Can I extend my one-month tourism entry into Thailand for another two months?

May 9, 2024
6 months ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ravi Moodley asked

Hi, I just got back from Laos with a three month tourist visa, but

the land border stamped me for one month only.

I plan to stay for a longer period.

Can this be extended for another two months?
5,674
views
22
likes
132
all likes
22
replies
1
images
11
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
Ravi Moodley inquired about extending a one-month entry stamp obtained upon returning to Thailand from Laos, despite holding a three-month tourist visa. Responders cautioned to check entry stamps to avoid mishaps as corrections may require returning to the border for non-air entry stamps. They outlined options: visiting an immigration office to rectify the stamp or utilizing the tourist visa for a proper 60-day entry upon re-entering Thailand. Ultimately, after guidance from the community, Ravi was able to obtain a 60-day stamp at the immigration office following successful clarification with border authorities.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just a quick follow up to this thread. The O/P went to the Immigration office in Sa Kaeo province where they are staying.

that office called the Nong Khai border crossing, then changed his stamp code to a TR60 and gave him the 60 day stamp which was back dated to the day he entered the country.

All's well that ends well (y)

Remember people

CHECK YOUR STAMPS when you enter the country ๐Ÿ™‚
Merithung ********
Could it be that you can use your 30 days visa within 90 days as mentioned on your visa sticker.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Merithung *******
that is one option as well (y) , as long as the visa wasn't marked USED when they stamped in, they can stay the 30 days they have then exit/re-enter the country and get stamped in for the 60 days on the visa sticker they have not used yet.
Robert **********
Same thing happened to me. Just go to immigration and tell them you want the full amount of days you paid for!
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert *********
and while that's the first place to start, the immigration office is under no obligation to correct a bad land stamp. They can do it as a courtesy to you OR they can tell you to go back to the land border you got bad stamped at and get it corrected there.
Dominick ******
Tod nails it, as usual
Mma *******
yes you must 'open the page' in your passport where your visa is, to show the Officer. Sadly you've fallen into one of the many traps and he did not see the Visa you had precured.
Paramjit *********
Thanks ๐Ÿ™
Dave ***********
I always show the immigration office my visa when I enter, when I pass my passport to them. It makes sure they cannot miss the point and just give a 30 day stamp. And check that they did give the correct date, before leaving the counter. So far this has worked for me, and reading the advice and comments here, saves alot of time and trouble later.
Will ************
Show a photo of your visa sticker
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Will ***********
he said they got a 3 month tourist visa, so they should have been stamped in as a TR60.

A tourist visa from a thai consulate is valid for 3 months <- that means you have 3 months from the date it's issued to enter thailand and when you do you'll get stamped in for 60 days like everyone on a tourist visa does.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ravi ********
sorry the reason I posted this myself was your post had your passport number visible on the image of the stamp so I cropped it and edited out the pp number
Ravi *********
@Tod ********
thank you Todd, much appreciated!
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Note to EVERYONE ; ALWAYS Check your entry stamp when they hand your passport back to you, remember wrong stamps are YOUR responsibility to correct.

While as a rule any immigration office will fix a bad air entry stamp, they are not obligated to fix a bad land entry stamp and can tell you to go back to the border you got bad stamped at to correct it

Believe it or not it happens a LOT and people do have to slog back to the border where they were bad stamped to get the correction done ๐Ÿ˜ฎ
Pat *********
@Tod ********
Thanlks a lot Tod for the great advice. These are new information for me and of great value ๐Ÿ™
Mark ********
@Tod ********
I've never had to use your advice but i admire you for the advice you give.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sadly for you, you cannot get a 2 month extension

From looking at that stamp you never got stamped IN to the country on the visa you bought from the thai consulate in Vientiane.

That stamp clearly says เธœ.เธœ.30 and that means you got in on a 30 day free stamp entry.. AND you come from a visa waiver country (not a visa exempt country)

SO you have two choices,

You can go to the immigration office that serves the area where you live and see if they'll change the stamp <- Keeping in mind they are NOT obligated to correct a bad land stamp ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

They can tell you to go back to the border you got bad-stamped from to get it corrected.

If they correct it they'll change the visa type to TR60 and change the date to the 60 days you should have gotten and they'll cross thru your visa sticker and mark it used too. After that you can get the 30 day extension on it like usual for 1900baht

OR

If your visa sticker is not marked used, you can just stay here on that free 30 day stamp, BUT you cannot get a 30 day extension as you were stamped in with a เธœ.เธœ.30 stamp (that's a visa waiver entry and people from countries who get that stamp can't extend for 30 days) Thanx to Stuart for pointing it out. ๐Ÿ™‚

THEN

if you want to stay longer you can bounce out and back SHOWING the officer at passport control the visa sticker when you stamp back in and they'll stamp you in on that tourist visa for 60 days.

That visa is valid for ENTRY for 3 months from the date it's issued so even if you stayed on this 30 day stamp you have and took the one 30 day extension too, the visa would still be valid for you to enter thailand on and get a 60 day stamp.
Ravi *********
@Tod ********
thank you so much for the advice!
Ravi *********
Yes I will, definately let you know
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ravi ********
I had made a mistake in my earlier advice (that Stuart Cummings caught and messaged me about) You got stamped in on a เธœ.เธœ.30 stamp, that's a visa waiver entry and people from countries who get that stamp cannot extend it 30 days at the immigration office.

GO see if you can get the stamp corrected to the TR60 tourist visa 60 day entry you should have got,

Otherwise you can stay until that stamp runs out and then bounce, OR go back to the border and get it corrected
Ravi *********
@Tod ********
ok, I see. Will to immigration tomorrow and try my luck. Let you know the outcome after that, thanks
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ravi ********
good luck with it, let us know how it goes at your local immigration office if you would
Thai Visa Advice
... members ยท 40% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice