tygerstar

Hi there. Has anyone studied in this programme at AU? I haven't been able to find much feedback on it online. The contact person at AU was quite responsive but I'd like to hear from people who've taken or are currently on the course. General feedback on AU would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Sorry to hear about your predicament. Why not apply for the student visa through your language school when you're already in Thailand? If it is a well-established school as you say, their immigration contact person should be able to help you out.

Thanks all for the helpful responses. I see they're asking for the TM30 again; the officer in Chiang Mai returned mine in January this year saying it wasn't required. I've never been to an immigration office in Bangkok. Would it be possible to go at 2 PM to this Laksi office to submit my application as my course ends at 1 every weekday? I don't mind going back the next day to pick up my passport.

Two weeks before the expiry of the visa exemption?

Hi. I haven't been to Thailand in more than ten months and am planning to go to Bangkok next month to attend a short course. Two weeks after my entry on a 60-day visa exemption, I'm thinking of going to Chiang Mai for a short holiday (after which I'll be returning to Bangkok). Would it be possible to apply for a 30-day extension while in Chiang Mai and so soon after my entry? I plan to stay in Thailand for a total of 85 days with no future visits planned in 2026. I ask because I've found the immigration office at Central Festival Chiang Mai to be relatively efficient and pain free. Thank you in advance.

Thank you all for your responses. They've been very helpful.

So what's the latest on visa exemptions and extensions? Is it 60 + 30, exit Thailand, 60 + 7?

Thanks. Does this mean I need to make the deposit over the counter as they need to calculate the fee, and not at an ATM with a cash deposit facility?

Hi. I have an active Bangkok Bank account opened in Chiang Rai. I plan to deposit some cash into it when I'm in Bangkok. Can I do it at a Bangkok Bank cash deposit machine or over the counter at any branch in Bangkok? I remember there used to be a fee or some rule for depositing money into your own account in a province other than where you opened it but this was a long time ago. Can anyone advise on this? Thanks in advance.

There were at the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint when I was going from Hatyai to Malaysia a year ago but was advised by the Malaysian immigration officers that they were for Malaysian use only. I had to present my passport at the counter.

Hi there. Has anyone entered Malaysia from Thailand via a land border recently? Does Malaysian immigration allow non-Malaysians to use the autogates for immigration clearance (ie no stamping of passports)?

Hi there. Has anyone entered Malaysia via a land border recently? Do you know whether Malaysian immigration allow non-Malaysians to use the autogates for immigration clearance (ie no stamping of passports)?

Thanks, Greenwich Boy. I got my 30-day extension from the Central Festival immigration office this afternoon. I arrived at 3.00 pm and was out by 3.50 pm. I would have left sooner had the girl at the front desk not quibbled over my photograph saying I no longer looked the same and insisted that I take a new one. The photograph that I had provided was the same as the one used in my passport, taken about 6 months ago. My hair has grown by about 6 cm since then but I look pretty much the same. She insisted that "your hair now long, you take new photo." So I quickly pulled up my hair and tied it in a bun, showing my face without any obstruction whatsoever. She wasn't convinced and repeated, "Your hair now long, you take new photo." I gave up and went across the corridor to have new passport pics taken. Four pics for 150 Baht. The girl at the front desk was happy with the new photograph. I don't know what I'm going to do with the other three pics. They won't be accepted in my home country as I was wearing a white blouse and standing against a white background but apparently a head without a torso is perfectly acceptable in Thailand. 😅 Anyway, all's well that ends well. Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions. By the way, the documents required were exactly as DrJack54 described. The TM7 form can be obtained there.

Just to confirm, is it possible to apply for a 30-day extension to a 60-day visa exemption at Central Festival? When were you last there, Greenwich Boy? I'm headed that way this afternoon.

Sounds like they're running a scam. I wonder what they will do to tourists who don't really need a new visa exemption and only want to hop over for a few hours and check out what's on the other side.

It would be helpful if someone who's done this border bounce in the last fortnight could share with us their experience.🙏

Thank you. Is one passport photo enough and one copy of everything else?

Hi there. My 60-day visa exemption pass runs out on Jan 16 and I'm hoping to extend it by another 30 days in Chiang Mai as I'm planning to stay until 13 Feb. May I know what are the documents that I need to bring? I was thinking of doing a border bounce at Chiang Saen and making a trip of it but not too keen now if I have to stay over in Laos. Thank you.

Hello. I understand that we may need to stay a night or two if we cross the border into Huay Xai, Laos before we can come back into Chiang Saen, Thailand. Is this rule still in force and, if so, how many nights do we have to stay in Huay Xai, Laos? Thank you.