Did my 1 year extension renewal based on retirement this morning in Jomtien - smooth as silk. Arrived at 0815 and got ticket number 606. All the five people before me delayed everything by having to visit the copy shop. Why can't people have all the proper documents? It's not rocket science. I was out by 0900 and pick up my passport tomorrow after 1300.

The usual stocky gay guy was not there. The Lady Captain processed everything all at once at the same desk. No picture taken this time and she took a copy of my condo deed. It seems now you need some proof of where you are staying.

As an aside, I would like to thank all those people who dress like plebs, because I receive good treatment as I dress appropriately.

I renewed mine last month and they didn't ask for living arrangement proof.

I renewed mine last month and they didn't ask for living arrangement proof.

They didn't ask you, but they did ask frodo. In other words, you can never be sure which officer is going to ask for what. Seems to me the best thing to do is have those kinds of documents with you just in case.

Thank you GB for your pointed comment. I posted to be helpful as that is my nature. I had read about this possible proof of residence so I was prepared. By the way, I extended 2 months early.

I was only trying to point out the same thing. Everything depends on the mood of the officer you deal with at the time.

Everything depends on the mood of the officer you deal with at the time.

That's the problem and it isn't necessarily limited to retirement visa extensions. It's not even limited to Thai visas. For example, over the years we've had people write in telling us that their boyfriend fairly easily obtained a visa to travel to the USA. We've also had people write in telling us that it's impossible, and yet the circumstances were nearly identical.

 

I have never had a problem of any kind at the Pattaya immigration office, but some people have said problems were all they had. We've also seen people tell us this office is easy, but that office is difficult. People write in to tell us the Thai consulate in one city is easy, but the Thai consulate in another city is a major pain.

 

That even applies to banks. We've had our share of threads telling us one bank branch tells you something, but another branch of the same bank tells you something entirely different.

 

Too much is left to the whim of individual officers. Even when standards apply it still seems to be left up to individual offices and individual officers. Sometimes immigration officers (and bank employees) are ignorant of their own regulations and policies. Obviously it shouldn't be that way, but since it is that way you have to be prepared as best as you can.

 

The worst mistakes I see farang make are going in dressed like slobs and getting angry and belligerent with the officer if problems arise. Those are the best ways I know to get rejected.

This thread from thaivisa.com is why I posted my experience yesterday.

Pattaya Immigration? - Thailand Forum

One thing is certain here in Thailand - the goalposts are continually changing.

There have been several reports that Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration office is now asking for a copy of rental agreement or house book. Although I don't recall exactly where I heard/read it, I heard/read that the reason is not to verify where the farang lives, but rather to identify landlords that have not reported to Immigration that foreigners are residing their condo/house. Not sure, but I think the landlord can be fined if they don't make the required report.