Quick Trip Report Visa Extension Bangkok

[JayBird]

Probably a useless post for most, but in case your new and want some recent info:

• Arrived at the Government Complex at 08:15. There was a huge lineup that wrapped around the foyer twice by the time I queued up. But it was inside, with air-con, so no big worries. The lineup looks worse than it actually is (a whole group will line up together even if its only one person who needs to do paper work, and not everyone is there for a visa extension).
• Immigration Desk opens at 08:30. The doors opened promptly and everyone entered in an orderly fashion. Unlike the 1300h after hour opening where its orderly for the first 10 seconds and then a mad dash with people cutting left and right. So I walked around the foyer twice as the queue processed through the doors and was in 5 minutes later.
• Made it to the ticket queue at 08:35. Once in through the two doors to Immigration if you have all your paperwork ready you can push through all the lines and people building up inside to go to the second area behind the door in the back. This is where you queue to get a ticket. This is where it gets messy as you can't see the backs of the queues properly. There appeared to be '3' queues and the first one is for something other than Tourist Visa extensions, so I went to two other queues and got into line. Not sure if I accidentally cut or not But it was a bit messy and I did not want to risk going to the end 'outside' again
• Got a ticket at 08:40. Stood in line for only about 5 minutes and got my ticket. Showed the girl there my application form, passport and said I wanted a visa extension. She saw I already had a visa (60-day) so punched it on the system and gave me a J- ticket. I was only 14th in line!
• Waited patiently until 09:30 when I was called in by my ticket number. Talked to the man behind the desk. Well, not really talk. He took my paper work, said 'sign', said '1900', then said '5' (which is the seat I was supposed to sit on and wait for part two).
• Waited patiently until 09:40: When I finally got called to the second desk. A nice lady there took my paper works, fiddled with computer, adjusted web-cam back to take my picture, and told me to wait till I got my number called again.
• Waited back in the main sitting area until 10:30. I heard someone call my NAME, not my number. Looks like their counter board stopped working for pickups. Fortunately I heard someone saying something that had the same number of syllables as my name, so took a chance. Voila, it was me, and it was my passport. Had a nice 30-day extension in it.

All in all, it took just over 2 hours to go through the whole thing to get a 30-day extension. No questions asked, no fuss made, and I would be surprised if they looked at the 'reason I put down. (I put down 'Shopping').

Note: If you come early you stand a chance of having everything completed before 12:00. If you come a little late, you risk the 12:00 deadline, where you now have to kill 1 hour as everything *closes* for lunch. I once saw one guy who was just about to get his passport back (it was his turn next), then 12:00 hit. He had to wait 1 hour 1 min to get it. So my pro-tip is to get there early.

Note 2: It took about 1 hour to get there and another 1 hour to get back via Taxi. Traffic is a pain in Bangkok, especially if your route crosses over through the CBD. Once you get to Mo Chit area it's easy sailing. It took me 'only' 1 hour because I left before the main rush hour. If you can speak Thai *AND* convince the Taxi driver you can sometimes choose a better route to your destination. But Taxi drivers seem to like to ignore your suggested route offering and go their own way. (Note, my Thai GF was with me so there wasn't really a problem with explanation, only compliance).

Note 3: Now maybe I never noticed this before, but this time I noticed TWO posters in the waiting area that I did not see before. And these posters were for the Thailand Elite Visa. On the plus side this gives more 'credibility' to the Thailand Elite Visa program (for those who had concerns/doubts). On the other hand, could it be a suggestion that they want to move more people onto that program (and thus clamp down on others who prefer to do multiple visa runs?)

Herein end my useless trip report.

[BobTH]

Thanks for your report and it is not useless. Even though I have been here 5 years, it is always nice to hear the latest news and if anything has changed at the Immigration Division1 office. There is a place on their website for complaints and like you I don't like the people that rudely cut into the lines as you are going in at opening time. I once wrote them and said I am not complaining about the staff but it would be nice if you could have an officer or two standing outside the entrance door to keep people from cutting in line after some of us have waited for an hour or so. The next time I went they had a couple of officers out there and it really helped. I am sure it was not my complaint but if more people would do it, they might keep on top of it. Thanks again.

[Pib]

Would be nice if they had a couple of officers outside the entry door come the 0830am and 1pm openings, but I've never seen any and I usually make 5 trips per year to Bangkok immigration and have been at many 0830am and 1pm openings.

[mikebell]

Good report. I went to Pattaya Immigration yesterday for my annual 'retirement visa'. I'd tried the day before but could n't even get in, the building was so full. I spoke to a Turkish official there who said Thai staff worked till 8pm on Wednesday to clear the backlog from the long weekend. (I am so glad I don't live in Chang Mai. If sufficient people threatened to move to Pattaya, I am sure local business pressure would ensure an improved service?)

It took me five minutes (at 4pm) to hand in my papers; I have to go back to collect my passport today.

Get BobTH to write and explain that shutting a Government office for a one hour lunch is incredibly inefficient when a staggered lunch break would ensure better service.

[IMA_FARANG]

just to add that i went to CW today (13 May) and got a 30 day extension.

Not that many people there today compared to Monday the 10th.

Total time from arrival to departure with 30 day extension was slightly over 1 hour today.

Including a break downstairs for cofee and donuts

[hyperdimension]

I was there on the same day (2016-05-12) for a non-immigrant O extension of stay application and got a queue ticket at around 14:00. My number was in the 150s and the numbers being served at that time was in the 50s. I hanged around for around an hour to see the rate and it was slow, like 15 per hour. I gave up when I calculated that it would be almost impossible to be served that day, as it closes at 16:30.

It seems a little strange that they give out such high numbers so late in the day, but I think the numbers actually continue on to the next morning. Can anyone confirm? I didn't go the next morning so am not sure.

[ubonjoe]

I was there on the same day (2016-05-12) for a non-immigrant O extension of stay application and got a queue ticket at around 14:00. My number was in the 150s and the numbers being served at that time was in the 50s. I hanged around for around an hour to see the rate and it was slow, like 15 per hour. I gave up when I calculated that it would be almost impossible to be served that day, as it closes at 16:30.

It seems a little strange that they give out such high numbers so late in the day, but I think the numbers actually continue on to the next morning. Can anyone confirm? I didn't go the next morning so am not sure.

They stop issuing numbers at 15:30 and keep working until all numbers are called and all applications completed or rejected. They don't carry over numbers to the next day.

[jbllim]

Can anyone tell me what are the documents needed to submit for extension of 60 days tourist visa? I have to do mine this week and I want to prepare all of it ASAP. I'll do it in the Chaengwattana office. Will I be needing proof of address? Thanks!

Edited May 16, 2016 by jbllim

[ubonjoe]

Can anyone tell me what are the documents needed to submit for extension of 60 days tourist visa? I have to do mine this week and I want to prepare all of it ASAP. I'll do it in the Chaengwattana office. Will I be needing proof of address? Thanks!

A completed TM7 form with a 4 X 6 cm photo attached. Download and print 2 sided: http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/pdf/tm7.pdf

Copy of your passport photo page, visa, entry/permit to stay stamp and TM6 departure card.

CW does not ask for a TM30 when applying for a 30 day extension of a 60 day tourist visa entry.