I just my Non Imm O Extension (Thai spouse) at Chaeng Wattana with wife and kids today, and noted in took 6 hours to get to the immigration officer? Is this normal these days, previous years the wait was no more than 90 minutes which is just about bearable with young kids in tow??

I actually gave up when I saw the speed they were processing the queue at 9am, and estimating the time to get to my number by seeing only ten persons processed in 40 minutes, with 55 more to go and the immigration lunch break, had time to drive back to downtown Bangkok to do some other chores before returning mid afternoon to see my number was almost ready to be called.

I also note all Non Imm O extensions be they marriage, retirement or ED are lumped into same queue, so not advisable to take the kids along- although we had no choice.

** It would be useful with queues of this ridiculous length if we could either book appointments, or see the queue number progress online so we can do something else during wait, as I did today albeit lucky to return on time by a bit of guesswork on queue processing rate.

Perhaps just a busy Monday. I don't recall any reports of anybody waiting as long as you did,

Ok, definitely skipping going again on an office day following a holiday.. absolute awful today.

The problem isn't over because immigration selected another Monday for me to pick up my application extension result. Whereas in previous years one queued at another counter for this somewhat faster process....now one has to queue in the same darned counters as the applicants. This takes literally all day and there is no time to get the reentry permit at the same visit anymore either. Depressing.

The problem isn't over because immigration selected another Monday for me to pick up my application extension result. Whereas in previous years one queued at another counter for this somewhat faster process....now one has to queue in the same darned counters as the applicants. This takes literally all day and there is no time to get the reentry permit at the same visit anymore either. Depressing.

To be honest I don't know how the application completion/pick up extension is supposed to queue?

When I showed my passport with stamp saying to collect result today the immigration lady gave me a paper ticket queue # from machine for the application queue (with 70 people infront of me). So I wandered around for a couple of hours waiting, still 50 people to go and the passport is still with me. Then I went back to ask the queue ticket lady again if I was supposed to wait with all the applicants as I did the application a month ago? She then escorted me to the first counter (next to applicants counters) where I was allowed to drop passport off and get another queue number on a card for people who have handed passports over to be stamped - at this stage my paper queue number is discarded and still 50 persons behind those waiting. 30 minutes later i get stamped passport. So why the heck was I issued an applicants queue number at all? Presumably one just walks straight into the results counter cubical and hands over passport without any queue, but the queue lady didn't tell me that. Net frustration was only 4 hours of my life wasted.

I just finished on a Tuesday , line to the entrance , was number 14 at 0845 finished 1330 . When I got my passport and saw the line for a re entry permit I decided not to leave for a year .finished for another year , worst trip for extension ever .

Bangkok

Edited November 3, 201411 yr by muffy

So, Wnoodles and Muffy, you were picking up your approved extensions? This is in addition to all the drama making the app, correct?

I swear, I'm done with this country.

Yes I was given a nonsensical queue number for applicants when I went to pick up approved extension. The counters have changed since last year. The old counters are now abandoned with piles of old papers stacked there. After that farce, I couldn't be bothered to part with 3800THB for re entry permit and left. I may try another immigration office for that as CW is a pain.

Edited November 4, 201411 yr by WorriedNoodle

Ugh, I'm done. Back to states, seriously.

The "new govt", another level of hassle and hardship.

US Ambassador is gone after only three years. I think quite telling.

Edited November 4, 201411 yr by Mencken

Sorry, so you don't get a multiple entry extension. There is only one type of extension, then you buy addl entries (single/multi). Last time I sat in that queue it was about an hour mid morning, mid week.

After my extension, I will need to get a re entry. If that takes me into the late hours, I may spend the entire day there PLUS returning the next day to continue this excercise in folly. Correct?

Yes , I had to go through the usual for the extension only now very slow and couldn't believe the crowds .You can't get a re entry number until after you get the stamp .The line just to get the number for re entry was long and I didn't want to go through another long process .

just a thought , could this be a deliberate slow down by immigration ? I assume the tea money has gone .

Most people gets the re-entry permit at the airport. That is the ones that are OK with the notion that it takes 10 extra minutes before passing immigration.

Yrs, well aware of re entry at airport. Just something nice to have so I can understand why people do it prior.

Surely does not excuse waiting a day for a stamp no?

Can you get a multi (at both) airports?

Seriously, first and last extension. Next will be visa or home.

I think there is a concerted effort to discourage foreigners to stay here. It was always on the back of my mind, but I always (always!) avoided the bureaucrats. Now I have a taste of that, its just ridiculous.

The crap attitude coupled with the wasting if time before your eyes - playing on phones like they were serving noodles in a food court. Complete disregard for their jobs. The men do seem to pretend to work, the women seem to do anything but.