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What should I do if the U.S. Embassy no longer provides letters for my visa extension in Thailand?

U.S. EmbassyVisa ExtensionCOVID ExtensionsTourist VisaImmigration OfficeProper VisaThailand ImmigrationVisa Requirements
Mar 9, 2022
3 years ago
Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I HAVE BEEN here on a tourist visa since March, 2020 and have traveled from Mae Sai down here to Prachaup. I have occasionally been asked for a letter from my embassy and have provided this one, which was accepted as late as this January in Pretchaburi.

But here, the officer wants a current letter. I have tried, but it looks to me like the U.S. Embassy has stopped providing these. Anyone have experience with this?

I met a Brit who said that his embassy still provides letters.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user has been in Thailand on a tourist visa since March 2020 and is facing issues with immigration requiring a current letter from the U.S. Embassy to extend their stay. They mention that the embassy has stopped issuing these letters and seek advice. Other users provide insights, with some suggesting they print an email from the embassy indicating the lack of letter issuance or encourage obtaining a proper long-term visa instead of relying on COVID-related extensions. Advice also includes exploring different immigration offices or providing alternative documentation.
Monika *******
The Form I had to fill in had on it no letter from embassy and I could just tick it and it was accepted.
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mon***
, hmm, say, did you do this online?
3 years ago
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Monika *******
@Mark **********
 no at the Immigration
3 years ago
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Monika *******
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Wolfgang *******
You go without this letter to your immigration. If you have luck they give you the next Covid extension.. (it's working till 25th March) but be ready for to have plan b
3 years ago
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Marguyvin **********
@Mark **********
...The party is definitely not over, even though there's no shortage of party-poopers in this forum. 😉 Like you, I have been here as long as you have, and I just got another covid extension approved on Monday in Bangkok. Aside from a current dated email, you may wish to provide this which came from the U.S. Embassy website officially announcing they won't generate letters because Immigration advised it is not necessary. I just happened to save a screenshot all those years ago. LOL 😉 Good luck, and good riddance to these d@mned trolls! đŸ’Ș
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@Mark **********
 Two words - proper visa.
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@MarGuyvin **
 so apparently, saying to someone they should get a proper visa versus milking COVID extensions makes you a party pooper? Today I learned.
3 years ago
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Marguyvin **********
@Duncan ******
 I said there's no shortage of party-poopers. I didn't define their characteristics. Are you self-identifying? ;)
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@MarGuyvin **
 I just think this isn't hard - if you want to stay here long term, go and get a proper visa. Op has exploited the system for two years, the party, as you describe it, if it isn't over, should be soon. The whole point of COVID extensions wasn't to allow people to stay here long term, it was people who couldn't get a flight home.
3 years ago
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Marguyvin **********
@Duncan ******
 To each his own, but in all seriousness...of all the causes one could choose to fight for in this chaotic world we live, you really choose to be the champion of Thailand's immigration system? I guess we should all be so charmed and inspired by your fight for such a noble cause.
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@MarGuyvin **
 ROFL - I'm doing no such thing 😃 But again, not hard for op to get a proper visa. Most of us have been there before in various forms.
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
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Marguyvin **********
And here's the original archived page from webcache:

**************************************************************************************************************
**********
*****
*****
5733/https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/
3 years ago
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Marguyvin **********
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William ******
you know you can go to another immigration office or photoshop that date new times roman right?
3 years ago
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William ******
Go to another immigration office good luck
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wil****
, ha, that would be so easy, but just illegal enough to have me deported, easily!
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
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Tom ********
The party is over
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@Mark **********
 two words - proper visa.
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@Mark **********
 keep throwing around the abuse all you want - the point still remains - go and get a proper visa.
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dun***
, abuse? Really? I asked for help and you, completely unprovoked, offered up your pinhead opinion. I just do not put up with bullies.
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@Mark **********
 and still going with the abuse. Go and get a proper visa, it's not rocket science.
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@T**
, what party? Excuse me, but who TF are you?
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@Mark **********
 the party you've managed to exploit in false pretenses for two years. Go get a proper visa - this isn't hard.
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
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Joseph *********
Sounds like you've had quite a run!
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jos***
, what a bizarre comment.
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
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Duncan *******
Presumably, you're still here on COVID extensions? This isn't hard - go get a proper long-term visa or get on a flight and go home.
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
WELL, CALL ME EMBARRASSED!

My friend warned me before I made this post.

Friend: Don’t do it. Too many useless, whiney a-holes out there.

Me: What? No, this group is people wanting to help with advice about visas and “everything else.”

Friend: Nope, always gonna be a few bored children wanting to impress their mothers with their
 wit.

Me: Naw, not here, oh wait, you mean that Duncan Riley creep?

Friend: Yeah, well


Me: Oh, c’mon the guy is a pathetic, lonely loser, but even he isn’t so cretinous.

Friend: No?

Me: No...
3 years ago
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Duncan *******
@Mark **********
 The COVID extensions were introduced for people who couldn't get a flight home which was a serious problem in 2020 - it was the generosity of a Thai government that they introduced it. It wasn't for people like you to stay here for two years without getting a proper visa.

That you've managed to exploit that, for seemingly two years - great that you have, but grow the f-up and go and get a proper visa.
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dun***
, oh, well, perhaps an apology is in order. I did not know that you are a member of the Thai Parliament. How else would you know that this program is out of "the generosity of a Thai government?"

Oh, wait. Yep, you do not know that, but have just dreamt it up in that tiny, malfunctioning brain of yours. The same pus-infected cranium that is imagining that I am "exploiting" the system.

Are you here on a visa? If so, why don't you grow the f-up and get your Thai citizenship? What an a-hole you are for exploiting the people here by staying longterm without becoming a citizen.
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
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Philip *********
Yeah
 they stopped issuing those letter around April or may 2020. You can print out an email response from them saying they won’t give you a letter. I got that extension several times without the letter
3 years ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phi***
, okay, thanks!
3 years ago
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Philip *********
@Mark **********
 just check on if they’re even still doing this extension. I went home in 2021 and came back on a business visa so I don’t know if these extensions are still being granted
3 years ago
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Philip *********
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