Went in this morning. Parking lot closed off for free buffet being served at noon. Officer in the parking lot greeted me with "Merry Christmas."

Not many people there. Got my queue ticket. Lady only asked if I had everything. I said yes, no checking at the front desk.

6 people ahead of me in the queue. Sat down at 9:16 and was out the door at 9:32. All the Thai staff wearing Santa Claus hats or something along those lines.

They called the first three numbers and no one went to the desk. Called the fourth number and everyone woke up. 4 people went to the desk at once, 3 of whom clearly had not bothered to organize their documents. One I could hear being asked if she owned her home/condo and was sent away to get something.

I've never been asked for proof of address before, but to be safe this time I included a copy of my recent condo monthly invoice and a copy of the chanote. They kept them.

Anyway, as I said, in at 9:16 out at 9:32. Collect the passport Monday morning. You've got to love Jomtien, especially when you hear horror stories from people using other offices.

Congested or empty.

Its obviously difficult to predict for Jomtien.

Contradictory to my expectations the farang community seems busy with celebrating Christmas

Congested or empty.

Its obviously difficult to predict for Jomtien.

Contradictory to my expectations the farang community seems busy with celebrating Christmas

Given some of the queries posted on TV about Christmas being a public holiday, I figured that many people would stay away ... that or they would have things planned with their families or be hung over from Christmas Eve celebrations. Monday will probably be the usual mayhem.

I've never gone in on Christmas Day before. Unfortunately next year it falls on a Sunday.

Edited December 25, 201510 yr by Suradit69

Congested or empty.

Its obviously difficult to predict for Jomtien.

Contradictory to my expectations the farang community seems busy with celebrating Christmas

I think it might be because many people are not aware that Christmas is not a holiday here. There have been several posts on this forum asking if immigration would be open today.

I've never gone in on Christmas Day before. Unfortunately next year it falls on a Sunday.

The possible good news, of course, is that, since 2016 is a leap year, normal "Immigration Christmas Day Service" will be resumed after only 1 year instead of 2!

I read the warnings about not doing it in December and not on a Monday and to arrive early.

I ignored all of them. (Someone else said the queues were already heavy at opening time).

Went to the bank, got the letter quickly and went directly to Jomtiem on Monday 21st.

All my paperwork was ready to go, prepared over the weekend. For proof of address I had the usual TOT bill.

(Spares were a TM30 and copies of house book, not submitted but there if asked).

There was a bit of a pushy argy bargy queue to the reception desk, about 15 minutes, then I was issued a queue ticket specifically for 'retirement'....now 09.30

I had to wait 20 minutes, handed all my paperwork in and the nice lady checked everything, got me to sign a couple of copies I had done that AM (bank book only just updated), also signed some all Thai papers, which may well have been the warnings and acceptance of them. Issued a card number, paid the 1900 baht, and told to return Wednesday after 10. That was the only difference from last year, had to wait 2 days for pick-up. Out at 10.am.

Pick up Wednesday, went fine, web-camera used to take my picture........

What a relief and thank you Jomtiem immigration, job well done considering how busy the place was.

I really do not like or understand why they need to take your passport for a couple of days. It would make me feel a bit nervous. Here in the Central part of the country, they take about 20-40 minutes and you walk out with your passport set for another year.

I really do not like or understand why they need to take your passport for a couple of days. It would make me feel a bit nervous. Here in the Central part of the country, they take about 20-40 minutes and you walk out with your passport set for another year.

Its probably most to do with volume of passports to process. I expect Jomtien is the second busiest office in the country. Connected to that, they obviously do fairly thorough checking with past records since there have been several cases of applicants being caught who were wanted for one thing or another.

Not long ago in simpler less crowded times Chonburi Immigrations either returned your passport immediately or in the afternoon of the day you applied.

jointiem immi has become io the most efficient immi in thailand afer having been restructured by the new head.

also new outside next to main entrance it reads : bad guys out, good guys in.

wbr

roobaa01

And no "burning season" either.

Went in Monday morning to collect my passport. The office was back to usual high season mob scene, but since I was just picking up my passport with the new extension I was in and out in a couple of minutes.

Feeling great at how easy it had all been.

Heading north on Sai Sam to Big C Extra. Stopped in a queue for a red light. My driver stopped back from the car in front to allow a car and pickup truck to turn to their right, across our lane, into a small soi. The car went through and the pickup was half way through. On our left a young kid on a motor bike, no helmet, comes along, never slows, slams full speed into the side of the pickup. Definitely unconscious. Good chance he was dead.

My success with getting the extension suddenly seemed remarkably unimportant.

Edited December 28, 201510 yr by Suradit69

I've seen some serious accidents at openings like that, where people are just being polite. You have to be extremely careful, when crossing them; you usually can't see a lot of things approaching on the curbside lane.