What should DTV visa holders know about extending their visa at Bangkok Immigration?

Question

Just sharing my experience today at Bangkok Immigration in case it's useful to other DTV holders.
I went in to transfer my DTV stamp into a new passport and also had to pay a fine for a missed 90-day report. The whole process took quite a while, so be prepared for a long day if you're doing both.

What surprised me was when I asked about extending my DTV for another 6 months. As I'm on the business owner/workcation category, I was told I would need to provide quite a substantial portfolio of supporting documents, including:

Business documentation

Bank statements

Invoices

Evidence of ongoing business activity

Proof of 500,000 baht in my bank account for the previous 30 days

The officer then told me that an alternative would simply be to leave Thailand and re-enter, which would avoid the need for the extension application and supporting portfolio.

One other thing worth mentioning: I made the mistake of turning up in shorts. I've been coming to Thailand for 25 years and somehow forgot the importance of dressing smartly when dealing with government offices. The officer was not impressed and gave me a fairly stern lecture about it. Fair enough — lesson learned. Next time it'll be long trousers and a collared shirt.

Just posting this in case it helps anyone else planning a DTV extension in Bangkok. Has anyone else had a similar experience recently?

Just sharing my experience today at Bangkok Immigration in case it's useful to other DTV holders.

Ask Thailand · Answer

A DTV visa holder shares their experience at Bangkok Immigration, focusing on the lengthy process of transferring their visa to a new passport and extending their DTV visa. They highlight the required documentation for the extension, including business-related documents and proof of funds. They also mention an alternative option of leaving Thailand and re-entering to reset the visa duration. Additionally, the importance of dressing appropriately when visiting government offices is emphasized, as the experience involves facing immigration officers.

Gary ********* · Answer

After reading your way, too long post, you left out the most important thing… How old is he?

John ******** · Answer

Might have a problem ever entering the country if he renounces his citizenship.

Charles ***** · Answer

To have a clearer answer there are other factors to consider, if your husband is over 30 years old and has never dealt anything with Thai bureaucracy nor set foot in Thailand since he turned 17, Thai military won't be aware of your husband's situation at all, and legally he can't be drafted after 30 years old in normal situation. Once he is in Thailand, it is even theoretically possible for him to apply for a Thai national ID card and passport, but it can be very messy to prove he is the person of that Thai ID number. Not having nor registered for SorDor.35 and SorDor.1 / SorDor.8 / SorDor.9 isn't a crime in Thailand but just an administrative offense with a small fine, and he won't need one for living in Thailand unless he wants to become a civil servant or work for a state enterprise, most businesses don't care about this when hiring someone, and even if he needs one it is only a few hundred Baht fine (and that must be after he has a Thai national ID card which proves he is that person in the Thai population database.). It is almost impossible for him to be arrested, but he can try to make sure nobody does anything on his behalf in Thailand after he turned 17.

Sasi ************ · Answer

Language abilities

Place of residency

Are two reasons that your husband could use to be disqualified. I’m assuming that he is not speaking Thai nor has been living in Thailand?

Pay no attention to those keyboards warriors.

The military obligation Doesn’t fully pardon until the age of 55. Most people mistakenly think it’s 30.

Carmena ********** · Answer

There are leuk kreung,  luk kreung pages where this is discussed in depth

Jim ******* · Answer

Over 30 years old, no more military service obligation in Thai. Those absent from the country, returning when 30 years old,  would not even be counted.

Damian ******* · Answer

nobody sane and normal would be telling him to man up and serve in a 3rd world military omg, tell them to pick up a rifle and join themselves then lol

Celer****** · Answer

Since Japan only allows one citizenship and he chose Japanese citizenship instead of Thai citizenship, he should check whether he has officially renounced his Thai citizenship. If he has not done so yet, he should proceed with the renunciation process.

That’s all he needs to do.

That’s all he needs to do.

What should DTV visa holders know about extending their visa at Bangkok Immigration?

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