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What has been your experience with transferring a visa and stamps from an old passport to a new one in Thailand?

Visa TransferImmigration ProcessesExtension of StayTM30Passport MigrationChonburi ImmigrationThai Visa RegulationsExpat ExperiencesCorruption in Immigration
Jan 6, 2023
2 years ago
Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I just had a disappointing experience at thai immigration bkk. I live in bkk and need to migrate my visa and stamps from my old expiring passport to my new passport. Since I made my edit: ‘extension of stay’ last year in chonburi, I have to go to chonburi for this to happen. I thought I had a visa for Thailand, not just for chonburi only…. Anybody had the same terrible experience before? Hope chonburi will be able to do it the same day….
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user had a frustrating experience at Thai immigration in Bangkok while attempting to migrate their visa and stamps from an expiring passport to a new one. They noted they had to visit Chonburi because their last visa extension was processed there. The comments reveal that immigration procedures in Thailand are province-specific, meaning you must go through the office where your TM30 was filed. Some comments express distrust towards the Chonburi immigration office, alleging corruption, and discuss the use of agents for visa-related matters.
Paul ********
Land of Smiles?? When you pay Tea money!! Use a Agent
2 years ago
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Paul ********
Really
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul *******
 i do not agree on this. I want to get out of this agent/corruption s***, as some day, immigration will start focusing on this as well… many will feel robbed.. just saying…
2 years ago
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Brian *******
@Luc *******
 All the best, but don't think that the agent doing it is necessary corrupt. My last experience without an agent was corrupt - I eventually had to slip an envelope under the table to get the job done. Next time it will be an agent and above board.
2 years ago
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Paul ********
@Luc *******
 we off to see the Wizard 5555 n You will find a Village Virgin on LINE
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul *******
 i actually did 😂
2 years ago
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Luc ********
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Brian *******
@Paul *******
 Whilst I agree with you overall, the price for a visa agent ain't tea money. It's a feast at the Oriental! 😅😅
2 years ago
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Paul ********
@Brian ******
2 years ago
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Paul ********
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Matteo ***********
Had the experience of having to transfer last stamp from old passport to new passport yes, it does work as they told you
2 years ago
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John **********
I think it's the case that only the immigration office that provided the extension can transfer it
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 that is what they said… ( we not have a chonburi stamp). Still odd and a terrible experience though…
2 years ago
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Luc ********
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HarryHappy *********
Never Get Your Visa in Chonburi. All the other immigration offices suspect corruption.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@HarryHappy ********
 they seem to do so ….
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Luc *******
 it’s a racket and everyone uses dodgy agents.
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
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Graham ******
I assume you are transferring an Extension of Stay stamp not Visa
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 yes, as this is my first time…. Everything needed to be transferred to my new passport.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
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Steve ********
Wherever you filed your last TM30 (or where it was filed for you) becomes your immigration office for all transactions. Thailand immigration works on the province basis. You can't pick and choose which office to use
2 years ago
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Nick ************
@Steve *******
 wrong. I file my tm30 in Nakhon Phanom. Have done for 3 years. They would not transfer my stamp to a new passport and now they wont give me a residence certificate to renew my driving licence. They tell me to go to Bangkok where my extension stamp was done but I have no tm30 filed there now. It's just none sensical.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nick ***********
 i will travel to chonburi on Monday without a tm30 there. Will take my toothbrush 😂. Will let you know the outcome!
2 years ago
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Nick ************
@Luc *******
 good luck.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nick ***********
 left home 7:00. Due to no taxi available missed 8:00 bus. Got 10:00 bus and arrived at immigration 12:50. Queued until 16:20 and got my passports handed over. Had to come back next day 13:00. All sorted. No questions asked about tm30. Only lost 2 days and 2000baht
2 years ago
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Nick ************
@Luc *******
 there comes a time when the money doesn't matter. All you want is to get it sorted! Well done. My battle starts next week.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nick ***********
 You are very right! good luck to you!
2 years ago
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Luc ********
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Steve ********
@Luc *******
 That's really strange.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 yes, and they asked about the money in my bank.. I had my bankbook with me, but they not even wanted to see it….
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Luc *******
 That's odd, as you now live in Bangkok.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 I have my tm30 in Bangkok, bang khen…. Still they want me to travel to chonburi, as I made my extension there last year…..
2 years ago
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Luc ********
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Stuart *********
You use the immigration office that you have a filed TM30 for. If you lived in a different province before the you need to update your TM30 to show that you are now in that province.
2 years ago
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Mike *****
@Stuart ********
 Necessary to use the same agent or can you switch agents (for extensions)?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Mike ****
 You can switch agents. Not an issue. It’s just hard to break the “agent train” to do it yourself.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 and yes, you seem to be right in this…. Heeeelp
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 I can advise but I’m not an agent. I can’t really help in any capacity
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
So basically: i entered Thailand :

On the 1 of January 2021. Did 15 days of quarantine, and discovered a tumour and had a drone with me. I had to go hospital, had to go nbtc for registration of the drone and had to find a bank to open my bank account for my visa. Except for the hospital visits, I failed for both of the rest. After many communication with nbtc, I also got that sorted……. Left me with a to late opening of a bank account. Obviously the agent fixed this for me. I i is now still haunting me ☹️
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 Once you’re on the “agent train” it’s usually impossible to break from it. The only way is to leave and come back on a “clean” entry.
2 years ago
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Andy *********
@Stuart ********
 Would you explain "clean entry"? Is it leaving on your O visa, with a re-entry permit, and then returning, starting a new 90 day reporting date?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Andy ********
 No it’s leaving with no re entry permit so you’re on a “clean slate” when coming back in.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 that’s a bit challenging isn’t it. You
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 Not really. You leave and come back on a visa exempt or tourist visa and “start again”.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 but I started in Belgium ambassie before. No clue about the in country procedures…
2 years ago
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Andy *********
@Stuart ********
 Ah. So, leaving on a O visa, then return on visa-exempt, and would need to reapply for a new O visa. Thanks!!
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy ********
 how easy is it to appy for a non o visa nowadays ? What would be the reason?
2 years ago
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Andy *********
@Luc *******
 I really don't know as I've only applied for OA visa in the US. I'm thinking I'll go the non O visa after we return in a couple months.
2 years ago
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Andy *********
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 I have my tm30 in Bangkok, bang khen. But made my extension in chonburi last year…
2 years ago
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Craig **********
@Luc *******
 I had to do this in December 2021 as I had veen stranded in a remote area of S.Philippines for 668 days due to covid. Once you have got your stamps transfered to your new passport do this:

When your visa is close to expiry date leave Thailand and come backafter it has expired. You are now starting from scratch.

Enter on tourist visa or visa exempt.Register TM30 where you live

Go to Changwattana immigration and apply for 90 extension.

When you have 30 days left or more on the 90 days go to same place and apply for Non O retirement.

Show the money in the bank. Make sure you take your bankbook and deposit 100bhat that day to show it is up to date and provide 3 months statements (go to bank the day before and request printed signed copies of last 3 months accounts and a letter from bank stating this is accurate).

Take proof of where you live (rental agreement or book) and a hand drawn map of the area you live. Pay the money and if all goes well you will be stamped for 1 year then just repeat every year....so simple

p.s. get photocopies of every page of bankbook/passport/bank statements. Don't get colour copies, mine were refused once as the Immigration Officer said they were "Mi swy" 😆.

Once you have your stamp go and apply for your re-entry.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 Don’t know the Bangkok provinces (as I’m in Phuket) but in theory once you have a filed TM30 for Bangkok you can deal with them.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 appears not, hence my question… maybe they can see i used an agent before??
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 Ah. That’s an issue. If you’ve used an agent before then the office could say use them again. Only way to “break” that chain is to leave and re enter on a “clean” stamp.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 you must be joking….
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Luc *******
 It is very difficult to get off the "agent merry-go-round". Your agent must work through Chon Buri immigration and that's why they want you to go back there.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 I’m not joking. You used an agent. The immigration office can instantly see that you last used an agent and may well say “go use them again”. That’s how it works here. If you want to do it yourself you’ll need a “clear” entry stamp.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 not an option as I would have to apply for a new non o visa abroad…, any other suggestions are more than welcome… (I still remember how difficult it was to get that non-o visa)
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 You don’t need to apply for a Non O abroad. You enter visa exempt or a tourist visa and apply for a Non O in country
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 just at immigration? Why would it be so easy after all I have experienced? Enlighten me please 🙏
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 Not quite sure what you mean. You enter visa exempt (as an example). As long as you have 15 days left on your stamp and 800k in your bank (assuming you’re going for a “retirement” Non O) then you apply for it in country.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 I entered Thailand in 2020 on a non o . Had to use an agent because of time constraints. Had to use the agent again last year because ( of the previous time constraints) my money had not been 1 full year in my bank account. This year… guess you now by now.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 As stated. You either use them again or get a clean break by leaving and re entering on a “clean” stamp.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 ok stuart. If I come back…. How easy or difficult would it be for me to start over on a new non-o ( realising that I lost a couple of years for my permanent residency) ?
2 years ago
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Kool *******
@Luc *******
 you are aware that for permanent residency you must be working and paying Thai income taxes for at least three years, and if you are single making at least bt80,000 a month. If you are married to a Thai then making at least bt40,000 a month. There is no way around this requirement for permanent residency. If your type O visa extension is for retirement then you can never get permanent residency as it is illegal to work on a retirement visa extension.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
 I didn’t know the working requirement. Only that knowledge of the language is mandatory. I will do my readings again. Thank you for your information!
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Probably i will get cleared after successfully doing my next extension myself ?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 Usually no issue at all. As long as you have your financial stuff in place.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 I have the finances. Honestly… least of my problems now… (not before as opening a bank account wasn’t a walk in the park)
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 i have, and i’m on a retirement extension for almost 2 years now. Just the transfer of my stamps cannot be done in Bangkok where I have my tm30… probably in chonburi they will turn me down because I have no tm30 there…..
2 years ago
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Incognia **********
@Luc *******
 then do Tm30 there
2 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Luc *******
 actually yes that’s true, you can only go to the immigration for the district your tm30 is registered too. You can book a 1 night in a hotel and get them to give you a tm30.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Luc *******
 You’re on an agent extension. Regardless of where that agent is or what office they use a local immigration office can see as such. They will most likely tell you to reuse that agent for your next extension or you need to leave to “break the chain”.
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
By the way: i am in Thailand with my wife, getting married this month 😊
2 years ago
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Luc ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have everything sorted except for the fact that during covid, I was not able to open a bank account and transfer the money in 14 days (15 days quarantine….)
2 years ago
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Luc ********
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