This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

What should I do if I received a wrong visa type in Thailand?

Visa Issues Non-B Visa Visa Change

Apr 18, 2020

6 years ago

Luke *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi guys, 

Just before the lockdown me and my partner went to Penang to get my visa processed for a volunteer visa. We literally got our passports back at the last minute before everything shut down and had to do a land crossing to return to Thailand. We had to leave the instant our passports were handed back to us as everything was closing down around us and we managed to get through the land border and back home safely before lockdown properly began. 

At the land crossing we realised that the Penang office had made a mistake, they had somehow issued me with a business visa and my partner with the required volunteer visa. 

My visa runs out in mid-June and I am wondering what my options are? I was told that I would need to go back and get the correct visa put into my passport but obviously this isn't as easy as it sounds right now and might not even be possible. 

Considering all the correct paperwork was handed in and a mistake was made, would it be possible to get my visa changed somehow at Chiang Mai immigration? Has anyone had any experience with this?

1,027

views

all likes

replies

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

A user shared their experience of receiving an incorrect business visa instead of a volunteer visa while in Penang for processing. With their visa about to expire, they sought advice on whether it's possible to change their visa type at Chiang Mai immigration, given that the mistake was made by the Penang office. Community comments suggested that changing the visa type in Thailand is possible through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as immigration offices typically do not handle such changes. They recommended contacting the volunteering organization for assistance in resolving the issue.

Pelle Eriksson★★★★★

Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...

recently on Facebook

Luca G.★★★★★

I used this agency for my DTV Visa...

recently on Google

Trusted Thai Visa Agent

OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED

#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND

Tod *********

Believe it or not

@Lu**

, you're far from the first person who didn't bother to look at their visa when they got their passport back (for what ever reason) and when they did look they had the wrong visa type.

It is not a long shot, it's how you get the type changed INSIDE the country without having to go back and BUY a new visa from a thai consulate in another country again. Just so you know you can't go back to Penang and get them to change the type because you already used this visa to enter thailand and it's stamped USED.

The only way to get the type changed is how I outlined, so I'd say get with the place you're volunteering for and have them call the MFA office and start seeing how it can be done, OR get new documentation and pray the borders open back up before this 90 day stamp runs out that you got on this visa so you can go buy a new Non-O

6 years ago

Luke *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yep, even if I had noticed the office had closed after handing the passport over anyway so I don't think I could have had it altered there and then. Thanks for your help on this, I will certainly follow up on your advice.

6 years ago

Reply to

Luke *********

Tod *********

Immigration is NOT the place to get the visa TYPE changed. You'd have to get ahold of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office because they run the thai consulates in other countries. You would have to prove you turned in documents for the Non-O visa in Penang (with copies of the paperwork and your receipt that you paid for the visa) AND then they would contact Penang (if they even can) and confirm that you applied for a Non-O but were issued a Non-B.

I have seen people get the visa type changed in country in that way.

6 years ago

Tod *********

I'd wager you're NOT gonna get a Non-B extended IF you were originally supposed to apply for a Non-O. BUT that is totally between you, the place you volunteer for and the immigration office

6 years ago

Luke *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks Tod. I believe I still have the receipts in my passport. It sounds like this might be a bit of a long shot though.

Are there any options to extend a business visa outside of this? Just until things calm down and I can hop in and out?

6 years ago

Reply to

Luke *********

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Join the Group

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

What should I do if I was mistakenly stamped with a 30-day tourist visa instead of my non-immigrant visa upon entering Thailand?

6 comments