Hi all,

Would love some advice from anyone that knows better than myself.

I have a non-immigrant category F multiple entry visa that is about to expire (5 March 2014).

It turns out that I will be continuing with my international organisation for another 6 months.

Is it possible to extend this visa in Bangkok if I have a letter from the org outlining my role and it's duration? If so, what else would I need?

Just to give you more info, the org said they would provide me with a letter, but no other visa assistance. To complicate matters further, the visa is in a cancelled passport (visa still valid of course).

Open to other visa options too.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, you can get an extension for up to 1 year from immigration and even extend every year again.

I presume you have also a valid passport, than it will not be a problem. Just take both passports with you and a copy of both, as wel as a letter from your ebassy regarding the new passport. (standerd lettter most embassies give you automatically)

You should be able to get an extension of stay. A non-f is to perform official duties.

There is more than one clause of Thai Police Order 777/2551 that your extension could fall under. Have a look yourself or give us some more information as to what you doing so we can make a suggestion.

Edit: You could also make a border run to get another 90 day entry on or before the 5th of March when your visa expires if you can't get the extension before then.

The criteria for an extension depends on the kind of organisation.

Is it an international organisation like the UN or an organisation like Greenpeaace, Doctors without Borders etc? (NGO)

Thanks for the info everyone. Yes, it is a major INGO like the UN, however, it's only a short term ungraded contract (6 months) and not an ongoing professional appointment.

Yes, I do have a valid passport (the old one was full is all).

Do you know how much it is likely to cost? Can it be done at Lad Phrao with Chaeng Watthana still closed?

Thanks again!

Thanks for the tip about the border run Ubonjoe. I did that two weeks ago, but that was before I got the position, so now thinking a bit more long-term. Thanks

You are applying under 2.27 of the police order Joe posted the link to.

Yes, you can apply at Lad Phrao, with mentioned copies of passports, plus extra copies, copies of arrival card and letter from the organisation.

(You need extra copies of passport and arrival card as you also ned to transfer your entry details to the new passport, which is a seperate task.

Edit: cost of extension is 1,900 baht. transfer of details is free. Don't forget to take passport photo's with you.

You will pay 1900 baht for the extension.

You will need to check the police order to see which clause you will be using for the extension to find out what documents will be required.

See: mmigration Bureau Order 305/2551 documents for extension of stay.

Thanks for the tip about the border run Ubonjoe. I did that two weeks ago, but that was before I got the position, so now thinking a bit more long-term. Thanks

There is no need for you to hurry to get the extension. You will not be able to apply for the extension until you have 45 days remaining on your most recent 90 day entry. You are not extending your visa so its expiration date does not matter.

Ok, so my current re-entry stamp is valid until 17 May 2014. So you're saying, even though the visa itself would have technically expired (5 March 2014), that this is not really important and that as long as I apply for an extension before the re-entry stamp expires from my most recent 90 day stay, that is fine?

Thanks again for the info.

That is correct you just need to do the extension of stay before May 17th.

The visas enter before date means just that. It is the last day you can use the visa not the last day you can be in the country.

Thanks. I just want to clear-up one thing though...

I would be looking at extending the visa itself, hopefully up to 1-year. If I let it expire, would I still be able to extend the visa (even though I would have a re-entry stamp allowing me to be in the country after that), or just be able to temporarily extend my stay beyond the validity of my re-entry stamp?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm quite new to all of this. I genuinely appreciate the advice as it's not exactly forthcoming from immigration themselves.

Your visa expiring is no problem, as you are already in Thailand you need to take care that your permission to stay stamp in your passport doesn't expire and extend your stay on or preferably before that date.

The permission to stay is the stamp that is put in your passport when you enter Thailand, and that is what is extended. (It is not a re-entry stamp, that is someting else).

Immigration will give you an extesion of your permisison to stay for 1 year or end of contract if that is sooner.

Ok, thanks. I think I had confused the re-entry stamp with my permission to stay stamp. That clears it up for me. I'll go see immigration before that expires in May to see if I can extend that then. Cheers.