Major Hollywood

[DogNo1]

After reading good reports about the service at Major Hollywood, I went there today to get a one-year extension of my permission to stay based on retirement. It took me about 50 minutes from Chong Nonsi to get there. I arrived shortly before 11:00 and with only six people in front of me, I got through the paper screening by 11:30 and was directed to Window A5 in the main room to hand in my passport and paperwork and pay the 1,900 baht fee. I then waited for an hour until my number was called just before 12:30. Everyone then went on lunch break. There are no sit-down restaurants in Major Hollywood so I got a glass of iced coffee and sat on a sofa near the rear exit until 1:30. My passport was finally ready at 2:00 and after I got it back, it only took a few minutes to have the new permission to stay photocopied and have my re-entry papers checked. I then presented them at Window D8 and within 10 minutes received my re -entry permit. I jumped into a taxi with another Farang who was headed to the Skytrain and within 12 minutes arrived at Asoke Station! This was 40 minutes shorter than my ride from Chong Nonsi! I haven't been to Lard Prao but I really can't recommend Major Hollywood as a good location. It isn't air conditioned and certainly wasn't fast. With only six ahead of me, I had hoped to be out of there by 12:30. On a positive note, they did automatically transfer my non-O visa to my new passport.

Ignore the advice elsewhere on TV to take a taxi from Chong Nonsi. It's really not far from Asoke.

[thonglorjimmy]

Good report, thanks.

I need to do the same next week, so you reckon it's best to get a taxi from Asoke?

Just hope the driver knows the way.

Thanks again

[ozziepete]

If you got there a bit earlier and was first in line then you might have been out of there sooner. Just be glad that you got it done in one day.

[hansnl]

Live in Khon Kaen, so had to go to Khon Kaen immigration.

Passport, copies of the passport pages that were used, copy of my tambien baan, income declaration from the Embassy, plus the completed applicatiobn for my extension of stay based on retirement.

Also application for a re-entry permit and a 90-day form.

So three things in one go.

Waiting for 7 minutes

First the new extension of stay.

All paperwork checked, pasport checked, stamps placed, receipt for 1900 baht, paperwork handed to the chief, returned to the officer.

Also pasport checked in the computer, photo made.

Ready, duration 9 minutes.

Waiting for 3 minutes

Second the re-entry permit.

Paperwork checked, passport checked, stamps placed, signed, receipt for a 1000 baht.

Also pasport ched in the computer, photo made.

Ready, duration 4 minutes.

Waiting for 5 minutes

90 day check.

Pasport checked, completed form checked.

Pasport in the reader, and out comes the 90-day slip.....from the printer.

Ready, duration 3 minutes

Everything ready in 31 minutes.

Entered around 11 o'clock, came out 45 minutes later.

The wife was talking to the colonel.......

Delays, delays.

[DogNo1]

I am glad that I got it done in one day although the processing that goes on out of sight in the back does seem to be very slow. I sure hope that CW is open next year!

[DogNo1]

I think that it's good to take the taxi from Asoke. The farang that I rode back with said that's what he did and the driver seemed to know the way. BTW, he had the taxi wait for him and then paid the driver 300 for the round-trip. If you don't want to wait over lunchtime, you could show up at 1:30. Nobody came after lunch, at least not by the time that I left at 2:30.

[pmarlin]

I think that it's good to take the taxi from Asoke. The farang that I rode back with said that's what he did and the driver seemed to know the way. BTW, he had the taxi wait for him and then paid the driver 300 for the round-trip. If you don't want to wait over lunchtime, you could show up at 1:30. Nobody came after lunch, at least not by the time that I left at 2:30.

I did my extension and moved stamp into a new passport recently at Major Hollywood and had a similar experience with taxi ect. Used the sky train route to get there and took a taxi back to the Asoke area. Difference was I got to Major Hollywood about 30 min earlier and was done before noon. I couln;t believe how close asoke is to the place. Rama 3 to Rama 4 and then to Sokhumvit.

[roberta]

The OP wrote "I haven't been to Lard Prao but I really can't recommend Major Hollywood as a good location."

I have been to Lad Phrao, last December, and it was horrible. In January I went to Major Hollywood instead and it was fine; very relaxed and easy. A friend recently had to do a 90 day report, went to Lad Phrao, and it took SIX HOURS! So it has not improved. I am not surprised that Major H is getting worse, as more and more people find out about it. I mentioned it on this forum a few weeks ago; I wish I had kept my mouth shut, as I have to go there today for my own 90 day report

[theoldgit]

I'm glad you didn't keep your mouth shut though.

I've just got back from renewing my extension of stay and getting a re-entry permit, the whole process took 75 minutes.

The staff where very friendly, helpful and efficient. For some reason the Immigration Officer handing my extension advised me that her Inspector wanted to take a photo of me, which she promptly did with her phone.

I took the advice of others and took a taxi from Asoke, again a quick and painless journey.

I went to Lad Prao a couple of weeks ago, twice in fact, to get a certificate of residence, whilst I can't fault the staff, who were simply overwhelmed but doing a pretty good job, the process was a nightmare, I was stood in line for well over two hours in a very hot and uncomfortable environment.

Full credit to the staff at Major Hollywood, and to those forum members who gave a heads up.

[enuff said]

.

I have taken a taxi from Pin Klao but I am having trouble figuring out what roads he took. I got in across the street from Lotus and we headed toward downtown.

We took a right just before the bridge and eventually passed under new sky train construction but after that I was lost. The ^*&%#@ map on the imm. website is useless.

I am going to try the google maps.

It was Bt.150 with some slow traffic.

~

[roberta]

Me too! Did my 90 report at Major H today. About 20 minutes total, from checking in at the desk to getting my receipt and free to go. Just as relaxed and friendly as I remembered it. The OP mentioned that there is no place to sit down and eat inside. But just go out the front entrance, turn right and there are many places to eat good cheap street food. One never has to be hungry for more than five minutes anywhere in Bangkok!

This time I went there and back by bus, from near Wat Yannawa (and Saphan Thaksin), for a total of 30 baht. Took about an hour each way. Buses 15 and 75 both go down Charoen Krung, then cross the river at Asiatique bridge. Get off just before the intersection with Somdet Phra Chao Thaksin, walk to the intersection and turn left. There is heavy construction work going onand the bus stop is a bit hard to find, but I spotted a number 20 bus stopped in traffic, waved at the driver, and he opened the doors for me to get on. That's the bus to take - #20 - it stops right opposite Major H, and there is a foot-bridge to make the crossing easy. This route works in reverse too. Turn right outside and walk a little until you see a 7-11, and the bus stop is just before it. Wait for a #20. They are frequent.

I have a bus map, 2013 edition, purchased for 99 Baht from Asia Books in Silom Complex. On the bus, I use my phone, with GPS and 3G turned on, to watch our progress on Google maps, make sure I am going in the right direction, and see when it's time to get ready to get off at the next stop. In the middle of the day the buses are not crowded. I had a seat all the way, both ways.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I think that it's good to take the taxi from Asoke. The farang that I rode back with said that's what he did and the driver seemed to know the way. BTW, he had the taxi wait for him and then paid the driver 300 for the round-trip. If you don't want to wait over lunchtime, you could show up at 1:30. Nobody came after lunch, at least not by the time that I left at 2:30.

I did my extension and moved stamp into a new passport recently at Major Hollywood and had a similar experience with taxi ect. Used the sky train route to get there and took a taxi back to the Asoke area. Difference was I got to Major Hollywood about 30 min earlier and was done before noon. I couln;t believe how close asoke is to the place. Rama 3 to Rama 4 and then to Sokhumvit.

When I did my 90 day report at Suksawat, I took a meter taxi from near Chong Nonsi and the travel time around the lunch hour was about 15 minutes. So I'm not sure what's going on with the longer times some people are reporting. It's really a very short distance across the river to the other side. I believe my meter taxi fare one-way was about 60 baht.

But, for people who live near Asoke or in the Sukhumvit area, I think it's fine to take a taxi from there too, heading down Asoke to Rama IV, and then onward to Rama III.

FWIW, we had no problem catching a meter taxi out in front of Suksawat for the return trip back toward Chong Nonsi or Asoke. It's a pretty busy boulevard there.