Monday, I went to Pattaya immigration to get an extension, I was done in 30 minutes. I showed up at/about 9:00AM, nobody was in line. I had almost all of my correct paperwork, I needed a photo copy of my TM30, which they allowed me to go make a copy and come back to the same counter (by that time a few more people came so there was a little line). I got my queue number and waited about 5-10 minutes, I gave the IO my paperwork and about 5-10 minutes later they return my passport.
I am not sure what happened but Pattaya Immigration has changed quite a bit over the pass couple of years. Not only have they done building renovations but "customer service" seems to have been renovated. The last time I did an extension myself, I went to immigration 3 times/days and finally was told I would have to come back on the last day of my visa, I finally paid an agent and got the extension same-day. 3 days + 4000 baht for extension two years ago vs 30 minutes + 1900 for an extension today...
Well Done Pattaya Immigration - THANK YOU
Also noteworthy, I have a long questionable visa history and a new passport, not sure if the new passport helped or not.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The author shares a recent positive experience at Pattaya Immigration, noting significant improvements in efficiency and customer service compared to previous visits. The process took only 30 minutes due to fewer lines and better organization, with the author highlighting a need for just one additional document, which they were allowed to retrieve quickly. Comments from others confirm similar experiences and discuss the overall improvements in the immigration office, with discussions about the impact of new visa exemptions on visitor traffic and service speed. Humor is noted in some comments regarding the challenges faced by immigration officials.
