Bangkok visa adventure today. Hope this can help someone else...

[joeyg]

I'll go point to point think it will be easier.

1 Entered BKK Oct 31 on 30 day exempt entry.

2 Went to US Embassy today filled out the Financial Affidavit 1600 bhat.

"I affirm that I receive US$______________ every month from the US government and or other sources. I am applying for a Thai visa and extension of a current visa and any assistance you can provide in this request will be greatly appreciated."

I'm no attorney but you got a love that statement!

3 Go to the immigration office at Chaengwattana. The place is massive. More on that later.

4 Show my passport to the Immigration Screening Clerk and ask if I can obtain a non-immigrant visa planning to retire in Thailand.

5 She looks it over says no problem and gives me the forms to fill out.

6 Sit from 11:30 to Noon. The whole operation closes one hour for lunch.Come back and sit from one until 4:15. Numbers started at 42 I was 88. If eight people didn't come up when their numbers were called I would have been told to come back tomorrow. For the majority of the time there was one woman processing applications like mine. Reentry people were stamped and out within one minute.

7 My number was called I went up to the woman who was very nice I asked her how she was and she said very busy. I said I see that.

8 She looked over my paperwork and said sorry you have to get a 15 day extension first for 2000 bhat then come back and I will give you a 90 day visa for 2000 bhat, you have to pay twice.

9 I told her the woman at the front desk looked at my passport stamps and said I would be able to apply for the non-immigrant visa today. She said you can't.

10 She asked me where I live and I told her Samut Prakan. She wrote something on my Application and signed it. She said extend your visa tomorrow at Samut Prakan and come back to my desk, don't wait in line I'll remember you. I thought that was extremely very nice of her.

11 On top of that, was at the office in Samut Prakan A couple of weeks ago to see if I could do this there at the local office. The immigration officer told us there that they could not convert/ change the visa. He said they could do extensions Never told me I needed one to go further with the process.

12 Riding home in the taxi I couldn't help thinking, "did I ever see, in the reams of information I went through on Thaivisa, that you could extend you're exempt entry but but needed to have 15 days remaining." Hummmmmm.....

So I'm thinking I will try again tomorrow, or is this a sign from the Gods that I should be elsewhere. Remember a few weeks ago I was denied a tourist visa in Kolkata, India because I did not have 60 days of hotel reservations booked consecutively for my whole trip. Makes ya wonder...

[ubonjoe]

I have written you need 15 days remaining on your entry to do the conversion many times in posts.

You will get a 30 day extension not 15 days and it will cost 1900 baht.

You will need a completed TM7 form with an attached photo. Copies of your passport photo page, entry/permit to stay stamp and TM6 departure card.

TM7 form download and print it 2 sided. http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/pdf/tm7.pdf

[joeyg]

Sorry I forgot that... Why did the woman tell me to get 15 days. It never ends...

[ubonjoe]

Probably because that is the minimum days needed. It is also how many days you will wait to get the visa/entry stamp after they your application is approved.

[kratiam]

Hi...Last week I got a 30 day extension to a visa exempt at Chaengwattana with only about three days left of the 30. Just THB1,900, no other documents or questions, very polite people and very quick - about 35 minutes in all.

Edit: I didn't know anything about the 15 days requirement....maybe ignorance is bliss. I am 67 ( a very young 67!) with a British passport in case it's relevant.

[ubonjoe]

Hi...Last week I got a 30 day extension to a visa exempt at Chaengwattana with only about three days left of the 30. Just THB1,900, no other documents or questions, very polite people and very quick - about 35 minutes in all.

Edit: I didn't know anything about the 15 days requirement....maybe ignorance is bliss. I am 67 ( a very young 67!) with a British passport in case it's relevant.

There is no 15 day requirement to get the 30 day extension.

The OP was applying for a non immigrant visa which requires 15 days remaining on an entry. He did not have the 15 days so was told to apply for an extension to get the required 15 days.

[ebonykap]

I have a non-O visa from PP which expires on 16th December. I intend to apply for an extension based on retirement prior to expiry. My financial requirements were finalised on 7th Oct. The 60 day "seasoning" of my funds allows me to apply from 8th Dec. This leaves less than 15 days prior to expiry. Does this mean I have to get a 30 day extension before I can apply for retirement (long-stay)?

[ubonjoe]

I have a non-O visa from PP which expires on 16th December. I intend to apply for an extension based on retirement prior to expiry. My financial requirements were finalised on 7th Oct. The 60 day "seasoning" of my funds allows me to apply from 8th Dec. This leaves less than 15 days prior to expiry. Does this mean I have to get a 30 day extension before I can apply for retirement (long-stay)?

For an extension of stay application there is no minimum time to apply. You can do it on the date your permit to stay ends if you want to.

The 15 days is only for applying for a non immigrant visa when you a visa exempt or tourist visa.

[ebonykap]

I have a non-O visa from PP which expires on 16th December. I intend to apply for an extension based on retirement prior to expiry. My financial requirements were finalised on 7th Oct. The 60 day "seasoning" of my funds allows me to apply from 8th Dec. This leaves less than 15 days prior to expiry. Does this mean I have to get a 30 day extension before I can apply for retirement (long-stay)?

For an extension of stay application there is no minimum time to apply. You can do it on the date your permit to stay ends if you want to.

The 15 days is only for applying for a non immigrant visa when you a visa exempt or tourist visa.

Excellent!!

Thanks once again Ubonjoe.

[Mickmick]

Re the 15 days left needed, do they keep your passport for those 15 days ?

Just trying to work out when to convert my tourist visa as I am planning a few trips and will need my passport for hotel checkin.

[Mario2008]

No, they do not keep your passport.

[camsouth]

Re the 15 days left needed, do they keep your passport for those 15 days ?

Just trying to work out when to convert my tourist visa as I am planning a few trips and will need my passport for hotel checkin.

no they will convert same day , you have to have a bank account , proof of address, hotel book i think its called , and if you have your proof of income from us embassy. you are all set .dont forget if you want to leave thailand you will need a multi- entry or you will kill your 90 day conversion to retirement and have to start over.

[ubonjoe]

Re the 15 days left needed, do they keep your passport for those 15 days ?

Just trying to work out when to convert my tourist visa as I am planning a few trips and will need my passport for hotel checkin.

no they will convert same day , you have to have a bank account , proof of address, hotel book i think its called , and if you have your proof of income from us embassy. you are all set .dont forget if you want to leave thailand you will need a multi- entry or you will kill your 90 day conversion to retirement and have to start over.

All offices are now putting conversion applications under consideration now which is normally 15 days.

No office does the conversion and extension of stay on the same day now.

During the 90 day entry it would make no sense to a get a multiple re-entry permit unless you planned on making 3 or more trips out during the 90 days. A single re-entry would be enough for most people.

[joeyg]

Got the 30 day extension in in Samut Prakan 1900 bhat 5 minutes. Very unhappy crew there.

When back to the front of the line at Chaengwattana as instructed. The woman said I remember you. Asked for 2000 Bhat gave ne a blue receipt stamped Dec 3. My 30 day expires Dec29.

My question is is the Dec 3 the the earliest I can come ? Or can I wait until Dec 29 the day the 30 day extension expires?

The crew there was cheerful, upbeat and helpful. Took15 minutes. Will beheading up to my buddies organic farm to check out the rice, bamboo shoots, dragon friuit, banannas etc.

Sound interesting and . I recently received the status of a certified grower in San Diego. Looking forward to learn more about topical fruits. Anyone have any interest in getting involed PM me. It's a nice group of people.

[kinmaew]

if only it was like Malaysia 90 days no questions what a dream that would be.

[ubonjoe]

Got the 30 day extension in in Samut Prakan 1900 bhat 5 minutes. Very unhappy crew there.

When back to the front of the line at Chaengwattana as instructed. The woman said I remember you. Asked for 2000 Bhat gave ne a blue receipt stamped Dec 3. My 30 day expires Dec29.

My question is is the Dec 3 the the earliest I can come ? Or can I wait until Dec 29 the day the 30 day extension expires?

The crew there was cheerful, upbeat and helpful. Took15 minutes. Will beheading up to my buddies organic farm to check out the rice, bamboo shoots, dragon friuit, banannas etc.

Sound interesting and . I recently received the status of a certified grower in San Diego. Looking forward to learn more about topical fruits. Anyone have any interest in getting involed PM me. It's a nice group of people.

Glad things went smooth for you.

It probably will be finished before the 3rd but you would have to go back and ask for it. I can recall a person going back after a week and it was ready.

You need to do it no later than the date on your receipt.

You will get a 90 day entry from the date you applied so you would gain nothing by going later.

[joeyg]

Got the 30 day extension in in Samut Prakan 1900 bhat 5 minutes. Very unhappy crew there.

When back to the front of the line at Chaengwattana as instructed. The woman said I remember you. Asked for 2000 Bhat gave ne a blue receipt stamped Dec 3. My 30 day expires Dec29.

My question is is the Dec 3 the the earliest I can come ? Or can I wait until Dec 29 the day the 30 day extension expires?

The crew there was cheerful, upbeat and helpful. Took15 minutes. Will beheading up to my buddies organic farm to check out the rice, bamboo shoots, dragon friuit, banannas etc.

Sound interesting and . I recently received the status of a certified grower in San Diego. Looking forward to learn more about topical fruits. Anyone have any interest in getting involed PM me. It's a nice group of people.

Glad things went smooth for you.

It probably will be finished before the 3rd but you would have to go back and ask for it. I can recall a person going back after a week and it was ready.

You need to do it no later than the date on your receipt.

You will get a 90 day entry from the date you applied so you would gain nothing by going later.

Thanks for all the help ubonjoe. The question remains I will be traveling up to Yasothan. If I comeback later than Dec 3 but before the new 30 stamp expires on Dec 29 will that interfere with getting the 90 day visa?

[ubonjoe]

It is hard to say what will happen if you don't go back for the stamp on or before the 3rd. A few days would be okay but waiting for weeks would not be a good idea. They might decide you don't want it and trash the paperwork.

[joeyg]

ok thanks