30 Day Visa Extension

[IanPower]

Hi folks,

Newbie questions here, sorry if they have been answered before, but I can't seem to find them.

As a Canadian, I was granted 30 days in the country upon arrival to Thailand. Is that a "visa" per say, or a waiver of the visa requirement? I didn't apply for a visa before arriving - I was told by the consulate in Korea that I could stay for up to 60 days without having to apply for anything in-country. In any event, I now want to extend my stay for another 30 days. Am I going to have any problems?

I found the immigration office, and figured out where I have to go. Now, my girlfriend is doing an intensive course in Bangkok and isn't available during the day. Does anyone know if I can bring both of our passports to be stamped, or does she have to appear in person? Is the charge for this still being waived?

On a final note: what about overstaying the visa? It expires on Feb. 10, and I only need to stay until the 13th, when my flight leaves for Korea. Should I just overstay and pay the fines at the airport?

Any and all help from the seasoned veterans out there would be greatly appreciated!!

Sincerely,

Ian

[Crossy]

Yup, you're going to have problems

The embassy have fed you incorrect information (something worryingly common). The best extension you're going to get on a 30 day visa exemption would be 7 days, and that only if you can show a flight out within that period.

Options:-

On the last day of your 30 days do a border run by land and get another 15 day stamp.

Or

On the last day of your 30 days do a border run by air and get another 30 days.

Or

If you want to stay longer, go to Vientiane in Laos where you can get a single or double entry Tourist Visa where each entry will give you a 60 day stay extendible by 30 days at immigration (Tourist Visas are currently free).

Is your girlfriend Korean? I believe they get a longer stay for a visa exempt arrival (someone please confirm), but in any case I'm pretty certain you have to apply for an extension in person.

On the overstay front, the fine is 500 Baht per day plus an overstay stamp in your passport, the cost of an extension is 1,900 Baht. Whilst there are currently no issues associated with having an overstay stamp it would be wise to avoid one if possible, you never know what new rules immigration will dream up

[Mario2008]

Koreans (ROK) get 90 days on arrival.

[IanPower]

Ok, thanks for the heads-up. This trip has just been one thing after another - I'm usually so well prepared!

A visa-run is out of the question I think, because my girlfriend only has about 6 days to actually go on vacation after her course - then she returns to a super-intense teaching schedule in Korea.

I only need 7 days actually. The visa officially expires on the 6th of February, and I have a flight out on the 13th. I said 30 because that seems to be the standard term. What are the chances that they'll give me the 7 days if I show up with my sob story? Can you get an extension on behalf of somebody else, or would we both have to go?

Thank you so much! I would have been royally screwed

[IanPower]

Oh, and we're both Canadian (unfortunately?)

[lopburi3]

You should be able to obtain 7 days for 1,900 baht each (there was never any free extension of stay) and the normal TM.7/photo. expect they will let you obtain for GF if she signs the application (you can download/print for web - one A4 paper). They may require show of ticket out so have that with you.

What is not clear is why you did not obtain a free tourist visa from the Consulate if you visited them. That would have provided the 60 days entry so expect that is what they were telling you. You would not have had to apply for anything in-country in that case.