Chiang Mai Immigration - Which office to transfer Extension of stay?

[menzies233]

Looking for a bit of advice. Got a new passport recently and need to transfer my immigration stamps to the new passport.

Does anyone know which office to go to in Chiang Mai these days to get this done, the old Airport one or the new Promenada?

It is an extension based on marriage so I was going to go to the old office.

Secondly, has anyone been to the old office to renew their 12 month extension based on marriage?

Now that the queue online system is out the window and they are not allowing "agents" to apply, what is the current procedure? I am basically looking for info on what time in the morning do you need to get there to get an appointment, is it still something like 5A.M? or have things smoothed out now that all the "Old Codgers" get their retirements done at the Promenada?

Need to get mine renewed before Dear Leader closes the country.

[mogoso]

I don't think the Promenada site offers anything to do with marriage. I did inquire only to lessen the amount I have in my account from 800,000 baht to 400,000 baht. They said it wasn't done at that office, But things are constantly in a flux and they could've changed. The outside signage hasn't changed and doesn't list marriage visa. I go to mall weekly.

[menzies233]

I don't think the Promenada site offers anything to do with marriage. I did inquire only to lessen the amount I have in my account from 800,000 baht to 400,000 baht. They said it wasn't done at that office, But things are constantly in a flux and they could've changed. The outside signage hasn't changed and doesn't list marriage visa. I go to mall weekly.

Thanks,

I will most likely try the Airport office and see how it goes.

Knowing the way the immigration in Chiang Mai goes, it probably won't matter which office I go to for the transfer, it will always be the wrong one!

Any ideas about the queueing time to get there for an extension for marriage? I heard some people were going at 4 AM!

I was hoping things had eased a bit now that the two offices are in operation.

[NancyL]

You handle both the transfer of your stamp of visa extensions (ALL extensions -- not just marriage) and your marriage extension at the old office near the airport. Reports are that you do need to arrive around 5 am to get into the queue for the marriage extensions. Not so early to queue for the transfer of the extension.

A visa agent can handle this for you. Where did you get the idea that visa agents can't apply? Proper agents will have you sign a limited Power of Attorney form which permits an employee to wait in the early morning queue on your behalf. Check with either O.S. Thai Visa or Assist Thai Visa in Chiang Mai. They're considered the two most reputable agents in Chiang Mai.

[mogoso]

I don't think the Promenada site offers anything to do with marriage. I did inquire only to lessen the amount I have in my account from 800,000 baht to 400,000 baht. They said it wasn't done at that office, But things are constantly in a flux and they could've changed. The outside signage hasn't changed and doesn't list marriage visa. I go to mall weekly.

Thanks,

I will most likely try the Airport office and see how it goes.

Knowing the way the immigration in Chiang Mai goes, it probably won't matter which office I go to for the transfer, it will always be the wrong one!

Any ideas about the queueing time to get there for an extension for marriage? I heard some people were going at 4 AM!

I was hoping things had eased a bit now that the two offices are in operation

For year renewal we arrived at 5;15 AM and only two more people after us were allowed in line, their daily quota was filled. For 90 day reporting I'll go a 9AM and be out before noon, but on the renewal since we were at the back of the line , we entered the office at 3 PM and left about 4:30. I'll go at 3 AM next year with my sleeping bag. I did notice the other day they had seating within the mall also, don't know what that's about yet, I check it out next Friday as the following Tuesday a reporting date.

[menzies233]

You handle both the transfer of your stamp of visa extensions (ALL extensions -- not just marriage) and your marriage extension at the old office near the airport. Reports are that you do need to arrive around 5 am to get into the queue for the marriage extensions. Not so early to queue for the transfer of the extension.

A visa agent can handle this for you. Where did you get the idea that visa agents can't apply? Proper agents will have you sign a limited Power of Attorney form which permits an employee to wait in the early morning queue on your behalf. Check with either O.S. Thai Visa or Assist Thai Visa in Chiang Mai. They're considered the two most reputable agents in Chiang Mai.

From what I hear. retirement extensions are at Promenada, not Airport. I will check out your recommendations for visa agents, but the 2 companies in Chiang Mai that I e mailed both said that they were no longer able to offer assistance regarding the marriage extension.

Thanks.