Extension of Stay for F and O Visa holders

[thecheesestandsalone]

Sorry if this is covered elsewhere but I could not find it.

I have a "F" visa and my wife and daughter have "O" visas all for 1 year with multiple entries. Our period of stay (initial 90 day) ends on Sept 28th. We are in the process of filing the application for extension of stay (TM.7).

1. When should we file the paperwork? I have to go out to the government center for work on Monday for other business and was thinking about doing the filing the same day. This is more than 30 days out from our period of stay however.

2. What paperwork is required? I found this list elsewhere:

1. Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom, TM.7 – one original.

2. One photograph – 4cm x 6 cm (if needed there is a photo/copy shop next door to the Chonburi

Immigration office that opens at 8am – Immigration opens at 8:30am)

3. Passport (original) with at least 6 months remaining validity

4. Photocopy of passport pages (one copy)

a. Identity page(s) showing holder’s picture, name, and date issued, etc.

b. Page showing the Non-Immigrant Visa

c. Page(s) showing each subsequent one year extension, if applicable

d. Page showing the last entry stamp into Thailand

5. Photocopy of Departure Card, TM.6 (this card is usually stapled in your passport upon arrival)

- I have a letter from my Thai sponsor for my projects here

Anything else?

3. How long is the second extension normally for? We are scheduled to depart on 12/18 and want to avoid having to do this again before we leave.

Not that it matters but I hold a US passport and my wife has a Japanese one. Our daughter holds both but her visa is in her US one.

Thanks so much! This is such a wonderful resource.

-the cheese stands alone

[Lite Beer]

I think you will find that you have to leave the country and re enter to get another 90 days.

You cannot get extensions at Immigration unless you qualify for 12 month extensions.

As you are departing in December that hardly seems feasible.

[ubonjoe]

It dependents upon which clause of Thai police order 777/2551 you fall under.

Clause 2.3 allows for one year extension and for dependent extension under 2.20.

Clause 2.27 allows for 90 day extension and none under 2.2 for dependents.

With some additional about what you are doing we could give better answers. Info for non-f visa is a bit vague on MFA website.

[thecheesestandsalone]

It dependents upon which clause of Thai police order 777/2551 you fall under.

Clause 2.3 allows for one year extension and for dependent extension under 2.20.

Clause 2.27 allows for 90 day extension and none under 2.2 for dependents.

With some additional about what you are doing we could give better answers. Info for non-f visa is a bit vague on MFA website.

Thanks for the quick help. I am doing some seminars with a university here as part of my sabbatical. I am not working so there is no issue with work permits. The university has issued me an official letter for my extension of stay. This, I believe, is "official business" as the category but things do seem pretty vague as to this category. The university processed the visa for us in Bangkok and the government transmitted the visa to our local embassy where it was issued.

I asked if I should just leave and return but they told me that it would be better to apply for the extension of stay. We are going to visit Cambodia and perhaps Laos while we are here anyway but the university seemed to prefer that we apply for the extension.

Also what do we have to do about a re-entry permit? Our visa gives us multiple re-entry permits but I am unclear if we have to file something else.

Thanks so much!

-the cheese stands alone

[ubonjoe]

If you have a multiple entry visa (M in entries space on visa) you just need to cross a border and return to get another 90 days. You can do it overland or by air.

[Lite Beer]

You have Multi entry Non Immigrant Visas which means you can come and go as you please receiving 90 days on each entry.

If you intend on leaving the country anyway it would be easier to do that and get another 90 days when returning.

[lopburi3]

As said if you all have multi entry visas use them for some travel any time before end of current stay and on return get new 90 day entry stamps at any border. You have already paid for your stay - no reason to pay/waste time again for extensions if you plan travel anyhow.

[thecheesestandsalone]

Thanks for all the help. We just booked a few trips around SE Asia rather than deal with the paperwork to extend for a year. Nice reason to visit some new places!

[thecheesestandsalone]

PS one more related question.

If we leave and return to get another 90 day period of stay do we still need to inform immigration that we are still living at our same address?

[moe666]

PS one more related question.

If we leave and return to get another 90 day period of stay do we still need to inform immigration that we are still living at our same address?

Depending on whether you stay in the country for more than 90 days. If you leave the country and return that resets your 90 day report and as you have multi-entry visas you need to leave every 90 days any way.

[Lite Beer]

No, you do not have to report.

[lopburi3]

As said the simple answer is no because you can not stay longer than 90 days on such entry without leaving for another.

[thecheesestandsalone]

Thanks! That is what I figured but good to get confirmation.

-the cheese always stands alone (and seems rather expensive in Thailand)