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What is the process for extending an OA visa in Thailand?

Jun 25, 2025
a day ago
Gerg **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Did my OA extension of stay in Chaeng Watthana Division 1 in Bangkok today and was successful in getting my passport stamp for another year in the Kingdom. It went pretty smooth, with minor hiccups. This was my first extension and I thought about getting an agent but decided to do it on my own. I’m glad I did because I saved a lot of money and learned a lot with the process. Immigration was actually very helpful by copying some forms that I forgot to. Just posting to let people know it’s not that hard to do, just do some research and see what you need to bring to your particular office.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user successfully extended their OA visa for another year at Chaeng Watthana Division 1 in Bangkok. They shared their experience of completing the process independently, which they found manageable and cost-effective, despite some initial concerns about doing it without an agent. The user highlighted the importance of research and preparation in facilitating the extension process. Comments from others in the community supported this view, with suggestions for summarizing the necessary steps and noting that while some prefer hiring agents for convenience, many find the DIY approach rewarding.
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Chet *******
Good job!
Marty *********
I extended my OA 5 times myself before getting an LTR. You are correct. Not that hard to do. Be patient, organized, and keep a list of what to do for next year. It seldom changes. CW in Bangkok is efficient and professional though I don’t miss it now. 🙂
Andy ************
@Marty ********
No matter how efficient an immigration office is, it's still a pain having to put up with pedantic attitude at times. Immigration Office was the main reason I switched to DTV, although cost savings and not having to be rigidly in the country at extension time also were key factors
Marty *********
@Andy ***********
I am retired. I have time. The officers at CW were nice to me. No complaints. If you didn’t like it then that’s up to you. Glad you found an acceptable alternative.

I’d rather have my OA than a DTV but I am really happy into the 3rd year of my LTR.
Andy ************
@Marty ********
The DTV suits me as I travel 3-4 times a year overseas, so I don't need to do any specific border bouncing. I'm saving 5700 baht each year on extension/re-entry costs, so over a five year period that's 28,500 as compared to the DTV of 10,000. It's not for everyone as some people like to remain in Thailand continuously, but for me it's a no-brainer. I still maintain the 65k/month transfers just in case I want to switch back
Gerg **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marty ********
The LTR is attractive, I admit. Good for you.
Sue **********
Well to be honest, of course its cheaper to do it all by your own. But you have to add then the time spent preparing docs and every where else (bank statement etc) until you get all your docs together. Some people just don‘t want to spend hours waiting, thats probably the main reason why they hire an agent.

We had an agent as well for our first EoS. Now that we do it ourselves we know how long it takes all in all until you get the stamp. 😉 We have EoS based on non-immi O retired 90 days, which doesn‘t even need that much of documentations like the OA.
Marty *********
@Sue *********
The only difference between the O and OA extension is the insurance certificate which the insurance company sent to me beforehand. It usually took me 2 hours to assemble docs for an extension.
Gerg **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sue *********
Like I said, I considered an agent but thought I’d give it a try on my own. It didn’t take long and wasn’t hard. I guess it can seem daunting to people that don’t understand what’s needed or how to go about it, so I don’t blame anyone for getting an agent. I only spent about a half hour waiting to get in to see the immigration officer. I think the only difference between what’s needed for the non-O vs the non-OA is the insurance certificate, and I would get health insurance if I was on a non-O anyway, so I’ll stick with the OA for now. Sounds like you’ve got it down on your own now, and I think I’ll keep doing it on my own from here on out. Now don’t get me wrong, if I didn’t have the required money in the bank, I’d definitely get an agent to sort it out.
Andy ************
@Sue *********
I often hear that "waiting in line" stuff? Where does this take place? I've never experienced it
Damo ***********
@Andy ***********
some people complain if they have to wait in line 30 minutes even… pathetic people 🤷🏽‍♂️
Neil ********
Maybe a summary of actions and what to look out for would help the group
Damo ***********
@Neil *******
going to Immigration prior to the application and asking them for their latest list of req’s is almost infallible.

They will have a printout of req’s so you can easily ‘tick’ them off as you prepare.
Roland **********
@Neil *******
Here in the photo you can see the general requirements.. But your immigration may also have others 😅
Gerg **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Neil *******
Sure. I made an appointment on the immigration app a month ahead of time. Arrived at Building B, gate 2 which is right where the immigration office is. Went to the counter that the app told me to go to and waited for my queue number to be called. A lady came out and called my number and told me to go to a different counter to get my paperwork checked. I did and that’s where I found out I had forgot to make a copy of my appointment confirmation and a copy of my bank book. The lady gladly made a copy of both for me. Then I went back to the original counter and sat down to wait. My number came up on the screen and I went in to the cubicle with my wife to see the officer. She looked at all my paperwork and told me she wanted us to hand draw a map of the location of our condo. So I did. Then she pointed out my lease agreement wasn’t signed by my landlord so we had to call our agent we rented the condo from and she emailed us a copy of the signed document and they printed it out for us. There was a lot of paper shuffling and hand stamping of paperwork going on in a flurry of activity on the officer’s desk while we waited and looked on. I had to sign a ton of pages of the paperwork and copies I submitted and then she told us to wait in the waiting area. About 10 minutes later she brought my bank book and my passport with the new stamp out to me. I was there about an hour total. The officer spoke thai to my wife asking for documents and didn’t say much to me. My wife agreed it was a pretty easy process. What to look out for? Make copies of everything and check and recheck you have all the forms you need. I filled out the TM7 application for extension of stay ahead of time to save time.
Neil ********
@Gerg *********
thanks a bunch
Marty *********
@Neil *******
I never made appointments at CW. I just arrived at 8:30am, got a queue number and usually waited an hour to be called to the desk. I would be out before noon.
Bob **********
This was your 3rd year on the OA
Damo ***********
@Bob *********
seems you know more about Gerg than himself… not! 🤦🏼‍♂️🙄🤣🤣🤣
Gerg **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
I got my OA visa last year in the U.S. and this is my first extension of stay.
Bob **********
@Gerg *********
you could have did a border bounce and got the second year free
Gerg **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
Not free. In fact, travel expense to the border would be more than the 1900 baht fee for the extension at immigration, and a lot more time than it takes to just go to immigration. Didn’t make sense to me.
Andy ************
@Gerg *********
You could have just border bounced and got a second year stamp free of charge
Gerg **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy ***********
Free of charge? Doing a border bounce would have cost me more than the 1900 baht fee at immigration and a lot more time. Didn’t make sense to me since I had the 800,000 baht seasoned in my account anyway and you have to get health insurance regardless. Didn’t make sense to me to pay for travel to border and spend hours doing it to save 1900 baht. If I didn’t have the 800,000 baht I could see it. But I did.
Andy ************
@Gerg *********
Ah ok. Point taken. When I was doing the OA although I live in Bangkok my lady originates from deepest Isaan, so we'd visit her family (groan) and the border was only 30 mins drive away. I'd kill two birds with one stone and bring back some duty-free booze to help get me through the three days we'd spend in "the village" 😆
Kevin ******
@Andy ***********
wise and efficient use of time. Love it!
Gerg **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy ***********
Perfect reason to do a border bounce. I don’t blame you!
Andy ************
@Gerg *********
Yes. Although it's a kind of duty to visit the "out-laws" it's still hard work for me (and also for her to a degree as she left Isaan over twenty years ago to go to university in Bangkok and never moved back) as I'm city born and raised and the villages in Isaan are not exactly my desired destination! 😆
Marty *********
@Gerg *********
Good call.
Stephan ***********
@Andy ***********
Yep... wasted one year... sadly...
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