of course, if they would build a website that actually works, and that is actually linked with the Imm. system, then it will be a good thing.
But right now they require to bring something to show them you fill the form (even if it's in their own system!) and then the form is just a joke: you cannot put Thailand as your country of residence nor can put your Thai phone number (and Imm. confirmed that putting something different from the truth IS a big issue as it's marked as false information in an official document), but you can select as your country things like "East Germany" or "Yugoslavia"...
Foreigners should submit their arrival card information 3 days in advance of arriving in Thailand, including the date of arrival.
Does it mean "maximum 3 days prior to arrival"? or does it mean "within the 3 days prior to arrival"? Or "exactly three days before arrival"?
If someone is arriving on let's say May 15th, does it mean it must be done before the 12th or between 13th-15th or exactly on the 13th? Why are they always unable to write important things like this in a non-ambiguous way?
In addition, name and lastname fields only allows A-Z, so all of us with two lastnames (space) or composed names or composed lastnames (dash) cannot write it as it is in our passport...
I work in software and website industry. It's NOT so hard to do the things correctly... Honestly, it looks like they do it like this on purpose.
to overstay on purpose is the worst and most stupid advice ever - specially when doing it right is a matter of 25€ .
An overstay will make you unable to get a LTR, Elite or the new DTV. It's a red flag if doing border bounces or visa runs. And even entering other countries that can put you in a hard situation as other immigration officers can see the stamp and there's no one country where they like overstayers.
you're so wrong. An overstay will make you unable to get a LTR, Elite or the new DTV. It's a red flag if doing border bounces or visa runs. And even entering other countries that can put you in a hard situation as other immigration officers can see the stamp and there's no one country where they like overstayers.
To overstay on purpose is one of the most stupid things to do - specially when doing it right is a matter of 25€
Ask your local immigration, it changes depending on your local office - and even depending on the office chief.
As example, in Chiang Mai it's not required to fill a new TM30 if travelling inside the country, but in Lamphun it's absolutely required even if you spend just one night in a hotel - and they require all the receipts after checking it in the system.
no, her extension was rejected and they gave her 7 days to leave the country. Those 7 days aren't an extension but a grace period to arrange things to leave.
just came from immigration so I can update on this, maybe it's interesting for your records.
Extending from 30 days extension on SETV to 60 days "visiting family" (spouse) in Lamphun.
I brought all paperwork I could think of, and surely they wanted all of them: copy of all passport pages, KoRo2, KoRo3 and copies, copies of wife's ID and TabienBaan (both signed by her), TM7 form, two other forms of acknowlege about overstay and extension conditions... and ALL TM30s since I entered the country - more on this later.
I have my 60 days stamp, good until April 7th - the day I'm leaving the country.
There was a problem with the KoRo2 as it was dated on December... yes, the day I got married! No, it looks like the KoRo2 must be dated on the current year, and they will keep THE ORIGINAL. As I had copy and original of the KoRo3 they let me do it with it, but advised for the next extensions to be sure it's dated on current year.
As they keep the original one, they told me to go to the Amphoe every year to obtain a new KoRo2. Looks strange to me, but I asked this to TWO officers (the one who checked all paperwork and then the one who took my photo and handed my passport with the stamp).
The TM7 form, on the back, I had to write my address twice: "one is your address, another one address of who wrote the form, if it's you, then repeat address again". I never had to do that in CM.
In the TM7, along with my phone number (I'm used to write it in CM too) I had to write my wife's phone number.
TM30: first they wanted ALL of the TM30s in Lamphun since I entered the country. I have three TM30s after two trips to BKK, as they instructed me to ALWAYS do a new TM30 if traveling out of Lamphun, even if inside the country. Luckly I'm always in the "what new surprise would you throw at me" mood and I already had all the TM30 receitps.
But then, a new problem with TM30: my wife registered herself in the system, uploaded documents, got approved, etc... like one year ago. But they said the TM30 was incorrect as it hasn't the "name of the place". Of course, it's a private house... so they told me "in that case you MUST write the full name of the onwer as 'name of the place'". As I have the password I could enter the site and update the "name of the place", after that I showed them in my mobile and it was good to go. Note that this was not a problem when I did the extension on my SETV last month...
In and out in around 1 hour and 15 minutes, even if I was the only "customer" there and I had the queue number #1.
I wanted to do my 90 days report too, I had the form already filled, but they told me it's not needed as I'm on a Tourist visa/extension, and the 90 days report is due only on long term visas/extensions. I insisted next week it will be 90 days since I entered Thailand, but they, again two different officers, confirmed that I do NOT need to do it on a Tourist stay, even if I stay more than 90 days. I though the law said "everyone staying more than 90 days", but as I have to do it in this office and they won't do it, there's nothing I can do - and maybe I'm wrong on my assumption "everyone must do 90 days".
I asked about when I come back from my country with a Non-O in hand, how to do the year extension, they told me come here when you still have around 30 days in the permission of stay and the 400K sitting in a bank for at least 2 months, to start the process.
So to summarize, in Lamphun:
- For any extension you need ALL TM30s since you entered the country. TM30s in your current place in Lamphun, not everywhere (they didn't ask for the TM30 from the BKK hotels).
- TM30 must have the name of the owner as "name of place" if it's a private house (not a hotel, guesthouse, whatever)
- For visiting spouse, have to write spouse's phone number in the TM7 form
- For visiting spouse, it's needed ORIGINAL KoRo2 dated on the current year and they keep it - so it's needed a visit to the Amphoe every year.
Again, thank you all for your valuable help and advice. All the process with immigration are a nightmare of bureocracy so your help is really appreciated.
I hope this info could be useful for your records and maybe other foreigners in the same office.
sadly I asked at my local immigration office already and they told me just go to some Embassy to get the Visa first. They told me will only issue the 30 days extension on my tourist visa, after that I'll need the full Non-O from some Embassy.