Can PE visa holders apply for a 60-day COVID extension in Thailand?

Feb 4, 2021
4 years ago
Vincent ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
This is a report back on my previous query of "if the newest 60-day covid extension also apply for PE visa holders?" on Jan 18 under Somchai man's post.

Note that my PE visa (Easy Access) has expired and I am currently on my 6th (last) year, which also due to expire soon. Original plan (one of my options) was to get a Non-O and extend based on retirement, then came Covid.

Went to CW today to ask if I could cancel my PE visa (remaining days since stamp-in) and get the 60 day covid extension, and whether I can then apply for (convert to) Non O under covid extension. IO told me they have never cancelled a PE visa before, and that I will not be able to apply for (convert to) Non-O within the country under covid extension.

There has been small hiccup on the expiry of my PE visa and the one year stamp-in after the visa expiry, IO went around to ask other IO, and eventually all is good. I applied for extension of stay based on covid and get an "under consideration stamp" and asked to return on a date (happens to be the same date as my permit-to-stay-till stamp). Wonder what would happen if the application for extension is denied? Got to leave right away?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user reported on their experience regarding the COVID extension for holders of a PE visa, stating they were told by immigration officers that cancelling a PE visa to apply for a 60-day COVID extension is not standard practice. After an inquiry, they received an "under consideration" stamp for a COVID extension and were curious about the implications if their application was denied. Other comments indicated that receiving the COVID extension is likely if the application is accepted and emphasized checking directly with the relevant immigration section for accurate information on visa conversions.
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Steve *********
I was in a similar situation to you last year. My PE visa was expired and I was making use of a final entry stamp to carry me through to 6 years of stay. This stamp was due to expire early January this year. I’m currently a full time student at university in Bangkok, so asked the university to supply me with the required documents to support my application to request an ED visa in country. I received these documents at the end of November last year and booked my appointment at section C at CW. The ladies that work in that section told me that it’s not possible to move from a PE entry stamp to any other visa in country. They said my only option to get the ED visa was by applying at a consulate outside Thailand. They suggested I get the covid extension instead and sent me to section N. I received a covid under consideration stamp for the same date as my PE entry stamp was due to expire (5 weeks after I applied for the covid extension). When I returned to CW 5 weeks later to close the loop, they issued me with a 60 day extension starting from that day. I was pleased that the 60 days started from the approval date rather than the application date. I plan to return to CW later this month to apply for another covid extension.
Vincent ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thanks. Will check with the C1 IO when I get the extension, and will report back to the community.
Tod *********
NOW as far as IF you can convert to a Non-O visa inside the country from a 60 day covid extension that you got from an Elite visa.. The people who would know that are the officers in Section C-1. <- That is the ONLY section out there that issues in country Non-Immigrant Visas and I wouldn't trust anything an officer from a different section said about whether you can or can't, Especially those officers that deal with elite in Section N ;)
Tod *********
There are ZERO (as in not one) reports out there on the inter-web of someone who got an under consideration stamp for a 60 day covid extension who then went back and were denied.

If they take your application you'll get it. So at least you don't need to worry about that at all
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