What is the best time to visit Chaengwattana for a 30-day visa extension and how does the extension date work?

@Ben *********

the doors to the building the immigration office is in opens at 6AM and the immigration office itself opens at 8:30AM

@Ben *********

if you’re taking a cab, this should help if they can’t speak English.

My previous Tm6 forms, before my last, only had the information on the front of the slip. I assume you were given this version. As long as it has Tm.6 on the form, you’re fine. Just photocopy the front of the tm6 form, along with your information pages (photo page and other) in your passport - so both the passport pages and tm6 slip are on the same a4 copy page but separated from each other. Normally the Tm6 is positioned below. For the other photocopy they require, just photocopy your current thailand visa page. Good luck.

The current TM7 is in the 'files' section on this page - not sure if there's any difference

@Ben *********

The TM.7 form looks correct to me. It's a tiny bit different from the one I handed in. Literally, the only difference was where yours says "Written at" my form says "Immigration Office". I downloaded my form around August, so I'm assuming it may of changed since then.

Yes, definitely prepare all the documents before hand, if you can; it will save you loads of time.

Good luck!

From memory: (others might be able to chip in if I've forgotten anything)

You'll need:

1. Your Passport

2. TM.6 Form

3. 1900 Baht

4. Filled out TM.7 form - with a passport photo glued in the photo section

5. First Photocopy: both, your Info page (photograph page) in your passport with the tm.6 form (Front side) below. So, separately spaced from each other but, on the same photocopy page.

6. Second Photocopy: both, your passport page of your current setv (60 day visa) and this time with the back of the tm.6 form below.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with the tm.6 last time, as these forms recently changed - you used to photocopy only the front but, thats the way I did it on the 2nd Feb and I was successful.

Everything from 4 down you can get from there. TM.7 from the initial office. Photocopies in a small shop on the floor below, and they know exactly what to do. You just hand them your passport and tm.6 form. You'll be asked to sign some of the photocopy pages and add you phone number, also, when you're making your claim in the immigration 'room'.

Yes, the date I got to Thailand on my exempt was the 8th, I went to immigration on the 5th and my extension was made from the 5th

As I understand it as long as you have a ticket they will get to you on the day

I've done it half a dozen times and always arrived about 3pm with everything ready to go. Always out before 5pm. I don't recall the times of the year though, but it's generally always busy.

@Adam **********

yep, that is the "sweet spot" between about 9 and 10, ;) Anything after 10AM and you're gonna be there for a while..

You definitely have more experience of this than me

@T**

. Maybe I've been lucky and hit the mid-morning sweet spot once the early birds have been processed and before the majority of the tourists arrive! Did it 3 times last year arriving around 9:30; longest I was there was until around 11:15.

Funny

@Ad**

, I've found just the opposite to be true :/ Tourists (people on 30 day visa exempt entries and 60 day tourist visas) getting 30 day extensions usually don't slog out to the immigration office early in the morning.

However after about 10 and right on into the afternoon the sections that do 30 day extensions (K for 30 day visa exempt entries and J for tourist visa entries) are jammed packed with people

I would definitely get there early ! To have any chance of avoiding the one hour break for lunch - when nothing happens!

Come for a little drive to Pathum Thani. Takes 10 minutes there.

@B**

, first off I go out there a LOT. And I like hanging out out there too, so it doesn't bother me in the least.

Also I wait in line for more than a few people ;)

Almost everyone gets #1 or 2 in the section they need, and we're out of there by 9:30-10:00 at the latest with their extensions, re-entry permits, 90 day reports etc, what ever needs to be done.

@Fra****

, They didn't change the rules, they changed the way they do the queuing.

I still get in line outside at 5 or so and when they open the doors at 6am I get in line again.

Then I leave my bag, go downstairs until just before 7 when I come back up and get in the line to get a temporary queue number for the line outside the door.

Once you have that you can leave until 8 or so when they line back up and get in at 8:30.

Not any more they changed the rules

There's definitely an element of luck involved!

@Ben *********

Mid week is better... get there at 9 and done by 11.