How long can i stay for?

[elliott101]

Hi Guys, im trying to find out how long i can stay for, 

i flew in to thailand on the 8th november, i was given 30 days ,

is it possible to extend this for another 30 days?

and after that can i extend for 1 more week?

 

 

 Really thankful for any help

 

[BritTim]

Sort of. You can easily get the 30-day extension on payment of 1,900 baht at the immigration office. If you then apply for a further extension, also on payment of 1,900 baht, the application is denied. However, you are given seven days to leave the country, in practical terms, not much different to a one week extension.

 

Note that, if you do not have two previous visa exempt entries by land this year, you also have the option of a border bounce somewhere to get a fresh 30-day entry.

[PoorSucker]

And you can extend your border hop stamp with 30 days. 

This can be made twice per calendar year. 

[jojothai]

14 hours ago, BritTim said:

Sort of. You can easily get the 30-day extension on payment of 1,900 baht at the immigration office. If you then apply for a further extension, also on payment of 1,900 baht, the application is denied. However, you are given seven days to leave the country, in practical terms, not much different to a one week extension.

 

Note that, if you do not have two previous visa exempt entries by land this year, you also have the option of a border bounce somewhere to get a fresh 30-day entry.

For extension do you need to have the proof of a ticket out?

 

[JackThompson]

7 minutes ago, jojothai said:

For extension do you need to have the proof of a ticket out?

No.  I do recall 1 report where someone was told this for an extension-request - but think it turned out that a "helper" at the office had mis-relayed this info.  There are a handful of cases where an extension request was declined - but only because the applicant had a very large number of requests in a single-year.

[elliott101]

19 hours ago, BritTim said:

Sort of. You can easily get the 30-day extension on payment of 1,900 baht at the immigration office. If you then apply for a further extension, also on payment of 1,900 baht, the application is denied. However, you are given seven days to leave the country, in practical terms, not much different to a one week extension.

 

Note that, if you do not have two previous visa exempt entries by land this year, you also have the option of a border bounce somewhere to get a fresh 30-day entry.

Many thanks for your help,

 

im thinking now instead of the extra 1900 baht for a week it's better to leave the country, would I get 30 more days  if I go to Cambodia and return in the same day? 

 

Thabk you 

[JackThompson]

You could but:

• Be sure to avoid the Poipet-Aranya crossing for this - Thai immigration is not friendly there
• The "closest to Bangkok" good locations coming back from Cambodia into Thailand are the Ban Laem and Ban Packard crossings
• Cambodian VOA offices are corrupt and will demand "extra money" to give you service, and even more to leave and return on the same day (the latter is an actual law).  To enter and leave Cambodia by VOA on the same day should be a 300 Baht 'extra fee'.  Be sure to carry $30 USD, exact change, for the official VOA charge (refuse to pay in baht at a ripoff-rate for this - since their national currency is dollarized).  Note, they will ask for as much as they think you are sucker-enough to pay, so you will have to leave your offer "on the table" (literally - passport, application-form, and $30 + 300 Baht) until they accept it (usually 15 mins or so) - so don't look "in a hurry" or worried - you are playing poker with guys in uniforms.
• If you don't want to deal with the Cambodian VOA price-dealing, you could opt to squeeze into a packed visa-run-service van at some ungodly hour of the pre-dawn morning, which will take care of the transport + dealing with Cambodian corrupt officials for you.  It might be worth doing once, if you are new to this, just so you see how the system operates.

[BritTim]

Further to what Jack said, there is a knack to dealing with the Cambodian immigration hassles. Under no circumstances be aggressive or stern with them. When they ask for extra money, give an apologetic smile, and just tell them quietly but confidently that you expected to be asked, but will only pay the official price. They will press you briefly most likely, but just tell them (again with a sympathetic smile) that you always only pay the official price. It helps if you bear in mind that, at least partially, they are following orders from their superiors to try to fleece travelers. The officials you are interacting with directly are not the major culprits. Adopt the mindset that you are sympathetic, but unwilling to succumb to the corrupt system.

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Further to what Jack said, there is a knack to dealing with the Cambodian immigration hassles. Under no circumstances be aggressive or stern with them. When they ask for extra money, give an apologetic smile, and just tell them quietly but confidently that you expected to be asked, but will only pay the official price. They will press you briefly most likely, but just tell them (again with a sympathetic smile) that you always only pay the official price. It helps if you bear in mind that, at least partially, they are following orders from their superiors to try to fleece travelers. The officials you are interacting with directly are not the major culprits. Adopt the mindset that you are sympathetic, but unwilling to succumb to the corrupt system.

This is a good point - not clear in my post.  Be pleasant, relaxed, no-stress, easy-going through the entire process.  Don't let things get "personal" at any point.  I always paid 100 Baht 'tip' when not returning same-day, which worked ok. 

 

It's the same-day return where they actually have a law behind them - they could legally refuse to allow you to return for 24 hours (or, at least, the next morning).  Others report 300 baht recently to get around this, while other reports claim nothing extra.  Personally, I'd offer 300 and claim I always paid that much at other checkpoints (since many have done this).

[MyFriend You]

On 11/24/2017 at 11:41 AM, JackThompson said:

No.  I do recall 1 report where someone was told this for an extension-request - but think it turned out that a "helper" at the office had mis-relayed this info.  There are a handful of cases where an extension request was declined - but only because the applicant had a very large number of requests in a single-year.

I just did it a week ago, no ticket out necessary.........only fill out the two forms, Request or extnsion and the residence form - have copies of your passport and entrance stamp and I was out in 20 minutes..........

[JackThompson]

6 minutes ago, TunnelRat69 said:

I just did it a week ago, no ticket out necessary.........only fill out the two forms, Request or extnsion and the residence form - have copies of your passport and entrance stamp and I was out in 20 minutes..........

Yes - add in the TM-30 (residence form) at some offices - but almost always "routine" and no-fuss.