It was time again for my O-A Visa renewal or as Thai Immigrations puts it, Permission to Extend Visa. I arrived a 10:30 and got number 998, they were serving 930. I left for a few hours, had lunch and returned at 1:00pm, they were serving 935. I was told by someone waiting all the immigrations officers got up at 11:30 and did not come back to 1:00, that's a long lunch if that's where they all went.
It's hard to judge exactly when you get called, many just leave, others are quick and some drag the whole process down with complications. There was only two active desks for non-business visas out of a usual 7 to 8. One guy waiting told me he was here yesterday, Monday, and they were so full that he was not able to get in the door. They stopped issuing numbers at 10:00am and were sending people away.
I sat and sat and walked around and around. I amused my self looking at all the weird looking farang noses, some in very casual clothes, some getting very agitated and one or two getting downright abusive with the Thai immigrations who just smiling at them . Ol' funkers with Thai GF in tow whom had seen better days. Old fellas who's bottom jaws seem to slowly quiver like they are chewing gum. One guy, so old he was in his jammies and slippers and appeared to have been taken there in an ambulance. For some reason if you live long enough everyone seem to end up speaking and looking like George Jessel, Yiddish accent and all. Many others from all over the world added to the mass of humanity all aimlessly waiting for their number to be called.
When I tired making mental fun of the waiting hoards, I moved on to the bewildering Thaienglish signs: "The Visa Extension Process Paid Only Fee, Do Not Believe Anyone" ........"To Come Upon The Appointment for the Reissue"....." Immigration Officers at Operational Level Will Authorize Decisions" ....Door Closed except when only Open" ......"To Entity floor 2 only to use The Appointment"
On my visit a few months ago, there were signs about moving Immigrations, those signs are gone. Also gone is a series of desks with a sign that used to say Internet 90 day reporting and another that said something about Internet appointments.
When my number was called, and having all my paperwork in order, it took all of 5 min. no questions, a bunch of stamps and paper shuffling, a total wait time of 7.5 hours. It seems that they are sufferings the same problems as Immigrations at Suvarnabhumi, not enough workers. I don't know if I just hit a bad day, or if this is a general trend that things are not going to be as easy as they were in the past.
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Originally Posted by WhiteDesire
