Covid extension in Bangkok after 30 days extension: 20/01/2022 report.

[anotherfarangishere]

Hello everyone,

 

Following my previous thread "Covid extension in Bangkok after 30 days extension: what is required ?" this is my short report: everything was fine and I got 60 days.

 

All my documents were ready before I went to the immigration office: coronavirus extension affidavit, TM30, TM7, TM6 photocopie, passport photocopies, photo on TM7. They asked me to add my phone number on the TM7 and gave me two more forms to complete: one asking the reason for extension (as on the affidavit I had selected the first case "coronavirus in my country", I wrote the same reason) and one claiming  I was aware of penalties for overstaying. So these two more forms were extremely fast to complete.

On the second page of my TM7 I had written my full address: the lady who processed my file wanted to know the name of my hotel. When I told her it was an apartment she checked the address on her computer.

 

One thing: she told me the extension was only for 60 days: as I already knew it I don't know if it was a warning that I couldn't get another 60 days ?

 

I had to wait about 45 minutes to get my passport back with the extension.

I'm living in Bang Kapi district: I booked a car on Grab and got a price with a route following the highway. But at the end, the driver added the toll for the highway. (130 bahts) I was surprised as in Malaysia, with Grab, toll for highway is included in the price. I found Grab very expensive in Thailand (it's very cheap in Malaysia), previous time I payed 250 bahts between BTS station Wat Phra Sri and immigration office, using a regular taxi to come back, only 80 bahts (I didn't use the taxis waiting in front of the immigration office, I walked out the compound and stopped a taxi on the road, it immediately put the counter on).

 

 

[FriendlyFarang]

9 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

But at the end, the driver added the toll for the highway. (130 bahts)

That's correct, that's how it's done here in Thailand.

Bolt is cheaper than Grab

[anotherfarangishere]

1 minute ago, FriendlyFarang said:

That's correct, that's how it's done here in Thailand.

Bolt is cheaper than Grab

Thank you for your comment. I don't know Bolt at all, I'm going to have a look.

One other thing annoying in Thailand: aliens are not allowed to pay with Grab wallet like in Malaysia, you're forced to use cash.

[VictorInBKK]

6 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Thank you for your comment. I don't know Bolt at all, I'm going to have a look.

One other thing annoying in Thailand: aliens are not allowed to pay with Grab wallet like in Malaysia, you're forced to use cash.

I'd swear I had my prepaid visa linked for a while on Grab with visa conversion rates. Also, Aliens can and do manage to open bank accounts in Thailand even visa exempt. I don't know the benefits of Grab Wallet, but the above is already enough for most.

 

That said, cash and meter is usually cheaper and there's never shortage of taxis around. I save Grab for when there's a nice voucher or for emergencies eg no cash left or the odd late night Khaosan ride back to avoid the mafia.

[essex boys]

Thanks for the update it’s always very useful to hear of others experience on visa and extension matters

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, anotherfarangishere said:

One other thing annoying in Thailand: aliens are not allowed to pay with Grab wallet like in Malaysia, you're forced to use cash.

While it's true that you cannot open a Grab wallet as a foreigner, you are not forced to use cash. You can add a credit or debit card to your profile and use it for cashless Grab Pay.

[anotherfarangishere]

2 hours ago, VictorInBKK said:

I'd swear I had my prepaid visa linked for a while on Grab with visa conversion rates. Also, Aliens can and do manage to open bank accounts in Thailand even visa exempt. I don't know the benefits of Grab Wallet, but the above is already enough for most.

 

That said, cash and meter is usually cheaper and there's never shortage of taxis around. I save Grab for when there's a nice voucher or for emergencies eg no cash left or the odd late night Khaosan ride back to avoid the mafia.

I didn't think about linking my card... I'm going to check it.

 

I've a Bangkok Bank account with a Visa.

[anotherfarangishere]

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

While it's true that you cannot open a Grab wallet as a foreigner, you are not forced to use cash. You can add a credit or debit card to your profile and use it for cashless Grab Pay.

I forgot about this. I'm going to check it. Thank you.

[anotherfarangishere]

2 hours ago, essex boys said:

Thanks for the update it’s always very useful to hear of others experience on visa and extension matters

You're welcome. If some people have questions and I can help, they are welcome (it helped me a lot to ask on this forum before to go to the immigration).

[JomtienEats]

Thanks for the report. Was your 60 day extension added, or does the 60 days start from the day it was issued? 

[anotherfarangishere]

3 hours ago, JomtienEats said:

Thanks for the report. Was your 60 day extension added, or does the 60 days start from the day it was issued? 

It was added, as extensions always are (fortunately !) : my visa was ending on Feb 14 and is now ending on Apr 15 (only 28 days in Feb).

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, anotherfarangishere said:

It was added, as extensions always are (fortunately !) : my visa was ending on Feb 14 and is now ending on Apr 15 (only 28 days in Feb).

For very first covid extension many folk had the 60 days start from the day they applied.

Subsequent extensions commenced from date of expiry of existing extension. 

[FridgeMagnet1]

Still no announcement on continuing the COVID extensions? 

[yogi yogi]

3 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

It was added, as extensions always are (fortunately !) : my visa was ending on Feb 14 and is now ending on Apr 15 (only 28 days in Feb).

this is confusing part as ive been to two immigration offices and they both say they are not tacked onto end but from day of extension so i need to wait now until jan 25 to maximize days given.  mine expires feb 3.................im ok  with only the one covid extension.  im not here to game the systems the covid in my home country is bad right now

[yogi yogi]

13 hours ago, FriendlyFarang said:

That's correct, that's how it's done here in Thailand.

Bolt is cheaper than Grab

why use tollway traffic flow is low. im not using tollway to don muang and driver is happy too cause its bigger fare. 

[anotherfarangishere]

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

For very first covid extension many folk had the 60 days start from the day they applied.

Subsequent extensions commenced from date of expiry of existing extension. 

No kidding ? ???? I believe you, but it's really weird.

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

No kidding ? ???? I believe you, but it's really weird.

I'm only relating the many threads that I have read.

No doubt someone will say that their first covid extension was dated from expiry of permit.

As usual immigration offices vary. 

Edited January 21, 2022 by DrJack54

[anotherfarangishere]

3 hours ago, FridgeMagnet1 said:

Still no announcement on continuing the COVID extensions? 

Isn't it linked to state of emergency ?

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thailand-extends-state-of-emergency-for-another-two-months

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Isn't it linked to state of emergency ?

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thailand-extends-state-of-emergency-for-another-two-months

Nup. 

[yogi yogi]

18 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

No kidding ? ???? I believe you, but it's really weird.

seems odd.  that is what im finding as well but ive heard stories that on the final day of covid extensions sometimes they are more lenient. although i dont think individual immigration offices have leeway to alter rules as they see fit

[anotherfarangishere]

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm only relating the many threads that I have read.

No doubt someone will say that their first covid extension was dated from expiry of permit.

As usual immigration offices vary.

I "tested" a lot of them before the pandemic - Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Phitsanulok, Nakon Ratchasima, Udon Thani... - and extensions were always from last day visa/visa exemption.

So, it seems a particularity for covid extension with some offices. Seems crazy as all people should want to wait for the last day to maximize their extension.

[anotherfarangishere]

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Nup. 

In Malaysia they always waited the last moment to renew the autorisation to stay in the country due to covid (no need to go to immigration). It even happened they renew it two or three days after the date people should have left the country.

[Pooreye]

Hi everybody, first post here for me but I have read from time to time since I first come to Thailand 5 year ago.

 

In Pathum Thani yesterday jan 20th I applied for the 60-day covid extension, same as in this thread. But I got a “under consideration stamp” and must come back feb 4th.

 

Everything went smooth like when I got my 30-day extension last month

(i come on 60-day tourist visa in early nov) no questions asked about my paperwork. But now must to come back feb 4th exactly????

[ubonjoe]

16 minutes ago, Pooreye said:

But now must to come back feb 4th exactly

The under consideration period is standard for the covid 19 extension. They have to be approved at the division level of immigration is the reason.

You can go a little earlier than the 4th or on Monday the 7th without a problem.

[Pooreye]

Ok good thanks I feel better now????