US embassy letter for extension at Chaeng Wattana March 25

[BigJ]

Today, I went to Chaeng Wattana armed with my personalized letter from the US Embassy asking to add 30 days (due to Covid 19) to my Non-Immigrant B single entry 90 day visa that was due to expire in early April.  Although it wasn't urgent yet I wanted to get this done.

I'll spare you as others have commented how chaotic it is/was.  I believe for non-immigrant visas all had to go to Window N so keep that in mind. Once called, the woman (friendly) barely glanced at my US embassy letter, just looking at the stamp and my name on it. Everything went very smoothly (I had to fill out a TM 7 and 2 other shorter forms about overstays and permission to stay ) until after I waited a bit and the intern handed my passport back to me.  My visa was extended only to April 22?? I politely asked if they could change it so it is extended 30 days from my expiration date which would have given me a couple more weeks and stayed until early May.  She explained the chief wasn't there (I didn't really get this explanation) and I would need to come back near April 22 and they would extend it again . She told me to bring my receipt (of 1900 baht) . I asked if I needed to bring more documents, she said no, just the receipt on or near April 22.  Although I wasn't jumping up and down at the prospect of going to CW again, I accepted it as a minor win as it buys me a little more time (with the promise of more time to be granted in the future). To be clear, this wasn't the 7 day extension and it wasn't a 30 day extension from today (April 22 is 28 days away) so I am not sure what this was (does anyone have an explanation?). 

However, I wanted to let all know that the personalized letter about Covid 19 from the US Embassy was accepted by Chaeng Wattana in good faith and did get me an extra 28 days from today.

[FarFlungFalang]

I did mine at Yasothon where it took 2 hours of phone calls and at least 50 duplicate stamped and signed documents for a 14 day extension but I was the only one there for most of it so I'll take that as a win.They were worried about accepting the emailed version of the embassy letter.

[Matzzon]

One get 28 days, and another get 14 from something that is called a 30 day emergency extension. Great!

[timendres]

Did you have an "original" document that you acquired at the embassy (or sent to you by post), or was this a printout of one emailed to you?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, BigJ said:

However, I wanted to let all know that the personalized letter about Covid 19 from the US Embassy was accepted by Chaeng Wattana in good faith and did get me an extra 28 days from today.

 

I presume, you were using a printed out version of the letter that the U.S. Embassy emailed to you? So one that doesn't have an actual inked signature or stamp on it...  But was accepted nonetheless by BKK CW Immigration?

 

Edited March 25, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[BigJ]

12 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I presume, you were using a printed out version of the letter that the U.S. Embassy emailed to you? So one that doesn't have an actual inked signature or stamp on it...  But was accepted nonetheless by BKK CW Immigration?

 

Yes, that is correct. I printed out what the US embassy sent to me in a pdf file with their "pseudo" stamp already on it.  And yes, it was accepted by BBK CW immigration. It was not a real stamp by the US embassy. I printed the pdf file that the US embassy sent to me by email.  Not by mail and I did not have to go to US embassy  in person. Sorry to repeat myself, but I want to be crystal clear

Edited March 25, 2020 by BigJ
Clarity

[BigJ]

I would like to add that the workers in the N section where I received my extension were very friendly and working hard.  Although they were " by the book" and weren't going to let you get away with anything such as missing documents etc., They weren't trying to give anyone a hard time either for no apparent reason- even though my suit was at the dry cleaners.

[bangkokboy888]

i got the 'under consideration stamp' and have to report back also on Apr 22. I was in section K, the section for visa exempt, among others, and the immigration officer told me that i would need a new letter. i plan to ask for a 'new' letter from US embassy at the beginning of april. 

[BigJ]

 

On 3/27/2020 at 10:57 AM, bangkokboy888 said:

i got the 'under consideration stamp' and have to report back also on Apr 22. I was in section K, the section for visa exempt, among others, and the immigration officer told me that i would need a new letter. i plan to ask for a 'new' letter from US embassy at the beginning of april. 

As we had 2 different experiences with similar results, I think you are right- it can't hurt to get a new letter and it was easy enough to get so it would be prudent for me and you and everyone reading this to get a new letter (unless there is some big announcement in the meantime, but I won't hold my breath).

Not really of importance, I was told to go to Section K at first and then the Supervisor of K told me to go to Section N instead.  So readers of this post can flip a coin when they get to CW - heads it is K , tails it is N ????

[bangkokboy888]

so can anyone shed some light on what will happen when my and @BigJ have to go back for a visa 'extension' in a few weeks? 

 

my immigration officer told me that i would need a new letter? not sure what content the new letter would have over the old letter. 

 

anybody have any ideas about what the renewal process will be like? 

[dayward1]

Just got finished getting my COVID visa. I asked the IO and she said yes. New letter and new date.