HexTree

13 hours ago, Dazzler said:

2. I dont have a reason as I am just not ready to return home yet! I think the UK embassy doesnt privide letters so guess I will tick that box, any thoughts? I can fly back but flights are limited...

As always it varies, but at the Samui branch I saw multiple people ahead of me in the queue getting turned away because they had not provided enough 'reasons' in the text box. The officer was telling them they need to give more convincing reasons why they can't return to their country.

As for the check boxes, I don't think they matter, but just tick whatever is honestly correct. For embassy letter, I have an old one from the UK, but they refused to take any embassy letters with the application anyway.

5 hours ago, jackdd said:

What do you even need the TM30 for? To apply for an extension? What kind of extension?

If it's some tourist/covid extension I would probably just not say anything about TM30, just hand in your extension application with the passport copies, and if they ask you about it just say that you stay at a hotel and show the booking or whatever you have.

FWIW in the past few months I've been turned away at both Samui and Chiang Mai offices for not having the TM30. For COVID extensions. Bangkok MTT didn't check.

Final update, for the sake of posterity. Went back today on my 'under consideration' return date. Waited an hour and finally received a stamp up to 29 Jan.

Are you talking about the Under Consideration stamp? Yes, from brief anecdotes I've heard that people in Bangkok got their Under Consideration return date to be 7th December, so I guess it would be faster if that's your primary concern. Of course, the next batch of applicants might get given later return dates, so it might be a gamble. When I went to Bangkok in September my Under Consideration return date was 3 weeks into the extension month, so actually even later than what Samui are currently offering.

Update:

Went back this morning to collect the passport. Have an Under Consideration stamp, and the officer told me I have to come back "on 15th December or after". I asked her how long after 15th I can come back, and she was like "Um... don't know, just come back 15th or after".

Just went today (23/11/20). Am currently on visa exemption from UK, and previously secured one COVID extension in Sept using embassy letter. Today I needed TM7 form, TM2 form, Affadavit form, signed copies of passport + stamps (x1), and of course photo. I submitted an embassy letter as well, however it was dated from September, so maybe it is considered expired now? I assumed it could only help, but then again, who knows with these offices, maybe it harmed. No outcome yet, I paid the fee and have to collect tomorrow.

Many people in the queue were getting rejected due to TM30 check failing. Including me, I had to quickly email my landlord to get on it, and then succeeded when I returned to the queue. The people who got their applications in earlier seemed to be getting 'Under consideration' stamps, they were asked to come back to the office on the 15th Dec or around 23rd Dec. Whether that'll get upgraded to 30 days, or 60 days, or eventually rejected, I have no idea. But it seems you can at least get a month out of it.

Many people were writing 'Covid' in the 'reasons you can't go back to your country' section, and the lady was telling them this is not enough, they had to give more reasons. In my case I just padded the same covid reason out until it spanned 2 sentences. ????

Indeed, I did not see any such mention of this anywhere. But thanks for mentioning it OP, you saved me a journey + hotel night.

Was this thread about BKK or is this a nationwide thing?

Do we have to travel to the exact same office that issued us the 'Under Consideration' stamp? That's what I was originally told by MTT in Bangkok, but perhaps circumstances have changed after the Amnesty and Nov extension announcements?

FWIW I am not a resident of the UK, but I did get the 'only once' footnote.

Also, just want to mention that if anyone thinks they are overdue for a response, might want to bug them again. Yesterday I received *someone else's* extension request letter. I had to inform them of the mistake, and send the letter to the guy on FB. Scary that one could miss their letter this way.