ChomDo

So a quick report from my visit to CW. Everything would have gone smoothly with the covid extension but I was faced by a surprising question which made it into a 2 hours long show. It would have been done in 10 min otherwise cos I had a booking. Anyway, the officer asked me if I had been to Chiang Mai a while ago. Well yes I had been on a trip up north and the hotel there had reported my address (TM30), which created a big issue. So eventho this officer was really nice and helpful, she insisted that I have to have my spouse report my new TM30. It seemed like I would have to come back another day but luckily we were able to get it done online and I got everything done at the same time. Would have seriously sucked to have to come again since this trip takes around 4-5 hours out of my day. So I find this amusing that every time you leave BKK to another province, you need to make a new TM30 when you return. I can't believe this is true but the helpful officer claimed it is so. What an absolute circus this is if they make you do it every time. It's not that big of a deal if the online reporting site works, but it if doesn't then that's a whole different story. I recall people saying here and on Twitter before that nowadays the TM30 only has to be done once. So what's going on here?? I'm going out of town again next week and I'm thinking of refusing to show my passport at the hotel in another province because I don't want them to report my address there. It used to be possible to check in with a Thai divers licence but now they seem to be insisting on a passport. Let's see!

That sounds promising! Just like my experience last time. I'm heading there soon and will report then.

Great report, thanks! I was wondering why they would ask for a TM30 this time if it's your third time extending. Normally they might ask that on the first visit, altho never been asked from me during recent years visiting Chaeng Watthana.

Thanks for the report. A letter stating "you will be arrested if you don't leave" WHAT? Never heard of that one. Sounds pretty hostile.

What a story haha. There might be plenty of things behind this story that we don't know. The Norwegian group must have done something wrong or then the whole story is bogus like many here speculate. I mean if someone is against covid extensions and people "abusing the system" they have some serious personal issues! There's simply nothing wrong with doing that and besides that, if the country offers limited visa classes like this, people will keep taking advantage of all the tricks possible. Why wouldn't they!

That's great news! Nice to hear that it went so smooth, especially if you've been extending for 2 years haha. I'm going end of this week to CW and hope it's the same. Btw did you get more than 60 days or was your current stamp expiring March 24?

Thanks ???? I kind of thought so but plenty of messy info on the immi pages to create confusion. Thanks for clarifying!

I'm finding confusing information about the place to extend different visa types. So I just made a booking to "extend TR visa" at Chaeng Watthana Division 1 as usual. But that states "extension or TR visa" but actually I'm extending my Codiv extension (I did originally arrive with TR visa tho), so is this correct? There is no option of "extending covid extension" in the booking system. Then I also found this info posted on the immigration page that says TR visa extensions done at Muang Thong Thaini since July 2020. That must be some very old info because I did a TR visa extension in Chaeng Watthana after that. Another thing is that I was going to go with a friend who needs to extend his 30 days Exempt stamp. I guess he has to go to Muang Thong Thani and I to CW so that wont work, right? I think the wording is off in the Muang Thing Thani notice below. It says "applying for short term visa". I guess they mean extending Visa Exemption hmm.

Good to know, thanks! So even more reason to go a few weeks early so can be prepared just in case there is any trouble. I'll book an appointment at CW for next week!

Thanks for the info. I've never been denied an extension in Thailand so I'm just curious what happens if they don't give you another covid extension? I mean let's say I went to apply on the date of my current covid extension expiry date. If they denied the extension I would have to get out of the country the next day or otherwise I'm overstaying, right? So they don't give any grace period to prepare your exit out of Thailand if covid extension is denied?

Ok thanks for the clarification. I hope Chaeng Watthana doesn't have this system. Btw do know what happens if you get denied covid extension? Do they give you a 7 day stamp from the date your current covid extension expires or are there any better options?

And why do they do this instead of giving him the +60 right away (starting form the 14th)? Does this mean that if we go to apply a few weeks earlier that the expiry date we might also get an "under consideration stamp" instead of the actual covid extension for 60 days?

What I don't get is that what could the embassy possible write in a document like that? Doesn't seem very realistic to try and get an embassy letter at this time when every country is open for return. Can someone clarify what happens if you get denied. Do they give you a 7 day stamp from the date your current covid extension expires or what? That's another reason I want to go 2 weeks before my expiry date so I have time to think what to do if they deny. For me this will only be my second one so hoping it to go smooth, but who knows.

Can you share what the issues were with those being denied or what extra documents were required? Seems like the reports have been mostly positive without any issues. Good luck for Friday then. Going to Chaeng Watthana? Have you done multiple covid extensions so far or your first? I have not heard of anyone reporting that a flight ticket would have been asked. I'm in the same situation that I do have a paid flight back to Europe with free date changes so I guess might as well change it to May (60 days from my current covid extension expiry date).

Ok good to know. Now I'm confused, I thought they were not giving covid extensions to visa exempt holders, maybe I remember wrong but good that you got one easily. Actually with all this confusion it shouldn't matter what box you tick as the real reason is not there anyway. I also don't get this embassy letter thing anymore since no country has any entry restrictions for their own citizens haha. Not sure what box to tick next week then,

What extra document did they ask for then? You had entered on a TR visa right? So if they didn't extend what did you do then if I may ask? They give 7 days to leave the country or? This all seems to be very odd like aussieexpat said there. Obviously nobody can claim anymore that they want to extend because their country is locked up nor get any kind of embassy letter. I would assume that the toughest request from the immigration would be to show a departure flight ticket. Oh well, seems really inconsistent as usual.

Will do. I'm also wondering why we're not seeing many reports on this. I would have thought it's going to be the hot topic as usual. Perhaps it's been a smooth process for most meaning not much discussion needed. The next big questions is would they extend it beyond March 25?

That whole announcement is very vague and doesn't state that holders of TR visa can't apply for a second covid extension. I mean we all know it that there are many people on their 7th or 8th covid extension. Have there been any reports from Chaeng Watthana about TR visa holders being denied the newest covid extension? Well I'll find out next week, but this will be only my second covid extension so I hope it's just as simple as any extension. Last time they didn't ask anything and I was out of there in 10min (because had booked a time).

Thanks! I wouldn't want to change the flight but I don't see much options of staying after this 60 day covid extension if they don't continue the covid extension beyond March 25. I mean if apply for this covid extension now it will allow me to stay until about May 15 so I guess it's just wise to change the flight to that date (airlines offer unlimited changes so won't lose anything by doing that.)

That sucks, since many seem to be getting covid extensions without issues. I mean they said continued it till March 25, so it seems very inconsistent as usual that some offices refuse it. I've posted the same topic with many helpful replies too if you want to check this one out.

Thanks for all the helpful replies. So it seems to be quite inconsistent as usual, but as Dr Jack said, should not be an issue for someone on a TR visa as they are allowing covid extensions until March 25. Also, this would only be my 2nd covid extension and I do have a paid flight back to Europe if that is needed – or that's for the end of June but I guess better change the date to May just in case they ask for a flight ticket. Other than that I guess no extra paperwork is needed (same papers as for any TR visa extension + what they ask to sign at the counter)? Good to know that I can go to apply a few weeks earlier and get the new stamp running from the date the previous one expires. That concerned be because last time I lost like 10 days when extending from my TR visa to Covid extension. I think I'll be going to Chaeng Watthana about 12 days before my current covid stamp expires. Hope everything goes well!

My next "covid extension" is up in a few weeks and started to look for the latests reports on the topic. Was surprised not to find much, so I'll post a few questions here. First of all has anyone here been rejected a covid extension lately (for the new cycle that expires in the end of March) or had significant problems? This would be my second and I have paid tickets back to Europe in case they want to see some proof, so I'm hoping for no extra questioning in this case. Plan was to go back in the end of June but if this really is the last covid extension and easy visa runs are still not available, then I guess will have to leave in May. Can someone like@ubonjoetell me if I can go to apply for the covid extension 2 weeks ahead of my current extension stamps expiry and still have it running from the expiration date and not the day I apply? For other visa types it's always counted from the expiry date but last time I went they gave it from the day of applying. That was when my TR visa expired and I applied my first covid extension. Just want to make 100% sure because I would like apply next week but my current stamp is March 22. I'm out of town around that time so would be convenient to get it done early. Thanks!

It seems to be a bit of a joke. I've gone there 3 or 4 times now with my wife who's not vaccinated and they let us both in with no questions asked. So it does mention at the door about having to show vax cert or ATK but they don't seem to enforce it.

Ok thanks for your take on this. Why would an experienced US chiropractor lie to his patients about this? Also, I do find the same information he told me all over the internet so I'm not sure who's correct on this one. Anyway, I don't see any cure to my SI joint problem since nothing seems to help anymore. Perhaps it is time to see an orthopaedic specialist again and maybe take new MRI's.

Thanks for the idea. At the moment it's staying up nicely with the M3 velcro sticker but didn't leave the car parked in the sun yet so hard to say how it would last in the heat. That suction model might work fine but one of the main reasons I only buy the flat model dash cams is that I want it hidden behind the mirror and not hanging down in front of my face. If this suction model is small it may be possible to still have it behind the mirror tho. Might be worth getting one anyway to try if the velcro drops down later.