What Should My Friend Do If He Can't Get a Visa Extension Due to No Passport Space?

Question

URGENT! My friend is right now in immigration in Samui. They don't give him the extension, because there is no space in passport. They told him he should leave country and come back as the stamps for exit and enter are smaller. US passport, arrived Jan 28 with visa exemption, would need to leave country Feb 26, tomorrow. Is there anything else he could do?

Ask Thailand · Answer

A person in Samui is facing an urgent situation regarding their visa extension due to insufficient space in their passport for additional stamps. They must leave Thailand and return to secure a new entry. Suggestions include applying for a new passport, leaving the country by land to nearby countries, or flying to Malaysia and returning immediately without entering immigration. Various options and advice from the community emphasize the need for a plan to manage the situation effectively.

Tod ********* · Answer

and I think that not much more sage advice can be offered to [mention redacted]'s friends with no space left in their passport.

There are some good suggestions, have your friend follow them and they should come out the other side okay.

Good Luck to them :)

Romain *** · Answer

Malaysian stamp is small and should not take more than 1/2 page

Tod ********* · Answer

okay while it is advantageous to point out that he needs a new passport (I think that fact is clear to them :P)

HE could fly to Kuala Lumpur and back and only stay in the transit area (don't stamp in or out of Malaysia) and then fly right back to thailand. I know people who have done it and there's no problem as long as you have your boarding passes.

Benjamin ****** · Answer

If, on the other hand, he has to fly out, I do not know which country he should fly into. Both Laos and Cambodia have a full page visa on arrival. I do not know if he can fly into Myanmar without a visa (and if so, what size visa that is), and I don't know what size the Malaysia visa on arrival is.

Benjamin ****** · Answer

If he has not done two border bounces by land, have him bounce out by land. I do not know what size the Malaysia stamp is, but he may have enough space for the entry/exit stamp for Thailand, and the Myanmar day pass stamp in Kanchanburi.

Once he returns, get a new passport as soon as possible from the American consulate in Bangkok.