Q: USA Embassy/Consulate in Thailand.

[JimmyJ]

For those who have entered:

 

Do they take possession of one's phone during the time one is there?

 

If taking a cab there from the airport, can one gain entry with one's carry on and shoulder bag?

Edited October 12, 2020 by JimmyJ

[86Tiger]

No bags allowed.  And no where to leave outside facility.  They have allowed one baby bag when entering with new born.  

 

Phones are held at entrance and returned on your exit.

[ubonjoe]

The will hold small bags at the security desk as well as your phone. You have to give them some form of ID when you check them in.

You can take a small bag inside with you after it is x rayed.

[lopburi3]

This is the current requirement:

Quote

 

U.S. Mission Thailand’s security procedures require that all visitors receive a security inspection. You will be allowed to check one cell phone at the gate but the U.S. mission Thailand and local guards are not liable for any loss or damage to your cell phone while it is checked.  You will NOT be allowed to enter the Embassy or Consulate for your appointment carrying any of the following items:

Any other battery-operated or electronic devices such as computer tablets, digital diaries, pagers, cameras, audio/video cassettes, compact discs, MP3s, floppy disks, laptops, or portable music players.
Any oversize shoulder bags or purses.
Any oversize handbags and travel bags, large back-packs, briefcases, or suitcases. Applicants can only carry in clear bags containing papers needed for their appointment
Any food item (a coffee stand with snacks is available).
Sealed envelopes or packages.
Cigarettes / cigars / match boxes / lighters.
Any sharp objects such as scissors, pen knives or nail files.
Weapons or explosive materials of any kind.
The list provided above is not exhaustive. Other items may be prohibited at the discretion of security staff.  Other than the one allowed cell phone, the U.S. mission Thailand will not accept the storage of any of the above prohibited items.  You will have to make alternate arrangements to store these items before you enter the Embassy or Consulate.

 

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-visit-embassy/

[prism]

Usually I bring a book to read while I wait to be called whenever I go to the consulate since my phone is held at the entrance.  

[lopburi3]

39 minutes ago, prism said:

Usually I bring a book to read while I wait to be called whenever I go to the consulate since my phone is held at the entrance.  

This says more than it seems and not trying to attack you but have we really become so detached from others that we can not enjoy watching people for the 15 minutes we are at an Embassy?  People are still rather interesting to me and at times the eye candy is very sweet even if we stay in our box.  

[mtls2005]

I've learned to bring the bare minimum: passport, forms, credit card, home key only. It's a 10 minute walk for me.

 

Has anyone been to the Citizen Services area recently? It looks like they are taking appointments again? That room is quite small so assume they're queueing people outside, and/or stretching out the appointments?

 

 

[lopburi3]

5 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I've learned to bring the bare minimum: passport, forms, credit card, home key only. It's a 10 minute walk for me.

 

Has anyone been to the Citizen Services area recently? It looks like they are taking appointments again? That room is quite small so assume they're queueing people outside, and/or stretching out the appointments?

 

 

Indeed it is a very small area (the same Embassy annex area that they moved into some 40 years ago).  The Embassy moved across the street but they/visas are still in that tiny section of the old Embassy building.  

[Srikcir]

18 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

This is the current requirement:

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-visit-embassy/

Note "appointment."

Typically for an American to enter for Citizen Services must have an appointment made online, have a copy and very unlikely to make a same-day appointment. 

[kbb]

When I was there in February, I was on a cane with a broken ankle. 

The embassy provided a wheelchair outside while I waited for my appointment. 

 

Bigger problem was a taxi, since I could not walk to to the train.

I made a deal to get to/from the hotel with a driver who picked me up out front of the embassy at a 

set time. Worked out brilliantly.

 

 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

I've learned to bring the bare minimum: passport, forms, credit card, home key only. It's a 10 minute walk for me.

 

Has anyone been to the Citizen Services area recently? It looks like they are taking appointments again? That room is quite small so assume they're queueing people outside, and/or stretching out the appointments?

 

 

Yes its open for appointments. There is social distancing in the waiting room  10 person max and x marks on the seats. The wait outside went very quickly for me. Not crowded.

Edited October 13, 2020 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

50 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Note "appointment."

Typically for an American to enter for Citizen Services must have an appointment made online, have a copy and very unlikely to make a same-day appointment. 

Yes but you can check for last minute cancelations. Its good to have a print of the appointment page but I can confirm that it's explicitly not required as they make that clear on the website and I saw someone enter without a print.

[wwest5829]

On 10/12/2020 at 1:31 PM, ubonjoe said:

The will hold small bags at the security desk as well as your phone. You have to give them some form of ID when you check them in.

You can take a small bag inside with you after it is x rayed.

Not been my experience at the Chiang Mai American Consulate. First, no “walk-Ins” You must have the appointment printout from the website along with your Passport to present to the window outside. Upon entering watch, metal objects, phone, etc. are left to be retrieved after taking care of business (actually, you exit the building and go to the outside window again, then you will be allowed back in to retrieve your belongings. Metal detector and wand used to check. I was able to take my wallet in as I was paying for a new Passport (the 6th, May be the last at my age!).

Edited October 13, 2020 by wwest5829

[Jingthing]

I had an odd experience at the embassy.

At the check in desk where most people have a phone to check, they asked for a driver's license. They didn't say whether U.S. or Thai. Well I don't have one and suggested that my passport was my I.D. They weren't happy with that so then demanded that I write my name down on a small piece of paper. I'm assuming this was about their check in process. I had already been admitted into that area by presenting my passport and booking page print out at the outside window.

Again, at the embassy, it's desirable to have the print of the booking page but they most definitely will not ban you if you don't have it as long as you actually do have an appointment for the time slot you arrive at.

Edited October 13, 2020 by Jingthing

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

I had an odd experience at the embassy.

At the check in desk where most people have a phone to check, they asked for a driver's license. They didn't say whether U.S. or Thai. Well I don't have one and suggested that my passport was my I.D. They weren't happy with that so then demanded that I write my name down on a small piece of paper. I'm assuming this was about their check in process. I had already been admitted into that area by presenting my passport and booking page print out at the outside window.

Again, at the embassy, it's desirable to have the print of the booking page but they most definitely will not ban you if you don't have it as long as you actually do have an appointment for the time slot you arrive at.

They want a photo ID to keep with your phone and check it when they return the phone to make sure the number tag you returned is actually your phone - a good double check.  My Thai DL photo is 50 years old so a lot of smiles as they see the damage done.  ????

[Jingthing]

57 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

They want a photo ID to keep with your phone and check it when they return the phone to make sure the number tag you returned is actually your phone - a good double check.  My Thai DL photo is 50 years old so a lot of smiles as they see the damage done.  ????

Aha. So an expired license is fine then.

Its good that they're taking care to not give our phones to whomever. 

Edited October 13, 2020 by Jingthing

[JimmyJ]

Has anyone had them ask to unlock your phone if it's password protected?

 

Or their only interest in it is to have it turned off and to store it while in the consulate?

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, JimmyJ said:

Has anyone had them ask to unlock your phone if it's password protected?

 

Or their only interest in it is to have it turned off and to store it while in the consulate?

Just turned off and stored.

[QPRFC]

Chiang Mai is super strict, you can only enter the building if you have an appointment. Only a carrier bag size is allowed to be stored along with your phone/keys/wallet/condoms at the entrance. No laptops should even be attempted to be taken in and they will confiscate pens/pencils as these are deemed to be weapons even though all staff are shielded behind bullet proof glass screens! No drinks/food either.

I was only allowed to take in a document folder after the x-ray machines.

One way entry and exit via another door, then you have to re-enter to collect your stored bag after queuing up at the front window again!! Obviously designed by a complete lunatic or a Thai.

The waiting room is external, has fans and a water machine along with a toilet/restroom/dunny and an annoying promo video constantly playing in Thai and English language.

After waiting 2 months for my alloted appointment, I then face the government employee who didn't even know that my application could be processed in CM and thought I had to go to Bangkok to have it processed. As soon as I said that during the appointment booking procedure the option to have my requirement processed there was available, he said that he would find out later that day and call me in a few days to either come back for processing or inform me to travel to Bangkok.....he called me the next day and said come in the following day for processing!

[lopburi3]

8 minutes ago, QPRFC said:

they will confiscate pens/pencils as these are deemed to be weapons even though all staff are shielded behind bullet proof glass

But I, as another visitor, would not be shielded if you went postal.  ????

 

Indeed Chiang Mai is an old style residential type facility from many decades ago - I first visited there over 40 years ago when a few visas and occasional tourist were about it.  Understand plans have been approved for a new facility.