plahgat

I went to Immigration Office Pattaya at Soi 5 Jomthien today at 13:00.

Started in the Photostat-shop to the left, had one of the staff fill out all the forms for me that I then signed cost 125 baht.

I didn't have any "proof of residence", only brought my last monthly payment receipt and the hotelcard,

that I had copied in the shop.

Wasn't any problems with the photo being smaller than 4 X 6 cm either!

Then proceeded into the Immigration Office, lots of people, handed over my papers and passport to one of the girls behind the desk, that checked my papers and stamped them and then gave me a waiting-number #146.

Since the queue only was at #123 I went for a long walk down the beach and had something to eat, and then went back at about 14:00 only a couple of numbers from mine so no long wait.

Handed over my passport and papers and paid the extension fee of 1900 baht, it was at this point the immigration officer took a picture of me with her webcamera!

I was handed back my queue number-ticket and said to wait, took almost a 30 minutes waiting until my number was called again and I finally received my passport with extension added!

So all in all it took only 1 1/2 hour, although Immigration was filled with people, it was much faster and better service now than 2-3 years ago when it would take at least 2 days sometimes more to get my visa extension!

Plahgat

Hi!

I've soon been staying in Pattaya 2 months and my Tourist Visa finishes on March 10, and I'm looking to make a 30 days extension.

I have used an visa-agent in Pattaya last 3 years to get my 30 days Tourist Visa extension, and it's been a breeze to not have had to go through all that hassle down Soi 5 Jomthien by myself!

...but was told by him today that procedures has been changed and that I have to go to Immigration Office myself and have my photo taken in front of some of their computers, as well as 2 passport size photos (that I already made)!?

Anyone heard anything about this?

Never had to leave any proof of residence as well?

I'm staying at a serviced apartment hotel, will payment receipt for last month suffice?

Plahgat

Outside my hotel Wellness Residence on Soi Asoke this morning!

Plahgat

Good move, but they should do the same with tobacco smoke, one of the biggest killers of them all!

Plahgat

Agree.

Better to stay in your homecountry and just travel to Thailand every year,

once your too old, frail and senile to travel and enjoy life anymore

you can still benefit from your home country's social security system.

Plahgat

How long it takes to get the extension done depends upon how busy the immigration office you go to for it is. It can be a few minutes to a few hours.

Bangkok is not the only place where you can get the extension. They can be done at any immigration office.

For info on where to do it in Bangkok see this topic: Immigration services at Cheang Wattana now suspended

Yes, I know they can be made at any Immigration Office, but since I'm in Bangkok until tomorrow I thought maybe it would be quicker to do it here!?

I'm going back to Pattaya on Tuesday, but I have bad experiences with Chomthien Immigration Office, they lost my passport last year and it took days to finally recover it and get the extension, so I thought maybe It could be done quicker and without hassle here in Bangkok!

Plahgat

Hi!

I would like to extend my 2 month touristvisa with another 30 days.

I just wonder how long time will it take to make the extension at Bangkok Immigration Office?

Can it be done in 1 day? I'm only in Bangkok tomorrow Monday 3 of March.

Plahgat

Bangkok Burger Company does some decent burgers with fries for 400-500 baht range!

Aussie Burger

Lucha Libre Burger

NYC Burger

Although I still think Carl's Junior

Superstar combo with extra Bacon at 300 baht is the best one!

plahgat

Hi Plahgat

Through reading your post, You have saved me a lot of Hassle and Expense.

​i am going top Thailand for 34 days and i did not realize that i needed a visa, so after reading your post, I thought i best check my travel arrangements and just to make sure that i didn't need a visa, On checking up, I found that i did need a visa and just in time due to flying out on Thursday.

Pleased you got sorted.

Malc

Yes, you'd need a visa if you stay more than 30 days!

They'll give you 30 days at airport if you fly in and 15 days if you go via landborder.

Plahgat

Hi!

OK, this is the guy who helped me out!

Just been to Mr Darren's MCGarry's Office at http://www.keyvisathailand.com/ and picked up my passport and extended Tourist Visa!

He had it already yesterday, but because he got my E-mail wrong he could'nt contact me.

For other guys who wants to use his services and let him do your visa extensions, he told me he will gladly help you, and for a visa extension as in my case he only charge 300 baht, which I think is very well spent money to not have to go through all that mess down at the Immigration Office yourself, you save a lot of stress, sweat and time that's for sure!

Once again thanks Darren for helping me out!

Plahgat

I'm curious as to who advised you to go to Immigration a week in advance of your expiry date ? Any time I have gone there, I go on the day it before it expires. A friend went once about a week early and was told to return just before the expiry date.

Sorry but I can't remember, but saw somebody mention it on some Forum.

Although I do believe it is not true though, but you can probably wait until the last day if you want to or are forced to.

I would never dare to wait until the expiry date to extend my visa, so many things could happen, like you got sick or had an accident or whatever preventing you to go there, and then you would have problems with overstay and so on...

Usually I will extend my visa a full month before expiry date, to have it done well in advance to get peace in mind and don't have to think about it.

This year for several reasons because of sickness and other mishaps and problems I waited much longer.

They do turn away people from the Immigration Office at the moment though and ask them to come back later, because it's simply jampacked and they can't cope with the crowds!

The Chomthien Immigration Office is way too small and understaffed, and can't handle the invasion of tourists and expats that has increased immensely during last couple of years!

Plahgat

SurfRider writes:

."Assuming this is a factual account of what really happened - what are the chances that the same incident happening to ANY random farang would be resolved by a chance meeting with a friend of the Imm. agent in an Internet chat forum??? Sounds a bit suspicious to me"

-I agree with you. My impression is the whole story is false/fake.

It's definitely not a false story!!!

The guy who helped me has a respected visa/lawfirm business in Pattaya since 13 years, and is a member like myself on another Pattaya Forum.

I never met him in real life, only on the Internet.

He deals with the Immigration Office on a daily basis and hence know this officer who gave me some hard time.

It was only a struck of luck or coinsidence that he saw my posting and decided to help me!

As a matter of fact I'm off to his office in a few minutes, because he has offered to get the extension for me, so I don't have to go back and go through it all again at the Immigration Office myself!

I could name him and his business, but I'm not sure about the rules on here regarding mentioning other forums!?

He might even be a member on here.

Plahgat

So if I clearly understand post #9 and #19 , then the officer in question knew last evening already that someone would find and return the passport the next day

Yes!

He even knew that the visa was going to be expired on the 13th of March!

How would he know that without even have seen my passport!?

He was not only rude at me, he was doing the same to anyone who asked him about advice, and acted like he hated farangs!

He has obviously been doing this kind of job way too long and it has gone to his mind.

Plahgat

By the way anyone know if there still is an Immigration Office in Sri Racha or if it has ben merged with Pattaya/Chonburi?

Plahgat

to be quite honest i believe this approach would have guaranteed he never saw his passport again.

Maybe I would have disappeared mysteriously as well!

plahgat