Hi all. I entered Thailand last month having applied for a 60-day tourist visa, but as it came through two days too late, wound up entering on a visa exemption, with a 30-day stamp that is good through this coming Saturday.
Tomorrow (er, well, later today), I'm visiting Chiang Mai immigration to — I think, unless someone suggests otherwise! — apply for a 30-day extension for tourism.
I still have, or have access to, that 60-day tourism visa that's ready and waiting, but I believe I would have to leave the country and re-enter using that for it to come into play, correct? (What would be simplest in my uneducated-on-the-topic view, is to just "switch" to that now, but that seems impossible?)
(The end goal here is staying another three months or more; more on that below.)
I've read all about what I need to take with me for the 30-day extension and have all that ready. I have a few questions, though, if someone with experience would be so kind as to answer:
* First, should I tell the immigration officer about the already-approved 60-day tourist visa? Will she/he see that in the system somewhere regardless? Mostly I just don't want to look shady by asking for one thing when I already have another one.
* I have two TM-30 forms now, because of timing of my many moving parts: One for the hotel I've been staying in, for which I've paid through Saturday. And now having signed a three-month lease on a condo here, I also have that one from the landlord. Should I present both and explain? Should I just hand over the hotel one, which seems like it would raise fewer questions? Or the longer one?
* I had booked a flight to Singapore leaving on Saturday thinking I'd need to show that on arrival at the airport last month, but was never asked for it. Should I either take proof of that to the immigration office and/or reschedule it for a day that is 30, 60 or 90 days in the future?
Sometime in the next couple of months, I'm planning to transition to an ED visa — a legit one, as I'd like to start learning the language and also attend the lecture series at Chiang Mai University. I don't think this is particularly relevant to my more immediate query, but mentioning it here just in case it's more relevant than I realize. (I think I've ready that prior to pandemic-times, you had to be on a TR visa, rather than just an exemption/extension, to make that change in-country. But if I'm reading correctly those rules seem to have been relaxed now?)
Many, many thanks in advance for your help; and for letting me into this knowledge-base!
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user details their experience entering Thailand on a 30-day exemption and their plans to extend their stay. They are seeking advice on whether to disclose their existing unused 60-day tourist visa when applying for a 30-day extension, how to handle multiple TM-30 forms for their accommodation, and whether to provide proof of onward travel. They also express interest in transitioning to an ED visa in the future. The community response suggests that it's unnecessary to disclose the unused tourist visa, advises on handling TM-30 forms, confirms no proof of onward travel is required for the extension, and clarifies that transitioning to an ED visa from a tourist or exemption status is permissible.
