LONG POST

Successful Covid Extension Today

Office: Bangkok Muang Thong Thani

Visa Type: Visa Exempt

Passport: USA

Extension Granted: 60-days from expiry of my existing covid stamp

Background:

I have been here since the pandemic started in early 2020.

I have never left the country while the rest of the world was going into crazy lockdowns. For that I will be forever grateful to Thailand.

I have only been on covid extensions since 2020.

I have never changed to any other visa type other than the visa exempt which I originally entered with.

Experience:

I was not asked "When are you leaving?". (They have asked in the past, but today they did not.)

I was not asked "Show me your ticket." or "Do you have a flight?" (They have asked in the past, and I replied I am planning it.)

They checked my docs for completeness, and made sure I signed where it's required.

They collected my docs and passport, asked me for the 1900THB fee and said "Please wait over there for us to return your passport to you."

It took about 45 minutes beginning to end.

Tips:

I can't promise you will have the same experience because each case is unique. I will share with you what I believe helps (even little things that you don't think should make any difference).

Dress and Demeanor:

1. I wear long pants/trousers and a collared shirt(polo is fine) no matter how hot it is, and I wear shoes, not flip-flops. Professionalism goes a long way in helping your case with them. You don't need to dress like you are interviewing for a job, but you shouldn't dress like you're partying at the club or beach either.

Dress like you are going to church or a temple.

3. If they ask questions, I answer respectfully in a low voice, and I never show any emotion no matter how irritated I may be at the question.

4. If they tell me "you should have, you need to, etc." I reply "OK thanks for letting me know, I will."

5. If they raise their voice at me, I don't raise mine back at them.

6. Understand: Thais (nice or not so nice) expect to save face. Yelling back does not allow that and only delays or prevents your goal of getting a stamp in your passport. For me, nothing else matters (not my ego, my feelings, my "rights") except leaving that office with an extension stamp in my passport.

Logistics:

1. I print all forms out a few days before and fill them in advance. This saves both the office's time and mine. Not every form will be rejected, and if one is...it is easy to just look at what I already printed and transcribe to the new form.

2. I take photos in a few days before going there. Saves time because LOTS of people show up without photos and that queue can get long.

3. I make photocopies of my passport pages in advance because (same reason as #2)

4. Even if I don't think I will need one, I bring a pen. Also...I bring a pen. ;)

5. I go in the morning. This is so if there's something I forgot or have been asked to resolve, I have time to do something about it and maybe still get things done by the afternoon.

Again, can't promise you the same results, but I hope this helps some of you. Good luck, and hope you continue to enjoy your time in the Land of Smiles.

Positive post for the Covid Extension @ Phangan Immigration, being that you are on a Tourist Visa or Visa Exemption.

All the paperwork is kept in a cabinet outside so you can go before it opens/whenever to collect these. It appeared that as long as you dress appropriately, wear your mask and make sure you have your TM30 you’re good for the extension (there were people walking out successfully on their 8th, 9th, etc extension).

Photocopy and TM30 printout out possible on site, but it’s actually helpful for everyone if you sign all your pages BEFORE getting to the front of the first queue AND TAKE A PEN 🤗 There were people that were there before me that ended up way after me all because of waiting for a pen. All smooth (bar the photocopy opening a bit late), no complaints!

Lesson learned today! Always check this site before going to immigration. We are US citizens renewing a 60 day SE tourists visa for an additional 30 days.

A few days ago I saw someone post how easy it was to go to Chaeng Watthana immigration. So I figured it's only a 25 minute grab ride, why not go there. Plus they mentioned they didn't ask for TM30

After a debacle trying to get a grab to pick us up, we go there and filled out our paperwork at the immigration office, and have all the documents ready to go. We get our number and wait in line. Then it's our turn. We only had to wait 15 minutes from getting our number to being seen!

Then I get to the agent who tells me I have to go to the Nonthaburi immigration office since that is where my address is registered at. So then we take a grab (over 200 THB later) we arrive with documents in hand, and they ask for the TM30 documents. The one item we didn't have since I knew Chaeng Watthana didn't ask. We then go back home and get in contact with our Airbnb host. Now they will fill out the documents we need this weekend, and we will go back Monday to get our extension.

Long story short, if we would have checked that we needed to go to Nonthaburi first, this would have saved us baht for the grab rides, and a headache!

Just in case anyone is renewing at Nonthaburi in the near future, don't forget your TM30 form with you.

Hope my hassle helps people in the future!

Oh well, this will be a good article for our website. haha

Visa extension query - I intend to go to immigration at korat this comeing Thursday to extend my 30 day visa (the visa exempt 30 day stamp given on arrival). I've not done an in country visa extension for over 20 years so just want to check up how it works.

Has anyone done this recently? Is it fairly straightforward? Any other tips/info regarding required documents, best arrival time, parking etc to make the whole thing as pain free as possible?

TIA for any assistance/advice :)