent, but somehow other Thai people who listen to foreigners speak Thai manage to understand me.

Out of curiosity, the last time I had to do 90 day reports, I made a point of coming at 7 am to see the current morning sign-in procedure. It's gotten much better and one of the senior level guys (the friendly one who normally works the tourist visa extension counter) was the ringmaster. Miss Chubby-face didn't show up for work until 8:30 am, by which time the ringmaster and a couple other senior level people had the morning snarl untangled and were ready to turnover ticket dispensing to this lower-level nitwit.

She's given me duplicate tickets and tickets where the number has already been called, too. I just show the ticket to the officer working whatever counter I need and point out who gave it to me and when. No sense sitting around waiting for a number that you know won't be called!

Edited August 29, 2013 by NancyL

[jrtmedic]

I am sure the poor girl is trying her best to be helpful.

But I can also imagine how she is treated by some "Farangs"

[chrisartist]

Why not try speaking nicely to and about her----------Using the Thai language of course !

How do you know that I didn't? In fact, I smiled, spoke gently, and spoke both Thai and English.

Please try not to draw conclusions that go beyond the evidence presented.

[NancyL]

I am sure the poor girl is trying her best to be helpful.

But I can also imagine how she is treated by some "Farangs"

jrtmedic -- have you had the opportunity to actually see this gal in action? She's dumber than a box of rocks and doesn't seem to care. It's really sad they have someone of this caliber being the first person that someone encounters when they come to CM Immigration. She isn't capable of answering question about Immigration policy or looking at paperwork to see if all needed copies are made. All she does is pass out a queue number that is her best guess of what service the foreigner needs. I listened to foreigners ask her questions where they want to do something that isn't possible -- like extend a single-entry 90-day O visa for 30 days, the way you can a tourist visa. Rather than being able to explain this, all she did was give the poor guy a ticket, so he had to wait half a day to have someone knowledgeable tell him this wasn't the possible -- the most he could get was a 7 day extension.

[jrtmedic]

No I have no personal experience.

Sounds as if someone should have a quiet word with one of the more Senior immigration officials.

The girl maybe needs a change of job.

If the Lady really is "challenged" the Thais should be applauded for for attempting to integrate her into the workforce

Edited August 29, 2013 by jrtmedic

[chrisartist]

No I have no personal experience.

Sounds as if someone should have a quiet word with one of the more Senior immigration officials.

The girl maybe needs a change of job.

If the Lady really is "challenged" the Thais should be applauded for for attempting to integrate her into the workforce

She's not particularly challenged, when measuring her against the population as a whole. However, she is not up to the job to which she has been assigned. I cannot see that a change of assignment within the Immigration Police would result in more efficient and effective performance.

By all means integrate her into the workforce, but perhaps applause should be withheld (or at least muted), pending her integration into a part of the workforce, outside the Immigration Police, to which her skill set is better suited.

Edited August 29, 2013 by chrisartist

[jrtmedic]

Just an opinion which in the great scheme of things counts for very little .

Edited August 29, 2013 by jrtmedic

[OJAS]

Beggars belief in this day and age IMHO that ticket numbers are still dispensed manually at a large immigration office like Chiang Mai! At my local immigration office (Maptaput), all you do is press the relevant button on a machine and out pops a numbered ticket for you!

However, does such an antediluvian practice remain the rule rather than the exception at immigration offices generally?

I'm sure you Chiang Maians can't wait for the day when that allegedly incompetent female is replaced by a machine

[uptheos]

Doesn't quite fit into the chief's "pretty smile service" as told to Chiang Mai News.......maybe some feedback from them, as I'm sure he will be horrified to learn that his orders are not being adhered to.

[merijn]

Beggars belief in this day and age IMHO that ticket numbers are still dispensed manually at a large immigration office like Chiang Mai! At my local immigration office (Maptaput), all you do is press the relevant button on a machine and out pops a numbered ticket for you!

However, does such an antediluvian practice remain the rule rather than the exception at immigration offices generally?

I'm sure you Chiang Maians can't wait for the day when that allegedly incompetent female is replaced by a machine

Be happy you have a automated machine, we at Phuket have also a automated machine but it is never used because the officers don't like it.

[jrtmedic]

"Beggars belief in this day and age IMHO that ticket numbers are still dispensed manually at a large immigration office like Chiang Mai! At my local immigration office (Maptaput), all you do is press the relevant button on a machine and out pops a numbered ticket for you!"

​It all depends on the cognitive capability of the "customer"

Takes skill to operate those machine things !

[chiang mai]

More good reasons to use a reliable visa service, I'm a convert.

[OJAS]

"Beggars belief in this day and age IMHO that ticket numbers are still dispensed manually at a large immigration office like Chiang Mai! At my local immigration office (Maptaput), all you do is press the relevant button on a machine and out pops a numbered ticket for you!"

​It all depends on the cognitive capability of the "customer"

Takes skill to operate those machine things !

Well it's a skill I've finally managed to master at any rate!

Edited August 29, 2013 by OJAS

[jrtmedic]

chiang mai

All "of topic" but thanks for the laugh !

Stand by to be wiped out !

[NancyL]

Beggars belief in this day and age IMHO that ticket numbers are still dispensed manually at a large immigration office like Chiang Mai! At my local immigration office (Maptaput), all you do is press the relevant button on a machine and out pops a numbered ticket for you!

However, does such an antediluvian practice remain the rule rather than the exception at immigration offices generally?

I'm sure you Chiang Maians can't wait for the day when that allegedly incompetent female is replaced by a machine

Actually, they used to have a ticket machine and it now stands gathering dust in a corner. I think the problem was that too many customers would get queue tickets for counters that don't provide the service they needed and then get angry when they waited for hours only to be told they needed to get a queue ticket for another counter.

The current process of telling a live person why you're there and having that person hand out a ticket for the correct counter is an improvement, provided the person handing out the tickets was also capable of answering basic questions and checking that paperwork was in order. That's what the ace crew of officers did when they first opened the doors on the day I was there recently, but then they turned this important function over to the gal in question once she showed up for work at 8:30 am.

Edited August 29, 2013 by NancyL

[NancyL]

I am sure the poor girl is trying her best to be helpful.

But I can also imagine how she is treated by some "Farangs"

The day I was there recently, the rudest people were Japanese, Korean and Chinese. Oh yes, especially the Chinese. They make us Americans look polite!

[OJAS]

Beggars belief in this day and age IMHO that ticket numbers are still dispensed manually at a large immigration office like Chiang Mai! At my local immigration office (Maptaput), all you do is press the relevant button on a machine and out pops a numbered ticket for you!

However, does such an antediluvian practice remain the rule rather than the exception at immigration offices generally?

I'm sure you Chiang Maians can't wait for the day when that allegedly incompetent female is replaced by a machine

Be happy you have a automated machine, we at Phuket have also a automated machine but it is never used because the officers don't like it.

So does this mean that not only do you have to count the number of people in front of you but also keep a beady eye out for possible queue-jumpers when your turn is next?

Edited August 29, 2013 by OJAS

[merijn]

Beggars belief in this day and age IMHO that ticket numbers are still dispensed manually at a large immigration office like Chiang Mai! At my local immigration office (Maptaput), all you do is press the relevant button on a machine and out pops a numbered ticket for you!

However, does such an antediluvian practice remain the rule rather than the exception at immigration offices generally?

I'm sure you Chiang Maians can't wait for the day when that allegedly incompetent female is replaced by a machine

Be happy you have a automated machine, we at Phuket have also a automated machine but it is never used because the officers don't like it.

So does this mean that not only do you have to count the number of people in front of you but also keep a beady eye out for possible queue-jumpers when your turn is next?

Correct.

[jrtmedic]

I am sure the poor girl is trying her best to be helpful.

But I can also imagine how she is treated by some "Farangs"

The day I was there recently, the rudest people were Japanese, Korean and Chinese. Oh yes, especially the Chinese. They make us Americans look polite!

LOL !

Yes I am aware of the problems created by some "Asian" visitors. A friend of mine found it necessary to eject a whole group of people from his restaurant just a couple of weeks ago.

Edited August 29, 2013 by jrtmedic

[chiang mai]

chiang mai

All "of topic" but thanks for the laugh !

Stand by to be wiped out !

I'm very serious, I pay X to a visa company that here in Chiang Mai that provides excellent service, they provide me with four 90 day report slips (via email), and a re-entry visa (if I want it) and it all works really well, I notify them if my 90 day report date changes by virtue of travel and the agency staff all speak excellent English.

They will also take care of my O-A visa extention if I ask them to but historically that has always been a simple and trouble free process for me, especially using the online reservation system. Cost of service? Very inexpensive, especially when compared to the frustration and time expended otherwise. Safety? I keep my passport with me at all time and the agency takes copies once a year.

[jrtmedic]

Very pleased it works well for you

[Suradit69]

Why not try speaking nicely to and about her----------Using the Thai language of course !

How do you know that I didn't? In fact, I smiled, spoke gently, and spoke both Thai and English.

Please try not to draw conclusions that go beyond the evidence presented.

No I have no personal experience.

Sounds as if someone should have a quiet word with one of the more Senior immigration officials.

The girl maybe needs a change of job.

If the Lady really is "challenged" the Thais should be applauded for for attempting to integrate her into the workforce

She's not particularly challenged, when measuring her against the population as a whole. However, she is not up to the job to which she has been assigned. I cannot see that a change of assignment within the Immigration Police would result in more efficient and effective performance.

By all means integrate her into the workforce, but perhaps applause should be withheld (or at least muted), pending her integration into a part of the workforce, outside the Immigration Police, to which her skill set is better suited.

"Please try not to draw conclusions that go beyond the evidence presented."

"She's not particularly challenged, when measuring her against the population as a whole."

Well, thanks for supplying the evidence. Sounds like your definition of "speaking nicely to and about her (and Thai people generally)" may differ from the usual one.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Suradit69

[Moo2cm]

Somebody wants to talk about Chiang Mai Immigration. There is a picture of the officer in charge outside one of the buildings there that

says you should call if you experience any inconvienence. Did you try that?

If you ever get a chance to use any office other than Chiang Mai you might find some differences. After we moved from Chiang Mai we found that we no longer needed copies of everything for things like 90 day check-ins. The new immigration office just gave them back at us and said we don't need these.

If you like queing up hours before the immigration office opens (or getting there hours early to sign a list to get to take a number... and make sure you get two numbers if you are a couple because you will need to come back the next day because 1 number one service...policy.) Chiang Mai is the place.

Surely the worst immigration office in Thailand, a real disgrace.

[seniorbro]

chiang mai

All "of topic" but thanks for the laugh !

Stand by to be wiped out !

I'm very serious, I pay X to a visa company that here in Chiang Mai that provides excellent service, they provide me with four 90 day report slips (via email), and a re-entry visa (if I want it) and it all works really well, I notify them if my 90 day report date changes by virtue of travel and the agency staff all speak excellent English.

They will also take care of my O-A visa extention if I ask them to but historically that has always been a simple and trouble free process for me, especially using the online reservation system. Cost of service? Very inexpensive, especially when compared to the frustration and time expended otherwise. Safety? I keep my passport with me at all time and the agency takes copies once a year.

Interesting, might be worth a try. Can you give us the name of the visa company and its location?

[OJAS]

Hmm, I wonder whether the reluctance of those in charge at Chiang Mai, Phuket and presumably other offices as well to allow the punters themselves to use the ticket numbering machines could easily be overcome through the Immigration Bureau introducing a requirement for extension of stay applicants to provide a Certificate Of Competence In Using The Ticket Numbering Machine, in addition to the usual finance, address, etc evidence

[SPIKECM]

Why not try speaking nicely to and about her----------Using the Thai language of course !

Thai langauge won't impress anyone at immigration. I speak it pretty well and every time I speak in Thai to them, they answer back in English. That is standard experience though with most Thais. Speak a few words and they love it. Any more and you know a bit too much. I have a friend who has a masters degree in Thai. Sometimes it takes him three sentences before they answer back in Thai.

[moe666]

Somebody wants to talk about Chiang Mai Immigration. There is a picture of the officer in charge outside one of the buildings there that

says you should call if you experience any inconvienence. Did you try that?

If you ever get a chance to use any office other than Chiang Mai you might find some differences. After we moved from Chiang Mai we found that we no longer needed copies of everything for things like 90 day check-ins. The new immigration office just gave them back at us and said we don't need these.

If you like queing up hours before the immigration office opens (or getting there hours early to sign a list to get to take a number... and make sure you get two numbers if you are a couple because you will need to come back the next day because 1 number one service...policy.) Chiang Mai is the place.

Surely the worst immigration office in Thailand, a real disgrace.

In the end it is not there fault Bangkok refuses to send them more staff or to improve the conditions of buildings there, blame the head guys but the people at Chiang Mai immigration are doing the best they can with what they have.

[chiang mai]

chiang mai

All "of topic" but thanks for the laugh !

Stand by to be wiped out !

I'm very serious, I pay X to a visa company that here in Chiang Mai that provides excellent service, they provide me with four 90 day report slips (via email), and a re-entry visa (if I want it) and it all works really well, I notify them if my 90 day report date changes by virtue of travel and the agency staff all speak excellent English.

They will also take care of my O-A visa extention if I ask them to but historically that has always been a simple and trouble free process for me, especially using the online reservation system. Cost of service? Very inexpensive, especially when compared to the frustration and time expended otherwise. Safety? I keep my passport with me at all time and the agency takes copies once a year.

Interesting, might be worth a try. Can you give us the name of the visa company and its location?

I'll send you a PM