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
A recent visit to Pattaya Immigration revealed significant improvements in the visa extension process. The author reported a quick and efficient experience, taking only 30 minutes, compared to prior visits that required multiple trips and long waits. Comments from other users echoed these sentiments, noting better customer service, reduced waiting times, and improvements in the facility. Some speculated that changes in visa policy may have reduced the number of applicants. However, experiences varied, with some citing difficulties during previous visits.
