People on Ko Phangan 🌴 extending their stay after entering Thailand on a visa exemption - Please note that your hotel (or landlord, I guess) needs to complete an online document called TM.30 and upload a scan of your passport, and then they send you a document that you need to print, before you can apply for an extension for your visa. (Btw My hotel had a lot of difficulty getting the government app and the passport scan to work properly. The hotel knows how to use the app, but says it doesn't work well.)
I had a wasted trip to immigration as I did not know about this part of the procedure. This would have been a bigger issue if I'd left my visa extension until the last minute.
I don't know if this hotel document is a requirement in some other parts of Thailand too.
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Edit: for people who are saying this is a standard procedure, I've never been asked for a document from my hotel when extending in Ko Samui. It had not occured to me that different immigration offices might have different requirements. Also, not all hotels ask to see your passport at check in.
P.s. apparently there is a room at the immigration office in Ko Phangan where you can have your photo taken. However, there is not a printer where you can print the TM 30. You need to do that independently elsewhere.
Best wishes 🌞
TLDR : Answer Summary
When extending a stay in Thailand on a visa exemption, particularly in Ko Phangan, it is essential to have your hotel or landlord complete a TM30 form, which involves submitting a scan of your passport. This process is crucial as it documents your stay and is required before applying for an extension. There have been reports of difficulties with the app used for this process, leading to some travelers being uninformed about the requirements, resulting in wasted trips to immigration. It seems like procedures may vary by location, as some commenters note they have not needed a TM30 when extending their stay in other locations like Ko Samui. Additionally, while in immigration offices, it's suggested to have all necessary documents, as different offices have their own requirements.
