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Answered6 years ago

What are the current rules for COVID-60 day extensions at the Chiang Mai Immigration Office?

Frank-Steven ***********
asked Feb 5, 2021
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Chiang Mai Immigration Office 60 day COVID extension update: I just returned after 15 days of "under consideration", getting my actual stamp (with end date 45 days from today). I explicitly asked if I could do another COVID-60-day extension right away, or when I would be able to do so at the earliest (giving the reason that I would be spending March on a small island without an immigration office). They said, they would only accept my new application the week before my current stamp would expire. They also clearly stated, that every day I came early, I would loose, since this COVID-60 day extension would ALWAYS be applied from the day of the application and NOT added to the end date of the former stamp. They admitted though, that other immigration offices (especially in the south) handle this differently. As to a reason why they stated that the big boss in the Chiang Mai office chose to do it that way. This confirms once again what I always assumed: There is not uniform approach to this, and every office can do shit differently. Bottom lime: In Chiang Mai Immigration by the airport, COVID-60 extensions are CURRENTLY only doable shortly before your existing stamp runs out.
Answer summary
The Chiang Mai Immigration Office has specific rules regarding the COVID-60 day extensions, stating that new applications can only be submitted the week before the current stamp expires. Unlike some other regions, where the end date of the current extension might be extended, Chiang Mai follows a policy where the extension period begins from the application date, not tacked onto the existing expiration. This highlights the inconsistency across different immigration offices in Thailand.
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Tod *********
Tod *********
I agree 100%
@Frank-Steven **********
, the inconsistency between the 70+ offices and indeed even between officers in the same office make for a very hit or miss experience :(

Thanx again for the update,
Tod *********
Tod *********
goes against what another Chiang Mai person posted the other week where their under consideration stamp was dated 14 days AFTER their current covid extension expiration <- meaning they would get another 60 days added to their current expiration date,

Seems to be "luck of the draw" up there
Frank-Steven ***********
Frank-Steven ***********
OP
@Tod ********
Yes. I guess it is luck of the draw. But it is what it is. And I can also rule out language barriers. Native speaker was present and asked them again in Thai, too. Same answer.
Tod *********
Tod *********
No disrespect intended
@Frank-******
BUT just because you had a born, bred, rice-fed thai speaker there doesn't mean there wasn't a "lost in translation", Most thais don't know ANYTHING about visas/extension etc and would take any b/s story an immigration officer told them as gospel (because thaiz are conditioned from birth to defer to what a thai in uniform says)

I think you just got a cranky person.

I went back and looked at some C/M covid extension stamps and it appears (at least from what I see), they are adding the new 60 days to the expiration date of your current stamp.

Dunno why they didn't for you, sorry about that
Frank-Steven ***********
Frank-Steven ***********
OP
@Wylie ******
This. 💯
Wylie *******
Wylie *******
@Tod ********
I also went back yesterday when my under consideration stamp was due. They only gave the other 45 days. My previous stamp wasn't due until Feb. 9th. So in the end I only received another 40 days from my original stamp. It was enough for what I need, but I perfectly understand the frustration at how there doesn't seem to be any clear direction or leadership that ensures consistency. It is what it is though.
Frank-Steven ***********
Frank-Steven ***********
OP
@Tod ********
Thanks for sharing that insight. Didn’t even know Pai had an immigration office. Another good excuse for a beautiful motorcycle day trip. 🙏
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Frank-******
While it's not "south" people were reporting that Pai was issuing the 60 day extensions on the spot and adding it to the end of your current stamp

Good luck, thanx for the update,
Frank-Steven ***********
Frank-Steven ***********
OP
@Tod ********
Don’t really know what to further comment on this. What happened happened as I shared it here. That isn’t to say another person another day gets a different answer and has a different experience. This is one of the things I strongly dislike about this country: Incompetence. Don’t even get me started on what happened when obtaining a Residence Certificate. Anyhow ... just have to live with it in order to enjoy the many good things in this country longer. And at the end of the day I won’t bother with these people and simply try a different office in the future - i.e. maybe while driving back to the south stopping at several immigration offices, shopping for more favorable conditions. The office giving me a 60 day added to the end of my former stamp (and does so right away - without “under consideration”) will get my 1,900 baht money then.
Benjamin ******
Benjamin ******
Thanks for the update!

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