Perhaps if the charming and welcoming back row immigration officials didn't have their regular 30 minute smartphone playing breaks they could see more people. Or you could always slip something under the table!!!! Oh and the tickets probably don't apply to the visa agents who can just take their bundles of passports up to any official at any time without having to queue. Yes this is the truth!!!

Posted by phuket madness on July 18, 2014 14:12

I agree with Phuket Madness, i have witnessed this also! They should consider putting a stop to the agents who bring multiple applications and are ushered to the front of the queue by one of the officers.

Posted by Anonymous on July 18, 2014 15:24

They should try to copy the one stop service in Bangkok, extremely efficient, fast, reliable and a breeze from my experience.

Posted by wm on July 18, 2014 16:06

Does that guy with the newspaper on his table actually buy a new one every day?

Posted by Teemon on July 18, 2014 16:17

60 applicants a day, not a bad throughput (it's a terrible throughput!) I agree with Phuket Madness- it's infuriating when the guys at the back wander off, play with their phones, scratch whatever they want to then have a chat before deigning to proceed. The front desk people are far friendlier and productive, a 90 day report can now take under two minutes and comes with a (free) smile.

Posted by Mister Ree on July 18, 2014 17:21

Also bribes have increased to 10,000 Baht to renew 1 year Non-Immigrant "B" Visa without forgetting more and more papers.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on July 18, 2014 17:54

I know immigration can be a bit frustrating but I have done my 1 year non b extension and did not have to pay anything extra. Same last year. The Thai staff needed to go 2 times to check and update things but it was companies fault not immigration. They follow the rules strictly now. Not a problem if working for a real company with real employees and the company paying taxes. Only problem is it took 8 weeks for renewal to get approved by Hat Yai.

Not sure why Whistle Blower has problem since you can contact the military if any bribery or coruption problems. Maybe time to do it instead talking about it in forums. Now is the time as the military is listening it seems.

Posted by jiminkata on July 18, 2014 20:00

@ jiminkata
Do not worry for me as I have my permanent resident permit and I need once 5 years to get stamped my Police and Immigration books.
By the way, my neighbor with 2 Thai children had to pay bribes to get on time the stamps just one week ago.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on July 18, 2014 20:26

Why they don`t have cctv camera`s inside the Immigration.

Posted by Bjorn Ronningen on July 19, 2014 08:07

People like to gripe about the undeniably rude and condescending attitude of immigration officers in Phuket but what the detractors maybe fail to notice is the attitude of many (barely dressed) farangs who swagger into the office (the officers' domain whether you like it or not) with no Thai-language skills and demand instant service. Sure, it's barely organised and chaotic and certainly several immigration officers are on the take, but act politely and have the right papers ready and you'll have no problems. After all, you have recourse to the law and Social Media can show up the bad apples working there 'as easy as eggs'. I've always figured that poor behaviour on the part of the officers is a pretty decent payoff for a one-year visa. Thank God I don't have to work there! It's a hellish, almost Dickensian place.

Posted by Sam Wilko on July 20, 2014 17:42

In 5 years going every year to renew my retirement extension I have never offered a bribe or been asked for 'extra' monies. On one occasion the officer was rather condescending, but hey, it's a lousy job.

Posted by scudman on September 25, 2014 18:04