They let people wait for 2 hours then at 4pm say full come back tomorrow. So poorly organised. Why not have different queues for different purposes, but that would involve them trying to make it better

Why are you going into immigration? Can’t you do the tm30 online?

2 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

Why are you going into immigration? Can’t you do the tm30 online?

Who mentioned TM30. Maybe he was going for Extension, Re-Entry Permit or 90 Day report.

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

Who mentioned TM30. Maybe he was going for Extension, Re-Entry Permit or 90 Day report.

it was a residence certificate, so everything goes in the same queue, totally stupid. Moral to the story, if the queue is snaking in the afternoon, don't join it

They maybe need more Russian speaking staff.! 

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

it was a residence certificate, so everything goes in the same queue, totally stupid. Moral to the story, if the queue is snaking in the afternoon, don't join it

Is that really going to work? The moral to the story is there will always be a hassle no matter what you do. 

2 hours ago, JimTripper said:

Is that really going to work? The moral to the story is there will always be a hassle no matter what you do. 

Totally agree, avoid immigration at all costs.

In another thread, somebody suggested fronting up to the IO in a wheelchair  to jump the queue. You could go one better and add a saline drip and a colostomy bag.

That does it, I'm going to tell them my name is Mike, not Hugh and get into a different queue, thanks for the heads up.

Must be a lot of Hugh's in Pattaya.

Did anybody see the new Immigration office they opened recently in Phetchabun? Here it is:

 

 

The current building in Jomtien was opened in something like 2006, I think, when Thailand was receiving around one-third of the number of foreign tourists that it did pe-pandemic. Plus a large number of those tourists either pass through Pattaya or else stay there the whole time, whereas how many foreigners head to Phetchabun? And while Pattaya has many tens of thousands of expats living here, how many are there in the whole of Phetchabun province?

 

The tourists who come to Pattaya and the expats who live here are poorly served by the current Immigration setup, which has failed to keep up with the rising numbers of people using it. Why would you come to Pattaya on holiday if you are going to end up spending a day or two in unpleasant conditions queuing for an extension or some other piece of bureaucracy? There's that large piece of vacant land opposite that's currently used as a car park, a pity that Immigration doesn't have the foresight to build a big new office there that's fit for purpose. The current setup is an insult to the many people living in and visiting the Pattaya area who end up needing to get some paperwork from Immigration, maybe Pattaya City Hall could put some pressure on them to improve their service if enough people complained.

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

Did anybody see the new Immigration office they opened recently in Phetchabun? Here it is:

 

 

The current building in Jomtien was opened in something like 2006, I think, when Thailand was receiving around one-third of the number of foreign tourists that it did pe-pandemic. Plus a large number of those tourists either pass through Pattaya or else stay there the whole time, whereas how many foreigners head to Phetchabun? And while Pattaya has many tens of thousands of expats living here, how many are there in the whole of Phetchabun province?

 

The tourists who come to Pattaya and the expats who live here are poorly served by the current Immigration setup, which has failed to keep up with the rising numbers of people using it. Why would you come to Pattaya on holiday if you are going to end up spending a day or two in unpleasant conditions queuing for an extension or some other piece of bureaucracy? There's that large piece of vacant land opposite that's currently used as a car park, a pity that Immigration doesn't have the foresight to build a big new office there that's fit for purpose. The current setup is an insult to the many people living in and visiting the Pattaya area who end up needing to get some paperwork from Immigration, maybe Pattaya City Hall could put some pressure on them to improve their service if enough people complained.

People aren't spending money whilst they are queueing.

17 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

it was a residence certificate, so everything goes in the same queue, totally stupid. Moral to the story, if the queue is snaking in the afternoon, don't join it

the moral of the story to any immigration visit is don't go in the afternoon.

25 minutes ago, n00dle said:

the moral of the story to any immigration visit is don't go in the afternoon.

And first check whether your yellow book/pink card will suffice to prove residency so you don't need a certificate.

Not looking forward to my next visit to Immigration. I wish we were not restricted to the immigration office in the province where we live. I would happily make a road trip to avoid the lines. Road trip to Phetchabun to do my extension of stay sounds like it would be fun.

 

If I were a tourist and extending my visa I would spend a night in Rayong and extend my visa there or go to Bangkok where there is an appointment system.

1 hour ago, n00dle said:

the moral of the story to any immigration visit is don't go in the afternoon.

not necessarily, I've been a few times in the afternoon and straight in and quick, but now the place is flooded with Russians

15 hours ago, PJ71 said:

Totally agree, avoid immigration at all costs.

That’s not possible unfortunately.

Good news. 

There are more than a few retired foreigners and teachers around in the large Province Petchabun.

Late afternoon was a advice among expats for years, seems that is no longer a sure thing.

 

Agents ger more work, IO less frustrations from guys missing correct paperwork, a win win for them.

 

If I remember correct, current building was partly or mostly sponsored by pattaya business owners etc.

Will they help again?

There must be a shiiitload of tourists here now. Everyone's going for their 30 days extensions by the looks of it.

11 hours ago, n00dle said:

the moral of the story to any immigration visit is don't go in the afternoon.

On 23 December I was there at 10 am for visa extension, maybe  2 or three  hunderds of people in front of me, most were young Russians. Around 11.30 am an officer came out and shut the door spouting through a loudspeaker that they had a break untill 1.30 pm. Nobody dare left the queue. I finaly left at 3.pm with the message that I had to come back the following morning at 8.30 to collect my visa. The following day again queueing, ok this time less than an hour. At the other side the newcomers already queueing from the soi, yes at 8.30! As the French used to say "Organised like a borthel".

I went back the next day at 7.30 for 8.30 opening, already small queue, some staff are so rude to people, on a power trip, or maybe stressed out or both

19 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

not necessarily, I've been a few times in the afternoon and straight in and quick, but now the place is flooded with Russians

I noticed the same in Hua Hin recently.

9 hours ago, vangrop said:

On 23 December I was there at 10 am for visa extension, maybe  2 or three  hunderds of people in front of me, most were young Russians. Around 11.30 am an officer came out and shut the door spouting through a loudspeaker that they had a break untill 1.30 pm. Nobody dare left the queue. I finaly left at 3.pm with the message that I had to come back the following morning at 8.30 to collect my visa. The following day again queueing, ok this time less than an hour. At the other side the newcomers already queueing from the soi, yes at 8.30! As the French used to say "Organised like a borthel".

 

 

You have to a bit on the dim side to queue up to collect your extension.

 

 

Straight in to desk 8 ? with your numbered card works for me.

18 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

You have to a bit on the dim side to queue up to collect your extension.

I am inclined to think not getting an agent to do  it all for you is a bit dim too if met with such a wait.