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Can I change my visa exempt status to a Non-B visa without leaving Thailand?

Immigration Visa Status Change Non-B Visa Visa Exempt Thailand Expats

May 8, 2019

6 years ago

Andy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I was told today that it is possible to go to Immigration to change your visa exempt status, if you have more than 21 days left before expiry, to a Non-B visa IF all the documents are in order? Has anyone done this and is this true? In other words not leaving the country.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

It is possible to change your visa exempt status to a Non-B visa without leaving Thailand, provided you have more than 21 days left before expiration and all required documents are in order. However, this is subject to the discretion of the immigration officer on duty, and the availability of this service may vary by immigration office. Some users have successfully done this in locations like Jomtien and Samut Prakan. It is recommended to check specific requirements at the local immigration office.

Andy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I was told by a few Filipinos. Is it possible that they don't do it for South Africans?

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Tanga *********

Did it in Chiang Mai a couple months ago (I have a Namibian passport), so I think you'll be fine!

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Tod *********

I don't think the nationality has anything to do with it. I think it's more either the office your dealing with doesn't do it or you didn't have enough time on your current stamp OR you were applying for a type of visa they can't issue in country.

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Tod *********

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Samantha ******************

You can, but it's up to the officer that does it. Some allow it some don't.

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Samantha ******************

Not sure.

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Tod *********

and how many times has your friend went from either a visa exempt entry or a tourist visa entry to a Non-Immigrant Type visa INSIDE the country at the immigration office?

I'm saying in the above instance either the immigration office CAN do the conversion or they CAN'T and send you out of the country..

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Samantha ******************

It's supposed to be, but not always. My friend sometimes is okay sometimes not depending on which officer she gets.

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Tod *********

it's up to the office NOT the officer :O Either that office can do the conversion to a Non-Immigrant Type visa or they can't. I have not seen it be done to a particular officer at an office.

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Tod *********

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Andy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I have wasted so much time and money before. Had to go to Laos etc everytime.

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Andy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Good point.

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Ellie *******

maybe also because not all employer can or want to provide the documents to do inside country..

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Andy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am not not complaining. I had to travel twice to Laos and back in the past to get a non-b so I have wasted all that time and money with the appointments, stress, my time and money travelling there and back etc etc. where I could have done it here. Was only told today that it is possible to do at my local immigration :-) and thanks to this group I know it is true.

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Tod *********

why would you waste money? A 90 day in country Non-immigrant visa (of any type) costs 2000baht..

Either the immigration office you deal with CAN do it or they can't. There's no maybe we can, maybe we can't. Most that can do it require you have 15 days or more left on your current 30 day visa exempt entry stamp or your 60 day tourist visa stamp but some of the smaller offices require more time because they send it to the division headquarters for approval.

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Tod *********

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Mario *******

Yeah,done in samutprakan 25 days before....

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Robert *******

It is possible at some Immigration Offices, not all.

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Andy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you

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Robert *******

In Jomtien it is possible, visit the office for the hand out with requirements and make sure you meet them all.

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Andy **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Jomtien?

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Andy **********

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