It's Time to Change the Annual Visa Extension Approval Process

[MJCM]

23 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

5555.....going to check with Emirates and see how much it costs to maybe rebook a later date.......😭

I think that is a wise thing to do, you are *****  if the "under consideration date" extends. Mine took 45 days once, picked it up on the 46 day.

[connda]

20 hours ago, renaissanc said:

I should have gone to the provincial Immigration Office today, but yet again, the extension of my Marriage Visa has not yet been approved by the given date, which is a month after the application. This delay has started to happen more often in recent years. I don't think that Immigration in Bangkok can manage to check and approve the piles of visa renewal documents of hundreds of thousands of foreigners that are sent to them by the provincial Immigration Offices every day. There are just too many foreigners living in Thailand now. It might take another generation or two before this happens, still, it is time for a daring Immigration employee to suggest to the Big Bosses that provincial Immigration Offices should be allowed to approve visa extensions on their own. If the employee is really daring, s/he should suggest to the Big Bosses that visa extensions could be done online, though it might take three to four generations for the Big Bosses to approve this devilishly novel and creative idea.

Any farang who has been married to a Thai woman for 10 years should be given the option of permanent residency.  At a minimum, the extension process should be nothing more than submitting proof you're still married.  Or even better - apply the same rules to foreign men married to Thai women as they do foreign women married to Thai men:  After 3 years of marriage allow the man to apply for citizenship. 

But?

Never gonna happen.  FYI - my Under Consideration stamp this year is two full months after I submitted my extension paperwork.  So yeah - the Thai Immigration bureaucracy in BKK is drowning under a flood of their own paperwork.  Consider it an "Own Goal."  On the plus side, my wife has literally made friends with two of the women immigration officers in our district, so the actually paperwork shuffle, although still a bureaucratic pain-in-the-ass, is otherwise a fairly smooth, friendly process with smiles all around.  That's sure a hell of a lot different than the horror stories I hear about some district where the IOs literally hate farangs which is very sad.

[Will B Good]

6 minutes ago, MJCM said:

I think that is a wise thing to do, you are fcuked  if the "under consideration date" extends. Mine took 45 days once, picked it up on the 46 day.

 

WHAT!!!

 

Never had that happen....but obviously it could and that would be a perfect storm for me!!!

 

It crossed my mind to fly regardless.....but then I think I''d be classed as an overstay, fined and refused a new Non-O.....oh dear!

[Will B Good]

16 minutes ago, MJCM said:

I think that is a wise thing to do, you are ***** if the "under consideration date" extends. Mine took 45 days once, picked it up on the 46 day.

 

I wonder.....????

 

If I have applied, complying with all the due dates.....and the IO can't comply with there own 30 days consideration......could there be an 'out'....where I am allowed to fly.......what am I thinking.....no chance.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

....could there be an 'out'....where I am allowed to fly.......

No.

 

[Will B Good]

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

No.

 

 

I had my suspicions that might be the answer.

 

Can I ask?.....I would be classed as an overstayer, fined and have problems getting a new Non-O????

[Ben Zioner]

21 hours ago, renaissanc said:

provincial Immigration Offices should be allowed to approve visa extensions on their own

So you wish more corruption, more "agent extensions, etc and perpetuate the current manure. I'd rather suggest that they generalise the two steps approval for all extensions and implement random retroactive audits. If they don't have the human resource to do so they could introduce biennial extensions, but for the good boys only.

[MJCM]

25 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

WHAT!!!

 

Never had that happen....but obviously it could and that would be a perfect storm for me!!!

 

It crossed my mind to fly regardless.....but then I think I''d be classed as an overstay, fined and refused a new Non-O.....oh dear!

Yep with your extension valid till March and you flying in April, that could be the case if you dont extend, you could always get a 60 day extension @DrJack54 Correct?

But that would mean that you need to get a NEW Non-O in your home country and start a new, my IO requires for a NEW Marriage extension, witnesses and a Home Visit.

[Will B Good]

Just now, MJCM said:

Yep with your extension valid till March and you flying in April, that could be the case if you dont extend, you could always get a 60 day extension @DrJack54 Correct?

But that would mean that you need to get a NEW Non-O in your home country and start a new, my IO requires for a NEW Marriage extension, witnesses and a Home Visit.

 

Oh...never considered that.

 

Reapplying would be a regular chore, but doable and solve a lot of other problems.

 

If I applied for a 60 day extension is it done and dusted on the day i apply?

[MJCM]

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Oh...never considered that.

 

Reapplying would be a regular chore, but doable and solve a lot of other problems.

 

If I applied for a 60 day extension is it done and dusted on the day i apply?

Better if @DrJack54 answers that.

Question, how long are you planning on staying abroad?

@DrJack54 what if he gets a re-entry permit,in his under consideration period? Is there a time limit to that?

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

If I applied for a 60 day extension is it done and dusted on the day i apply?

A 60 day extension "to visit wife" is done and dusted on day of application.

If have not applied for 12 months  extension you can obtain the 60 day extension.

Sometimes done to buy time for seasoning. 

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Better if @DrJack54 answers that.

Question, how long are you planning on staying abroad?

@DrJack54 what if he gets a re-entry permit,in his under consideration period? Is there a time limit to that?

 

Flight back booked for June 12 arrive 13.

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

A 60 day extension "to visit wife" is done and dusted on day of application.

If have not applied for 12 months  extension you can obtain the 60 day extension.

Sometimes done to buy time for seasoning. 

 

 

If have not applied for 12 months  extension you can obtain the 60 day extension.

 

 

Just to clarify.....if I go ahead and apply for the 12 month extension, which was my intention.....I'm all geared up to do that Feb 4....it then  negates being able to apply for the 60 day extension?

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, MJCM said:

what if he gets a re-entry permit,in his under consideration period? Is there a time limit to that?

Occasionally when someone applies for a 12 month extension (marriage) and is under consideration period, an urgent need may occur to exit Thailand.

Yes a reentry permit can be obtained however it's expiry date will be same as your "return date" for final stamp 

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Occasionally when someone applies for a 12 month extension (marriage) and is under consideration period, an urgent need may occur to exit Thailand.

Yes a reentry permit can be obtained however it's expiry date will be same as your "return date" for final stamp 

 

The "return date".....is that the date you are given to collect your actual extension after the 30 days consideration?

[MJCM]

Just now, Will B Good said:

 

The "return date".....is that the date you are given to collect your actual extension after the 30 days consideration?

Yep

So that will not work.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Just to clarify.....if I go ahead and apply for the 12 month extension, which was my intention.....I'm all geared up to do that Feb 4....it then  negates being able to apply for the 60 day extension?

As soon as you apply for the 12 month extension that locks you into those dates. 

Meaning you will be given an under consideration period.

I realize you have provided various dates. 

To refresh. What is Date of expiry of current permission of stay.

Dates of period of this trip out of Thailand. 

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

As soon as you apply for the 12 month extension that locks you into those dates. 

Meaning you will be given an under consideration period.

I realize you have provided various dates. 

To refresh. What is Date of expiry of current permission of stay.

Dates of period of this trip out of Thailand. 

 

March 4

Fly April 8

Return June 13

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

March 4

Fly April 8

Return June 13

Oh Geez...the 60 extension doesn't help. 

So expiry March 4 you can apply extension ~ Feb 4 (if funds seasoned for 2 months) 

Interesting. 

 

[Will B Good]

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Oh Geez...the 60 extension doesn't help. 

So expiry March 4 you can apply extension ~ Feb 4 (if funds seasoned for 2 months) 

Interesting. 

 

 

Funds went in Dec 2.

 

So I planned to apply for the one year extension Feb 4.

 

If I apply for a 60 day extension instead...on say Feb 10....this would at least get me past the overstay problem....correct?

 

Or I gamble on missing my flight and hope the new extension comes through bang on time April 4......which in Chaiyaphum....it always has SO FAR!! But potentially quite an expensive gamble.

 

 

[MJCM]

Apply on the Feb 3th, gives you an extra day. 31st January can't as money isn't seasoned enough

[DrJack54]

20 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

If I apply for a 60 day extension instead...on say Feb 10....this would at least get me past the overstay problem....correct?

You won't be on overstay.

 

The 60 won't help as that pushes expiry date to approx May 4 and you will be out of Thailand. However would avoid overstay if you plan to start over. 

 

Suggest you apply for the 12 month extension as you outlined and if arrives on time great....

If not then take your flight and start over with new non O OR buy another flight. Painful

[Will B Good]

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You won't be on overstay.

The 60 won't help as that pushes expiry date to approx May 4 and you will be out of Thailand..

Apply for the 12 month extension as you outlined and if arrives on time great....

If not then take your flight and start over with new non O OR buy another flight. Painful

 

Done.

 

I do the Non-O in the UK or just comeback here as a "tourist" and start the whole process here?

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

I do the Non-O in the UK or just comeback here as a "tourist" and start the whole process here?

First up I edited my post re overstay.

Yes if you decide to start over then obtaining the 60 day extension would see you past flight departure date.

 

To start over you could obtain non O marriage eVisa  in UK  OR

Return visa exempt and obtain non O at local immigration office.

[Will B Good]

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Suggest you apply for the 12 month extension as you outlined and if arrives on time great....

If not then take your flight and start over with new non O OR buy another flight. Painful

 

Just to be 100% sure.....sorry for taking up so much of you time.....

 

I apply Feb 4, current visa finishes March 4, given a 30 day extension to April 4.........no extension received before I fly, so when I fly April 8 that will be or will not be classed as an overstay???

 

Cheers

[MJCM]

9 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Just to be 100% sure.....sorry for taking up so much of you time.....

 

I apply Feb 4, current visa finishes March 4, given a 30 day extension to April 4.........no extension received before I fly, so when I fly April 8 that will be or will not be classed as an overstay???

 

Cheers

Just go to IO a couple of days before you Extension runs out, say your leaving next month and say give me a 60 extension as you don't have enough time to apply for the Marriage extension and the under consideration date.

Take as proof a copy of your E-Ticket.

That should work, doesn't it @DrJack54

[Will B Good]

6 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Just go to IO a couple of days before you Extension runs out, say your leaving next month and say give me a 60 extension as you don't have enough time to apply for the Marriage extension and the under consideration date.

Take as proof a copy of your E-Ticket.

That should work, doesn't it @DrJack54

 

Thanks....and just do the whole Non-O thing and extension application, afresh when I return....yes?

[Scouse123]

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Very much so.

However I would caution anyone currently on extensions retirement to jump ship onto DTV just now.

Perhaps look at that option down the track.

Especially if planning soft power route. 

If can qualify for digital nomad then seems good alternative. 

 

 

 

I am not sure about that at all for the following reasons.

 

1. The MFA issues these visas, they are independent of the immigration department, so how would immigration know what kind of DTV you have, soft power or digital nomad once the visa is granted by the MFA?

 

2. My understanding is you get to the immigration desk in Bangkok and your e visa A4 paper is replaced with a 5-year visa stamped into your passport. I can't really see them having all the MFA information, as to why you were granted a visa.

 

My idea is to seek DTV next month as I stated previously, but then my retirement extension doesn't expire until the middle of July, so in the event of anything untoward, I can keep my retirement extension.

 

A belt and braces approach and worst case scenario is I lose the cost of 300 GBP for a DTV if I decide against it.

 

 

[MJCM]

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Thanks....and just do the whole Non-O thing and extension application, afresh when I return....yes?

Yep, but let's wait for @DrJack54 because there could be reason that IO refuses, and Jack will know.

Remember TiT 😉 

[Will B Good]

Just now, MJCM said:

Yep, but let's wait for @DrJack54 because there could be reason that IO refuses, and Jack will know.

Remember TiT 😉 

 

Just had a quick look.....flight rebooking could be as little as 400 baht??? I could push my departure to April 13/14.