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What should I do if my Thai visa is about to expire and I need to catch a flight soon?

Thai visa rulesVisa extensionOverstayingImmigration questionsTourist visaPattaya immigrationVisa exemption
Aug 16, 2023
a year ago
Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have had 2 visa exemption .. extensions, upon my third arrival into bangkok i get questioend by immigration in the airport. asking why i staying so long, they grant me 30 day entry visa, my visa is to expire on 31 august, but my flight is september 4.. out of thailand for the rest of the year, upton visiting immigration in pattaya, they question me and want to speak to where i am staying, and see the key card, they then say to me i must return on the 30TH, but my visa expires 31st, i am looking for a 7 day extension just to be able to get the flight... what will happen upon immigration on the 30th, i'm thinking they will deport me, or take me to bangkok to make sure i get on a flight?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has encountered issues with their Thai visa extension, having received a 30-day entry stamp with an expiration date close to their flight. They are worried about immigration questioning and the possibility of being deported for overstaying. Community members advise the user to apply for an extension close to the expiration date and assure them that being on immigration’s radar doesn't necessarily lead to deportation, provided they follow the rules. Discussing past experiences reveals that different immigration offices may handle situations inconsistently, but applying for extensions at the appropriate time is key.
Helloo *****
Did they ask you the same question repeatly... Sir.. Why you stay in my country more than your own country? Why you no take visa. Why you stay in my country more than your own country? You see computer print out the file all you sir. Why you stay in my country more than your own country?
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Helloo ****
 no they did not
a year ago
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Helloo *****
@Anthony ******
 they ask me
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Helloo ****
 they asked what I’m doing I say travel, and they said take you 6 month to travel?
a year ago
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Helloo *****
@Anthony ******
 they ask why don't you get proper visa if you want travel that long
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Helloo ****
 yes, then they granted me the stamp again
a year ago
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Helloo *****
@Anthony ******
 you are lucky.. Me too but next time go Suvarnabhumi airport
a year ago
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Helloo *****
@Anthony ******
 yes they say same to me
a year ago
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Helloo *****
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Da-vid *****
It is no problem. Spend 200$ and change your day flight to
****
. You can Save yourself a lot of troubles
a year ago
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John ********
I was also told to come back one day prior expiry, but went back three days earlier and got the extension without any question. Imm. are usually very busy at Jomtien wherefore they only accept to extend in “last moment” but less then 6 days are usually accepted.

Was also a bit concerned about this procedure which seems to be specific for Chon Bury Immigration at Jomtien.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 great I will try a few days before the expires
a year ago
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Anthony *******
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Rei ***********
Just pay for the penalty. And you'll be fine.
a year ago
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Bä ****
Dude CALM DOWN, check your pants and slow your roll…..

4 Steps to follow

1) Calm Down

2) Calm Down

3) Calm Down

4) Go get your extension 1-2 Days before your visa expires and have your TM30 with you.
a year ago
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Ron *******
Here's one tip I'll give you.

DO NOT go back until the day they have told you.

If they get the arse, and it's likely, they'll tell you to leave the office and never go back.

They are not mugs there under any stretch of the imagination. They know every trick in the book.

They have done it to people dozens of times.

If they do it, they will mark the system and you won't get an extension of any sort, anywhere.

Every office will simply tell you to go back to Jomtien.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron ******
 she just give me a blue post stick note and says 30. But will they know I need to return that date.

I feel it’s cutting it very thin.

Leaving me no margain for error

If they do not grant me the 7 day extension
a year ago
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Ron *******
@Anthony ******
 they don't have to give you any extension whatsoever.

They have told you to go back on the last day.

It's up to you if you choose to go earlier BUT be aware of how they can play it.
a year ago
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Ron *******
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Mitchell *******
I would not overstay. You are already on their radar. Also, when you left Thailand,

1. How long did you stay away?

2. When you returned, did you stay at the same condo?

To them, it might look like you are living here, and not being a tourist. Just a thought.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mitchell ******
 thank you for replying,

I was in Vietnam for 10 days

Then returned 3rd time in 6 month. 2 air 1 land

And no not same condo but Pattaya yes

But she questioned me about “I see you was In krabi, show me the booking” but this was in July
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
Interesting.
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
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Henrik *****
Buy another ticket or change the one you got, cheaper to do it now than waiting until they may kick you out, when your visa expire.

Overstaying may ban you from entering Thailand for years.
a year ago
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Carlos *********
Graham Seal not true, been there done that during covid. And it says you need to be arrested by police, but still not a permanent ban
a year ago
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Carlos *********
@Henrik ****
not so, if you pay the fine and it's not a Long time. What gets you banned is a flagrant disrespect for the law.
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Carlos ********
 Not true. What gets you banned is being stopped by the police while on overstay, even just a day or two.
a year ago
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Graham ******
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Lynnette *******
@Henrik ****
 he only needs to go back and get the exemption. As advised.
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
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Ron *******
Quite often Jomtien immigration will tell you to come back the day before your entry ends.

It's normal
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ron ******
 thank you
a year ago
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Anthony *******
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John **********
If I'm following this confusing tale you have not yet had a 30 day extension on your current entry stamp? Or have you? If you haven't then you should get one when you return. If you have you should apply for one which they will refuse as each entry can only be extended once. When they refuse you should get a 7 day stamp to exit the country (not an extension), it will greatly help your chances of getting this if you have your flight ticket to show them.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 this would be my third extension, I have not currently had the extension this entry no. I tried today, and they turned me away and said come back 30th, with my visa due to expire 31st

I have a flight ticket booked and shown to them, but today they did not grant me an extension.

(Not had one this third trip in 6 month)
a year ago
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John **********
@Anthony ******
 them they will give you a 30 day extension when you go back. Pattaya don't like doing them early
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
then with immigration today suggesting i go back on 30th, 1 day before extension.. makes me paranoid thinking they will drive me to bangkok airport and make sure i get on a flight
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 yeah last 2 times i did them in pattaya was the final 3-5 days of the visa. this time i wanted it done early, so i can put my mind at rest, due to bangkok airport making me fill in a statement form asking which day i will leave and what flight i am on
a year ago
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Anthony *******
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Brandon ************
This is normal in Pattaya. They do not let you apply for a tourist extension until the last week of your stay. You went too early, so they told you to come back later.

Go back when you have a week or less left and apply for your extension then. You're being paranoid, they're not going to do anything to you.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I thought you can extend with 2 weeks or so prior?

I just don’t understand why they wanted to call my condo?

And request I go back the day my condo expires… and the day before my visa expires

This will be the third extension. By law it says only 2 extensions allowed.

Just hoping for 7 day extension
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Anthony ******
 I don't know what laws you're reading but there's no such law.

You are eligible for a 30 day tourist extension on each entry. If you haven not applied for your 30 day tourist extension on this entry, then you are eligible for it. There is no law that says you can only apply twice in a year.

As I said this is very normal for Pattaya. They love to send people away and tell them to come back when their stamp is almost expired. Many reports of the same from others.

Did you have proof of TM30 with you when you went to immigration? If not, this is why they wanted to find out where you are staying. Any place that has a foreigner staying there is legally required to report the foreigner arriving within 24 hours. If you did not have proof of that, you cannot apply for an extension and usually you will get fined as well.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
yes understood and agree, she stated i will need to correct visa next time, but yeah all i wanted today was a 7 day extension.. just so i can catch my flight which is AFTER my visa expires, but got told to return the day before it expires, so maybe if i go the final week and see what happens. if they deny the 30 days i get a 7 day stamp protocol?
a year ago
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Chris ********
@Anthony ******
 It's because your asking for a 7 day refusal. It comes into effect the day they process it, you would have less time if they did it now. Just go ask for standard 30 day extension.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris *******
 makes sense actually, they did write 7 days on my form
a year ago
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Gregor **********
@Anthony ******
 the 7 days of the "application denied stamp" begin with the day you are issued the stamp, so they tell you to come back one day before your stay permit expires. What I wonder about is that they let you in without proof of onward travel within the 30 days of a visa-exempt entry. If the officers had been aware that your flight out is 5 days later, they could have refused your entry. so at the least you got that chance on the 7 days grace period. Go there on the last day and apply for the 30-days extension. You will either been granted 30 days or 7 days, however you will neither get arrested or deported, nor fined, because you aren't on any overstay, you have just been in Thailand on back-to-back visa-exempt entries "for too long"
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Anthony ******
 I've never heard of anyone being denied a 30 day extension.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
they give me just receipt of notification for the tm30, and stapled this to the stamp of arrivl
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 you have been great information, i'm just unsure why the pattaya service agent, is saying chonburi will not grant me an extension anymore, and that i should look to go to bangkok for the extenion, but he has little faith that they will grant me an extension now due to going alone, but if i used his service then i would of been granted it.. very odd
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Anthony ******
 why do you think they say that? They want your business/money.

You are eligible for an extension and they told you to come back and get it later. I probably wouldn't wait until the day before like they said, I'd go a few days earlier.

If they didn't put anything in your passport there's no way for them to even know they talked to you previously.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
the only thing, the reception did not file it on the app? because the app was down, but she give me the paperwork and all signatured and signed, but said on the app was down, if this had something to do with it maybe?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Anthony ******
 The app has been down for over 48 hours now.
a year ago
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Anthony *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 yes had proof of the TM30, they give me a receipt of notification too, and tell me to photocopy this, and then go see the front desk, upon that she then says go back the day before, just makes me paranoid they want me to go back 1 day before. and i was speaking with a pattaya visa agent who says visa exemption is only allowed to be extended 2 times per calender year - visa agent reply this "you have tried to enter the country too many times the rules say twice on Visa exemption in a 12 month period first of January to the 31st December how do you come and see me I could’ve got you a guaranteed re-entry at the border this is not easy to deal with in Pattaya "
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Anthony ******
 There is either a miscommunication with the agent, or they have no idea what they are talking about.

You can enter Thailand only 2 times per year at at LAND BORDER without a visa. The limit is doing visa exempt entry 2 times per year by land. This rule has nothing to do with applying for extensions, and it has nothing to do with arriving by air.

That being said, just because there is no law about how many times you can enter Thailand without a visa by air, your entry to Thailand is at the discretion of the immigration officer. They've determined you are spending too long in Thailand without the the proper long term visa and made that clear to you. But they let you into Thailand. After that everything is normal. You can take your 30 days, and you can apply for an extension without issue.

If you try to fly back to Thailand again without a proper visa you're very likely to be denied entry.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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