Quick report on my COVID extension. Just sharing my info, in the hopes of others can benefit. Obviously, everyone is unique and my experiences may not be the same as others..
Location: Phuket Immigration (not Patong)
Visa Type: TR Single Entry (Entered 08JAN - valid until 08MAR)
Extension Type: 60day COVID
Previously received 30day TR Extension: No
Applied on Monday 01MAR. Was told I "may" need to provide TM30 report (I brought and showed them a 1 month hotel receipt). Took 1900 baht and application.
Was informed twice that I was eligible for the 30day extension. Explained that the flights home were extremely limited and I'd already been rebooked on a flight *more than* 30 days out from my current visa expiration.
Immigration must have also done a cursory review, as I was called back up to the desk and told that I needed to write a disclaimer on my application that "I would not also attempt to request a 30day tourist visa extension after receiving a COVID extension". Worked for me as I'd have had to buy a 30day then another 60day for 1900baht x2.
Took my application and 1900baht and was told to return tomorrow, 02MAR.
Back on 02MAR, picked up my passport with "under consideration" stamp requiring return on 08MAR (date of TR visa expiration)
Returned 08MAR, received stamp good until 07MAY.
All told, spent maybe 1 hour (over 3 days) at Immigration. Unfortunately, it seems multiple trips, at least for COVID extensions, are the norm at the Phuket Immigration Office.
Definitely want to give a nice shout out to the volunteers at the office. Unpaid and extremely helpful. Please please keep your cool while there. I saw a guy pissed off, and yelling and he was getting absolutely nowhere. A kind word and being polite got me help with forms and queued up for processing super fast.
Disclaimer: A friend here working on getting a 1 year extension of his 90day OA retirement visa (forgive incorrect vernacular) WAS required to show a TM30. So, maybe I was lucky, or maybe Immigration is a little more relaxed with the COVID extensions based on TR visas (versus long-term visas). Of course, he was also staying in a private AirBnB and I was staying in a (more) well known, hotel, so that could be the reason as well...who knows.
Best of luck to all. And thanks to the mods here for running a great group.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post details a personal experience of obtaining a 60-day COVID extension for a TR Single Entry visa at Phuket Immigration. The author applied on March 1st, was initially informed they might need a TM30 report, and was advised that they were eligible for the extension despite previously not having a 30-day extension. The application process involved multiple trips, with the final extension granted until May 7th. The author emphasizes the importance of politeness and patience during the process and notes the helpfulness of immigration volunteers.
