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  1. #1
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    Visiting Imperial World For A Non-B Due To Chaeng Wattana Being Closed

    I went to Imperial World on Lad Phrao (Big C, Lad Phrao) for to get my Non-B today.

    What a nightmare. If I hadn't had the company fixer with me, I'd have been fucked.

    The immigration bureau there normally handles only Burmese, Cambodian and Lao workers. Judging by the incredible masses of humanity gathered there, it must be the only place in the whole of Thailand that takes care of these workers.

    Now, add the Chaeng Wattana crowd of tourists and expats needing services in an area that is about the size of the downstairs area of my townhouse.

    Luckily for me, the fixer got there early and wasn't hesitant at all to jump the queue. It took about an hour and I was out of there. However, in the hour that I was there, they had only called NINE queue tickets to the window.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that this branch has different hours than Chaeng Wattana, 10:30 - 18:30, but they start giving out queue tickets early. I got there at 9:30 and my fixer had already gotten my ticket.

    Hope this helps!

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by CSFFan
    The immigration bureau there normally handles only Burmese, Cambodian and Lao workers. Judging by the incredible masses of humanity gathered there, it must be the only place in the whole of Thailand that takes care of these workers.
    Surat Thani Immigration is the same. Many farm labourers in this area. Been going there over two and a half years now and never seen another farang. There is a small Farang teaching community here but I have never met any.
    I usually get spotted immediately and called to the front. In and out in 10 minutes for 90 day reporting.
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  3. #3
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    I guess we're gonna agree to disagree about the service at LadPrao; which BTW; has half the Immigrations staff from Chaengwattana stationed there (with the other half being across the river at Major Hollywood Suksawat)..

    They've got tables set up, signs above each one saying; Non-O extension, Tourist Visa extension, 90 day reporting, transfer stamp, etc. They vet your paperwork before they give you a queue ticket, and staple the ticket to your paperwork!

    Now perhaps they only waited on NINE people who were getting a Non-B visa, I dunno. But it certainly is controlled chaos; much like the old Thai Immigrations was at Soi Suan Plu back in the day before they moved to the main government complex at Chaengwattana..

    Since Chaengwattana closed due to the protests, I've been out to LadPrao SEVEN TIMES with acquaintances doing this or that visa related thing.. Every time it went off without a hitch. ...

    Christ the Cambodians, Laotians and Burmese don't even queue in the same lines or get waited on by the same staff, so that they're there is a non-issue!

    And just FYI, it's packed to the gunnels with those three nationalities every day of the week, just like the old Immigrations at Soi Suan Plu and Major Hollywood Suksawat is; because that's where those three nationalities go! Believe me there are FAR more Cambodians, Laotians & Burmese here than "white people" (as in 'other foreigners').

    IMHO, the Immigration staff is making the best of a bad situation, tryin' to provide visa services for foreigners; in a place ill-equipped to handle that volume of "extra people".

    In other news, if someone would have made the short hop across the Rama 9 bridge to Major Hollywood Suksawat, they'da been in and out in probably just a few minutes! I went there last week to try it, and there were only about 5 foreigners to be seen.

    Glad you had your "company fixer".. Who knows what perils could have befallen you if you had to "fly solo".. You'd probably still be wandering around the mall, lost in Big C or something...
    "Whoever said `Money can`t buy you love or joy` obviously was not making enough money." <- quote by Gene $immon$ of the rock group KISS

  4. #4
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    Agree with the above post. I went on March 20 to extend a 60 day tourist visa. Everyone there was helpful and the system worked as efficiently as that type of bureaucracy can. I got there around 4 pm and was out before 5. Don't know what the OP's problem was, but if it was the facility, they seem to have fixed it.

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