Can I get an extension for my non-O visa in Phuket if it was issued in Trang?

May 3, 2023
2 years ago
James *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am US citizen, moved to Thailand February 2022. I applied for a non-O “over 50” visa in Ayutthaya. During that 90 period, I moved to Phuket. I tried to get my non-O issued in Phuket, but Phuket would not touch it because the initial 90 days was issued in Ayutthaya.

I hired a visa agent who got my one year visa, but when my passport was returned, the issuing office was Trang.

I now have 24 days to get my extension. Will phuket extend it here? Can I just take my passport, photos, bank book to phuket immigration, or am I stuck dealing with Trang? I’ve never even been there.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A US citizen who moved to Thailand and initially applied for a non-O visa in Ayutthaya faces challenges in extending their visa in Phuket due to complications involving a visa agent and the issuing office. Comments from the community suggest that the individual may need to rely on the same agent for the extension and that Phuket immigration may not process the application, given the prior association with Trang. One comment also mentions that alternative immigration offices like Chonburi may accept the previous visa history for an extension.
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Sarick **********
Some other agents can send you to Chonburi immigration provided that you meet all financial requirements to get your photo taken there. Chonburi IO will accept your Trang/ or Trad stamp history. That would fix it. Once you obtain a Chonburi stamp, next year you could renew it anywhere based on your TM.30 record.
Frank **********
You made yourself a lot of unnecessary work.
Adrien **********
@Frank *********
depends, can be good to not have to go immigration if you dont care it looks bad to suvharnabumi gate.
Todd *********
@Frank *********
none really. Just needs to renew with agent. Easy.
James *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *********
thank you for your contribution
Brandon ************
You cannot deal with Trang. It's possible the ONLY person you can deal with is your agent. It's one of the reasons we warn people not use agents as you get stuck only using that agent because no immigration office will touch your passport after you have a sketchy agent visa/extension.

You can check with Phuket but it's highly likely they will take one look at your passport and say no.
Stuart *********
You won’t get that extension by yourself. You’ll have to use the agent you used before.

Once on the “agent train” you can’t get off it unless you leave the country and come back in with a “clean” non O (or tourist or exempt and apply for a new non O in country).
James *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
actually that is what I would like to do. Time for short vacation - so I leave the country, request a tourist visa to come back in, then start over? My bank acct already seasoned , I just signed new lease …
Bob **********
@James ******
get a TM30 from Phuket go to immigration they’ll say yes or no!! You’ve got the 800k so shouldn’t be a problem I know many guys that used an agent for first 15 months then did the second by there self
James *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
have to go by there tomorrow anyway. I’ll give it a shot, thank you
Stuart *********
@James ******
It’ll be closed tomorrow and Friday. Public holidays.
Stuart *********
It will probably be a “shit show” on Monday as they’ll have been closed for 4 days in a row.
James *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
I have 24 more days, thanks for the reminder I did see your post on the holidays but blanked on it. I’ll wait until middle of end of week
Stuart *********
@James ******
Ok. They’ll be closed on the 17th too. Just as an aside.
Stuart *********
@James ******
Yep that’s a plan. If you are from an exempt country you don’t need the tourist visa.
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