sebl

Been using this forum as the source of information over the last few months so it’s only fair for me to share my experience with anyone who may find it useful. Arrived in Bangkok late November on visa-exempt as a tourist from the UK, did two extensions in Bangkok (one 30-days and one covid extension) which takes me to 20 March. My flight back to the UK has been cancelled by BA and I have decided to stay in Phuket for a bit longer. So I went to Phuket main immigration office for another covid extension yesterday to get some certainty on my plan. I have prepared my photo and photocopies of my passport (info page and all visa stamps) as usual. There are two counters at the outdoor car park dedicated for covid extensions. Three forms are available there. Filled them in and queued up. People are mainly queuing on the right for some reason so I joined the queue on the left. It turned out the right counter moved much quicker. Anyway, the officer scanned my documents then asked me for my TM30. I didn’t have it as I am staying in a reasonably big hotel in Patong and I assumed they would have done it. She asked me to call the hotel and then she spoke to them to verify if one was filed. The hotel needed to check. After some delays, the officer called her colleague to check on their systems instead. They found the TM30 filed online. She then processed my paperwork, took my 1900 THB and gave me a number to get my passport the following day. No question asked about the reason for extension or when I intend to go back, etc. Everything seemed very routine for all the applicants there. It did not look like they were going to be difficult with any “tourists” asking for extensions (unlike what I’ve seen in Bangkok). I Went back this morning to pick up my passport. Took less than 2 minutes. 60 days extension from 20 March granted. Very happy and grateful. Although it couldn’t be done on the same day like in Bangkok, It has been a much friendlier experience.