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When should I extend my single entry tourist visa in Thailand?
Dec 22, 2020
5 years ago
Helen ********
ORIGINAL POSTERExtending single entry tourist visa. We entered Thailand and our 60 days expire February 15. We plan on extending for the additional 30 days. We've received contradictory information 1) wait until closer till our original expiry, no more then 3 days prior 2) we can do this at anytime prior to expiry. Which is correct? We plan on spending a lot of time on the Andaman side which don't have an immigration office so would like to get the process completed in January while in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Thanks!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking clarification on the process for extending a single entry tourist visa in Thailand, specifically whether to wait until closer to the expiry date (February 15) or if they can apply for the extension anytime prior to expiry. Responses indicate that it is generally acceptable to extend the visa when there are 30 days or less remaining on the current entry stamp, particularly in Bangkok and Chiang Mai where the extension can be applied for with up to 45 days remaining. There's a discussion about the possibility of submitting the extension now due to potential issues around lockdowns and the lack of immigration offices in the Andaman side.
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Tod *********
and I think at this point now with the geography lesson and all that the O/P has a good idea what course of action to take.
Thanx one and all for the helpful contributions, Good luck in your endeavor
Thanx one and all for the helpful contributions, Good luck in your endeavor
@He***
, take care, stay safe :) Scuba ****
Ranong*
Scuba ****
There are immigration offices in Ranking, Phang Nga and Phuket, all of which are on Andaman side
Robert *******
Krabi. Trang, Satun to name a few extra.
Scuba ****
@Robert ******
There you go and she said there were no offices on the Andaman side :)Reply to
Scuba ****
Reply
Robert *******
The Andaman Islands are part of India, so you do not need a Thai visa to be there.
Helen ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert ******
correction madeRobert *******
@Helen *******
You made it worse, just delete the part of there is no Immigration Office in half of touristic Thailand.Reply to
Robert *******
Reply
Benjamin ******
@Robert ******
You're right! It's owned by India and Myanmar *********************************************
(note: I never been south of Hua Hin, so I'm not sure about the regions down there)
Reply to
Benjamin ******
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Brandon ************
I would hold off as they may add the extra 15 days to account for quarantine in January
Dominic ****
If you explain your situation they might allow you to extend now, especially as there's the possibility of a lockdown in the new year. Making you wait until January to extend benefits nobody.
Benjamin ******
@Dominic ********
I can not imagine they would do a special exception for the OP as a tourist. I thought they had immigration offices on some of the islands anywayHelen ********
ORIGINAL POSTERWe are in quarantine until January 2, so we will have to wait. The islands we go to currently don't do the extension.
Benjamin ******
@Helen *******
To my knowledge, all immigration offices do the 30 day extension of stay based on tourism. Can I get a source on that?Helen ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
that's what we were told at the immigration office on Koh Lipe last year.Ellie *******
@Helen *******
As far as I remember, there is no "real" immigration office in Koh Lipe. There are so-called passport controls for ferry travelers to enter/exit the country on that island. You may have to go to the immigration office on the mainland -Satun - for any application. (Sorry if I remember wrong.)Benjamin ******
@Helen *******
I don't know where Koh Lipe is, so I looked at it on a map. It appears to be a small island close to Malaysia, and the immigration office itself is located at a ferry station. I'm thinking the immigration office is for processing Malaysians and Thais; kinda like the ferry that's running between Mukdahon, Thailand and Savannakhet, Laos. If that's the case, then they would not be processing the extension of stays. I don't know where the nearest immigration office would be? Maybe Satun?
Reply to
Benjamin ******
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Dominic ****
@Benjamin *****
you're probably right, but the OP is going to be disappointed if immigration offices are closed throughout January. Unlikely but possible. I think it's worth going to ask them this month.Bobby ********
Dominic Ireland. The last time immigration offices closed due to lockdown, any foreigner in the country was given a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card in the form of an amnesty. I cannot see it would be any different this time. The OP might well get two months free instead of 1900 baht for one month
Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Helen ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks everyone!
Bobby ********
In both Benjamin and Ellie cases, the extension runs from the expiry of the visa, not from the date of application
Ellie *******
in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, you can apply for an extension when you have 45 days or less remaining on your current stamp.
Benjamin ******
It depends on the immigration office, but you can extend it when you have 30 days or less remaining on your entry stamp. The cost will be 1,900 THB.
Reply to
Benjamin ******
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