Pattaya Immigrations 12 December

[Suradit69]

Went in today about 11:00 in the morning with the hope of doing the 90 day report and retirement extension. Got tickets for both queues, but as soon as I stepped away from the desk, the retirement extension number was called. Sat down at the retirement desk, a lady came up to me, took all my documents, passport and money. Literally within 90 seconds she went through everything, gave me a laminated number and told me to come back at 15:00 today. Never had the chance to do the 90 day report, but will do when I collect the passport this afternoon.

Today was 44 days before the current one expired since this coincided with my 90 day report date and I wanted to do both if possible. No problem apparently.

Had the usual: passport, TM7, photo, Baht 1900, I had photocopies of visa front page, original O-A visa,departure card, entry stamp and all previous extension stamps.

I had an embassy affidavit ... I think it was 3 or 4 months old. Whenever the Pattaya US consular outreach was about then. I forget the exact date. I also attached documentary proof for the amount I claimed on the affidavit: Social Security letter, letter from my pension provider and statement from my IRA custodian showing distributions for the current year.

My income statement exceeded the Baht 65,000 a month required, but ...

On the way to Immigrations, I stopped to get the manager's letter from my branch of Bangkok Bank. About five minutes and Baht 100 for that. He listed the current balance and about 9 months' worth of foreign-sourced deposits. In the past it's only been the last three months. They're all shown in the photocopies of the passbook anyway.

Signature on all documents that were photocopies and telephone number written below signature on second page of TM7.

I've never been asked for proof of address. I do provide it for each 90 day report, but never for annual extension.

All ducks in a row and smooth sailing.

[bradenroger]

Congratulations for a job well done!

[OMGImInPattaya]

Yep...if the docs are in order its smooth sailing at jomtien immigration these days. A little surprised about the embassy letter as I thought it had to be dated within 30-days if the renewal application. We're pretty lucky if some of the stories I hear about other upcountry immigration offices are true.

[Suradit69]

Yep...if the docs are in order its smooth sailing at jomtien immigration these days. A little surprised about the embassy letter as I thought it had to be dated within 30-days if the renewal application. We're pretty lucky if some of the stories I hear about other upcountry immigration offices are true.

"A little surprised about the embassy letter as I thought it had to be dated within 30-days ..."

Leafing through past months in my desk calendar, I think it would have been 12 September. Can't always decipher my own cryptic notations. If that's correct, it would be three months to the day.

[Suradit69]

Went back a little early, at 14:30, collected the passport with new extension. had photocopies of the new extension made and then did the 90 day report, which required no photocopies of anything. I asked about that and the lady said if you went to her (with the computer terminal) you didn't need copies, otherwise you did.

But what I found interesting was a rather large, rather sweaty, very loud and very drunk farang there. He became all the louder when his pen died as he was filling out some form and let forth a volley of impolite words. I thought maybe he was just a little eccentric or whatever, but he passed me en route to the reception desk to ask for a pen (request denied) and believe me, you would not want to light a match anywhere near him. He definitely had had a high octane lunch. Don't know if they ever served him. When I left he was bent over the form he was filling out and may have dozed off.

Can't really imagine someone thinking that getting smashed before visiting Immigrations would be a good strategy.

[i claudius]

Hope its as quick tomorrow.

[Suradit69]

Hope its as quick tomorrow.

Good luck. (It will be Friday the 13th !!)

I usually try to get there early in the morning when the doors first open, but this time I went in around 11:00 in the morning for the extension and 2:30 in the afternoon to collect the passport and do the 90 day. I may just have been lucky, but I had about zero waiting time as compared to longer waits early in the morning.

I agree that Jomtien Immigrations certainly seems a lot more user-friendly than other offices, at least based on reports here in TV. All the people I dealt with seem quite pleasant and efficient.

[WitawatWatawit]

My last two visits - 90 days and certificate of residence for m/cycle licence - were a pleasure. Couple of younger women manning the entry counter and that really nice and efficient foreign volunteer. Smooth as silk - hehe, THAI should send their staff to take some lessons. Did my work permit up in Bangkok - Jamjuree - last month, and that also was smooth and relaxed. One official, a lt-col rank, even gave me a wai. Holy hell! I'm important. Going to Jomtien again on Tuesday for my next 90 days.

[LeCharivari]

My last two visits - 90 days and certificate of residence for m/cycle licence - were a pleasure. Couple of younger women manning the entry counter and that really nice and efficient foreign volunteer. Smooth as silk - hehe, THAI should send their staff to take some lessons. Did my work permit up in Bangkok - Jamjuree - last month, and that also was smooth and relaxed. One official, a lt-col rank, even gave me a wai. Holy hell! I'm important. Going to Jomtien again on Tuesday for my next 90 days.

If you're talking about the farang "assistant", presumably you jest. He's not a "volunteer", he's a paid member of staff and as he told me last month that I could only do my extension 30 days in advance and that any embassy documentation (not needed) had to be less than 30 days old he's apparently not very "efficient" either. "really nice" .... well, let's say that with one notable exception behind the info desk I'd apply that to all those there except him.

[WISteve]

My last two visits - 90 days and certificate of residence for m/cycle licence - were a pleasure. Couple of younger women manning the entry counter and that really nice and efficient foreign volunteer. Smooth as silk - hehe, THAI should send their staff to take some lessons. Did my work permit up in Bangkok - Jamjuree - last month, and that also was smooth and relaxed. One official, a lt-col rank, even gave me a wai. Holy hell! I'm important. Going to Jomtien again on Tuesday for my next 90 days.

If you're talking about the farang "assistant", presumably you jest. He's not a "volunteer", he's a paid member of staff and as he told me last month that I could only do my extension 30 days in advance and that any embassy documentation (not needed) had to be less than 30 days old he's apparently not very "efficient" either. "really nice" .... well, let's say that with one notable exception behind the info desk I'd apply that to all those there except him.

He was probably quoting chapter and verse, and while the present powers seem very tolerant and helpful, you can hardly blame him for telling you what is actually required? I think he is German or Dutch? Not sure, but while he does seem very direct he has most certainly been helpful to me in the past.

There seems to have been a changing of the guard in Jomtien about two or three years ago because they are much friendlier and more efficient IMO. Nothing but positive experiences for me in the past three years anyway.

[JSixpack]

I've said that all they need do now is open a beer bar in there.

[luckyluke]

The guy is french speaking Belgian.

[Rimmer]

Off topic video removed

[jmo]

Funny to find a topic on this exact name in here as I was also in there yesterday getting a tourist extension. During the last 3 previous winters this has always been a whole day event watching the officers drag their feet on every turn. Boy was I surprised to see them genuinely hustling to get the ball moving this time. I could imagine somebody is paying them bonuses based on how many applications they process per day. Now I think I have seen everything this land has to offer and nothing is gonna surprise me any more.

[WISteve]

The guy is french speaking Belgian.

Thank you.

He speaks English to me and I couldn't place the accent.

I went to do my 90 day report the week of Songkran this spring and was greeted with a sign in the door that they were closed for five days I think? Anyway, I was back bright and early on the first day they re-opened, expecting a mob. They actually had three people working at the 90 day reporting desk vs the normal two and it was just as quick & easy as normal. Kudos for the new boss assigning additional staff on a day that I dreaded!

[Guderian]

The guy is french speaking Belgian.

Are you sure he's not Belgian speaking French?

Whatever, I've found him (Robert Freddy) to be a really pleasant and helpful person. He did me a big favour this week, and I'm very grateful to him. After hours of dealing with farangs of varying nationalities, some of whom are less than well-mannered, in a busy place like Immigration, and to continue to be pleasant in the middle of the afternoon and helpful takes some doing. I personally take my hat off to him.

[garvon]

This is great to hear. But the holdups over the last couple of years were mainly for those applying for re-entry visas.

Anyone with news re this?

[Guderian]

This is great to hear. But the holdups over the last couple of years were mainly for those applying for re-entry visas.

Anyone with news re this?

I eat Christmas lunch in a pub not far from Immigration, so last year as the queues for a re-entry permit were horrendous I did it on Christmas Day before meeting up for lunch. It was a good experience, in and out in less than 30 minutes. Some of the staff were decked up in Christmas antlers and so on, if you can fit it in on that day it's a good option as Immigration is quite quiet.

[luckyluke]

The guy is french speaking Belgian.

Are you sure he's not Belgian speaking French?

There are 3 communities in Belgium,

The Flemish community who speaks Flemish ( similar to Dutch )

The French community who speaks French

The German community who speaks German.

[infinity11]

...and the deaf

[luckyluke]

^

There is no universal sign language.

[Guderian]

The guy is french speaking Belgian.

Are you sure he's not Belgian speaking French?

There are 3 communities in Belgium,

The Flemish community who speaks Flemish ( similar to Dutch )

The French community who speaks French

The German community who speaks German.

Actually the French community in Belgium are called Walloons.

And you forgot the kleptocrat community that inhabits the EU buildings...they speak bureaucracy