I received my new Passport from the US Embassy here in Bangkok on Wireless Road, but in order to complete the process, they instruct you to visit the new Thai Immigration Bureau (TIB) out by the old airport so that your current entry stamp can be transferred to the new Passport. This post is about my visit to the new TIB.

Last November, Jack Dawson wrote about his first visit to the new TIB here. It definitely paid off reading Jack’s post, but I still managed to mess up a few things. Although, I do have a few things to add.

Transportation

First off, getting there. Jack suggests taking the BTS to the Mo Chit Station, and then taking a taxi from Mo Chit to the TIB. I had been to the old Don Muang international airport many times, so was a bit puzzled at this suggestion. I knew that taking a taxi there is a piece of cake so why bother with the BTS? I decided to take a taxi straight to the TIB on the way there, and then taxi-to-MoChit on the way back.

I jumped into a taxi on soi 4 around noon and unfortunately got a real dick of a taxi guy. It was partly my fault as I got into the cab without establishing the meter. I was seduced by his “I take you there, wait for you, and then take you back” offer after he acknowledged knowing where the TIB is. We pulled away and then proceeded to play the “How much you want/How much you give me” game until he finally broke and said “1000 baht”. I opened the door and just left him stranded in soi 6 traffic. What a dick. I knew it would be no more than 300 baht, and that there would be plenty of taxis at the TIB to return home easily, so tops 600 baht.

The next taxi, confirmed he knew where the TIB is and that he would use the meter. Off we went. I instructed him to take the Tollway because it’s just so much faster. The meter was 130 baht and the tolls were 105 baht, 235 baht total getting there and we were there in about twenty minutes. It was as easy as going to Don Muang back in the day.

Taking the taxi to the Mo Chit BTS station on the way back was a little less expensive, but took twice as long. The taxi from the TIB to Mo Chit BTS was 120 baht and a 15-20 minute ride, and the BTS fare to Phloen Chit station was 40 baht. If you are coming/going during rush hour, okay, this is probably the better option, but otherwise the direct taxi is so much easier and faster. Of course, one other factor to consider, as Jack points out, is that Mo Chit BTS station is crawling with all types of puss.

Thanks Embassy Dude

Jack’s post contains details on where to go once you get to Chaengwattana Rd Soi 7, but I ignored it because the US Embassy dude gave me the following map:

Thai Consular Affairs Map

Okay, from looking at this map, they have the TIB info. circled and there is an arrow pointing to the Government Complex. There is also a phone number for Consular Affairs which appears to house the TIB. I called this number for hours and found out that they close at 3:30pm. Well, the TIB is not part of Consular Affairs. Wrong building, wrong telephone number and of course wrong hours, all thanks to this map.

The taxi dropped me off at the Government Complex Consular Affairs building, because we were going off the map, and I soon found out that I was indeed in the wrong building. The information desk there gave me a new map:

Thai Immigration Bureau Map

and the kind lady gave me instructions. She said, leave here and go right on Chang Wattana Rd until you get to Soi Changwattana 7. Then take the air-conditioned bus to Building B. I left the Consular Dept. building and didn’t see a soi in sight as I looked down Chang Wattana Rd. I did see some motorci guys so I asked them “soi 7, Immigration?”. They say “2 kilo, take motorci better”. I thought, what the heck, how much can they rip me off for anyway. The motorci then takes me all the way around building A and it was a good five minutes before we circle around the back to building B. I ask how much. He says “20 baht”. I was shocked. That was a 40-60 baht motorci ride downtown easy. Finally, and despite the map from the US Embassy, I had finally arrived at the TIB.

Lunch

It was around 12:30pm and I make my way upstairs to the TIB…and it’s closed for a one hour lunch break. D’oh! Oh well, it was okay as I wanted to walk around to check out this new building.

Building B

Building B is HUGE and houses many government offices along with the TIB. I took pictures but not sure what the law is on showing pics inside government offices, so will try to explain it instead. The ground floor is basically a little mall of sorts with food, shopping, and a branch for every bank color in Thailand. I hung out at a little coffee shop and ordered a humongous 60 baht smoothie:

Big Ass Smoothie

Pretty good deal. I then noticed a “Contender to the Uni outfit”, well, for me anyway. The uniform for the female government office workers here, definitely do it for me. Granted, most of the workers are older, but when a young and attractive one strolled by, I almost choked on my smoothie. The uniform was a dark brown military kind of outfit, and form fitting on most of the women I saw. Pleasant little diversion while waiting for the TIB to open. Another pleasant little diversion walked up and ordered a bottle of water:

Red Pants Lady

After finishing half the smoothie, I headed upstairs to the first floor where the TIB is, and where it’s most impressive. There is a big and completely open circular area in the middle of the building that is as big as a football field/pitch. I wanted to put on some roller blades and play some hockey. Seemed like a big waste of space to me, but was impressive nonetheless.

The TIB

Being this is a new facility, and that it’s been open long enough to work out any kinks, I expected a very organized and pain free process. Jack mentioned it going very smoothly for him as well. I only needed my entry stamp transferred, so it should have been a walk in the park. It wasn’t.

First, when I made my way back to the TIB, I noticed a very long line had formed since I was up there 20 minutes prior. I get in line and then notice many folks starting to accumulate near the front as it gets closer to 1:00pm. The line is being ignored and there were no government helpers to ensure order. Sure enough, the doors open and there was a mass rush to get through the one open door. Not a good start.

The first room you enter is an information desk reception area. You go to the desk, tell them what you are here for, and they give you the proper form to fill out. There are areas to fill out the forms there as well.

Well, it was madness at the desk, and I actually didn’t know what the desk was there for so I carried on. I walked through an unattended metal detector to another desk where you get your Queue numbers. I showed the person at the desk my letter from the embassy requesting the entry stamp transfer and they gave me a card labeled K-20. They were supposed to have checked that I had filled out my forms before giving me a queue ticket, but they didn’t, so I continued on.

I walked around and noticed the K cubicle and there was one female immigration officer at her desk working. I walked into her cubicle and she said “Not yet, have to wait”, so I did. There were some other folks waiting outside this cubicle, and I could just see this “jackass doesn’t know what he’s doing” look in their eyes. Finally, the immigration lady started calling out numbers. She then called mine. I showed her the letter from the US embassy and she said “Where’s the form and photocopies?” with a look of pain and disgust on her face. Long story short, I had to go back out and fill out the appropriate form, go downstairs to make some copies, and then return to the K cubicle. I got my Passport back around 2:00pm and I was good to go.

Once you are familiar with the place and how it works, it makes sense and can be fairly efficient. Trying to wing it will get you there, but not recommended. It’s a pretty laid back place with very friendly and helpful employees, despite the queue madness, and it’s a melting pot of nationalities so a great people watching spot as well.

All business wrapped up, I caught a taxi right outside to Mo Chit BTS station, where I did see plenty of eye candy, and was back to soi 4 by 3:00pm.

If you’re here on a non-immigrant visa, or here long enough, chances are you will eventually have to visit Immigration.

Getting to Suan Phlu was a breeze.  Usually, I’d motorcy over for 80 baht and on my return, walk down Suan Phlu (there’s a uni there complete with uni girls), cross over Sathorn and continue walking down really fashionable Soi Convent (with its GREAT street food) to the Sala Daeng BTS station.

Not so easy with the new location.  It’s out on Chaeng Wattana road in Laksi, pretty close to Don Muang (the old) airport.  You know, up by the border with the Burma.

I’m going back to Los Angeles Saturday for a while (don’t ask me why because I don’t really know).  With non-immigrant status, you need a re-entry (like the sound of that) permit to go and come back without forfeiting your visa.  So yesterday off I went on Jack’s big adventure.

I took the BTS to Morchit.  (As an aside, Morchit station is one of Bangkok’s great mother lodes for girl watching but that’s another post and don’t tell anybody).  Walked down the southwest steps where there’s a line of taxis waiting.  In my best Thai, opened a back door and said, ‒Jang Wattana soi jet.”  The driver nodded and off we went.

It’s a hike, about a 15 minute ride.  You go up Pahonyothin to Vibhavadi/Rangsit and then take a left on Chaeng Wattana.  It’s called Laksi out there.  On Chaeng Wattana, there’s a shit load of new office buildings, business and government (TOT, CAT, military, judicial).  It might be what Brasilia looks like or that new capital they built in Burma but I don’t know having never been to either.

You take a left on soi 7 and here’s the trick.  Immigration is in the last building and it’s about a four minute drive (a hike) from Chaeng Wattana.  It’s the big, modern, Jetsonish building on the right at the end.  Immigration is at the back end of the building (if you’re looking at it from Chaeng Wattana) so the best thing for the taxi to do is take a right where the building ends and drop you off at that (the south) entrance.  There’s a guard who doesn’t look up and Immigration is right there on your right as you walk in.

For some insane, Thai reason everyone says it’s on the second floor but take my word for it it’s on the first floor as we say in the States or the ground floor for you Man U fans.

The building is all newy but gooey so it’s kind of cool.  Inside the Immigration door, you tell the guy/girl why you’re there and they give you a form to fill out and a number.

Then you go into the main Immigration area.  I can’t believe I’m saying this but I think they may have done a good job.  It’s a big, wide-open space with lots of seating. I saw the usual suspects (90 day reporting, lost passport, visa extension, etc) and then found re-entry permit.  My number was called really quickly, I smiled and gave them my form and 1,000 baht and then sat down.  Did some people watching, took a drink of water and in maybe 20 minutes I had my stamp.

It’s weird how they did it for re-entry stamps.  They don’t have a counter, just cubes.  People (you) can pop your head in there anytime.  No metal detectors, screening devices, flak vested guy with tasers and glocks or watchful German Shepherds here.  Definitely not in Kansas or at LAX anymore.

My work there done, took a leak (nice, big rest room with lots of urinals but that too is another post) and went out that back entrance and there were taxis waiting.  First driver was a totally clueless cluck fresh from the rice fields so I moved on to the next guy.  He took me back to Morchit using a different route; left on Chaeng Wattana to the outer toll way (15 baht) then exit at Ratchadipesak, right on Pahonyothin and back to Morchit.  Little faster that way but I don’t know if you could come that way because you’d end up on the wrong side of Chaeng Wattana and god knows when the next u-turn is.

I was a happy camper.  Any adventure is a good adventure.  Immigration is right behind the National Command Center for the Thai military so it looks to be protected if/when all hell ever breaks out in this country we love.  And next door is what looks to be the Thai version of the Supreme Court, a place I hope I never set foot in.

It’s out there though.  The taxi out was 100 baht and the one back was 145 with the toll.  The drivers out there at Morchit just hit the jackpot which may help them make up for some of the (huge) loss they’re gonna’ incur when the new airport train/link opens.

And it takes more time.  I could go back and forth to Suan Phlu in maybe 90 minutes.  Yesterday, I left at around 7:45 and was home at about 11:30.

One piece of advice would be to go early.  I could see by the time I left it was more crowded.  I think because it’s so far out it takes people longer to get out there to do their business.

Good luck.  If all else fails, bring more money.

The rules get more complicated, but the game continues. Hopefully this will provide some insight for those looking to stay in the Kingdom for a long (or short) period of time.

Thailand Visa Exemption Stamps

First and foremost on the minds of short term travelers is the issue of Thailand visa exemptions. The visa exemption stamp is the 30 day stamp given to most tourists arriving at the Airport. Currently Thai Immigration is giving 30 day exemption stamps at the airport to anyone holding a passport from a country on the exemption list (US, UK, CA, most EU, AU, NZ, etc). Technically, these stamps are supposed to be given an infinite number of times, provided the entrant is always coming through the airport. That being said, I have heard reports that this is not the case and more than about 3 entrances will get your passport heavily scrutinized (they can always turn you away as well). Currently, at land borders, entrants seeking visa exemption stamps are only given 15 days of lawful presence. This is important to note because local immigration requires at least 21 days of status to process a visa extension or conversion. Therefore, the immigration officers have effectively barred long term status to those entering Thailand via a land border without a proper visa. If you are looking to stay long term, do not go about it this way.

Thailand Tourist Visas: Free If You Can Get One

After the less than spectacular tourist numbers last year, the Thai government announced a fee waiver for all Tourist visas sought abroad. This led to something of a backlash from Consulates overseas as the workload increased and the resources decreased. However, the plan seems to have had some positive effects as there has supposedly been an increase in tourist visa applications (possibly due to the fact that visa exemptions are now harder to come by). Although initial tourist visa applications are being approved (if sometimes begrudgingly), subsequent applications are being viewed with a critical eye. The Royal Thai Consulate in Penang, the on-again off-again visa run destination for most farangs in Thailand, has made the policy that they will not issue multiple tourist visas. This seems to be the prevailing attitude throughout the region, with some exceptions. As a result, those planning on remaining longer than 1,2, or 3 months may be wise to seek a visa other than a visa exemption or a Tourist visa.

The rise of the Non-Immigrant Visa

It appears that non-immigrant visa applications are on the rise. Although tourist visas technically are classified as non-immigrant, for these purposes we are talking about B visas, O visas, and retirement visas. O visas are always popular with those staying in Thailand long term as they allow for 90 days per entry. If one obtains a one year multiple entry visa then it can be used for at least 4 entries of 90 days each.  The only major downside of the ‒O” visa is the fact that work permits can be difficult to obtain if the visa was not issued due to kinship with a Thai.

The Business visa is also popular for those who may be looking at making their vacation more full time by attempting to gain employment and applying for a work permit. Obtaining a business visa can be somewhat difficult if one does not have corporate sponsorship, but it is the most versatile visa once in the Kingdom.
Finally the retirement visa: perfect for those over 50 who can prove financial resources to cover their living expenses.  The only major downside to this one is the fact that employment is prohibited, but in general it is much easier to obtain than some other categories. Those interested in possible employment should look at the Business visa.
In my opinion, the non-immigrant visa categories will become more popular as the border run is slowly phased out, but then again this time next year we could be talking about how no such visas get issued anymore. Long term status in Thailand can be hard to come by in Asia, so act accordingly if you are back in your corner of the world because prior planning prevents police detention.

To learn more please see Thailand Visa.