School Takes 4 Weeks To Process Paper My Visa Is Only 1 Week Left And is at Maximum 6 Extensions

[johnray]

I paid at Waleen school today and they said it will take 4 weeks to handle the paperwork.  But my visa only has one week remaining and than I have to go to Laos and come back.  But the lady at Chaeng Wattana Immigration said before that I cannot go to Laos again because I have 6 extensions and this too much.

 

Should I just go to Laos and ignore the lady? Or ask for emergency extension on the proof and receipt that I have a place of study for over 1 year?

[ubonjoe]

15 minutes ago, johnray said:

Should I just go to Laos and ignore the lady?

The embassy does not care about the number of extension you have when you apply for a visa.

The only extension you can get is 7 days to leave the country after the application of an extension is denied.

[johnray]

So I can go to Laos and return with no hassle? I am afraid they will stop me because of 6 extensions.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, johnray said:

But the lady at Chaeng Wattana Immigration said before that I cannot go to Laos again because I have 6 extensions and this too much.

It is not clear exactly what you are being told. There are no official limits. The official may have been telling you that because of the number of tourist entries you already have, immigration at Nong Khai is likely to deny you entry. If so, I disagree. Nong Khai is likely to allow you to enter. What could be an issue is if you are planning to enter visa exempt. You then need to be aware of the limit of two visa exempt entries by land in 2017.

Quote

So I can go to Laos and return with no hassle? I am afraid they will stop me because of 6 extensions.

If you really mean six extensions issued at an immigration office within Thailand, then there is almost no chance that this will influence entry with a visa.

[steve187]

what do you mean by ''6 extensions''

 

what are you getting in Laos

[johnray]

To go out and come back again with tourist visa extension.

 

I have to hang around for 4 weeks while the school does the paper work.

 

But the lady said I cannot go to Laos again because of 6 tourist extensions at Laos and Immigration. She said I must go back to the UK next time.  But allowed me one more stamp to extend at Chang Watana.

[FritsSikkink]

7 minutes ago, johnray said:

To go out and come back again with tourist visa extension.

 

I have to hang around for 4 weeks while the school does the paper work.

 

But the lady said I cannot go to Laos again because of 6 tourist extensions at Laos and Immigration. She said I must go back to the UK next time.  But allowed me one more stamp to extend at Chang Watana.

You either come back with a tourist visa from the embassy (60 days), which shouldn't be a problem OR you try to enter on a visa exempt (30 days). That last option could be a problem. 

[johnray]

I have a British passport so not sure what they give me.  And I do visa run to Laos on 30th day than immigration and get another extension.  I pay them 1900 at immigration.

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, johnray said:

I have a British passport so not sure what they give me.  And I do visa run to Laos on 30th day than immigration and get another extension.  I pay them 1900 at immigration.

You got an a visa exempt (30 days) at the border and a 30 day extension at immigration in Thailand. You have had a lot of them already. She warned you that you won't get another one. 

The immigration officer told you to get a visa (60) days, which you have to get at a Thai embassy or consulate outside the country (can do in Laos).

 

[FritsSikkink]

So you have to go here:

http://www.thaiembassy.com/thai-embassy/thai-embassy-and-consulates-in-vientiane-laos.php

or here:

http://www.thaisavannakhet.com/savannakhet/th/index.php

[johnray]

I won't get another one at the immigration center but entry by air is okay?  So I can go do a visa run to Laos with no problem it would seem.

[JackThompson]

You don't get an "extension" anywhere but at an immigration office.  When you leave Thailand and return, it is a "new entry"** - not an "extension."

 

You can apply for a 30-day extension to "extend" a Visa Exempt entry or a Tourist-Visa entry at a local immigration office.  Returning to the UK is irrelevant, but some IOs will say anything - and they can do pretty much whatever they want within their own little fiefdoms.

 

The lady at CW can refuse an "extension" on your next entry.  But she cannot prevent you from leaving Thailand, and returning with a Tourist Visa (good for 60-days permission-of-stay upon entry).  There is no legal-limit on the number of entries you can make by-land with a valid Tourist Visa - but be sure to have 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks to show (proof of money in-hand), plus the address where you will be staying.

 

In theory, you could also return with a Visa Exempt entry (good for 30-days permission-of-stay upon entry) by land, but only if you have NOT already obtained 2 Visa-Exempt entries by land this calendar year.  Also, Visa-Exempt entries are at the discretion of the officer - whereas refusal of entry with a Tourist Visa is a higher-bar for them to cross (usually you not having the money, or evidence you plan to work illegally).  In your case, with frequent and extended entries, I would definitely get a Tourist Visa nearby, and use that to enter.

If your school will have your docs ready before the permission-of-stay from your new entry to the country expires, you will not need an "extension" of a Tourist-type entry.  You will, instead, get an extension based on continuing studies, which will be on a new "Non-ED" visa, which you will get at a consulate nearby, with the paperwork from the school. 

 

Be sure your school can arrange your ED-extensions (usually for some extra $$), so you don't have troubles with an IO who resents your staying here longer-term.  If they cannot do this, find a different school who will.

 

If you did need another extension to a tourist-entry in the future, you could get one from another, more friendly, immigration office, by checking into a hotel in another area, then applying at the immigration office that serves that area.  But with a Tourist Visa entry of 60-days, your school should have your paperwork together, by then.

**(except if returning with a re-entry permit, but this does not apply / would not help, in your case)

[BritTim]

In reading the responses, understand the following terminology:

Visa : issued at a consulate outside Thailand. This allows you to enter Thailand fairly automatically for a standard length of time (typically 60 days or 90 days). You should only be denied entry with a visa (unlikely) if you run foul of criteria mentioned in Section 12 of the Immigration Act.

Permission to Stay - granted by immigration when you enter Thailand.

Visa Exempt Entry - entering Thailand without a visa issued at a consulate outside Thailand. Especially if you have many previous visa exempt entries, immigration can decide to deny you entry. Further, there is a hard limit of two visa exempt entries very calendar year via land crossings.

Extension (short for extension of your permission to stay) - granted at an immigration office inside Thailand allowing you to stay in Thailand longer than was originally allowed when you entered the country.

 

I know the distinctions are often regarded as hair splitting, but the reality is that use of the wrong terms is often very confusing, and prevents the correct advice being given.

[steve187]

how many entries have you made by land, that gave you a 30 day permission to stay stamp in 2017

 

how many entries have you made by air, that gave you a 30 day permission to stay stamp in 2017

[ubonjoe]

The OP had been doing visa exempt entries and 30 day extensions of them. He was told that he cannot get anymore extensions since he has had 6 of them.

He did a topic about it here.

I think his best option is to get a single entry tourist visa to insure he has enough time to wait for the paperwork to get the non-ed visa. He could even start attending school on the 60 day tourist visa entry.

[pearciderman]

5 hours ago, BritTim said:

In reading the responses, understand the following terminology:

Visa : issued at a consulate outside Thailand. This allows you to enter Thailand fairly automatically for a standard length of time (typically 60 days or 90 days). You should only be denied entry with a visa (unlikely) if you run foul of criteria mentioned in Section 12 of the Immigration Act.

 

Or gained by converting a visa exempt or tourist visa IN country to a Non-Imm visa.

[FritsSikkink]

9 hours ago, johnray said:

I won't get another one at the immigration center but entry by air is okay?  So I can go do a visa run to Laos with no problem it would seem.

NO, read my post, you need to get a 60 day tourist visa at an embassy in Laos (or any other country).

[jackdd]

Just now, FritsSikkink said:

NO, read my post, you need to get a 60 day tourist visa at an embassy in Laos (or any other country).

Why would he have to do this? There is no limit on visa exemptions by air.

So you can just fly out and fly back in, just make sure you carry 20000thb with you in case they ask you at the immigration at the airport for it

[FritsSikkink]

2 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Why would he have to do this? There is no limit on visa exemptions by air.

So you can just fly out and fly back in, just make sure you carry 20000thb with you in case they ask you at the immigration at the airport for it

"There is no limit on visa exemptions by air"

The immigration officer seems to think otherwise. They get an alarm if you do 6 in a row, then it is up to the immigration officer to let you in or not.

People use to do this but in the last years they are more strict as there were a lot of people not being a tourist but working illegally. So you can't fly in and out as you please anymore.  

[BritTim]

48 minutes ago, pearciderman said:

6 hours ago, BritTim said:

In reading the responses, understand the following terminology:

Visa : issued at a consulate outside Thailand. This allows you to enter Thailand fairly automatically for a standard length of time (typically 60 days or 90 days). You should only be denied entry with a visa (unlikely) if you run foul of criteria mentioned in Section 12 of the Immigration Act.

 

Or gained by converting a visa exempt or tourist visa IN country to a Non-Imm visa.

What you write is not incorrect. However, although the stamps in the passport make it look like a used visa and associated permission to stay, I believe a conversion is better visualized as a special case of an extension of your permission to stay that incorporates a change of entry type (typically from tourist entry to non immigrant entry).

[BritTim]

51 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Why would he have to do this? There is no limit on visa exemptions by air.

So you can just fly out and fly back in, just make sure you carry 20000thb with you in case they ask you at the immigration at the airport for it

The situation is quite unclear with frequent visa exempt entries, especially when they are back-to-back with almost no gap. Actually, about three years ago, a directive went out that border hops for visa exempt entries were not to be allowed. This was quickly qualified by another directive that the prohibition on such visa exempt entries should be applied flexibly. Truly, not just us, but also the immigration officials themselves are unsure how frequent or in/out visa exempt entries should be treated. Some officials basically ignore the directives of a few years ago, and continue to just allow them without restriction unless there are firm reasons for doing otherwise. Others, when uncomfortable with your use of exempt entries will tell you to "get a proper visa next time". A small minority have the potential to deny entry if they think visa exempt entries are being abused.

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

1 hour ago, jackdd said:

Why would he have to do this? There is no limit on visa exemptions by air.

So you can just fly out and fly back in, just make sure you carry 20000thb with you in case they ask you at the immigration at the airport for it

"There is no limit on visa exemptions by air"

The immigration officer seems to think otherwise. They get an alarm if you do 6 in a row, then it is up to the immigration officer to let you in or not.

People use to do this but in the last years they are more strict as there were a lot of people not being a tourist but working illegally. So you can't fly in and out as you please anymore.  

The computer-alert is, from what we know, 6 visa-exempt entries since they started counting in 2015.  Even a year out of Thailand will not affect it. Some reports also indicate another alert exists based on time-in-country - though we don't know the parameters.  An alert does not mean a denial of entry, but does mean scrutiny, and possible questioning, and possible denial-of-entry if the person appears to be staying in Thailand most of the time. 

 

Visa-Exempts are the most risky form of entry - especially by air.  No problem if you don't have a longer-stay history here - but this does not seem to match the OP's circumstances.  Though there is no "hard limit" on how many you can do in a year (vs the 2-max by land), it is the most likely scenario for denial of entry. 

 

In some cases, people who were out of Thailand for months or even a year were questioned and/or denied-entry entering Visa-Exempt, because they had a longer-stay past history.   We don't know the odds of this happening - maybe slim - but if the OP's activity created a reaction at CW for a tourist visa-extension (usually routine), then they should consider the possibility that an airport IO might not grant a visa-exempt entry, and the could wind up in detention plus buying a last-minute ticket back where they just flew from.

[kingstonkid]

I thought Walen had a presence on here maybe he can shed some light.  Also, I am sure you are not the first student with this issue have you talked to any of the head people at Walen

[steve187]

my view on this, from someone that is a firm believer in getting the correct long term visa/solution, for someone wanting to stay long term in Thailand, is why has the op been staying on multi visa exempt entries and extensions, instead of getting a long term solution,  ed visa is the correct visa to get for someone studying in Thailand, 

 

my moan - why is it that we get repeated threads by someone, that is taking advantage of a system that allows tourists to enter Thailand for a short break visa free,  to try and live long term in Thailand, in my view back to back visa exempt entries without a break (maybe of at least 2 weeks) should not be allowed, this abuse of the system will lead to more and more clamp downs on their allowed use, yes Thailand is a nice place to live long term, but the Thai rules do not allow it for certain groups of people.

 

i wait with bated breath for the replies to follow..

[jackdd]

10 minutes ago, steve187 said:

my view on this, from someone that is a firm believer in getting the correct long term visa/solution, for someone wanting to stay long term in Thailand, is why has the op been staying on multi visa exempt entries and extensions, instead of getting a long term solution,  ed visa is the correct visa to get for someone studying in Thailand, 

The problem is there is no good solution for people who want to stay here long term without working here, and are under 55 and not married to a Thai. Thaielite is just way too expensive.

In my opinion they should just remove the age limitation from the retirement Visa.

 

10 minutes ago, steve187 said:

my moan - why is it that we get repeated threads by someone, that is taking advantage of a system that allows tourists to enter Thailand for a short break visa free,  to try and live long term in Thailand, in my view back to back visa exempt entries without a break (maybe of at least 2 weeks) should not be allowed, this abuse of the system will lead to more and more clamp downs on their allowed use, yes Thailand is a nice place to live long term, but the Thai rules do not allow it for certain groups of people.

At the moment it's still allowed, so people do of course use it because it's the easiest / cheapest way to stay here, if the Government really wouldn't want this they could simply to the same they do on land borders already, limit the number if Visa exempt entries to let's say 4 per year, that's enough for 99% of the "genuine" tourists

[BritTim]

10 minutes ago, steve187 said:

n my view back to back visa exempt entries without a break (maybe of at least 2 weeks) should not be allowed

Interestingly enough, such a policy was introduced about three years ago, but days after its introduction, officials were told to apply the policy "flexibly". Most officials, I think, took that to be a reversal of the original policy, using a face saving form of words. Various theories have been advanced as to why Thailand actually does not want to do that.

[darrendsd]

19 minutes ago, steve187 said:

my view on this, from someone that is a firm believer in getting the correct long term visa/solution, for someone wanting to stay long term in Thailand, is why has the op been staying on multi visa exempt entries and extensions, instead of getting a long term solution,  ed visa is the correct visa to get for someone studying in Thailand, 

 

my moan - why is it that we get repeated threads by someone, that is taking advantage of a system that allows tourists to enter Thailand for a short break visa free,  to try and live long term in Thailand, in my view back to back visa exempt entries without a break (maybe of at least 2 weeks) should not be allowed, this abuse of the system will lead to more and more clamp downs on their allowed use, yes Thailand is a nice place to live long term, but the Thai rules do not allow it for certain groups of people.

 

i wait with bated breath for the replies to follow..

1 : Some people don't qualify for long term extensions of stay on for example marriage or retirement so have to find other ways to stay here longterm if they wish to do so

 

2 : As long as they are not breaking the law which they are not and are not abusing the visa system which they are not what does it matter to you how total strangers decide to stay here?

[steve187]

21 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

As long as they are not breaking the law which they are not and are not abusing the visa system which they are not what does it matter to you how total strangers decide to stay here?

but they are abusing the system.it was never designed for long term stayer to use back to back, as the op was doing.

 

it matters to me because the constant abuse leads to changes that do impact on others including me,

ie the abuse of non imm 'O' multi's issued in consulates, lead to a removal of that visa being issued  by consulates, making it harder for over 50's and married to Thai's from getting that visa.

 

and the abuse of back to back visa exempt, which forced the 2 only at land crossing, making it harder for people living in Laos and Cambodia close to the border, from visiting Thailand for shopping, hospitals etc,

it has also made it a potential problem for 28 day on 28 day off workers, by being pulled up at immigration.

[portroyal]

Just buy an Elite visa

good for The Kingdom and no more hassle for you

[darrendsd]

2 hours ago, steve187 said:

but they are abusing the system.it was never designed for long term stayer to use back to back, as the op was doing.

 

it matters to me because the constant abuse leads to changes that do impact on others including me,

ie the abuse of non imm 'O' multi's issued in consulates, lead to a removal of that visa being issued  by consulates, making it harder for over 50's and married to Thai's from getting that visa.

 

and the abuse of back to back visa exempt, which forced the 2 only at land crossing, making it harder for people living in Laos and Cambodia close to the border, from visiting Thailand for shopping, hospitals etc,

it has also made it a potential problem for 28 day on 28 day off workers, by being pulled up at immigration.

If Immigration think people are abusing the system then they deny them entry

 

You may have noticed I said Immigration, these are the people who decide, not people on here 

 

Make a official complaint if you are not happy with the system, if you don't want to do that then I suggest you concentrate on your own life and not on total strangers