3-Month Extension For Visa Exempt Entry (Just Entry Stamp, No Visa)

[wump]

I have seen it with my own eyes today: A friend of mine has only got a normal entry stamp at the airport (no visa) and he told me he paid 10,000 Baht to some middle man who got him a three month extension. Now the extension is just the normal stamp that you get with a normal visa ("Foreigner can stay in the kingdom until ... or will be deported etc").

I can assure you (I wouldn't believe it myself) that there is ONLY the entry and exit stamp in the passport (which is brand new), there is no other stamps, visas whatsoever so this 3-month extension must be real.

He didn't have to leave the country to do that and got no trouble when he left at the airport either. I don't know why they accept an extension in the passport when there is no visa for it. Anyone heard of similar stories?

[Lite Beer]

That extension will be illegal.

[Mario2008]

extensions are always possible. A frequently used method is the extension based on medical reasons.

As has been said, it is illegal. You sign the paperwork for being true, making false statements can lead to prosecution, jailtime and being blacklisted.

[wump]

Thanks for your replies. You are probably right. What I find strange is that they would hand out 3 months in advance for medical reasons and that not a single question was asked afterwards.

Also, what would have happened if they had asked what it was for? He didn't know what he signed for so I guess he would have gotten into major trouble then?

[Mario2008]

Medical reasons means that you cannot travel.

They probably have a doctor giving a statement that one cannot travel and based on that an extension is given.

[whybother]

Clearly the middle man paid some lackey in the Immigration Department to put a couple of stamps in the passport. If some guy at immigration decided to investigate a little, your friend would probably find himself in a bit of trouble.

[jrtmedic]

Amazing what some people will do in their attempts to dodge Thailands already generous visa regulations.

For what was allegedly paid for a dodgy stamp a legal visa could have been obtained and there would have been money to spare!

What really annoys me is that theses clowns, who believe they are clever, have the effect of ensuring the Thais will tighten their regulations in order to protect the countries borders from undesirables.

Unfortunatly this also results in those of us who play by the rules also being subject to increased scrutiny

[ubonjoe]

Probably an extension for bogus medical treatment. Been reports of this before and also the reason that at some immigration offices these extension are getting harder.

Extensions do not always have to have a non immigrant visa entry. There are several that can be obtained with no visa or a tourist visa. Medical is one of them.

[NancyL]

Yes, it is possible to get a 3-month extension to 30-day visa exempt status for medical reasons -- no need to have a visa in the passport. And yes, it does make for a very simple-looking passport. Does the OP know which immigration office granted the extension?

Here in Chiang Mai, the immigration office always wants to see a photo of the passport holder in the hospital bed, looking sick, surrounded by a doctor and a few nurses. Also, the doctor's letter needs to have some official-looking stamps from the hospital, if they use the form immigration supplies. (Some hospitals use their own form, which has the same wording as immgration's form -- both are in Thai. Then, Immigration isn't so picky about needing stamps on a hospital-supplied form)

If the person has already been discharged from the hospital, then they ask more questions and often want to see the person themselves -- they are willing to go across the street to the parking lot while the sick person waits in the car.

Apparently there have been abuses of the medical extension.

[IMA_FARANG]

Obviously he thinks he's clever.

Actually he paid 10K baht for a phony visa that he could have recieved legally and paid less than that 10K baht for a legal visa ... including transportation to Laos (as an exam[le).

It's really easy to make a short trip to Laos, get a legal 60 day visa, extend that later for another 30 days .... and including transporataion and a hotel room for one night in Laos still spend less than 10K baht for the whole thing.

Very clever ... he helped them to scam him for an illegal visa, and paid them more \for it.

[wump]

In my friend's defense he didn't actually know what he was getting. He just thought that he is paying to get an extension, gave his passport to some random guy that was recommend by him and received it back a couple of days later with the extension.

This was in some major tourist resort by the sea. And no, I'm not my friend .