Possible to extend 30 day 1st time tourist visa by extra 30 days?

[Bodger22]

Tried to find this in the forums so sorry if repeating.

Friend is here from Russia on normal 30 days 1st time exempt visa. i.e. didn't apply for a Visa in Russia

With all the new rules, is it possible to extend a 30 day 1st time exempt visa by extra 30 days at Phuket Immigration?

If yes - what is needed?

Can you just turn up?

Thank you.

[wayned]

Yes. His passport, completed TM7 form with one picture attached,1900 baht, and copies of the bio page of his passport, the entry stamp and TM6 departure card. No appointment necessary

[Bodger22]

Thank you - just to clarify its a visa exempt 30 days

i.e. didn't apply for ant Visa in Russia - is that still OK?

My friend said she had heard that this didn't apply to Russians!!

Any truth in that or just a rumour?

[wayned]

Yes The extension used to be only 7 days but was changed at the end of August to 30 days.

[paz]

Thank you - just to clarify its a visa exempt 30 days

i.e. didn't apply for ant Visa in Russia - is that still OK?

My friend said she had heard that this didn't apply to Russians!!

Any truth in that or just a rumour?

There are reports that immigration illegally refuse 30 day extensions to Russians and other nationalities.

[hullupullo]

From Thai Embassy Moscow website:

Consular Announcement /

Russians are not included in the new regulations for extension of temporary stay
(9 September 2014)

With reference to the new regulation for extension of temporary stays in the Kingdom of Thailand (Order of Royal Thai Police No. 327/2557) effective from August 29th 2014, the Embassy would like to emphasize that Russian nationals are not included in this new regulation, as Russia is not in the list of the Interior Ministerial Announcements on Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme. The visa free regime between Thailand and Russia is based on the Bilateral Agreement between the two governments. Therefore, Russian nationals entering Thailand without visa will be permitted to stay up to 30 days without prolongation. For staying more than 30 days, please kindly apply for appropriate visa.

http://en.thaiembassymoscow.com/

[paz]

Interesting. That would explain why Russia is not listed with all the other countries that can enter visa exempt.

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15396-Tourist-Visa-Exemption.html

However, Vietnam is listed there but from reports Vietnamese are denied too.

[PoorSucker]

He can only get 7 days.

[hullupullo]

Interesting. That would explain why Russia is not listed with all the other countries that can enter visa exempt.

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15396-Tourist-Visa-Exemption.html

However, Vietnam is listed there but from reports Vietnamese are denied too.

Maybe all these are denied? Includes Vietnam too

"† Citizens of countries that have bilateral agreements on visa waivers with Thailand are allowed to stay 30 days."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Thailand#30.2F15_days_visa-free_.2850_nations.29

[paz]

Maybe all these are denied? Includes Vietnam too

"† Citizens of countries that have bilateral agreements on visa waivers with Thailand are allowed to stay 30 days."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Thailand#30.2F15_days_visa-free_.2850_nations.29

For sure not, many people from different countries have extended 30 days visa exempt, but recently more reports came of refusals for no reason given.

Para 2 of clause 2.4 says:

Must not be of a nationality or type prescribed by the committee monitoring official proceedings of officers of the Immigration Bureau.

Source: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=280314

This list has never been made public.

[hullupullo]

I mean those countries which have bilateral agreements are denied? They are not in visa exempt scheme. Marked with † on that wikilist

[ubonjoe]

The bilateral agreement countries are listed here: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15383-List-of-countries-which-have-concluded-Agreements.html

[paz]

I mean those countries which have bilateral agreements are denied? They are not in visa exempt scheme. Marked with † on that wikilist

Seems plausible. These are

Brunei

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Laos

Macau

Malaysia

Mongolia

Philippines

Russia

Singapore

Turkey

Vietnam

[paz]

The bilateral agreement countries are listed here: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15383-List-of-countries-which-have-concluded-Agreements.html

That is (for ordinary passports):

14 days

1. Cambodia

30 days

1. Hong Kong SAR

2. Laos

3. Macau SAR

4. Mongolia

5. Russia

6. Vietnam

90 days

1. Argentina

2. Brazil

3. Chile

4. Korea

5. Peru

Of these, Hong Kong and Vietnam appear also on the visa exemption list linked above without special notation, while three of the 90 days countries are there noted as Bilateral Agreement countries.

About Bilateral Agreement countries, I remember ubonjoe commenting the wording in clause 2.4 to allow citizens of countries receiving 90 days at entry to be allowed for the extension. That contrasts with the policy applied to Russian.

Confusing, of course.