Visa Extension Due To Illness?

[robbie2013]

hi i have just been to hospital and have been advised not to fly for at least ten days:(. problem is my visa runs out in 2 days!! i know it costs 1900 baht to extend visa for a week but i have been given a certificate from the hospital stating that i can't fly.

do you think i'll still have to pay in full or do they make exceptions due to illness?

[theoldgit]

It can be done, moved to Visas for accurate advice.

[Maestro]

With a certificate from your doctor to that effect, you can get an extension of stay for medical reasons under paragraph 2.25 of Thai Police Order 777/2551 and Immigration Bureau Order 305/2551

[Lite Beer]

2.25 In the case of medical

treatment or convalescence or to look after a patient:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 90 days at a time.

(1) Confirmation and request has been made by a physician

responsible for the treatment. The Physician must describe the details of treatment and advised that the illness is a barrier for travelling.

(2) In the case of looking after a patient, confirmation and request has been made by the physician responsible for the treatment or by an embassy or consulate.

(3) Patient Carer, except parents, spouse, children, adopted children or children of spouse, shall be granted no more than 1 extra person.

[lopburi3]

The question seems to be if he has to pay and yes he will have to pay the normal 1,900 baht for an extension of stay.

[robbie2013]

thanks for the replies guys! yeah i know i will be granted the extension but will i still have to pay the full 1900/week. im gonna need at least two weeks extension

[Mario2008]

thanks for the replies guys! yeah i know i will be granted the extension but will i still have to pay the full 1900/week. im gonna need at least two weeks extension

The extension you will get is not the normal 7 days to leave the country, but a special one for which the duration is decided on case to case basis.

The letter from the doctor/hospital should allow you to get an extension of up to 90 days. In your case the doctor says you can't fly for 10 days, so will get an extension covering at least that period and pay only once 1,900 baht.

[Lite Beer]

1,900 Baht for up to 90 days extension.

[lopburi3]

Flame post removed.

[merijn]

I don't know where you are requesting the medical extension but you can expect problems if you are doing this in Phuket.

Phuket Immigration has implemented new (local) rules regarding the medical extension.

Only people who are hositalised or woman over 7 months pregnant are getting the medical extension or at the discretion of the officer.

We have to thank our Russian friends for this new rule as many people where abusing the system.

I saw many people being turned down by the officers for medical extensions due to those "new" rules.

[lopburi3]

That should the the policy everywhere - you get that extension when you can not travel for medical reasons. Obviously the hospital requirement would not need to be met if you were medically unfit for travel and that would come under the discretion clause and why that have a doctor available when required. If medically unable to fly believe extension would be available in Phuket as in other places.

[merijn]

That should the the policy everywhere - you get that extension when you can not travel for medical reasons. Obviously the hospital requirement would not need to be met if you were medically unfit for travel and that would come under the discretion clause and why that have a doctor available when required. If medically unable to fly believe extension would be available in Phuket as in other places.

This would normally the case but i encountered a few people getting refused and they were told that they could travel by car and no extension was given.

But the experience is that this is more strictly in-forced for our Russian friends.

Like i said it is decided on a case by case.

[Yahooka]

That should the the policy everywhere - you get that extension when you can not travel for medical reasons. Obviously the hospital requirement would not need to be met if you were medically unfit for travel and that would come under the discretion clause and why that have a doctor available when required. If medically unable to fly believe extension would be available in Phuket as in other places.

This would normally the case but i encountered a few people getting refused and they were told that they could travel by car and no extension was given.

But the experience is that this is more strictly in-forced for our Russian friends.

Like i said it is decided on a case by case.

I can confirm this too.A couple of years ago I was admitted to Bangkok hospital in Phuket with a serious infection.My Visa was soon due to expire,but the hospital manage to get it extended with 10 more days,not more.

So after 3 weeks in hospital I was able to limp over the border to Burma for an extension with an 5 day overstay,very annoying compared to what Ive heard immigration in other places handles things when you get hospitalized !!!

[lopburi3]

That should the the policy everywhere - you get that extension when you can not travel for medical reasons. Obviously the hospital requirement would not need to be met if you were medically unfit for travel and that would come under the discretion clause and why that have a doctor available when required. If medically unable to fly believe extension would be available in Phuket as in other places.

This would normally the case but i encountered a few people getting refused and they were told that they could travel by car and no extension was given.

But the experience is that this is more strictly in-forced for our Russian friends.

Like i said it is decided on a case by case.

Suspect if staying here no air travel would not hold much weight but if had ticket to home country and that departure was delayed by not being able to fly believe extension would be allowed (rather than force a border crossing/return).

[jrtmedic]

Interesting,

Recently a friend underwent major orthopaedic surgery. He did not require an extended period of hospitalisation. His wife (a Thai lady) went to the immigration office on his behalf a few days prior to his permission to stay expiring. She spoke to an officer, presented a letter written by my friends Surgeon and he was granted a 90 day extension !

[lopburi3]

Actually with a Thai wife a 60 day extension would have been granted without medical reasons.

[merijn]

That should the the policy everywhere - you get that extension when you can not travel for medical reasons. Obviously the hospital requirement would not need to be met if you were medically unfit for travel and that would come under the discretion clause and why that have a doctor available when required. If medically unable to fly believe extension would be available in Phuket as in other places.

This would normally the case but i encountered a few people getting refused and they were told that they could travel by car and no extension was given.

But the experience is that this is more strictly in-forced for our Russian friends.

Like i said it is decided on a case by case.

Suspect if staying here no air travel would not hold much weight but if had ticket to home country and that departure was delayed by not being able to fly believe extension would be allowed (rather than force a border crossing/return).

Theoretically you are correct but the real world can be different as we all know.

Phuket immigration has orders to crack down on medical extensions specially for Russians as they are often abusing the system unfortunately.

In the last three weeks i saw several people (all Russians) getting turned down for medical extensions but others where getting the extension at the officer discretion.

And yes they use the land border crossing as a option to refuse the medical extension.

[NoshowJones]

I don't know where you are requesting the medical extension but you can expect problems if you are doing this in Phuket.

Phuket Immigration has implemented new (local) rules regarding the medical extension.

Only people who are hositalised or woman over 7 months pregnant are getting the medical extension or at the discretion of the officer.

We have to thank our Russian friends for this new rule as many people where abusing the system.

I saw many people being turned down by the officers for medical extensions due to those "new" rules.

If there is one thing I hate, it is this "at the discretion of the officer"nonsense. I know TIT, but the officers should be applying the rules as laid down by the Thai Government. How can it be fair if any of us is going to an immigration for something important, and has to depend on an officers mood, or if he had a row with his wife? Yes, I know Thailand does not have a reputation for fairness.