Hi.

Last month I applied for a 365 day extension of stay based on a non-imm-B visa and workpermit. I got the standard 30 day extension while the application is processed.

Tomorrow the 30 days are up, and the process is not yet completed. I called immigration, and they say that I just have to wait. I do not have to come in for a new 30 day extension stamp.

That does raise a few questions;

- After tomorrow am I officially illegal in Thailand, and just allowed to stay based on the local immigration official, without giving a new stamp?

- What happens after one week or two weeks, if the extension is denied? Will I then get a new stamp for 7 days to leave the country, even though officially I will at that time already be on overstay for one or two weeks?

Another issue is that I really need to go to Europe for some business, but I can't leave until I have the full extension. Or if I have a 30 day extension stamp, I get a re entry permit and return before that 30 days.

- knowing that my current extension expires on April 1st, can I go without a new extension for a couple of days, and if by the end of the week there is still no news on the full extension, can I at that point get a 30 day extension as of that date, so it will allow me to travel to Europe and be back early May, using a re entry permit? Or can't they extend when current extension expires? Or if they can would the new 30 days be counted from April 1st (when current expires), or from April 4th (when I would no longer want to wait and would request a new 30 day extension)?

It was so much easier in the past, by just getting a multiple entry visa abroad, but they won't give it anymore, saying since I have a workpermit, I can get an extension on a single entry visa locally. Not easy if you don't spend any long periods of time in the country...

It is a under consideration stamp with a report back date 30 days after it was done. It is not an extension.

What immigration has told others is that as long as it is still under consideration you can stay here. The report back date is just that not the end of the under consideration period,

Your extension should be completed shortly. Just keep checking back with them.

It is a under consideration stamp with a report back date 30 days after it was done. It is not an extension.

What immigration has told others is that as long as it is still under consideration you can stay here. The report back date is just that not the end of the under consideration period,

Your extension should be completed shortly. Just keep checking back with them.

Ok thanks. So at least I am not overstaying after tomorrow, even without a stamp. But I need to go to Europe by no later than next week. Can immigration give another 30 day under consideration, if by the end of the week no final decision on the the full extension has been made yet?

And what happens if by Friday there is no news, and I leave the country? Yes I will lose the extension application, but will there be any issues at the immigration at the border, since the 30 day consideration stamp has passed?

They can do another stamp with a new date. They might just do 15 days instead of 30 days.

I suggest that you make a trip to immigration later this week to find out the status of your application and explain to them the urgency of your situation.

As far as leaving goes I am not sure how immigration at the border will handle it. They might not let you leave is one possibility.

They can do another stamp with a new date. They might just do 15 days instead of 30 days.

I suggest that you make a trip to immigration later this week to find out the status of your application and explain to them the urgency of your situation.

As far as leaving goes I am not sure how immigration at the border will handle it. They might not let you leave is one possibility.

Thanks again for the quick reply! I'll wait a few more days, and see what happens. Then make a visit to immigration to ask for a new 30 day consideration stamp and get a re entry permit.

If they are not willing to do above, I will have to see what happens at the border. Would make for an interesting case, if Thai immigration prohibits me from leaving the country... The worst they can do I think is fining me for overstay counting from when my original stamp from visa expired last month. That would then be over one month though :-(. In that case I wonder if consulate in Europe would still issue me with a new visa???

Your extension may just be waiting to be signed. That can happen if the person authorized to do it is not in the office.

Just wait for a few days.

The worst case is to leave without waiting for the final stamp. They will give you another report date if it is going to delayed much longer.

Leaving without getting the final stamp would have no effect on you getting a visa.

Don't get a re-entry permit until your extension is done!

Don't get a re-entry permit until your extension is done!

Can you elaborate please. Immigration told me it's ok to leave, as long as I would be back before the end of the consideration period as stamped, and providing I use a re entry permit.

Don't get a re-entry permit until your extension is done!

Can you elaborate please. Immigration told me it's ok to leave, as long as I would be back before the end of the consideration period as stamped, and providing I use a re entry permit.

Immigration advised you correctly.

The Re-entry Permit preserves your current Permission to Stay stamp but will however only be until the date on the latest stamp (in this case the 'Under Consideration' stamp).

So you either need a new under consideration stamp, or even better the actual one year stamp, else your re-entry permit would only be until the 1st April.

Don't get a re-entry permit until your extension is done!

Can you elaborate please. Immigration told me it's ok to leave, as long as I would be back before the end of the consideration period as stamped, and providing I use a re entry permit.

Immigration advised you correctly.

The Re-entry Permit preserves your current Permission to Stay stamp but will however only be until the date on the latest stamp (in this case the 'Under Consideration' stamp).

So you either need a new under consideration stamp, or even better the actual one year stamp, else your re-entry permit would only be until the 1st April.

I'm sure this has been asked a '000 times... but what happens to an application when you have to leave the country during the "under consideration" period (with re-entry permit) but can't get back until after the "report back" date stamp?

If you are not here when the re-entry permit you got for the under consideration period expires you will only get a visa exempt entry and have to start all over again by getting a new visa.