What is the process for American expats in Thailand to request a visa extension due to inability to return home?

Question

Returning home to the U.S. holds very little appeal right now, and I definitely recall reading our embassy would not issue letters to apply for extension at immigration.  Now it's a very painless online process to request a letter, and the auto-response says it will reply in two days after the application.  I don't have high hopes for actually getting the extension w/out strong reason to be "unable to return" for health reasons or lack of flights, but I hope to try this week.  See here for the site:

Ask Thailand · Answer

An American expat in Thailand shares their experience of applying for a visa extension online due to the lack of appeal in returning to the U.S. They explain how the U.S. embassy's response for a required letter has become more efficient, noting that the process can take as little as half a day. Despite some challenges in dealing with immigration, including needing multiple documents, the expat successfully gathered the necessary paperwork to apply for an extension and expresses hope for a positive outcome.

Julian ************ · Answer

Mostly successful extension.  Two copies of:  the extension application, the lease to my apartment, all relevant passport pages, the letter from the U.S. embassy, the email from the embassy to which the letter was attached, signed “change of reason” for stay in Thailand forms, declarations that I think Covid’s too dangerous to fly home and that I want to apply for a second year of learning Thai.  I have to check in again in two weeks (I hope not pay another 1900B) and presumably get to stay through most of Oct.  I expected the 30-day extension to start on the 26th, and maybe I’ve been short-changed on that, but it does feel good to be fully legal, even it it comes in smaller and smaller pieces.  It’s not easy, and it’d be odd to be punished for not waiting until the last week of the amnesty.

Julian ************ · Answer

First attempt failed, as immigration asked for two copies of the email from the embassy...the letter itself seemed like an afterthought.  Will try again later this week.

Jeremy ******** · Answer

Break a leg get a doctors note saying you can’t fly...after that is healed break a hand...continue for eternity

Julian ************ · Answer

Yeah, got it in about half a day today, now we'll see what Immigration says.

Tod ********* · Answer

They are GOOD at getting that letter to you (y) everyone I know who's used that link to that google form dealy on the Entry & Exit Requirements here, has gotten the letter in like a day at the most.

go here, click the entry & exit requirements tab the link to the form for the request is in there

[url redacted]

Paolo *********** · Answer

Took me 3 minutes to get mine. Totally painless. Depending on the IO extension should be painless as well. Waiting on the results of tomorrow's cabinet meeting.

Rich ******** · Answer

I saw where someone else just messaged them a lot until they responded.  I would guess they have 1 person doing it for 5000 people that want letters

What is the process for American expats in Thailand to request a visa extension due to inability to return home?

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