What is the approval process for a tourist visa extension in Thailand?

May 14, 2021
3 years ago
Swiff *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey all, tourist visa ext at CW seems to be going well. We paid and submitted all our docs, and they told us to come back in a week where they will stamp our passport, "pending approval".

As our planning requires bit more than that, does anyone know what this approval depends on? Is it pretty much guaranteed or has anyone had experiences of being denied?

Thanks!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The approval process for a tourist visa extension at CW involves submitting documents and receiving an 'under consideration' stamp, indicating the application is pending approval. Community members report that this stamp typically leads to guaranteed approval, as they have successfully received their visa extensions within a week. One user clarified that the process has recently changed to a 7-day waiting period instead of 14, adding confidence to the outcome. It's also noted that the visa extension is specifically for visitors affected by COVID-19.
Tod *********
@Swiff ****
you're fine, it's a two step process, you apply, pay the 1900baht, get the under consideration stamp and then go back on that date with your passport, the blue/green receipt they gave you and they ink the extension into your passport. Just show up on the date the under consideration stamp runs out.
Ellie *******
Did you get the stamp really says "pending approval" or "under consideration" as others mentioned?
Swiff *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
It's "under consideration" just checked. I feel like if it wasn't a valid request they should've rejected me on the spot? I thought it was more a background check or something...
Wannikea *********
@Swiff ****
the extension request goes to a higher authority such as main office for approval, but we have never heard of one being denied at this stage.
Philip ****
Don’t worry it’s 100% guaranteed! It was just recently cut from 14 to 7days in CW. I specifically asked the IO in that regard last week. Got my 2nd stamp after the one week “under consideration “ today.
Swiff *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Philip ***
2nd stamp is the official one? Or you have to go again for another approval?
Wannikea *********
@Swiff ****
when you return you will get the full extension date you applied for inked in.
Benjamin ******
@Philip ***
>Don’t worry it’s 100% guaranteed!

Sadly, it's not 100% guaranteed. Technically it is an optional stamp, that the immigration officer does not have to give. I know people who have been verbally rejected, and I basically never heard of anyone being rejected.
Philip ****
@Benjamin *****
that’s what I meant. Until now there has no one been rejected apart from the “this is the last time blabla” stuff
Jonathan *******
Under consideration for a tourist visa or an extension of stay based on something?
Swiff *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
The latter, sorry. Extension of tourist visa for covid
Wannikea *********
@Jonathan ******
well, he said tourist visa, but used the words pending approval, which may have been used in place of under consideration, which is what we are curious about.
Wannikea *********
did they stamp anything in your passport today?
Swiff *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
yes "under consideration"
Wannikea *********
@Swiff ****
ok, so it means you can return on the date stamped to get your full extension inked in. No worries.
James ********
did you apply for a 60 day COVID extension ?
Swiff *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Benjamin ******
That's concerning.

Did you already get a 30 day extension of stay based on tourism?
Swiff *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
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