A Positive Day At Chonburi Immigration, Jomtien.

[javel]

I had arrived Thailand on a 30 days Visa exempt, and I am over 50 years old. I wanted to convert to a Non-Immigrant 90 days Visa, and get a retirement extention for 1 year. I also wanted 2 residency certificates for getting Thai driver licenses for car and motorbike.

I went by the week before to pick up the forms (TM 8.7, TM 7, and form for residency certificate). I was told that it would be a 2 step process, first the Visa, and retirement extention, and after that the residency certificates.

I started the day at 09:00 at my bank, and got the bank letter confirming the 800.000 THB in the bank, and I also updated my bank passbook.

Then I stopped at a copy shop. 3 copies of the passport picture page, and of the TM 6 and entry stamp. Also 3 copies of my receipt from my hotel for rent paid (for 3 months). 2 copies of the bank passbook name and account information page, and the same of the transactions for the last 3 months.

Also a copy of the bank letter. I had of course already filled out all the forms at home, and I had the 5 pictures needed.

I arrived about 10:15, and since it was the day before the Kings birthday it was really crowded, with the office closed the next day.

At the information/numbers counter it was chaos, and I heard people that had a lot of questions being told to come back in 2 days, or a week later. They also checked the applications before the handed out the numbers.

I just hold up the 2 prefilled applications forms, with a lot of copies behind, and asked for a number to non/imm./retirement. I got my number without any further questions.

A short hour later my number was up. I handed in the forms (TM 8.7 and TM 7), and 2 copies of all the copies mentioned earlier (1 being the original bank letter).

They checked all the documents, and collected 1900 + 2000 baht, and I was told to move to the next row to wait for the imm. Officer there. When my turn came up I asked if it would be possible to apply for the residency certificates the same day, since I was told that pick-up time for the Visa (and retirement extention) was 15:00.

He smiled, gave me my passport, and told me to get a number for the residency cert. queue, and take a copy of the visa, and then come back to him with the passport.

To my surprise the Visa, and retirement extention already was stamped in my passport. I did as I was told, but here I maybe did a small error. I probably should not have given back my passport to the visa officer before I had actually visited the residency cert. desk, because at the residency cert. desk they wanted my passport, not just the copies, and told me to come back after 15:00 when I had my passport back.

They gave me a "no queue" ticket, so I would not have to wait again.

I then had a 3 hour break from the office.

Back at 15:00, I got my passport with the Visa, and I jumped the queue at the residency cert. desk. Handed in application form, 3 pictures, and 1 of each passport copy + receipt from hotel, and paid 200 + 200 baht.

I was told to return 2 days later since the next day, as I told earlier, was a holiday. I asked them if it was OK that I returned 9 days later, since I would be very busy the next days.

They then asked me if it would be OK to return in 30 minutes instead, which I of course confirmed would be just perfect. At 15:30 I collected the 2 residency certificates, and left wishing everybody a good holiday.

Out the door with a Visa until March 4, 2014.

My experience was that everybody was very efficient, and very pleasant to deal with. I am especially impressed that the people working at the information/numbers counter could remain so calm and pleasant as they were at a day with such a pressure from numerous customers.

In whole a positive experience.

[mahjongguy]

Thank you for taking the time to submit such a detailed report. It's good to see the Jomtien office get credit for the excellent job that they do.

And congrats to you for being so well-prepared.