Electronic visa extension system has been around for a year! Has anyone used it?

[JoseThailand]

I just learned that an electronic visa extension system has been around for a year in Bangkok and now is being implemented in other tourist provinces. Has anyone had an experience using it? How convenient is it?

[Presnock]

I heard one yesterday say he had done it - took 15 minutes only at CW.  I went online to the immigration website and yessir there it is!  Seems

they did the meeting of OI's in OCt 2022 and then rolled it out I guess experimentally with the first 300 to apply.  Check out their website for all

the info...basically gather all your Register for online, gather all your paperwork, forward it to your IO, they will review and if correct then will advise

you of that, then you make an appointment with the IO within 2 weeks I think 500 baht, within 1 week 1500 baht and next day ? but possible .

seems almost too good to be true and maybe will cut out agents? who knows but definitely a positive move.  

[Thingamabob]

30 minutes ago, Presnock said:

I heard one yesterday say he had done it - took 15 minutes only at CW.  I went online to the immigration website and yessir there it is!  Seems

they did the meeting of OI's in OCt 2022 and then rolled it out I guess experimentally with the first 300 to apply.  Check out their website for all

the info...basically gather all your Register for online, gather all your paperwork, forward it to your IO, they will review and if correct then will advise

you of that, then you make an appointment with the IO within 2 weeks I think 500 baht, within 1 week 1500 baht and next day ? but possible .

seems almost too good to be true and maybe will cut out agents? who knows but definitely a positive move.  

Thanks for the info. My question, is this easier than turning up in person ? Just did my 1 year extension of my retirement visa at CW. In at 0830 out at 1030 with no hassle. 

 

[Skeptic7]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

Thanks for the info. My question, is this easier than turning up in person ? Just did my 1 year extension of my retirement visa at CW. In at 0830 out at 1030 with no hassle. 

 

Agree. Seems it's not actually "online", but rather "online and  in-person". From what's posted above, better to just forego the BS waste of time "online" part and just do the usual in-person part. 

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

Thanks for the info. My question, is this easier than turning up in person ? Just did my 1 year extension of my retirement visa at CW. In at 0830 out at 1030 with no hassle. 

 

I have read through it and I cannot see any provision for what we see as the normal 1 year Non O extensions. The 12 categories mailny cover tourists and various working type visas. There is one listing for family members, but looks like family members of foreigners with PR.

[Caldera]

I think, for this to really take off, they'll need to get rid of the requirement to show up at the immigration office in person. I'd guess they'll get there, eventually. 

[jacey]

Quote

I think, for this to really take off, they'll need to get rid of the requirement to show up at the immigration office in person. I'd guess they'll get there, eventually. 

they are still requesting stack and stack of paperwork, 2 or 3 copies of each set, its like the computer wasn't invented yet, nothing is computerized, for not showing up at immigration, probably another 50 years.  

[JoseThailand]

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

I think, for this to really take off, they'll need to get rid of the requirement to show up at the immigration office in person. I'd guess they'll get there, eventually. 

 

Showing up at immigration for 15 minutes just to get a pre-approved stamp in the passport is still better than waiting there for hours

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

Showing up at immigration for 15 minutes just to get a pre-approved stamp in the passport is still better than waiting there for hours

 

It really depends.

 

For some people, it's a long way to their immigration office.

 

And having to wait for hours can also be avoided by making an appointment online (which is a separate option from this so-called "online extension" that still requires a visit).

[JoseThailand]

5 minutes ago, Caldera said:

And having to wait for hours can also be avoided by making an appointment online (which is a separate option from this so-called "online extension" that still requires a visit).

 

Anyway even with an online appointment, you have to wait a lot. It's not really efficient

[Presnock]

7 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Thanks for the info. My question, is this easier than turning up in person ? Just did my 1 year extension of my retirement visa at CW. In at 0830 out at 1030 with no hassle. 

 

well for the online immigration says 15 minutes only to get pp stamped versus 2 hours.

[ThailandNinja]

It is not for retirement or marriage extensions!

[Skeptic7]

On 12/28/2023 at 2:50 PM, ThailandNinja said:

It is not for retirement or marriage extensions!

Ha! Then absolutely worthless for 99+% of us here.🤣 Of course, seemed worthless regardless...even if it did apply to us. 

[Advocate]

I would expect IB to make it clear the categories that can be extended online. But they don't.

 

I tried the VFS online service but it didn't work or have a selection for retirement.

 

You have to work through the online extension and find out it doesn't work when you try to find the selection for retirement as a visa type selection.

 

It appears that VFS is less than a professional service and is probably an ex-IB official making money from his knowledge and contacts within IB.

 

Other countries have such online services which actually work and make life easier.

[Advocate]

Other countries don't charge a fee for the online service other than the visa fee. It can be deduced it is a ripoff if the entity charges more to get it done quicker. It is obviously a scam to rip off people who are late with their application and need quick consideration.

 

The other aspect of document submissions is that IB asks for the submission of information that it already has. It also asks for photographs despite the fact they take digital photographs at the interview. The visa process would be smoother and shorter if they did not require submission of documents they already have in IB files.

 

The IB previously asked for a swathe of documents with the 90-day report application by mail. Since the online service, IB only asks for the online application form submission and no other documents. That is proof that the swathe of documents they had previously requested with 90-day report submissions by mail was unnecessary.

 

A visa extension requires the submission of 14 pages of documents which appears excessive.

[Advocate]

The 5000 THB super urgent service appears grossly excessive.

 

Any applicant that required 7 days or less service for VFS visa service would be foolish to trust the IB online service based on past performance where the service time for online 90-day reports is variable at best with times from 1 to more than 10 days evident.

 

Visa fee: 1,900 THB

 

Service fee as following:

• Regular Service fee: 500 THB to get your e-Extension decision within the next 7 business days.
• Express Service fee: 1,500 THB to get your e-Extension decision within the next 3 business days.

• Super urgent service fee: 5,000 THB *You can also apply for a super urgent service, to get your e-Extension decision within the next day (only business day).

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Advocate said:

The 5000 THB super urgent service appears grossly excessive.

Ok enough.

3 posts of compliments.

Don't use the online service if you find it an issue.

You do realize that you still need to attend immigration.

You mention 32 page application.

Marriage? 

I find it simple process.

 

Apply for extension at immigration yourself OR use agent to do the whole process.

 

[Advocate]

26 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Ok enough.

3 posts of compliments.

Don't use the online service if you find it an issue.

You do realize that you still need to attend immigration.

You mention 32 page application.

Marriage? 

I find it simple process.

 

Apply for extension at immigration yourself OR use agent to do the whole process.

 

 

You said "You mention 32 page application.".

 

That is a blatant lie. I commend you to read the posts again.

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Advocate said:

That is a blatant lie. I commend you to read the posts again.

Attend immigration office and apply for extension. Simple. 

[Upnotover]

4 hours ago, Advocate said:

I would expect IB to make it clear the categories that can be extended online. But they don't.

 

I tried the VFS online service but it didn't work or have a selection for retirement.

 

You're correct, the VFS website is close to useless.  Eventually you will work out that it is really only slightly useful for tourist visas.  I used it twice for that purpose last year and everything was fine.  But I wouldn't do the same again.

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

You're correct, the VFS website is close to useless.

You are being too kind.

If the guy you quoted had remotely read the posts in this thread would be aware of this nonsense option.

Suggest he use agent if all too difficult for him

[ChaiyaTH]

Did it a few times before in CM but lately they pulled it out by not having appointments for months to come (no by accident for sure). You would normally need:
photo/scan front of passport (the actual book itself), photo/scan bio page, photo/scan both pages of which on 1 of the 2 your visa stamp is, TM30 that is valid until the extension runs out at least, photo copy/scan.

 

They dont say this clearly, if you miss any of above you will end up with delays and a mess with emailing them or updating the system. When approved they send you the few pre-filled documents that you simply print and sign, arrive on appointment in and out 10 mins.

Edited September 30 by ChaiyaTH