Just back from Immigration in Chiang Rai to extend another 60 days. They were not at all happy to see me again and told me and another American to "go home," and "This is the last time." I told the guy at the door and the lady who took my forms at the service window that 3k Americans are still dying every day, but they were unmoved. I have to report again on Feb. 11th, and we’ll see if their stance has softened with the more contagious strains, but I rather doubt it. Anyone have ideas on an Asian country to go to next? I think I'll ask on the Cambodian visa group whether anyone's successfully gotten their $3k deposit back and take a hard look at whether that'd be better than returning to the U.S. It's been nice to be here over winter w/ hardly any other foreigners, but leaving in the middle of the coming hot/polluted season might not be the worst thing, if it's to another "safe" country that's handled Covid well.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user describes a challenging experience at the Chiang Rai immigration office while seeking a 60-day visa extension, where the officials exhibited a dismissive attitude. The author contemplates leaving Thailand for another Asian country, like Cambodia, noting the deposit issues there. Several commenters suggest alternatives, including different Thai cities or hiring agents, and share their experiences with immigration processes and long-term visa options in Thailand. There is also discussion on the bureaucratic challenges faced by expats and suggestions for potential countries to consider for a change.
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