Waiting in line at the Immigration Bureau in Thailand

@Yovaan Chetty

Hi Yovann,

It depends on the IO, some let agents collect multiple tickets as they trust they have all the documents. Most schools get you there and then their officer waits and rings you, so you can go shopping.The only problem you might have is to get to N counter there is sometimes an officer checking you have the electronic ticket on your phone, or you can't get in. If you have the queue number on your phone (QR code) you will be fine.

My advice is just turn up at 2.30pm, you will be out by 6,30 as they pull other departments to help them. In the morning if your number is over 100 you won't be served until the afternoon.

Hi Everyone
Every foreigner/ expat living in Thailand knows how frustrating it can be waiting for hours at Immigration.
What if there was a service where someone waits in line for you and just before it's your turn, contacts you.
Would anyone be interested in this kind of service?

There are a few things to note:
+The Thai official who checks your document/ passport and hands out the ticket number might need the passport holder to be there initially. If that's the case (which I think it is) then once the passport holder receives the ticket, he/she can then hand it to the person to wait in line for them, run their errands and return when they are contacted by that person.
+In case important documents get misplaced, the passport holder just needs to give the ticket number to the person to wait in line for them.

Any advice or concerns about this service would be appreciated, thanks !!!!
-@Yovaan Chetty

It seems you have missed the app QueQ.

The reason people are standing in line longer than

they should is pure stupidity.Almost every immigration office in Thailand is opened between 8:30am-4pm Mon-Friday.People have been told for years,never visit immigration in the morning on a Monday or Tuesday or after or before national holidays. But,they still do and they keep complaining. I've been living in Thailand for many years,and I've never been standing in line more than a few minutes the most,normally I walk straight in (and I belong to Jomtien,Pattaya immigration). Go there midweek,Thursday just before lunch or after lunch.That's the best time by far,and it works all over Thailand. The exception is maybe in BKK, but that's just the way it is. That place has always been a mess.

Thanks@AkyHunt

Thanks@Leeds forever!

If you dont like waiting, then use an 'agent' - they do all the work for you.  There are some offices where they are very slow and understaffed - and there are others that are good.  If you are unlucky enough to live where it is a bad office most days - then think about using an agent.