Bangkok Immigration - Covid Broth
I finally made the conscious decision to stay in Thailand and not go back to the UK for the time being, but under my multiple entry, non 'O' Visa based on marriage, I need to leave the country every 90 days to activate my next 90-day permission to stay. Of course, this is impossible at the moment so a trip to immigration was required to extend my present visa by 60 days.
As a matter of interest, tourist visas can only be extended by 30 days
Having read reports that the Immigration centre for Bangkok at Chaeng Wattana was even busier than normal with the many ex-pats and tourists either stuck in the country or not willing or able to leave, I got there early. 5.45 am to be precise, and it seems it wasn't early enough! Queues outside had already formed and the office itself doesn't normally open until 8.30 am.
5 am outside Government Complex Building B
They do let you into the main building to get a queue number, starting around 6 am and today was no exception. At 6 am, the doors opened and our carefully organised lines were let into the building one at a time, each of us having our temperatures taken as we went in before given our number. Before having our passports scanned and putting our bags through the x-ray machine.
Number 142, my lucky number! No prizes in this raffle other than an early trip home!
Immigration Division 1 is located at the massive Government complex at Chaeng Wattana district on the outskirts of Bangkok and consists of two giant brutalist buildings containing many government departments with other government buildings such as the Ministry of foreign affairs being also in close proximity.
This is just the atrium inside the building, the offices are all around the outside of the building as you can see. There was a senior officer in full uniform rushing up and down the lines yelling "1 met, 1 met" into a megaphone to keep us apart!
By just after 6.30 am I was inside and into the main concourse of the building which in normal times holds indoor markets, exhibitions and displays but now, the emptiness truly showed off its vast size. I do enjoy coming here once in a while just to marvel at the architecture bu am always very wary of taking photos inside government buildings!
Another photo from inside. it is so difficult to convey the feeling of space in here!
Then something amazing happened! We started slowly making our way into the office proper which is laid out in sections for each of the different immigration functions they perform there. After having my documents checked, I was given another queue number, this time for my particular type of extension and then it was just a case of sitting and waiting.
They had brought in staff at 7 am! This is incredible for Thailand, their rigidity is legendary! In my section, I was number 11, and there were 4 manned counters, 8 am my number was called and I found myself sat in front of an immigration officer who immediately asked my where my wife was. "At home in bed," I honestly replied. "Well, she has to be here" was the retort. This has never happened before so I was a little taken back and despite my best attempt at begging, got nowhere. The rigidity and zero flexibility of Chaeng Wattana was back!
The office in which I met my immigration nemesis!
I left straight after and jumped on the bike and went home with nothing to show other than a list of documents and requirements to take back the next day. Top of the list was the wife and as I only live 3km away, was home by 8.30 with the kettle on.
Now to be fair, they had it quite well organised and as everyone was masked and gelled up, was fairly 'safe' I guess but it was still an odd and slightly unnerving feeling being with so many people at this time!
Luckily, my last date wasn't until the 28th so next day was fine and things went smoothly and to plan, other than a very grumpy wife who never knew there were two 5 o'clocks in one day, sat with a face like thunder, staring at the immigration lady!
The question still arises; What will happen in 60 days time?
