Important change to Extension of Temporary stay requirement !

[Kerryd]

Just went to (Jomtien) Immigration to apply for the annual Extension of Stay (TM.7).

Had all my ducks in order. Forms filled and signed, photocopies (signed), bank letter and copies of updated bank book and so on. 100% complete - as per last year.

But when the IO was going through the papers - he asked me for a copy of the Blue Book and Chanote for the house I am in !

I have the Notification of Address already and he didn't ask for a lease or rental contract so I'm not sure the reason for wanting to see the blue book and chanote.

Guess I'll find out when I go back !

[Upnotover]

7 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

so I'm not sure the reason for wanting to see the blue book and chanote.

The "reason" is that it was something he could ask for that you didn't have with you.  IO 1 - You 0.

[DrJack54]

https://pcec.club/CHECKLISTS-Extensions-of-Stay

 

The link above is from "Pattaya city expats" 

Note: this point.... 

 

"Copy of Proof of Residence documents (Rental Agreement, House Book, Company documents if Company owned, etc.) There have been some reports that a current Thai Driving License showing current address has been accepted (address is on reverse side), but will depend on Immigration Officer taking the application. In the case of a rental agreement, they may also want to see copy of Thai owner ID (or non-Thai’s passport identity page) and a copy of owner’s house book for the property. "

[5davidhen1]

Back in March, I had similar problems with the I.O. -- maybe the same one, quite young, I would guess in his 30s.

I was renewing my extension based on THB800,000 in the bank. He asked me for my live-in girlfriends I.D. card. Her name, along with mine, is on the lease. He also asked me for my Landlady's I.D. card. I told him that I didn't know where she was but he sent me away saying "try to get it!"  

He had NO right to demand these items under the money in bank method --- only in the monthly income method, according to their own notes which I had earlier collected from the side office.

When I returned the next day with a photocopy of my landlady's details, he didn't even examine them but just put the copy on top of the printer. I said, "If you're done with that, may I have it back, lest you ask for it next year?" He gave it back to me and asked for a load of bank documents, whereupon I told him that he'd had them yesterday!

"Oh, OK he said, go and collect your passport at the next counter.

I'm convinced that they make up their own rules and simply try to make it as difficult as possible for us because they know that they're not getting any agent's backhanders.

This was my first time doing it on my own but, traumatic as it was, I'm still doing it again next year. I will be armed with experience from my visit this year and will make a point of NOT showing the I.O. anything which has not been asked for. Under the money in bank method, I should never have let him have sight of my lease.

 

[DrJack54]

20 minutes ago, 5davidhen1 said:

Under the money in bank method, I should never have let him have sight of my lease

Seems that you did not provide a TM30? 

Lease is often provided/required for extension (not always)

[alien365]

I automatically prepare a new tm30 for each extension of stay. They've requested it each year for quite a while now at my local immigration. I renewed my extension this week and it went very smoothly. Walked in, pretty much straight to a counter, she stamped away for a minute or two, took my picture and money, then out of the place in under 10 minutes. I'd hate to be at one of the busy places.

[5davidhen1]

28 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Seems that you did not provide a TM30? 

Lease is often provided/required for extension (not always)

He did NOT ask for a TM30. I had one ready in my phone but, I take your point. Maybe next year I'll print one out. I don't have a printer but I suppose a Kodak shop would be able to assist.

[rwill]

I did my extension in January, Ratchaburi.  They also asked for a copy of my wifes ID and blue book for our house.  The past years just a copy of the TM30 was ok.  I'm on a regular retirement extenson, not a marriage based one.

[Packer]

Anything to make you use an agent. 

 

Just use an agent to start with, make life easy on yourself. 🙂 

[Briggsy]

22 hours ago, 5davidhen1 said:

He did NOT ask for a TM30. I had one ready in my phone but, I take your point. Maybe next year I'll print one out. I don't have a printer but I suppose a Kodak shop would be able to assist.

My understanding is that in Pattaya (Jomtien) and maybe other Immigration Offices, they want the paper TM30 issued by themselves rather than the pdf from the online TM30 notification site.

[BrandonJT]

54 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

My understanding is that in Pattaya (Jomtien) and maybe other Immigration Offices, they want the paper TM30 issued by themselves rather than the pdf from the online TM30 notification site.

Yes, there are immigration offices that will send you back to the TM30 desk to get a fresh copy of "their" TM30, even if you have one generated from the official TM30 system. Makes no sense, but TiT.

[Liquorice]

On 5/22/2025 at 9:51 AM, Kerryd said:

But when the IO was going through the papers - he asked me for a copy of the Blue Book and Chanote for the house I am in !

I have the Notification of Address already and he didn't ask for a lease or rental contract so I'm not sure the reason for wanting to see the blue book and chanote.

If rented, it's fairly standard procedure to supply a copy of the Thai owner's Tabien Baan and ID card.

However, as a Thai can only be registered in one Blue book, they are often not listed in the Blue book for the rented premises.

In that situation, a copy of the Chanote is proof of the ownership of the residence by the Thai.

[Kerryd]

Just for clarification - this is the 14th time I've done an Extension application so no, it's not my "first rodeo". And no - they do NOT just ask for different stuff "because they can".
But each Immigration Office can have it's own set of requirements. That's why I always go in at least a week ahead of my renewal date, so I have time to change/add/amend any changes they've made over the last year.

It occurs to me that maybe they are cracking down on people who use agents to fake having a proper address like they do to fake having the financial requirements. 
Because he didn't ask for a copy of a lease/rental agreement but the actual house paperwork.

And at Jomtien I used to supply a photocopy of my (Thai) driver's license (front and back), and have the "Report of Address" slip stapled into my passport.

I went back to Immigration with the Chanote, blue book, photocopies of the Chanote (front/back) and a photocopy of the front page of the blue book.

The IO looked at the Chanote and photocopies, put them back in the folder and gave it back to me. He had me sign the photocopy of the first page of the blue book and that was it.

Everything else was fine, paid the fee, had the photo taken.

Back the next day to pick up my passport with the new Extension stamp. All good.

I have next year's paperwork almost ready to go. May as well do it now while the printer cartridges are still fresh.
Got extra copies of my license and the Chanote and the front page of the blue book in the folder for next year just in case.

And just to add to the stress a bit that day, when I went home to get the blue book and chanote - my key wouldn't go all the way into the lock on the safe. Had the combo dialed in no problem, but it seems the furthest-in tumbler was gummed up.

Gave it a shot of  WD-40. Tried my spare  key. Double-checked the combo. Gave the lock a light tap with a hammer. Tried the keys again. Another shot of WD-40.
Then sat down and did a search for a locksmith nearby. Contacted one on Line. He asked for a photo of the safe - sent it. He asked about the combo and keys. I responded.

He then asked me to make a short video of me trying to open the safe so he could see what the problem was. Got ready, started recording, put my key in the lock - and it slide in effortlessly on the first try. Turned it, click, door opens.

Guess I just needed to wait a bit more for the WD-40 to do it's job. And it's almost something I should put on the calendar to do every year - run around the house and giving every lock mechanism a shot of WD-40 to keep them working and not rusting up.

Now, what to do with the next 364 days until I have to do this all over again. Travel time !
 

[Tod Daniels]

Asking for the house book and land lord i/d of the place you rent is NOT an unusual requirement and many offices routinely ask for that

Now that you haven't been asked for it in the past isn't remarkable either 😛 as you took pains to point out this "isn't your first rodeo" and you've successfully managed to get 14 years worth of previous extensions 😉 You know as well as I do, some offices want to see how many hoops you'll jump thru.