I've heard from several of my farang friends that a rumor exists about the Thai Immigration office on Soi Suan Plu closing soon, and that the office we will need to use in the future is the one at Don Muang. Does anyone know anything about this?
And, in keeping with the requests made by the moderators, I should volunteer a little more information about myself: I'm American, on a "non-immigrant O" retirement visa, older than 50.
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Is Immigration Office At Suan Plu Closed Or Closing Soon?
Started by funlovinkid, 2009-07-02 12:41
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61 replies to this topic
#2
lopburi3
Star Member Posted 2009-07-02 12:44:39
There is no office at Don Muang. There will be a new office next door to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Passport/legalization office near Don Muang. There is a new government office area there and Immigration will be in building B when the move is made.
Edited by lopburi3, 2009-07-02 12:47:13. #3
opalhort
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-02 13:11:30
Last month when I did my extension my wife asked the officer when they will move and was told:
"certainly this year but most likely in August or September" Let's wait and see...... opalhort #4
CosmicSurfer
Too Soon Old... Too Late Smart Posted 2009-07-02 15:48:35
And how does one get way out there if one doesn't have a private vehicle????
Just'a Wonderin' CS #5
samran
Titanium Member Posted 2009-07-02 15:51:04
And how does one get way out there if one doesn't have a private vehicle???? Just'a Wonderin' CS taxi. Everywhere in BKK, even out there. #6
opalhort
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-02 16:08:08
Apart from taxis and many buses there are also trains from Hua Lampong to Laksi station and then on by bus (3 or 4 stops) or by Tuk-Tuk.
opalhort #7
jamesjdaly
Executed Member Posted 2009-07-02 16:30:10
If you live in the Ramkhamhaeng/Lad Prao/Bangkapi area, you can get a No 97 minivan which passes the new place. It starts at Wat Thep Lila, goes up Ram Rd, past the Mall Bangkapi and along Lad Prao Rd. After that, I'm not sure.
#8
Firefan
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-02 17:29:42
What a horrible location. To put big public offices so far away from efficient public transport (thinking BTS/MRT) is just plain silly. Well, at least we can all add more to the global warming/polution/traffic jams/taxis income and we can all waste more time.
Are we allowed to do 90 day report via mail if we live down town? Can we switch to Klongtoy immigration as now much nearer to me? Cheers! #9
funlovinkid
Advanced Member Posted 2009-07-02 19:00:05
Thanks, especially to Lopburi3. Good stuff, and always very helpful.
#10
sibeymai
Dismembered Member Posted 2009-07-02 19:12:14
Can't wait as I live nearby. People be warned though, traffic on Chaeng Watthana Road near the soon to be occupied government complex is already horrendous. Will be much worse by year end when the complex is occupied. Best solution might be by taxi on the expressway to Chaeng Watthana Road exit then motorcycle from there.
#11
KhaoNiaw
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-02 19:12:26
What a horrible location. To put big public offices so far away from efficient public transport (thinking BTS/MRT) is just plain silly. Well, at least we can all add more to the global warming/polution/traffic jams/taxis income and we can all waste more time. Are we allowed to do 90 day report via mail if we live down town? Can we switch to Klongtoy immigration as now much nearer to me? Cheers! (by the usually efficient and very well-informed lady at our office), so I didn't try it last time. #12
CosmicSurfer
Too Soon Old... Too Late Smart Posted 2009-07-02 19:49:09
Exactly... Out in the middle of Nowhere... and a VERY expensive Taxi ride from where I live...
Site must have been chosen by the same guy who put Impact in the sticks too. But then again, isn't that Thai style... Build it and they will come.... and maybe in a few years they'll actually put some Public transport out to it to make it easier on the PEOPLE... After all They do work for the PEOPLE... Don't they? Or doesn't that matter?... Ooops, answered my own question! CS Edited by CosmicSurfer, 2009-07-02 19:50:06. #13
madjbs
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-02 20:32:32
Hope they move soon. Next to expresway and plenty of parking, much better than the old place.
#14
teddy_bare
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-03 00:30:06
I am surprised no one has suggested it was purposely built out there to make it inconvenient for falang. Who I guess are the most likely people to be using it.
Traffic congestion is crazy at the moment cos they are still building a flyover. #15
ignis
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-03 06:57:08 Quote I am surprised no one has suggested it was purposely built out there to make it inconvenient for falang. Who I guess are the most likely people to be using it. Sorry for many it will be a lot more convenient......... Went to IT Seer Rangsit on Monday, the new road and flyover was open and so made the journey quicker.. Will be better and easier than going to Suan Plu + understand will no longer have to spend an hour or more trying to find a place to park #16
CosmicSurfer
Too Soon Old... Too Late Smart Posted 2009-07-03 07:57:03
Quote I am surprised no one has suggested it was purposely built out there to make it inconvenient for falang. Who I guess are the most likely people to be using it. Sorry for many it will be a lot more convenient......... Went to IT Seer Rangsit on Monday, the new road and flyover was open and so made the journey quicker.. Will be better and easier than going to Suan Plu + understand will no longer have to spend an hour or more trying to find a place to park Sorry, but for most I do think it will be much less convenient... I'm willing to bet my Visa that far fewer farangs DON"T have their own car, then those that do. Sure you have plenty of expats here on "Expat Packages" with company supplied cars and drivers, then are those with nice size savings and pensions that are retired here. But the vast majority don't have these luxeries... They are teachers, domestics, nannies, small business owners, labourers, etc... Just look around you when you visit immigration next... How many Westerners from America and Europe do you see? ... a definate minority. For us, the majority of Farangs, traveling there, in a much less central location, will be Far more inconvenient then it is now. CS Edited by CosmicSurfer, 2009-07-03 08:01:30. #17
samran
Titanium Member Posted 2009-07-03 07:59:19
I am surprised no one has suggested it was purposely built out there to make it inconvenient for falang. Who I guess are the most likely people to be using it. no all farang. Just you and all the other conspiracy theorists. #18
ignis
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-03 08:10:33 Quote For us, the majority of Farangs, traveling there, in a much less central location, will be Far more inconvenient then it is now. Cannot find the old post about this, last year I believe it was something like 55% said it was inconvenient, yet 45% said it was more convenient... Also there was a Survey on where Farangs live, cannot remember if it was on here or another Board, there was something like 68% lived on the North side of Bangkok #19
lopburi3
Star Member Posted 2009-07-03 08:15:33
Actually it is not a good location for the normal tourist to obtain there 30 day extensions. But it seems to be designed to serve upcountry provinces as well as Bangkok proper - and for them it will be a little better. Many cities in the world are trying to relocate government facilities outside of the downtown area so this is not that unique. It will make the Embassy to Immigration track a lot more difficult for most people. Let's hope that the facilities will make up for the location and that the working conditions improve for all.
#20
thaihome
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-03 09:30:28
As Immigration is just a very small part of the new complex and the number of farangs going there is an extremely small percentage of the people working or visiting, it is doubtful they did it on purpose to piss any farangs off.
The new main building is massive, probably the biggest non-high rise office building I have ever seen. TH #21
paperwerks
Advanced Member Posted 2009-07-03 13:47:27
The move to the new location is insane.
Most expats live/work in the sukhumvit/satorn area and many live in nonthaburi. Suan plu is also loaded with Khao san road backpackers and Nigerians living in the Nana area or Bangkapi. Suan Plu is easily accessible for all these customers using public transport and the skytrain. Other falang coming from the provinces arrive by bus at Morchit/Ekami or train at Hualomphong and can get to Suan Plu easily. The new location will be a total nuisance to get to and take up even more time and be expensive also. Maybe someone high up in Immigration lives in Rangsit and the new location will be convenient for him and this is the real reason for the move? Next I am anticipating that the Thong Lor police station will be moved to a new location in Korat. Also, the Amphur in Prakanong will be relocated to Ayuthaya. #22
madjbs
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-03 14:06:10
Sooner the better. Who cares about people who can't afford a car anyway
#23
rgs2001uk
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-03 14:13:16
Quote I am surprised no one has suggested it was purposely built out there to make it inconvenient for falang. Who I guess are the most likely people to be using it. Sorry for many it will be a lot more convenient......... Went to IT Seer Rangsit on Monday, the new road and flyover was open and so made the journey quicker.. Will be better and easier than going to Suan Plu + understand will no longer have to spend an hour or more trying to find a place to park Why would anyone even bother trying to find a place to park at immigration. Park right next door in the post office car park, or park up in the car park on soi 9. #24
opalhort
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-03 14:50:02
Park right next door in the post office car park, or park up in the car park on soi 9. You are joking, right? The last time (3 or 4 years ago - last time I went there by car) I did park at the post office and somebody double parked with the gear engaged. Owner was not found at the PO and I had to wait for almost two hours for the 'lady' to show up!!! Parking is a big issue in this area even in the sois nearby, this is why I now go there only by taxi. For me the distance from home to Suan Plu is 12Km via Expressway (one way by taxi is about 150-160B incl. toll), whereas the new location is almost 40Km from home, most of it via Expressway. Yet I'm happy with it if parking is provided. The savings are obvious. And of course we all hope that the new location will be more spacious and provide a better and faster service which is just not possible at the current crammed location. Though I do think it would make sense if IMM could maintain Suan Plu as something like a branch to serve short term extension requests for tourists and re-entry permits and 90 days reporting. Only force long term extension requests to the new location. But I guess it is also a question of manpower. Anybody on TV with links to the higher ranks within Imm to make suggestions of this kind? opalhort #25
samran
Titanium Member Posted 2009-07-03 15:53:57
how funny some people can be.
So desperate are they to bash Thailand about anything, they are willing to defend the nightmare which is Suan Phlu. They'd prefer cramped office space which is designed to handle 20% of the people who are using it over a newer location with more room. They chuck the 'discrimination' implication into their argument when infact they are being directed to a far more superior facility that half, if not most bangkok based Thai's get directed to for their passport and translation needs. I guess there is simply no pleasing some people. Edited by samran, 2009-07-03 15:54:47. |
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