Hi, thought I’d share my experience requesting the visa extension for those that are curious about the process or if the details might help...
I live in bangna bangkok 2 streets away from the samut prakan border. Samut prakan has an immigration office a few subway stops away from me. I thought I’d try there Since its close but in the end I didn’t want to risk wasting a lot of time in case they don’t serve me so I just went straight to “temporary visa extension center muang thong thani” . From udom suk subway to wat phra sri mahathat subway, google maps lists the trip as connecting to another subway line but it was one continuous ride for 59 baht. After getting there i took a grab car to MTT it cost 134 baht and maybe a 15-20 minute drive, no traffic.
I arrived around maybe 2:10pm. The complex says “central investigation bureau” and the car drove us into the end of the road and the visa extension building is right there on the right. At the front are some girls under an outdoor tent like structure with many plastic chairs. They asked to see my passport and embassy letter (american printed in color) and if I have photocopies of my passport and arrival card. Then told me I can come back tomorrow. I told them I have an appointment for today and showed them on my phone and they said oh in that case of course I can come in today and gave me an extension form and some information about penalties for overstaying.
I was directed first to the second floor of the building to a car parking area where a man asked me to sit on one of the chairs where it was a line and you would move up a chair when its closer to your turn. It was very fast maybe 5 -10 minutes I didnt even have time to finish filling in the form it was my turn to go up to the table where 7 or 8 people are reviewing your documents. They told me to sign my photocopies and which parts of the form I had left blank what to fill in and put my phone number and they glued my picture on to the form then gave me a card with a number and told me to go to the first floor.
The first floor is an air conditioned room with 12 numbered desks. 11 and 12 for passport pickup and 1-8 with employees checking your application. I saw some people applying get up and leave looking upset and confused maybe they were being rejected but most of the applicants were being processed quickly I only waited 10 or 15 minutes for my turn. The person reviewing my application went through my paperwork and very carefully read what I wrote as my reason for staying (my hometown is a coronavirus hot spot and flights home are limited and often cancelled at the last minute) and she made a very sour facial expression and said something to her colleague about Americans. She told me “ok pay 1900”. I gave her 2000. She replied “not enough”. I said thats 2000. “You have 900?” No. “ ok go over there”. I asked what about my change? “Later”. Where do I go? “Over there” She pointed to the other 10 rows on her left. I asked which aisle is she pointing at. She said “15(minutes)” I just went and waited at the passport pick up line. I waited maybe 10 or 15 minutes and they brought out my passport and 100 baht stapled to my receipt. It says “under consideration until October 6”. The worker told me come back that day and make sure to have an appointment same as today. Just for fun I asked could I do this at Samut Prakan. She asked another worker and they said no.
It was pretty painless and a lot smoother than I expected. There was about 50 people ahead of me and maybe another 30 behind me but very fast. Im very glad I already printed what I needed and photocopies and had my passport pictures ready because I didnt see anywhere nearby where that could be done so I guess the best advice is be fully prepared. They only asked me for one copy of each thing and they didnt ask me anything about where I live like a map or pictures and other stuff people have been asked for. Also I don’t have a TM30 which I thought would have been an issue but it never came up.
Since Im already there and did prepare all my TM 30 paperwork I walked two buildings down to the left side of the complex and saw where to do TM30. The reception is a car parking lot and the girl asks for all my paperwork then gave me a TM30 form which I filled out and she checks it then gives a number to wait inside.
There were only 3 or 4 other people there I think doing 90 day reporting. I did not have to wait and was immediately served. The worker asked when did I arrive in Thailand and did I have a TM30 before. I said no ,he said ok 800 baht. He told us later that normally it would have been 2000 baht but now for covid it will only be an 800 fee for coming late. I gave one photocopy of my passport, entry stamp, arrival card, owners ID, title to the apartment, and rental contract. I brought a rental contract thats in my name which he mentioned was very surprising to him to see a foreigners name on the rental contract instead of a Thai friend. He did ask alot about the address apparently this neighborhood has some kind of old street and numbering system as well as a newer street and numbering system so he checked that several times against the deed that has the old version of the address.
We asked if I stay at a hotel and come back to the apartment do I have to do the TM30 again? He said no. Asked if I go to another city or province and come back do I have to do the TM30 again? He said no. We asked what if I leave the country and go to Japan or the US and come back will I have to do the TM30 again? He again said No. he said “basically as long as you don’t change your address and you still live here (the place in my rental contract) you don’t have to come back and do a TM30 again. You only have to come back to do a TM30 if you change your address and live somewhere else. When you fly into the country just put this address as where you will stay.” We also asked could we have done this in the Samut Prakan office he said no because this apartment is covered by Bangkok so you can only do this here in the Bangkok office. Then gave me some papers and told me to pay at another desk. The other desk asked me to sign 2 or 3 times and write my information and address on a paper and on the receipt. She also asked about the old address things. She gave me a receipt and my tm30 slip and said finished. About 5 minutes to fill the form and 5 minutes inside getting the TM30. Overall pretty quick.
After that I walked with my friend to the nearby exhibition center/mall area to eat. From there I booked a taxi on grab back to the wat phra sri mahathat subway it was listed as 193 baht. The taxi driver that arrived suggested just driving to MoChit subway because traffic is bad, it took about an hour and traffic was also bad, I was expecting to pay more but the fee was still just 193 baht.
I hope that information helps. I know reading about everybody elses experience and details here always helps me.
