What is the earliest I can extend my Non-Immigrant O visa in Thailand after entering on November 3rd?

@Ken****

, Alas, on this we will agree to disagree :/ .

I've seen hundreds of 7 day, 30 day, 60 day, 90 day, 1 year extensions of stays (yes really hundreds of them :O ) and they've always been added to the date the current stamp runs out.

Thanx for contributing to the group. (y)

Again I am not quoting any "official" policies and have clearly stated that I am simply saying what my experience was and yes, I was told by the IO that the new 90 day period always starts from the date of the report. This is from the same Office and IO that told me that I needed to wait until the last couple of days to obtain the 30 day (post 60 day) extension to my METV. I am not sure how I can make it any more clear than my statement of "I am only telling what my personal experience was"! From what I am reading in this group I believe that is what most individuals that post here do! They tell about their experience. The experience can change from location to location, day to day and person to person. Nothing here works to the letter of the law. I understand that and accept that as one of the small inconveniences of living in Thailand. All in all this is a great place to live and I love it here...

@Ken****

, now don't confuse how a 90 day report works with how an extension of stay works ;) . They are totally different.

On 90 day reports your next 90 day report will be due 90 days from the day you reported NOT the day it was due.

I had already left and returned to receive the 60 day extension. I was going in to get the additional 30 days while waiting for the completion of my retirement visa. I am sure that your advice works the majority of the time but again this is Thailand and the process is not always consistent in all regions. I am only saying what my own personal experience was.

@Ken****

, Hmm, :/ It appears you were told wrong, all immigration offices add the 30 day extension to your existing admitted until stamp.

if in fact you held a 6 month METV and were two weeks from the "enter before" date on the visa itself, all you needed to do was exit/re-enter the country and you'da gotten another 60 day admitted until stamp.

I think they were telling you there was no sense to give you a 30 day extension because your VISA was still valid for another 60 day entry IF you'd have exited/re-entered the country.

I stand by my advice, they add extensions on to the date your current stamp expires.

I just had the same experience with my 90 report for my Non-O. I went into Immigration office this past Friday which was about a week early and my new 90 day report is due 90 days from that date and not 90 days from then the report was actually due.

@Tod ********

This is likely once again one of those "discretionary" actions taken by a Thai Official. I went to my regional Immigration office a few months back prior to my obtaining my Non-O (holding a 6 month ME TV at the time) about two weeks prior to it expiring. The IO told me that If I extended it at that time I would only gain two weeks and that I should wait until the last day or two prior to expiring in order to gain the maximum benefit of the extension. I returned two days prior to my 6 mo visa expiration date and was given 30 from that date and not 30 days from the 6 Mo visa expiration date.

@Ken****

, that is totally incorrect :/

ALL extensions of stays are ADDED to the expiration date of your current "admitted until" stamp. You don't lose ANY days by going early.

Just as a note your 30 days extension starts the day that you go to the immigration office and pay for the extension. If you go on Jan 15 then it will expire 30 days after that date. It is best to wait until the last possible day in order to gain the maximum advantage!