Extending Tourist Visa for Medical Reasons

[London Boy]

Just after a bit of advice. I'm currently in Bangkok on a SETV. The 60 days expire on the 10th February. Unfortunately I injured my 2nd toe in early January, playing football, and underwent surgery at the weekend to repair a Torn Plantar Plate. The surgery went well, but currently have a metal pin in my toe and recovery time is estimated around 8 weeks.

My original plan was to extend my TR for 30 days and fly to London on the 9th March. However highly unlikely I'll be able to make that date now, and it seems sensible to stay here and fully recuperate.

The Surgeon has given me a medical certificate in both Thai and English stating I'm not fit to fly for 3 months. My question is to I need to take this personally to Chaeng Wattana to extend my visa. Or can someone else do this for me (its pretty painful moving anywhere at the moment). Also what is the form that I need to fill at CW?

Incidentally the care I received at BNH was absolutely top notch and my travel insurance was fantastic, fully covering the costs.

[ubonjoe]

You can have somebody do the extension application for you. Most major hospitals have staff that are aware of what is required and will do it for you.

Not sure they will give you the full 90 days allowed for an extension based upon medical treatment. They may only do 30 days each time the application is done.

[London Boy]

I rang the hospital and it looks likes they don't offer this service. I'll have to go to CW myself next week. Do you know what form I need to fill in? I'm assuming i'll need the usual passport photo and copies of my passport as well at the medical certificate? Anything else?

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, London Boy said:

I rang the hospital and it looks likes they don't offer this service. I'll have to go to CW myself next week. Do you know what form I need to fill in? I'm assuming i'll need the usual passport photo and copies of my passport as well at the medical certificate? Anything else?

You will use the standard TM7 form used for all extensions.

Copies of your passport photo page, entry stamp. visa and TM6 departure card.

[London Boy]

I went to immigration yesterday and it was anything but easy. I had to see their in house Dr. Despite having a medical certificate stating I wasn't fit to fly for 90 days, they only stamped me in for another 60 (from the date of surgery). Despite pleading with them, that coming back to immigration in 60 days will make my life very difficult (I was on crutches with a pin in my toe) they had zero empathy. I'm just writing this, if other readers need to get a medical extension...don't expect any sympathy at immigration

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Sorry for that outcome, but there have been lots of reports over time from different Immigration offices being pretty unsympathetic to people with serious medical conditions. I would have hoped CW would have been better.

 

As for the hospital, I'm surprised that BNH does not have some inhouse staff to handle patient visa/extension issues. I too like BNH a lot for medical treatment. Did you check with the international patient service staff there, in terms of getting your inquiry answered? They would know best, of course.

 

I like Bumrungrad a whole lot less when it comes to medical care. But AFAIK, they definitely have hospital staff that can assist with patient visa/extension issues.

 

Although, I know that service relates to people who are inpatients there. I DO NOT know if they do the same thing for post surgery patients like the OP who are then outpatients. That would be a good detail to know...

 

 

[London Boy]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

As for the hospital, I'm surprised that BNH does not have some inhouse staff to handle patient visa/extension issues. I too like BNH a lot for medical treatment. Did you check with the international patient service staff there, in terms of getting your inquiry answered? They would know best, of course.

 

 

Yep, I inquired twice at BNH, but they stated they didn't offer this service. It was an absolute pain going to CW from Sathorn, but the staff couldn't have cared less. The Dr's excuse for dragging me back after 60 days was "I want to see how your recovering"

[anon789561]

that surprises me from BNH. at the same time you do see people being brought in wheelchairs in ambulances even with drips to do visas, actually a bit of a disgrace IMO. always felt bad for them. i would have expected better from BNH