Immigration delay inbound 16 Sept

[norfolkandchance]

Reached immigration 1200.Queue to immigration reached down to the main concourse.Guy in the line said it was the worst he had seen it in 10 years.

Only half the booth's where open.

Got to the IO 75 mins later.

IO insisted that i filled in the complete address of my stay and also she needed a contact telephone number

Then she asked why did'nt i have a visa ! (i'd been coming into LOS on visa exempt 30 days). Perhaps to many stamps ?. Anyway she stamped me up for 30 days.

Finally left the airport at 1415 after chasing my bags around the belts.

Apart from the buffoons who arrived at the front with no arrival cards is this now the norm or a sign of the times due to recent events.

[cigar7]

They use to have a preliminary check before getting into a specific booth line, that verified you had a completed arrival/departure card completed. If you didn't have a card, you had to go a desk and get one, then to the end of the line, again.

Is the preliminary checker gone?

[norfolkandchance]

No. Still there but the Buffoons send someone to get the forms and fill them out at the start of the line.Perhaps the checker should be at the end of the line to check if they have the filled out form but that would be to easy !

[allen123]

which airport you r talking about.?

[yellowboat]

This weird immigration attitude is not good for the country. It just show how far more corrupt the junta is that the previous elected governments.

[jacko45k]

I wonder if the weather stopped a few officials getting to work.

[asdecas]

You arrived at somtam o'clock, always a bad move.

[mgjackson69]

This weird immigration attitude is not good for the country. It just show how far more corrupt the junta is that the previous elected governments.

How does slow immigration queues = corrupt junta?

[NanLaew]

I arrived around 6:30 PM last Sunday and the desks were sparsely populated. The girls were at the front of the queue getting people to fill in their cards and also add a phone number. This delayed things as people were digging out itineraries for hotel addresses and some were totally lost for a phone number. It did slow things down and these girls should be moving along the conga line and not just checking them at the front end.

[silent]

This weird immigration attitude is not good for the country. It just show how far more corrupt the junta is that the previous elected governments.

How does slow immigration queues = corrupt junta?

Tit for tat. Thais blame Farangs for their problems and Farangs blame problems on how corrupt Thais have become.

If you think about it, somehow it evens out and all makes great logic.

Edited September 18, 2015 by silent

[ozyjon]

Been there, done that, got the T shirt,

move on, next.

[dotpoom]

Why are you calling people "Buffoons" when you don't know them or the reasons why they have not got the card with them?

[bangon04]

Yes this idea that you need to write a phone number on the arrival card - although there is no space. When I asked which phone number, the checker said my phone number - I said I don't have a cellphone. He said write the phone number of your home in your home country. Very useful that will be.... if I am in Thailand who will answer it?

[norfolkandchance]

Dotpoom

You where in the queue then

[bubba]

No problems yesterday evening when I came through – less than a five minute wait at inbound immigration. No request for a phone number.

[sloperating]

As a counter point to norfolkandchance, my flight arrived Suvarnabhumi at 12.15 on Monday 14th.

My seat was way back in cattle class so I was by no means near the front of the queue.

To cut short story shorter: after a 10 minute wait, I caught the 1pm bus to Pattaya. Needless to say, the process was a credit to LOS.

[mogandave]

Less than 5 minutes though BKK last evening, Jeddah on the other hand...

[mgjackson69]

I entered last on 28 August and there was nothing about a phone number being required...granted that could have changed.

Even so, I would probably just make up a number....I doubt Somchai is going to call it.

[StefanBBK]

Entered Friday night. Phone number was required. No idea which one though....

[mogandave]

Always have to provide an address, Have never had to privide a phone number.

Maybe he thought you were hot...

[rocketboybkk]

Where is the op from?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ricardo]

This weird immigration attitude is not good for the country. It just show how far more corrupt the junta is that the previous elected governments.

So how to explain the weird immigration attitude under the several previous elected governments ?

Before blaming corruption, perhaps you might demonstrate how the junta benefits, from the continuing weird immigration attitude which IMO is more down to general ineptitude and a lack of understanding of how to make Thailand more attractive to tourists.

I agree that it doesn't seem to be directed at smoothing the flow, or encouraging the return, of cash-bearing visitors or long-term foreign residents.

FWIW I returned to Swampy, at lunch-time a week or so ago, and Immigration took an unexceptional 20-25 minutes to negotiate. No question was asked, about why I hadn't completed the tourist-info section of the TM6, as long-term residents don't fill that in anyway, only tourists.

[bubba]

No phone number required tonight. Same as usual....

[overherebc]

Phone number asked for on Thursday 10th and time at the booth was quite long. Non O visa held but every page was carefully checked adding to the time although I got through quite fast as with my wife.

[gk10002000]

I arrived around 6:30 PM last Sunday and the desks were sparsely populated. The girls were at the front of the queue getting people to fill in their cards and also add a phone number. This delayed things as people were digging out itineraries for hotel addresses and some were totally lost for a phone number. It did slow things down and these girls should be moving along the conga line and not just checking them at the front end.

Thanks for the heads up on a phone number. In my dozen trips on visa exempt, I have never known any specific address or phone number. While sometimes I have made a reservation by email, I never have paid in advance because I always decide where I will stay after I see the room. Amazing how every time I made a reservation, they try to stick me with the one next to the elevator that opens and closes and ding ding dings all night long, or next to the noisy utility room, or on the noisy street side, etc. I usually put down "Pattaya" and that was it. Now I will bring a hotel address and a phone number. Often my phone has expired as use a pay for use Thai cell phone and have to get a SIM card each trip.

[maanoi]

Just put any dam phone number in. What are they ganna do, make a test call while you wait to verify the number?

[wpcoe]

I wonder if there are any ramifications for intentionally providing Immigrations false information?

[overherebc]

Years ago coming through DM I used to call hotels from the airport and was always told 'sorry full'.

When I turned up in the taxi it was never a problem to get a room in the 'sorry full' hotel.

[aussiep]

Came through at 16.30 on 15th September from Sydney..

Only 10 Mts wait but they did take longer checking my passport and visa.

No phone number asked for....

Would have given my OZ number, had the phone in my bag.

Turned of...no global roaming....

aussiep

[rekkie]

Arrived 3 weeks ago, worst queues I have experienced. Scorn poured on my passport for having lots of 30 day stamps, referred to a boss who then just stamped me in. I come in 2 or 3 times a year. It puts tourists etc off...first impressions etc get the booths fully manned and have a Max 20 min wait target.