When did Immigration become a madhouse?

[The Enforcer!]

As the pictures on today's 2B frontpage show, it is pure chaos - my last 90 days took over 90 minutes of waiting and a Re-Entry Permit took over 2 hours just to get to hand the application in but the reasons are easy to understand, even if the logic to the changes is not:

1) From 1st October 2007 one can no longer register your 90-Days at any Immigration Office, only the one where your official address is. Thus all those 'officially' registered in Bangkok but living in other provinces must return to Suan Phlu.

2) From 15th January 2009 one can no longer apply for a Re-Entry Visa at Suvarnabhumi Airport thus virtually all applicants must now come to Suan Phlu.

With no additionally staff or counters, queuing for 90 days (for me) has gone from 5-10 minutes to well over an hour each time and as I said my last Re-Entry from the usual twenty minutes to over two hours once I additionally waited to get the permit.

And to add insult to injury, the off-line Immigration service for both does not work.

The Enforcer!

[mdechgan]

Do you think it will subside? When will be the best time to renew? What are the hours? Maybe a Tueday or Wednesday?

[The Enforcer!]

Originally Posted by mdechgan

Do you think it will subside? When will be the best time to renew? What are the hours? Maybe a Tueday or Wednesday?

Sorry my dear mdechgan, what are you trying to renew?

The big hall is not used for renewals - only 90 days, extensions to Visas, Visas in Transit, Re-Entry Permits and Lost Passports. Non-Immigration Visa Renewals are in the small rooms at the back right.

The Enforcer!

[The Enforcer!]

Originally Posted by The Enforcer!

And to add insult to injury, the off-line Immigration service for both does not work.

Weird!!!! The OIS service [http://www.bangkok-immigration.com/e...n.jsp?lang=EN] came back on-line today.

The Enforcer!

[mdechgan]

I need to renew or extend my visa. Usually they direct me to the counter next to the 90 day renewal counter. Sometimes I get no queue, sometimes 2 hours. I think the season and time of day makes a difference.

[The Enforcer!]

Originally Posted by mdechgan

I need to renew or extend my visa. Usually they direct me to the counter next to the 90 day renewal counter. Sometimes I get no queue, sometimes 2 hours. I think the season and time of day makes a difference.

Yes that counter is to extend an existing visa - although the ticket system helps, it all depends on demand and as you suggested later in the week is better that earlier, and the worst is directly after a holiday!

The Enforcer!