What are the visa options for arriving in Phuket on August 4th under the Sandbox scheme?

Jul 24, 2021
3 years ago
Dan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
In need of some advise.

We had to make some last minute changes and will be arriving in Phuket in the 4th Aug for the Sandbox.

1) Do we have time to get a TR visa before then? Is there an agent that can process it quickly?

2) The visa exemption, is that 45days + 30days extension? 75days total? Would that be extendable further?

3) Can we apply for a TR Visa in Thailand? (I’m assuming no) If not, what are our options?

Ideally we don’t want to have to leave and come back again, at least not to the UK and back. Could we leave and apply for visas in other countries? Or could we do the visa exemption again?

Sorry for all the questions. We are in a panic and have limited time to action anything.

Thank you guys
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking urgent advice regarding their arrival in Phuket on August 4th for the Sandbox program, specifically inquiring about obtaining a TR visa in time, details about visa exemptions, and alternative options for extending their stay without returning to the UK.
Garrett ***********
A visa exemption is 45 days, extendable one time for another 30 days.

Tourust visas cannot be obtained in Thailand.

Currently there is a 60 day Covid unable to travel extension that many people have been using.
Dan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
thank you.

So what would our options be to get a visa once we’ve used our visa exemption and any other extension available…
Garrett ***********
@Dan *******
Here's our groups page, its mostly up to date and gives you a little rundown on the visas.

******************************************
Garrett ***********
@Dan *******
I mean there's a bunch of different options depending on what your goals are, age, employment status. You could explore education visa options, volunteer somewhere, retirement visa if you're over 50, could find a job somewhere, invest, ext.
Dan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
i understand the different visas available. Just not what my options are for applying or obtaining those visas whilst in Thailand. Basically, don’t want to return to the UK to apply for any visas. Happy to go outside Thailand if that was an option.

Thank you
Garrett ***********
@Dan *******
Gotcha, the only thing you cannot get inside the country is a tourist visa. Anything else is free game right now.

I have seen some people have issues transitioning from a Covid extension to a Non-B, but other than that no issues.
Scot *******
@Garrett **********
- you mentioned some people having issues getting a non-b from a covid extension. What about getting a non-o from the covid extension? Maybe you answered when you said other than that no issues, I just wanted to specifically check.
Garrett ***********
@Scot ******
I've seen people post about having problems transitioning from the Covid extension to anything else in country. Honestly I don't know the outcome, if they were or weren't able to, just that immigration had said they couldn't at some point.
Scot *******
@Garrett **********
- OK, that's a new one. I was hoping to ride the covid extension train for awhile then get the non-o. Maybe we should just get our 30 extension on our visa exempt then get the non-o straightaway.
Dan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
thank you so much. It’s refreshing not to get a battering on these kinds of questions haha.

I’m sure I’ll be back shortly to Harass you further
Garrett ***********
@Dan *******
Lol ask anything you need mate. Sometimes we forget not everyone lives in Facebook 12 hours a day.
Dan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
one more thing then ha. I heard educational visas were stopped?
Garrett ***********
@Dan *******
So if you're outside Thailand the embassies will only give you an ed visa for a university. From inside Thailand you can still do language schools or muy Thai schools.
Dan ************
At the moment the Unable to travel due to Covid extension can still be applied for until the end of September (I forget the actual date) which gets you an extra 60 days. If you’re able to come in on a visa exempt for 45 days that would take you pretty much to that date so you could extend for 60 days instead of 30. Some immigration offices make you get the 30 day extension first but I’m not sure if Phuket would or not.
Dan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan ***********
cheers dude.

Big help.
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