'Pro' Queue Jumpers Phuket Immigration

[exppenang]

Spent last two days at Phuket Immigration - both days arrived 7:30 AM - first person there.

Both days there were 'pro' queue jumpers, both times they were Xxxxxxx (country of origin will remain nameless - hint: they are from the same country as most of the ATM skimmers caught here in Phuket). Here is how they operate.

The jumpers are led by a 'travel agent/fixer' who have a group of tourists with them. Around 8:15 AM (15 mins before doors open), after the early birds are already queued up, ONE of them will slip in near the front of the queue, maybe about ten or fifteen people back from the front. Two of the others will queue in the copy shop line. When the doors open, they will take turns occupying both queues, passing docs back and forth. When they all have their docs, they jam in front of the one holding their 'spot' in the immigration queue (in my case it was 6 persons).

To top it all off, none of them had their forms filled in when they reached the Volunteers, and they expected to have their forms filled up by the volunteers while everyone else (about 40 people by now) waited for them. The Volunteer who was also Xxxxxxx was happy to help them.

However, when I made one mistake on my forms (1 minute fix), was sent out of the queue and not given a number.

After they got their queue numbers, they stood right at the tape line in front of the counters. Result was those that were being called had to shove and push their way through them again and again. Room was jammed full of people, had to sit on the floor jammed against the wall (photos).

For those that always arrive early like me - keep your eye out for these a$$#0!#s. They are very clever at sneaking into the queue.

[ubonjoe]

Moved to the Phuket forum.

[Toknarok]

If you're sure they are of a particular nationality why not say so? Should only take a quick glance at their passports.

[chiang mai]

Je suis d'accord.

[BigBadGeordie]

Je suis d'accord.

Aha, got it now, Welsh ;-)

[exbikey]

Take your pick

See under Phuket News And Events (above)

Item 2: Three Russians accused of skimming

Item 7: Five Frenchmen accused of skimming

[captainhornblower]

Idiots..

[duanebigsby]

Butting in line isn't unique to one country. Rude people everywhere.

Edited March 7, 2015 by LivinginKata
comment removed

[paz]

Next time you vent, at least spell out the nationality if that makes you feel better. No need for many rounds of words..

[Shot]

I have witnessed this same group nearly knocking down an old man while trying to jump queue. I would like nothing better than to beat them with the old man's cane.

[williet98248]

I used to go to Phuket Immigration early, join the early bird lineup and then wait in line for an hour and more. Last time I went at 10:30 and was out in 22 minutes.

[FangFerang]

Same jumpers in Bangkok, but they have Thai handlers for the visa extension line....last time I was there the people who had numbers 1-5 were still waiting at 8PM.....

[smotherb]

Another great reason not to live in a falang ghetto. I live in a large city where there are few resident farangs. I have rarely seen another farang at immigration, when I do it is one or two. I have never had a problem in eight years. I know the immigration officers and talk with them when there. They know my wife, our son, his wife, and our grandson. Their interns do our photocoying and fill out the forms, we simply have to sign.

However, a more proactive approach to queue jumpers was demonstrated years ago by my Vietnamese wife. She was all of 30kg and 1.3m, so she often wore high heels. While standing in a queue on the Iran side of the Turkish border, some goat-herder pushed too close, and tried to intimidate her, she put all 30kg of her spiked heel into his instep. He let out a scream and was laughed out of the queue.

[MisterMan]

Ha they do it leaving and entering Phuket too. A few Russians had a go at a Russian man jumping a cue when exiting but the babushka and her little monster just stood in-between lines and went to the counter. The guy standing in line next was too passive or something. Happened to the Mrs too on her way back into LOS, a Russian plane landed and a middle line formed. She had to tell them off.

[Valentine]

The other day when I did my 90 day report I was still there a little after midday but was told by one of the volunteers the immigration guys would finish those already in the room before going to lunch, which they did. Anyway just after midday there were no volunteers at their station, gone to lunch, so some European lady came in from outside & plugged in the ticket number machine as I assume it had been unplugged by one of the volunteers. She saw me watching so went back out the door but I have no doubt she would have come back in & helped herself to a number(s) thus circumventing the vetting process which in turn could mean hold ups down the line due to not having the correct paperwork. This in turn of course causes everyone else to wait longer.

[merijn]

The other day when I did my 90 day report I was still there a little after midday but was told by one of the volunteers the immigration guys would finish those already in the room before going to lunch, which they did. Anyway just after midday there were no volunteers at their station, gone to lunch, so some European lady came in from outside & plugged in the ticket number machine as I assume it had been unplugged by one of the volunteers. She saw me watching so went back out the door but I have no doubt she would have come back in & helped herself to a number(s) thus circumventing the vetting process which in turn could mean hold ups down the line due to not having the correct paperwork. This in turn of course causes everyone else to wait longer.

The volunteers will stop (normally) handing out numbers at 11:00 and 15:00.

This is so that the officers can finish the backlog before lunch and end of day.

Plugging in the ticket machine does not work as the machine self (and controller) are switched of.

[deckard]

Similar thing happens at Jomtien Immigration . I have seen agents walk straight up to the counter and deposit a pile of passports and forms on the 90 day check desk then the Immigration officer processes them straight away while people in a queue sit and wait their proper turn .

[ThaiWai]

People suck. I was at the Thai Embassy in Singapore, got there early, fifth on line. The guy first in line was and obvious visa handler. As we waited for the gate to open, several people pulled up on motorbikes and handed this guy several stacks of passports and completed paperwork. He did it over and over again until finally he just let a friend walk right in front of him on line with another huge stack of passports. Inside the building they snagged the only two windows and occupied them for 25 minutes each. BS! One person, one passport. That should be simple to enforce.

[JetsetBkk]

People suck. I was at the Thai Embassy in Singapore, got there early, fifth on line. The guy first in line was and obvious visa handler. As we waited for the gate to open, several people pulled up on motorbikes and handed this guy several stacks of passports and completed paperwork. He did it over and over again until finally he just let a friend walk right in front of him on line with another huge stack of passports. Inside the building they snagged the only two windows and occupied them for 25 minutes each. BS! One person, one passport. That should be simple to enforce.

And the embassy staff don't know what's going on and don't receive any kick-backs from the agents.

[KarenBravo]

People suck. I was at the Thai Embassy in Singapore, got there early, fifth on line. The guy first in line was and obvious visa handler. As we waited for the gate to open, several people pulled up on motorbikes and handed this guy several stacks of passports and completed paperwork. He did it over and over again until finally he just let a friend walk right in front of him on line with another huge stack of passports. Inside the building they snagged the only two windows and occupied them for 25 minutes each. BS! One person, one passport. That should be simple to enforce.

And the embassy staff don't know what's going on and don't receive any kick-backs from the agents.

.........which is why I'm going to use an agent for my first one year extension for retirement.

[JetsetBkk]

People suck. I was at the Thai Embassy in Singapore, got there early, fifth on line. The guy first in line was and obvious visa handler. As we waited for the gate to open, several people pulled up on motorbikes and handed this guy several stacks of passports and completed paperwork. He did it over and over again until finally he just let a friend walk right in front of him on line with another huge stack of passports. Inside the building they snagged the only two windows and occupied them for 25 minutes each. BS! One person, one passport. That should be simple to enforce.

And the embassy staff don't know what's going on and don't receive any kick-backs from the agents.

.........which is why I'm going to use an agent for my first one year extension for retirement.

Ah, congratulations!

(I thought you had "retired" here a long time ago...)

[KarenBravo]

No, not retiring.

All my work is offshore. Facing a lean year and this will save time and money on visas and visa runs.

[Jonmarleesco]

'They are very clever at sneaking into the queue.' As are Thais. But upbraid them over it and they soon get the message.

[wellred]

I like to use the VIP fast track these days. Means I can bypass all the riff raff.

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[stevenl]

I like to use the VIP fast track these days. Means I can bypass all the riff raff.

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That's a new one in phuket town.

[FrankOff]

"Paradise"...can be such a damn zoo sometimes...