Does anyone know if Chaeng Wattana is open for business yet or do I go to Lad Phrao hell again?
Thanks!
Does anyone know if Chaeng Wattana is open for business yet or do I go to Lad Phrao hell again?
Thanks!
I went unawares to Chaeng Wattana 1 week ago with 2 kids. After blagging our way through 4 checkpoints and a barren no mans land of tyres and sand bags we were sadly informed that we hadn't been informed (in Thai ) and pointed to Lad Prao.
At Lad Prao I narrowly avoided being imprisoned for life for stabbing several staff and other visa hunters.
Go to the border.
Have some cheese with your whine you panty-waste crybabies.. Only a goof-ball would go to Chaengwattana which BTW; has been closed since January without at least checking with the 1111, or 1178 government hotlines (which have thais that speak english too)!
Did you bother to notice the queue of Cambodians, Laotians, and Burmese which were lined up all the way out to the mall proper when you were at LadPrao? That Immigrations facility is normally just for those three nationalities as in all 36+ windows usually service them.
Now that "white people" hafta go there too, those three nationalities get just 5 windows. A Burmese friend of mine went to get a reentry permit, he was there 7+ hours.
Here's the link to the two places which are open; interestingly enough it's on the Thai Immigrations website, duh!
Welcome to Immigration Division I
Having gone to both locations at least 6 or 7 times since Chaengwattana closed I can say 100% Major Hollywood Suksawat just across the river is far less busy.
"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
Originally Posted by toddanielsYou said it buddyOriginally Posted by toddaniels
Yes, funnily enough I did old chap. It's a fvcking disgrace, a joke for whatever colour goes there.Originally Posted by toddaniels
And you can stick your 1117 or 1788 KFC hotlines where the sun don't shine
Stupid enough to move tourist immigration to the middle of nowwhere in the first place, but the cover measures are nothing short of an utter joke.
Boy, you're sure full of piss and vinegar this morning aren't you "Albert Shagnastier"
Thai Immigrations is doin' the best that they can to meet the needs of "white people" who can't go to Chaengwattana due to that protesting monk. They are doing so at the expense of the people who are really supposed to be at those two locations.
Thai Immigrations at LadPrao has temporary desks set up for various services, they do a pretty darned good job vetting and collating the paperwork BEFORE you even get a queue number to go inside. That means once you're inside, you should have smooth sailing!
The interns there which wear those red vests, all speak english just fine, are helpful and willing to explain for the millionth time what copies, what form you need, etc.
Now true those Immigration locations don't really open until 10:30; but at 10:00 they open the outside area, start vetting paperwork and handing out queue numbers.
There're a copy machine, (two in fact) right in the waiting area, even a place which will take your photo (if you're dumb enough to show up for an extension w/out a picture), forms are available, tables are provided to sit and fill out your documentation. I mean what more could you want?
Just and FYI, the 1111 is the government hotline, and 1178 is just Thai Immigrations and both are answered pretty darned fast. All the times I've called, they've either put me directly in touch with the person I needed or took my number and someone called me back with an answer to my question.
Christ, I can take a minivan from Victory Monument for 25 baht to the street Thai Immigrations is located on at Chaengwattana, then walk past the motocy taxiz, catch a free shuttle bus which runs around the whole government complex every 15 minutes and get dropped off at the side door to the building housing Thai Immigrations.. Even if I took a taxi from Lower Sukhumvit, I can be at Thai Immigrations in less than 20 minutes IF you make the taxi take the elevated Don Mueang Tollway once he gets on the freeway instead of letting him follow the signs which take you on the convoluted path to Chaengwattana.
Still that's a non-issue right now, because when I was at Lad Prao yesterday, the officers I spoke with had no idea when the monk would let them back to Chaengwattana.
Also having taken a taxi from Lower Sukhumvit to both Lad Prao and Major Suksawat, I found they were within 15 baht of each other.
Using the MRT to the Lad Prao exit and then hopping in the next buss that passes by gets you there pretty darned fast and cheap too.
Iif you're pressed for time go to Major Suksuwat.
Conversely, if you're just doing your 90 day reporting and going to either temporary Immigrations Office is just too much of an inconvenience; go to Bumrungrad or Samitivej and pay them to do it for you.
Honestly, it ain't as bad as you people make it out to be. I've been to both places a good many times since January and they run about as good as they can given the situation they're in.
One last thing, the reason Thai Immigrations in Bangkok moved from that shit-hole building on Soi Suan Plu out to Chaengwattana is; the government complex is out there. Did you bother to read the sign as you come up to the area? It says; ศูนย์ราชการแจ้งวัฒนะ "Government Complex Chaengwattana". Where else would you suggest an Thai governmental office be located?
Christ I think some of you pansy-asses would cry about the injustice of it all no matter where you had to go. How about you grow a pair, put on your big boy pants and just do what needs to be done? Believe me harping and bitching about it ain't gonna do anything but make you feel better.
^Bollocks.
The thinking is stupid, the planning is non-existent, there's no signage, no queing system, no air-conditioning and most staff stand around like they're having a chit chat at a church meeting and "helping out" with passport duties on the side.
Sorry, but you're so full of shit your eyes are brown!
There are bright GREEN signs posted above every table stating things like;
Visa Issuing and Changing, Tourist Visa, 90 Day report, Non-O visa extensions, Work visa, ED visa. Those are all in the outside area where the copy people are and where the gurl sells water next to the door to the car park. Want me to take some pictures to jog your memory next time I'm there?
ALL of the staff at those tables, pre-vets and gets your paperwork ready, THEN give you a queue number to go inside. Once you're inside, you're almost home free; just wait your turn, turn in your documentation and pay your fee. I didn't see one person who had a real queue number for inside get turned back.
The air con turns on in that big waiting area at 10:00 (just like it does for the entire mall). Last time I checked, that is 30 minutes before the place really opens!
I think no matter how smoothly things would go you're just another one of those self-entitled foreigners here who like to complain. That's okay, because I mean it is what it is, and you either deal with it, or come on an anonymous internet forum and whine about it, right?
Good Luck man.. If you're there and see a guy wearing levis, a KISS t-shirt and cap walking with what looks more like a club than a cane, say hi... or not...
So, it's Lad Phrao again...thanks!
Everything you've ever written on here has been a load of bollocks. Just pointing that out for those that might think you seem to know what you're on about. Now fuck off you mincerOriginally Posted by toddaniels
I am glad I live in udon thani, we don't have any of this poo,
^ Same here mate bowl into Chok Chai 5 minutes out the door.
^^^^ Just for todd d. i have to give immigration @ chok chai ten out of ten no problems no f--k ups all to easy.
Just an FYI:
As of today, May 26th; Thai Immigrations in the government complex at Chaengwattana is NOT OPEN yet.
Bangkokianz must still go to Major Suksawat or Imperial World (LadPrao 83) for their immigrations needs...
Just wanted you all to know...
Announcement
Immigration services provided at Government Complex WILL officially BE re-opened on Monday June 2 2014
(Service time : Mon – Fri : 8.30 – 12.00 , 13.00 - 16.30 . Closed on OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS)
Bangkok Immigrations Website
I changed how I worded the notice I pulled off their website (because they suck at engrish).
Suffice to say after June 2nd, you go back to the Government Complex out at Chaengwattana for Immigrations stuff in Bangkok..
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