What Should We Do About the Immigration Extension Process During Lockdown?

Apr 25, 2020
5 years ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Bob Drummer

hi thanks so much for helping everyone! Please see the 3 stamps attached. My Filipina GF arrived December 27th on a 60-day and then we extended for another 30 days until March 25. We paid $1,900 for a 7-Day extension until April 1. We went back before April 1 with a letter from her embassy and then they forced us (and everyone else who was there before their extension expired) to overstay one day before they would accept the 2nd 1,900 & give her the last stamp until April 16th. On April 6th we were locked down in our district and the police would not let us go to any immigration office on or before April 16th. It's the March 26th date that baffles us....What do you think we should do?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user describes their experience with obtaining visa extensions for their Filipina girlfriend in Thailand during COVID-19 lockdowns. After navigating multiple extensions and facing delays due to lockdowns, they express confusion about the extension process and seek advice on how to proceed moving forward.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
And I think we've taken this about as far as we can.

ALWAYS look to see if your immigration office has their own website and use that rather than the 1178 hotline. Especially seeing as there are more than 70 immigration offices in the country and each one does things their own way.

Good Luck, take care, stay safe (y)
Bob *********
Thanks again for your help it looks like it was approved. and it's startling that says we can go and get a 1-year Visa but I'm sure that's a typo? If that is a 30 day approval does it mean we have until May 2nd to go to the immigration office to get the official stamp?
Benjamin ******
It looks like the "one year" visa line is for people who get those under consideration stamps for one year visas. This does not apply to you; ignore it.
Bob *********
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'd say as SOON as you can go to the phuket immigration office and see if they need to put that second stamp in OR if you're good to go just like you are.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Did you go to the website and enter the extension application number for the "under consideration" stamp to see if it was approved for the rest of the extension or not?
Bob *********
Wow that's fantastic I do find that the officers down there very helpful very often I'll go check right now
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
because I just did and it showed your under consideration stamp WAS approved for the rest of the extension
Bob *********
Oh I had no idea that existed do you have the link to it?
Bob *********
Thanks...I actually called the 1178 number & was on hold for about 10 minutes and gave up & started thinking that the officer at the immigration office on the 1st day we can physically be allowed to go there will decide our Fate regardless of the what the 1178 number tells us. I say that because I've seen officers give instructions that contradicted other offices and airport's immigration decisions so I think the immigration officer will just laugh if I tell them 1178 told me everything is okay and they'll just say 1178 was confused... . so I think we just have to go in the first day we were allowed and hope for the best.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
why wouldn't you just call the Phuket office you were dealing with?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
If I was going to guess, I'd guess they ARE covered by the amnesty (both the first one until the 30th of this month AND the new one which is for no longer than the 31st of July even though they did NOT go and complete the two step process, BUT I sure would call the immigration office and find out because the last thing you need to do is THINK you're covered but because you didn't complete that two step covid-19 extension end up not being covered and run up an overstay.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Now by all rights, they should have went to the immigration office on the 16th and got the other 2 weeks of the unable to travel due to covid-19 extension stamp <- which would have completed that process.

BUT you say due to the lock down you couldn't do that.
Bob *********
Correct
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