Answered4 years ago

How is the experience at the Samui immigration office compared to Pattaya's office?

Samui immigration office visa extension Pattaya immigration office immigration experiences Thai visa rules using immigration agents

Terary **********

asked Jun 13, 2022

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On a scale of 1 to 10.  How is the Samui immigration office?  Are the difficult? Long lines? Full service?

I have been living in Pattaya for the past few years and found it best to use an agent than go directly through the immigration office.

Answer summary

The conversation discusses the experience of expats with the Samui immigration office and contrasts it with the Pattaya immigration office. Users share their feelings about ease of access, wait times, and the potential need for using agents, with mixed opinions on efficiency and service due to past experiences.

10 repliesnewest first

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Brandon ************

Depending on what you were using the agent for, you may be stuck using an agent. If you have any shady stamps in your passport, no immigration office will touch it.

4 years ago

Tito *********

@Brandon ***********

would getting a new passport help getting back to normal procedure ?

4 years ago

Jamie *******

@Tito ********

you can leave the country and come back on a different visa or stamp ti break the chain. No need to change passport.

4 years ago

John **********

@Tito ********

unlikely these day. Everything is in the database. What's in your passport isn't so important. Changing passport won't hide a dodgy stamp

4 years ago

Brandon ************

@Tito ********

usually yes

4 years ago

Richard *******

I read that Pattaya had the most lenient immigration office. I also read that once you use an agent you will be obliged ton continue with one. I went to Pattaya Chonburi office, had to double back to get a photo, but paid 2000 baht to extend my tourist visa and it took 3 visits in 5 hours I started at 8:30 AM to 10:30 then back after they processed at 1:00 PM then done by 2;00 PM.

4 years ago

Andrew **********

I’ll assuming you have used the appointment scheme offered by Thai Immigration.

4 years ago

Terary **********

@Andrew *********

I have tried to use it in Pattaya, but the immigration office just laughed at me. They only use it, really, to manage the queue numbers

4 years ago

Andrew **********

@Terary *********

At the Chiang Mai Immigration office, expats claim the service is great. I haven’t used the appointment scheme. It can’t be as great has people claim.

For what visa application are you considering using an agent and how much do they charge?

4 years ago