Can I extend my SETV for visiting family while ensuring I have time for my flight?

Hi

@James *******

and

@Tod ********

just came from immigration so I can update on this, maybe it's interesting for your records.

Extending from 30 days extension on SETV to 60 days "visiting family" (spouse) in Lamphun.

I brought all paperwork I could think of, and surely they wanted all of them: copy of all passport pages, KoRo2, KoRo3 and copies, copies of wife's ID and TabienBaan (both signed by her), TM7 form, two other forms of acknowlege about overstay and extension conditions... and ALL TM30s since I entered the country - more on this later.

I have my 60 days stamp, good until April 7th - the day I'm leaving the country.

There was a problem with the KoRo2 as it was dated on December... yes, the day I got married! No, it looks like the KoRo2 must be dated on the current year, and they will keep THE ORIGINAL. As I had copy and original of the KoRo3 they let me do it with it, but advised for the next extensions to be sure it's dated on current year.

As they keep the original one, they told me to go to the Amphoe every year to obtain a new KoRo2. Looks strange to me, but I asked this to TWO officers (the one who checked all paperwork and then the one who took my photo and handed my passport with the stamp).

The TM7 form, on the back, I had to write my address twice: "one is your address, another one address of who wrote the form, if it's you, then repeat address again". I never had to do that in CM.

In the TM7, along with my phone number (I'm used to write it in CM too) I had to write my wife's phone number.

TM30: first they wanted ALL of the TM30s in Lamphun since I entered the country. I have three TM30s after two trips to BKK, as they instructed me to ALWAYS do a new TM30 if traveling out of Lamphun, even if inside the country. Luckly I'm always in the "what new surprise would you throw at me" mood and I already had all the TM30 receitps.

But then, a new problem with TM30: my wife registered herself in the system, uploaded documents, got approved, etc... like one year ago. But they said the TM30 was incorrect as it hasn't the "name of the place". Of course, it's a private house... so they told me "in that case you MUST write the full name of the onwer as 'name of the place'". As I have the password I could enter the site and update the "name of the place", after that I showed them in my mobile and it was good to go. Note that this was not a problem when I did the extension on my SETV last month...

In and out in around 1 hour and 15 minutes, even if I was the only "customer" there and I had the queue number #1.

I wanted to do my 90 days report too, I had the form already filled, but they told me it's not needed as I'm on a Tourist visa/extension, and the 90 days report is due only on long term visas/extensions. I insisted next week it will be 90 days since I entered Thailand, but they, again two different officers, confirmed that I do NOT need to do it on a Tourist stay, even if I stay more than 90 days. I though the law said "everyone staying more than 90 days", but as I have to do it in this office and they won't do it, there's nothing I can do - and maybe I'm wrong on my assumption "everyone must do 90 days".

I asked about when I come back from my country with a Non-O in hand, how to do the year extension, they told me come here when you still have around 30 days in the permission of stay and the 400K sitting in a bank for at least 2 months, to start the process.

So to summarize, in Lamphun:

- For any extension you need ALL TM30s since you entered the country. TM30s in your current place in Lamphun, not everywhere (they didn't ask for the TM30 from the BKK hotels).

- TM30 must have the name of the owner as "name of place" if it's a private house (not a hotel, guesthouse, whatever)

- For visiting spouse, have to write spouse's phone number in the TM7 form

- For visiting spouse, it's needed ORIGINAL KoRo2 dated on the current year and they keep it - so it's needed a visit to the Amphoe every year.

Again, thank you all for your valuable help and advice. All the process with immigration are a nightmare of bureocracy so your help is really appreciated.

I hope this info could be useful for your records and maybe other foreigners in the same office.