Visa Extension - What is the earliest possible date before expiry to apply for Visa Extension?

[TKI]

Dear Forum Members,

 

sorry for bothering you, i could as well have asked at the local Immigration Office, but currently it is closed for 4 days during the long weekend, and it'd be good to have clarification to the question in doubt before.

 

My grandma(87) living with me in Thailand on Non-O Retiree Visa is planning to travel to Germany before Christmas.

Her Visa expires on 6 August 2021. As it is not sure if she might be able to come back to Thailand before this date my questions is:

 

"Is it possible to apply for her Visa Extension already now, or what is the earliest possible time to apply for a visa extension?"

 

Your help to clarify this question is more than appreciated. Thank you very much in advance!

[jacko45k]

Usually a new retirement extension can be applied for 30 days prior to expiration, some offices will do it 45 days before. I have heard of some instances of 2 months where a person could show they planned to be out of the kingdom for the time period. 

I have presumed you are talking of a Retirement Extension of Stay and she currently does not have a valid visa.. 

[ubonjoe]

It would not be possible for her to apply for a extension that early.

At the most she could do it is 45 days early.

At this time if she wanted to return there are no rules for entry that would keep her from doing it and by August probably less.

Be sure she has a re-entry permit.

[JingerBen]

45 days for extension based on marriage at the IO in Chiang Mai.

[fishtank]

A Re Entry Permit would keep her permision to stay date alive.

Assuming that she does actually have an Extension of Stay until August 21

[ThaiVisaCentre]

Normally the maximum amount of days before the expiration is 45 days.

So in your situation you are asking if you can extension well over 200 days before the visa expires.

 

Is there any reason why she doesn't just reapply for the visa in her home country?

 

If you have a good reason then maybe you can contact an agent.

 

[phetchy]

20 hours ago, JingerBen said:

45 days for extension based on marriage at the IO in Chiang Mai.

 

I don't think he's married to his grandmother.

[TKI]

41 minutes ago, phetchy said:

 

I don't think he's married to his grandmother.

Funny :)) but in accordance with the context it'd need to be: "i don't think his grandmother is married to a Thai national"

[TKI]

Many Thanks to all the contributors of constructive replies. You helped a lot to clarify the question. Thank you very much!!!

[BritTim]

As stated above, a retirement extension can usually only be applied for 30 days (45 days at some offices) before expiry. However, it is at the discretion of the individual office. When a Non O visa is applied for at immigration using an agent (giving an initial 90-day stay) it is routine for the one-year extension to be granted immediately (thus giving a effective 15 month stay). You will not be able to do this when applying yourself.

 

I do not think an agent could help in your case. Applying eight months before expiry is too extreme. However, an agent would almost certainly be able to get an extension done three months in advance.

[fishtank]

5 minutes ago, BritTim said:

I do not think an agent could help in your case. Applying eight months before expiry is too extreme. However, an agent would almost certainly be able to get an extension done three months in advance.

At a price $$$$$$

[BritTim]

2 minutes ago, fishtank said:

At a price $$$$$$

 

Indeed: agents operate a commercial business. However, there are times when they can be useful.

 

As an example, a friend managed to have his passport immersed in water for days. The passport data page was essentially perfect (after the passport was dried out) but all the immigration stamps had run to the extent that not a single stamp was legible, and the arrival card was a goner. Additionally, his 90-day report had become overdue during the time necessary to apply for a passport replacement. I am sure that it would be possible to sort out a mess like this yourself. However, 3,000 baht (including the fine for the late 90-day address report) was really worthwhile to have someone with a great immigration relationship just take care of it. Stamps reinstated in the new passport, 90-day address reporting regularised. All done in one day.

[EricTh]

11 minutes ago, BritTim said:

nt. I am sure that it would be possible to sort out a mess like this yourself. However, 3,000 baht (including the fine for the late 90-day address report) was really worthwhile to have someone with a great immigration relationship just take care of it. Stamps reinstated in the new passport, 90-day address reporting regularised. All done in one day.

 

I think don't we need an agent just to transfer the stamps. Immigration should have a photocopies of previous stamps from their computers. (even if the stamps in your old passport can't be seen anymore). 

 

Immigration can't rely just on passport stamps which can be faked anyway.

[BritTim]

1 minute ago, EricTh said:

I think don't we need an agent just to transfer the stamps. Immigration should have a photocopies of previous stamps from their computers. (even if the stamps in your old passport can't be seen anymore). 

 

As I wrote, yes, sorting this out yourself would be possible. However, I can see a lot of immigration officials making a federal case out of this, and it involving hours of stress. There is a good chance they would stick you for the maximum (2,000 baht) fine for the late 90-day report, so effectively the agent fee only comes to 1,000 baht, and no visit to immigration is needed. For people counting every satang, and placing no value on their time, it is possible to save a little money for possibly a lot of aggravation. My friend (and me should I ever be so stupid as to arrive in such a situation) was happy to pay a few baht for a simple life.