Thailand Visa question No. 184/21: Immigration Bangkok – To make an appointment or not?
Questioner: Bert
My visa expires on October 3 and I want to apply for a year extension based on retirement. Documents, passbook etc all no problem but I wonder if I need to make an appointment with Immigration. The office I go to is in Bangkok, Chaeng Wattana.
If so, how far in advance do I need to make an appointment or can I just walk in?
Reaction RonnyLatYa
What I read is that the online booking system is currently no longer working because they are working on an improved version. You could walk right in. (See appendix)
“Due to the maintenance of queue online booking website, you can get the services with no need to book the queue online in advance. Sorry for any inconvenience.”
But there has also recently been an additional measure as a result of COVID. This says that you may not submit your application more than 3 days before the end date. I presume it is working days. I assume this is still valid as I have not read that this would have been lifted. (See appendix)
“Due to the current situation of the cornavirus epidemic has become more severe.
And there are many infected people. To reduce congestion the risk of infection the Immigration Division 1
therefore ask for cooperation from those who will come to apply for permission to stay in the Kingdom at
Chaengwatthana Government Center (J,L,M,N counter)
-Extension Visa ex Extension of Long stay for Non-Immigrant Visa ex. NON-O, NON-B, NON-ED
– Retirement
– Visiting a spouse or children
– Having a spouse or children who are Thai
–Business
– Teacher/Student
– International organization /Foundation/Association
– Tourist Visa (TR-60), Tourist MT Visa
– Special Tourist Visa (STV)
to contact and submit an application to stay. Before the expiration date not more than 3 days in advance only.
*****Starting from July 20, 2021****
Immigration Division 1 apologizes for any inconvenience if the situation improves. We will notify you of the changes in the future.”
📢📢Announcement📢📢 Due to the current situation of the cornavirus epidemic has become more severe. And there are many infected people. – Immigration Division1 | 1
But I haven't been to Bangkok immigration myself for a few years and can therefore no longer share personal experiences about how things are going at the moment.
Perhaps there are readers who have been there recently, especially after the dates of the announcements above.
Good luck and let us know how it went.
Website Immigration Bangkok / Div 1
Immigration Division1 | 1 – กองบังคับการ ตรวจคนเข้าเมือง 1, Immigration Division1, บก.ตม.1, ตม1
– Do you have a visa question for Ronny? Use it contact form.! -
Not more than 3 days before the extension date, but then it will be a short day for the person if something has to be requested or supplied again.
I am therefore happy to live in an environment where we still have a rural immi, where I think you can go to the immi 4 weeks in advance without any prior appointment and be on your way home after an hour.
Of course if you have done the previous homework well.
Even during the Covid.
Jan Beute.
30 days is the standard most immigration offices apply and some will accept as much as 45 days before. Is that a local rule?
Normally 30 days is also something that Bangkok apply.
That 3 days has also only recently been introduced as a COVID March rule. How strictly it is then applied in practice, someone who has been there recently could perhaps tell. And yes, if you miss something, it can indeed be short notice.
An appointment system is something that is implemented locally. Thought it only applied in Bangkok and apparently now also temporarily removed there until they have a better system. But even when it was introduced you could still pass by, I understood from reactions on social media, but then on a “first come, first served” basis.
By the way, I remember that it was also introduced in Chiang Mai a few years ago. I don't think it applies now, but readers from Chiang Mai might confirm.
Bangkok cannot be compared to any other immigration office in the rest of the country in terms of the large and number of daily applications. Those who have ever applied for it will be able to post it. Can understand that people continue to look for systems there to spread the crowds or to make things run a bit more smoothly. Not just in COVID times. And in the end you only know if something works effectively if you enter it and test it.
Hi Peter
Should be “Bangkok is in size and amount of daily requests…” I think
I also understand that there are many more applications in Bangkok, many more farangs and characters live with work permits, but they can also respond to this by opening more immi offices at different locations in Bangkok, and of course with more staff. .
As for Chiangmai, I used to have to go too. Then had a queqe online system for a while that also didn't work.
I had only had a chance to get into the system then.
I'm so glad I got out of there, since Lamphun now has its own immi office.
Jan Beute.
I agree.
I have often thought why they don't open an office in one part of the Khets, or even in every Khet. Would relieve the head office a lot.
In the past, when we still lived in Bangkapi, there was an office in LatPhrao, not far from us, in the local Big C. Suddenly that was only for guest workers and no longer for regular reports, etc…
Yes, then you chase everything to 1 place of course.
Personally, I think our immigration office is quite ok. That's Kanchanaburi. Everything runs smoothly and you are usually out within the hour. Waiting your turn included.