90 Day Report - Jomtien - Mar 2015

[Kerryd]

Long story short - went in on a Thursday morning (07:55). I was the 5th in line for the 90 day desk. Only needed my passport (never did a 90 day report before). Was processed and out the door in about 13 minutes (they start processing at 08:30).

It was "that" time. Despite having been on a Non-O(A) visa/extension of stay for almost 3 years, this was the first time I actually had to do a 90 day report ! In my normal "something's bound to go wrong" frame of mind, I left for the Jomtien Immigration office with a folder of paperwork (2 x TM47 forms, copies of passport pages, copies of various bills plus my passport of course), and arrived at the office around 5 minutes before 8. I didn't need to do the 90 day thing until the 16th, but that is a Monday, and tomorrow is Friday (the 13th !) so today seemed like the better choice

Of course, the line-up was already 20-25 deep with one of the first people in line (a friend of mine actually) having arrived at 07:30. I whipped out the latest Clive Cussler novel I had brought with me in anticipation of some quality reading time. Barely got to the 3rd page when they opened the doors and started letting people in (at 08:00). Got to the info desk, got my pre-printed ticket for the 90 Day Reporting desk (only 4 ahead of me !) and grabbed a seat in the remodeled interior. Not sure if this layout is more efficient than the old one, but it looked OK and the chairs were cushy so I settled in and chatted with my friend for a few minutes.

Apparently they haven't got the magic "ticket number" announcement system working yet though, so at 08:30 on the dot, the clerks at the various desks started calling out the first number to be served. My buddy was #101 but missed the first call as we'd been waiting for the electronic boards to show the numbers and didn't realize the lady at the desk was calling them out. He got in right after #102 though so he was OK. Same thing at the 90 Day desk. My number comes up (rather quickly) and I take my seat at the desk (only 2 clerks at this station now, the lady on the left and the man to the right of her. The third position is now "Desk 9" and there's a sign saying "Passport Pickup" there).

I hand over my passport and 2 copies of the TM47 (I had printed and hand-filled in 1 copy at home before realizing I could also fill it in electronically, which I did, and brought in both in case the clerk decided he/she didn't like one or the other). Despite never having done a 90 Day report before, the (male) clerk took the TM47 copies and my passport, then told me that next time I only need to bring my passport.

He cut off the bottom portion of the TM47s and I think tossed the top part into the trash. A minute later he then took a piece of paper out of the printer, signed it and stapled it into my passport while once again reminding me that next time I only need to bring my passport.

A grand total of (barely) 13 minutes from the time they started working until I was out the door. Barely 50 minutes from the time I arrived until the time I drove away. The horror, the HORROR ! Knowing that I will have to do this again in 3 months, how will I ever cope ?!?!? Barely an hour out of my life for another 3 months of hassle-free stay in Thailand ! (I'm trying really hard to make it sound like a terrible experience worthy of pages of moaning and complaining, but I just can't do it !!).

I guess I'll have to wait until my next 90 day report (or trip to the Licensing Office) to read page 4 of my novel ! Will Dirk Pitt survive the evil plots he will surely face ? Will he get the girl in the end (of the novel you pervs) ? Will the world be saved ? Tune in 90 days (or less) from now for some, none or all of the answers !!

[OJAS]

You must be a frequent traveller to foreign parts if you've never had to file a 90-day report before now in the nearly 3 years you've been living here!

[Suradit69]

(I'm trying really hard to make it sound like a terrible experience worthy of pages of moaning and complaining, but I just can't do it !!).

I can't recall the 90 day report ever taking more than 5 to 10 minutes from arrival to finish at Jomtien. Some people seem prone to moaning and complaining about inconveniences that I've never experienced. Of course, it's never their own fault. I guess some people just find the simplest things to be intellectually challenging.

[willyumcr]

I went in for my first 90 day report last Monday afternoon. I was number 335 and they were on 300. I decided to not wait and went close by and had an agency do for me for 300 baht. For me well worth it. I returned two hours later to get passport back and all went well. It looks like they signed and stamped the bottom of my TM47 and stapled it into my passport along with a green paper also stapled into passport. My question is: Being as I didn't actually talk with an immigration officer, will I be able to just do TM47 and passport next time? Or do I need to bring in all the paperwork again as I am unsure now if it was all entered in their computer. Thanks......Will_Yum

[Kerryd]

You must be a frequent traveller to foreign parts if you've never had to file a 90-day report before now in the nearly 3 years you've been living here!

Indeed. Actually I've been "living" here since 2004, but due to the job I was doing in Afghanistan, I was travelling in/out of Thailand 3-4 times a year. The timings of the trips worked quite well and once I got the initial Non-O(A)/Extension I didn't have to worry about the 2-3 day overstay that would happen on occasion (I didn't meet the minimum age requirement for the Non-O(A) until 3 years ago).

As for the paperwork requirements - I only saw 6 people processed by the 2 clerks and each was told the same thing ("next time only passport") however, just to be safe, I think I'll take the rest of the paperwork with me and just keep in in the file folder. If they don't ask for it, great. If they change their procedures between now and then, I'll be ready.

Before I did my 90 day I did search this forum to see what the latest info was but there was a lot of conflicting stories. One constant seemed to be though, was not to go on a Friday or a Monday, especially if there was a holiday anywhere around there. I think the best "rule of thumb" is to get there early, whichever day you choose to go. Arrive early, get in early and get out before all those "problem children" arrive (the ones that don't have the right paperwork, didn't fill out the forms, forgot something, don't understand anything and take 4-5 times longer to deal with than the people who show up prepared and ready).

[willyumcr]

Yes, I know going on Monday afternoon was not my wisest choice but I live close by and thought I would try it (never again). I will do same thing as you are doing and just bring everything in case and if not needed more better. Hopefully by next time they will have online reporting in place.

[roobaa01]

gdaya folks,

i did thus far 90 days report at joimtiem 5 times always take the tm 47 filled in with me, reason when their computer system aborts, they request u

to fill in tm47. out of 5 times, it happened 2 times to me.

wbr

roobaa01

[Pattaya46]

I can't recall the 90 day report ever taking more than 5 to 10 minutes from arrival to finish at Jomtien.

Because you didn't do it this month...

Yes it used to be very fast with previous organisation and desks on the left, often less than 5 minutes

They changed the system 2 or 3 weeks ago, and now many guys talk about 30-45 minutes for the 90-days report...