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What should I do if immigration requires a certificate for my Non-B visa extension that my embassy doesn't provide?

Apr 12, 2025
a year ago
Afik **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, I went to the immigration office in Bangkok to extend my stay for another 30 days to finish my internship. I have a Non-B visa, and they told me I need to bring a "certificate and request for extension of stay from the embassy". I spoke with the embassy, and they said they don't issue that and no one has ever asked them for it. Did anyone encounter this or know what to do?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user visited the Bangkok immigration office to extend their Non-B visa for 30 days to complete their internship. They were informed that they need a "certificate and request for extension of stay from the embassy," but the embassy stated they do not issue such certificates. According to community comments, it is generally not possible to obtain a short-term extension for internships while in Thailand with a Non-B visa. The advised alternatives include applying for a new visa or exiting and re-entering Thailand for a visa exemption stamp.
Tod *********
You will not get an extension based on internship issued inside the country from an immigration office, not from a non-B or from a Non-ED <- which is what most interns have here.

There is no way to get a "short term" extension based on internship, not 30 days, not 90 days, nothing.. It's just not available inside the country

You either go get a new visa OR you exit/re-enter on a free stamp entry if you come from one of the 90+ countries and just intern on it until you finish your program
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Afik **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
I see, is it possible to get a new visa while in Thailand, or the only way is to just re-enter on a free stamp entry?
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John **********
@Afik *********
either a free stamp or visit a nearby country and apply for a visa through the thai consulate while in that country
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Wannikea *********
@Afik *********
you can't get any type of tourist class short term visa inside the country. The paperwork to switch to any other type would be time consuming and onerous, maybe if you had Thai family you could get 60 day visit extension. I can't think of anything else you might qualify for. A quick flight out and back is the easiest if your passport qualifies for visa exempt.
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Afik **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
so I can just fly to nearby country and come back the same day to get the tourist stamp?
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Bob **********
@Afik *********
in theory yes but some want you to stay two nights and have the 3 proofs 20k baht or equivalent,a flight out within 60 days and accommodation booking
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Tod *********
@Afik *********
as a general rule yes you can exit/re-enter and get a new free entry stamp BUT if you're thinking of doing it by land use a service that takes you to the border and back because they have it set up so you can get out/back in without issue
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Afik **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
is it an issue that my visa still has time left before expiring? I have until the 30th of this month, but I want to to it before then. Is that possible, or does it need to expire first?
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Tod *********
@Afik *********
If you got that Non-B before you came here it was USED the second you entered the country ๐Ÿ™‚

All you're here on is a 90 day entry stamp FROM the visa.

That will cancel when you stamp out of the country
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Afik **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
I see. Does it matter if I just fly to nearby country and take a flight back the same day compared to using a service that takes me to the border?
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Tod *********
@Afik *********
if you go by land use a service, if you're flying it doesn't matter you're not going to fool the immigration officers into thinking you did anything but exit/re-enter to get a new free entry stamp, no matter if you stay out a few days or fly right back.
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Afik **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
is there a "safer" option between them, or is it just a matter of preference?
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Tod *********
@Afik *********
a service gets you out and back without issue, that's why you pay a service
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Afik **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
ok, thank you very much for your help
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Afik **********
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