I went to Jomtien Immigration office yesterday just before 10:00, and had to wait a full 30 minutes for document check and queue number for desk 8, but now in an orderly queue and with A/C for comfort.

 

Only a couple of people in front of me at desk 8, and I was out again in 15 minutes. Very smooth process, the officer was nice and efficient, and the big room has had a nice facelift since last year. It was not crowded, with plenty seating and a relaxed atmosphere.

 

Neither the front desk nor the desk 8 officer wanted an updated TM30. I do have one from 2017, but they didn't even look for or at it at all. The same experience was had three months ago doing 90-day report, no need for new TM30. My situation is the same for 17 years now,: Retirement extension, same house and wife which might help...? And I'm a polite and handsome dude of course! 🙂

 

I will pick up the passport and do re-entry permit and 90-day on Friday morning. I could do it today after 14:00 if I wanted, but then "everybody" from the day before is there and want a re-entry permit at the same time, so better to avoid that time-slot. Then I will also see if I get the form to return in three months to show the 800K still in the bank. For me it varies; Some years I do get it and some years I don't. I never bother to go back anyway, I think it is meant more as a reminder to us than to them.

 

I hope this can help someone not to dread this yearly ritual, it's actually cheap and quite painless for the benefit of living here. With 90-day and TM30 online (which I will do soon) then not much to complain about. Except perhaps we should be allowed to do all tasks at once, and not have to come back the next day and queue all over again, potentially four times if you need all the services. But I think soon we will do most things online anyway.

Don't want to sound like an a-hole but luckey me to have a friend who knows a friend who's a heavy in Pattaya immigration

scenes and can fix all my needs for  token fee of 1-2,000 baht, I'm saying it to show that in this country, it's  the case

of not what you know, rather who you know...

OP, thanks for report.

Good to see no silly games with TM30 as it should not be required. 

Regarding your reentry permit.... if it's busy when you pick up pp as you know it's a simple process to obtain reentry permit at airport.

Re the note to return after 3 months with bank book just ignore that.

No record is made. 

12 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Don't want to sound like an a-hole but luckey me to have a friend who knows a friend who's a heavy in Pattaya immigration

scenes and can fix all my needs for  token fee of 1-2,000 baht, I'm saying it to show that in this country, it's  the case

of not what you know, rather who you know...

Why do you need to know someone heavy in Pattaya immigration to fIx all your needs for 2000 baht? OP did the extension himself for 1900 baht and sounds like a pretty simple process

9 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Why do you need to know someone heavy in Pattaya immigration to fIx all your needs for 2000 baht? OP did the extension himself for 1900 baht and sounds like a pretty simple process

When i wrote 2,000 baht i meant to get the work done on my behalf and that include

renewal of retirement  and re entry with me only supplying the paperwork and wait at home

and after 35 years of doing it myself, its beat wasting my time in them cattle station invoiurments......

50 minutes ago, MeaMaximaCulpa said:

I will pick up the passport and do re-entry permit

In the old system I was allowed to enter the main building by showing the laminated number to collect my passport and proceed to re entry desk. How does the new system work? do you have to come back to the  small building for a queue number for re entry desk?

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, thanks for report.

Good to see no silly games with TM30 as it should not be required. 

Regarding your reentry permit.... if it's busy when you pick up pp as you know it's a simple process to obtain reentry permit at airport.

Re the note to return after 3 months with bank book just ignore that.

No record is made. 

Thanks for the tip, but when I travel long haul I do not want to run the risk of an upset in any way, even if my rational brain tells me it is very low. So I do it well in advance, and enjoy a quiet time awaiting departure.

9 hours ago, ezzra said:

When i wrote 2,000 baht i meant to get the work done on my behalf and that include

renewal of retirement  and re entry with me only supplying the paperwork and wait at home

and after 35 years of doing it myself, its beat wasting my time in them cattle station invoiurments......

I will do it myself until it becomes too much of a hassle, or I am too old to be able to. Then firstly my wife will help, then an agent of course. But for now, I like to do it myself. Yeah, I know, self-harming guy I am! 🙂

 

I went last week to beat the Songkran rush.

 

I needed no TM30. A copy of my pink card served as address confirmation.

 

NEW: the IO wanted a copy of the middle pages of my PP, the two of them. However, he made the copy himself and I signed it.

 

Pretty crowded when I went, but in and out in 30 min.

 

On 2/15/2024 at 9:43 AM, ezzra said:

in this country, it's  the case

of not what you know, rather who you know...

 

I don't know anybody, and what I know has always been sufficient to avoid problems.

I feel physically every time I have to interact with immigration......there is (nearly) always some twist to catch you out....last time I downloaded all the forms and filled them in beforehand......"sorry these are old forms, you need to fill these in"......filled them in, no queuing system, fight to hand the forms back in....."no good....all forms must be in blue ink now...do again".....F.F.S.

6 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

I feel physically every time I have to interact with immigration......there is (nearly) always some twist to catch you out....last time I downloaded all the forms and filled them in beforehand......"sorry these are old forms, you need to fill these in"......filled them in, no queuing system, fight to hand the forms back in....."no good....all forms must be in blue ink now...do again".....F.F.S.

You're not talking about Pattaya if you say there is no queing system

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

I feel physically every time I have to interact with immigration......there is (nearly) always some twist to catch you out....last time I downloaded all the forms and filled them in beforehand......"sorry these are old forms, you need to fill these in"......filled them in, no queuing system, fight to hand the forms back in....."no good....all forms must be in blue ink now...do again".....F.F.S.

 

Used the same forms at Jomtien for years. They live on on my computer, the required fields filled in black Arial. I merely change the dates, print them out, and sign with a blue fountain pen.

 

Piece o' cake. Simple retirement extension, 800k method. 

 

Never tried to make an appt. I show up in the afternoon and take a number.  

 

48 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

You're not talking about Pattaya if you say there is no queing system

Very true....Chaiyaphum

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

I feel physically every time I have to interact with immigration......there is (nearly) always some twist to catch you out....last time I downloaded all the forms and filled them in beforehand......"sorry these are old forms, you need to fill these in"......filled them in, no queuing system, fight to hand the forms back in....."no good....all forms must be in blue ink now...do again".....F.F.S.

 

I have been doing retirement extensions at Immo/Bkk for the past 15 years.   If you use the 800K baht in the bank method, and leave it there all year, there have been no changes to the requirements for an extension.

 

Yes, there have been a few minor changes, such as the photocopy of the TM47, hand-drawn map, 4 forms to sign.  But, those are just minor changes which can be done on-site.

 

If you really can't stand the treatment by your local Immo office, then I recommend changing your legal address to somewhere in Bangkok, and report to Division 1.

 

'nuff said

Generally it takes me about 4-5 minutes with the IO and I'm done. I have all my paperwork filled out and signed ahead of time and the 1,900 baht in my pocket.
I like to get in early for a couple reasons. One is, if you are the 1st-3rd person at Desk 8, the IO is probably still in a good mood. Also, if they spring a new requirement on you, you've got time to go home and get (whatever) done and return.
(Like the last time I tried to do my 90 Day report and suddenly I had to fill out a new TM.47 and a new TM.30 because I'd gone to Cambodia for 3 days a couple months earlier. Travelling out of the country hadn't been a problem in the last 7 years or so - until last February. I noticed that almost everyone in the "90 Day" line was having to hand in paperwork instead of just their passport. Took me FIVE hours to get all the paperwork, get a queue number to go through the "report residence" line, get a new queue number for the 90 Day desk, then wait an hour before getting my passport back. They told me "next time" will be quicker because of the extra piece of paper I now have stapled in my passport.)

The queue system is hit and miss. I've tried using the Que app only to sit there and not have it call my number anyways. With the recent expansion at Jomtien though I think the process is a little more smooth.

Last time I just went to the counter and got my "queue" number directly (they already had a stack of them printed out and ready).

I've had the TM.7 on my computer for years (along with various other forms) and never had a problem. Each year I set up a new folder, open last year's application, change the dates (and my age), print and save it in the new folder. Then print the scans of my passport and driver's license and sign them. Then print new copies of those "extra" forms Jomtien likes you to sign (the one acknowleding the penalties of overstay and the other one acknowledging the terms and conditions of temporary stay).
Add a passport photo to the stack and then wait until the day before I want to go to Jomtien to get my "bank letter" and update my passbook.

I also work my 90 day reports by going 90-93 days apart so that when I go back to Immigration the next day to get my passport, I can do the 90 Day report at the same time.

That way, my next 90 day is also the day I have to go back for the "bank book check" anyways.

Once you have everything set up, it's really not that hard. Takes about what, 10 minutes to update and print the various forms and scans, sign all the photocopies (and forms), attach a photo, stick it all in a file folder.
Oh and 100 baht at the bank to get the "Bank Letter". So a total of 2,000 baht to do the extension. 

Which is apparently too much for some people so they'll pay 20,000+ to have someone else do it for them.

3 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Then print new copies of those "extra" forms Jomtien likes you to sign (the one acknowleding the penalties of overstay and the other one acknowledging the terms and conditions of temporary stay).

 

As do I, fields already typed it in, just change the date. Also have my phone number typed at the bottom. Anything to get outta the Immigration office quickly. 

 

4 hours ago, Kerryd said:

That way, my next 90 day is also the day I have to go back for the "bank book check" anyways.

 

Been a couple years since I received a bank book check notice. I'd ignore it anyway.

 

4 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Once you have everything set up, it's really not that hard. Takes about what, 10 minutes to update and print the various forms and scans, sign all the photocopies (and forms), attach a photo, stick it all in a file folder.
Oh and 100 baht at the bank to get the "Bank Letter". So a total of 2,000 baht to do the extension. 

 

Exactly.

 

I get the bank book letter from the bank on my way to Immigration. They give me a photocopy of the updated last page.

 

4 hours ago, Kerryd said:

last time I tried to do my 90 Day report and suddenly I had to fill out a new TM.47 and a new TM.30 because I

 

If online doesn't work and I must go there, I print out a pre-filled TM47 and passport copies. Also my yellow book. Never done a TM.30.

 

I love surprising them.

 

4 hours ago, Kerryd said:

They told me "next time" will be quicker because of the extra piece of paper I now have stapled in my passport.)

 

What "extra" besides the usual acknowledgement slip w/ notice of your next reporting date?

 

 

On 4/1/2024 at 10:57 AM, BigStar said:

 

As do I, fields already typed it in, just change the date. Also have my phone number typed at the bottom. Anything to get outta the Immigration office quickly. 

 

 

Been a couple years since I received a bank book check notice. I'd ignore it anyway.

 

 

Exactly.

 

I get the bank book letter from the bank on my way to Immigration. They give me a photocopy of the updated last page.

 

 

If online doesn't work and I must go there, I print out a pre-filled TM47 and passport copies. Also my yellow book. Never done a TM.30.

 

I love surprising them.

 

 

What "extra" besides the usual acknowledgement slip w/ notice of your next reporting date?

 

 

 

Do you pick up your queue number for Desk 8 from inside the main building as before,  or is it from the new building on the left opposite the new 90 day report building ?  First time doing it since construction of the 2 new offices. Thanks.

 

 

 

On 4/1/2024 at 10:57 AM, BigStar said:

 

As do I, fields already typed it in, just change the date. Also have my phone number typed at the bottom. Anything to get outta the Immigration office quickly. 

 

 

Been a couple years since I received a bank book check notice. I'd ignore it anyway.

 

 

Exactly.

 

I get the bank book letter from the bank on my way to Immigration. They give me a photocopy of the updated last page.

 

 

If online doesn't work and I must go there, I print out a pre-filled TM47 and passport copies. Also my yellow book. Never done a TM.30.

 

I love surprising them.

 

 

What "extra" besides the usual acknowledgement slip w/ notice of your next reporting date?

 

 

 

Disregard my query, The Pattaya City Expats page had the answer to my question.

13 hours ago, kinyara said:

 

Do you pick up your queue number for Desk 8 from inside the main building as before,  or is it from the new building on the left opposite the new 90 day report building ?  First time doing it since construction of the 2 new offices. Thanks.

 

 

 

New building on the left

On 2/15/2024 at 10:29 AM, Thailand J said:

In the old system I was allowed to enter the main building by showing the laminated number to collect my passport and proceed to re entry desk. How does the new system work? do you have to come back to the  small building for a queue number for re entry desk?

 

Same way as before. If you have the laminated number just go straight on into the main bldg to the far end of Station 8. I just did mine May 2nd and picked it up May 3rd.

3 hours ago, petermik said:

New building on the left

Thanks

I went for my retirement extension renewal this week at Jomtien mid-morning, from joining the queue to get my ticket for desk 8 to walking back out after successful submission took all of 13 minutes, a personal record for me. Excellent.

6 minutes ago, kinyara said:

I went for my retirement extension renewal this week at Jomtien mid-morning, from joining the queue to get my ticket for desk 8 to walking back out after successful submission took all of 13 minutes, a personal record for me. Excellent.

But you could have paid an agent 12-14,000 baht to do it for you and save you all that trouble 😉

1 hour ago, Pattaya57 said:

But you could have paid an agent 12-14,000 baht to do it for you and save you all that trouble 😉

 

Indeed, I've always earnt well but sadly never 1,000 baht a minute.