Answered5 years ago

Can I Change My ED Visa to a COVID Extension in Koh Phangan?

ED Visa COVID Extension Visa Change Procedures Koh Phangan Immigration Thai Visa Regulations Visa Extensions

Calum *******

asked Sep 7, 2021

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Hi, 

I have an ED visa issued in Chiang Mai. I'm currently in Koh Phangan, and I'd like to change to the COVID extension when the ED visa runs out. The immigration here in Koh Phangan is saying that I can't make this change at the KP office, and have instead to go to either Koh Samui or Surat Thani. Is this true? Has anyone successfully made this change at KP immigration? 

Many thanks in advance!

Answer summary

The user seeks to change their ED visa, issued in Chiang Mai, to a COVID extension while in Koh Phangan. They have encountered resistance from local immigration, which claims the change cannot be made at the Koh Phangan office and must instead be executed in either Koh Samui or Surat Thani. Comments suggest that if the user is on an extension of stay, they likely need to cancel it at the Chiang Mai office before applying for the COVID extension, as local immigration rules may not allow the change at Koh Phangan.

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Ellie *******

You need to go back to CM immigration office to cancel your extension to get the so-called Covid extension.

You would get an under consideration stamp for a Covid extension at most offices, which means you need to go back to THAT office within around a couple of weeks to close the under-consideration stamp and get the stamp for the rest of the Covid extension. You already have the letter from the school, you may be able to apply for cancellation of the current extension in advance. I guess better to consider which immigration office you want to apply for a Covid extension at and plan well beforehand.

5 years ago

Calum *******

Many thanks for the info! Lots of people seem to have had success cancelling at Samui / Surat, however the most secure way is probably to go to the issuing office, as you mentioned. By the way, is it possible to exit the country while under the "under consideration" stamp? I mean could I go to KP immigration on eg Sep 16, get an under consideration stamp for two weeks then leave Thailand on Sep 30 without ever cancelling the ED visa or applying for the COVID extension?

5 years ago

Ellie *******

@Ca***

, leaving Thailand during the under-consideration stamp period without going back to the immigration office is not a problem at all.

BUT, I don't think any immigration office would issue a Covid extension WITHOUT canceling your current extension. You need to cancel your current extension first at CM or wherever you can cancel it (if exist any) before you apply for a Covid extension.

5 years ago

Benjamin ******

Are you still on the original 90 day visa, OR do you have an extension of stay?

I ask because if you're on the original 90 day visa, you do not need to cancel it. If you are on an extension of stay, you need to cancel it in Chiang Mai before you can get a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19.

>. The immigration here in Koh Phangan is saying that I can't make this change at the KP office, and have instead to go to either Koh Samui or Surat Thani. Is this true? Has anyone successfully made this change at KP immigration?

I don't know 🙁 IF you're on an extension of stay, I'm almost 100% sure that you can NOT get a 60 day extension of stay without first cancelling the extension of stay based on studying.

5 years ago

Calum *******

@Benjamin *****

I'm on a one year ED visa, expiring in September. I have a letter of cancellation from the school for the day it runs out.

5 years ago

Ellie *******

I wouldn't believe any immigration office will cancel (or even transfer) the stamps from the immigration office under a different division. Chaing Mai and Surat Thani offices are under different divisions.

5 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Calum ******

You'll need to go to CM to get in cancelled, and when you're there, you'll need to apply for a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19. I never heard of any immigration office cancelling out an extension of stay stamp that was not issued at their immigration office.

5 years ago

Wannikea *********

@Calum ******

likely the reason KP is sending you to Samui is because Samui is more of a main office and KP a satellite office.

5 years ago

Calum *******

@Benjamin *****

Many thanks for all your help! I'll give them a ring, failing which there's a little trip to CM in the offing 🙂

5 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Calum ******

>So am I then classed as being on an extension of stay visa based on the original ED visa?

That's correct!

>The lady at KP immigration seems to be convinced that I can change to the COVID extension at either Samui or Surat, however I don't really see how they can be different from immigration on KP in terms of whether or not they can change over the visa.

I never been to the islands myself. You are under Suratthani immigration office. I guess you can try calling them up and see what they say

************************************************

I doubt they will be able to cancel it though 🙁

5 years ago

Calum *******

@Benjamin *****

Hi, each stamp in the passport following the ED visa seems to be an extension of stay as you thought. There's the original ED visa stamp then three extensions of that done every 90 days. I was under the impression that the ED visa was valid for a year and you just needed to check in every 90 days. So am I then classed as being on an extension of stay visa based on the original ED visa?

The lady at KP immigration seems to be convinced that I can change to the COVID extension at either Samui or Surat, however I don't really see how they can be different from immigration on KP in terms of whether or not they can change over the visa.

5 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Calum ******

> as far as I know I'm not on an extension of stay, rather a regular one year ED visa.

Can you look in your passport to make sure? An extension of stay looks like this:

5 years ago

Calum *******

@Benjamin *****

Hi, as far as I know I'm not on an extension of stay, rather a regular one year ED visa. In this case, can an immigration office other than the visa issuing office cancel the visa and make the change to the COVID extension? Also, on the day that the ED visa runs out, isn't it "finished" anyway, and therefore I would be eligible to ask for the COVID extension on that day?

5 years ago