bish Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I am posting this for a friend Can anyone advise me on a problem i have with an extension for a tourist visa please. My friend came to Thailand with a 60 day tourist visa.Within a week he had a stroke and was taken to Bangkok Pattaya hospital,where he was in a coma for most of the visa time. The hospital although receiving no money (because no insurance), gave me a form stating he was unable to breathe unassisted or walk, a visa extension was required,for which the immigration office gave 30 days.I had to pay 1900 baht and he has now been moved to a care home in Prachin Buri. The care home has asked me to look after his passport as they are afraid they'll lose it. My friend has no money to speak of and i believe the hospital is paying the care home. His visa is due for renewal again, so what will be the procedeure now and will 1900 baht have to be paid every time.I have just been up to see him and there is very little improvement and so he'll not be going anywhere for the foreseeable future,Maybe never in the condition he is now Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzexpat Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 (edited) bish You have posted in the wrong place Your question(s) will be best answered in the "Thai visas, residency and work permits" forum . Maybe a Moderator will move your post or you could try re-posting yourself Edited February 21, 2015 by nzexpat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metisdead Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Moved to the Visas forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mario2008 Posted February 21, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 21, 2015 if not able to travel he can get extensions of stay based on medical reasons for up to 90 days a time. Immigration will decide, but it also depends on the information from the doctor. That is the same as before, but now make sure the doctor declares he will not be able to travel for at least 3 months. Check if h has travel insurance, otherwise contact his embassy. They will try to locate family members so that they can help him. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubonjoe Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Another extension for medical care is possible. It will take documents from the doctor. An extension of up to 90 days can be done if the documents make it clear that his condition is not expected to improve within 90 days. The fee will be 1900 baht. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NancyL Posted February 21, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 21, 2015 The 30 day extension he received was the standard extension for a tourist visa -- it wasn't related to his medical condition although the documents the hospital gave you did allow you to do the extension for him In order to obtain a medical extension, it's important that the doctor writes a letter, on hospital letterhead, describing his condition and stating that he cannot travel for XX days. Often doctors don't understand the need to state the inability to travel for so many days in the future and will just report what they've done in the past and the patient's current condition. The maximum length of time granted for a medical extension is 90 days and it costs 1900 baht each time. Having assisted several people in obtaining medical extensions, I'm very surprised that a private hospital would be so willing to continue to care for a patient with an inability to pay. Often, they will simply stabilize the patient and arrange transfer to a government hospital. Also, I'm surprised that the patient's Embassy hasn't become involved yet in an effort to contact relatives. Often a private hospital will contact a comatose patient's Embassy for this assistance in an effort to secure payment. Sometimes there can be a "hidden" source of travel insurance. For example, many credit cards have automatic travel insurance if someone charges their airline tickets using their credit card. Or there can be travel insurance is someone is a member of a club, trade association or credit union. Is the patient a veteran? Several nationalities have veteran organizations in Thailand. Bish, your friend is fortunate to have you helping him, but I hope others are, too. Please send me a PM, if you'd like, because I've assisted others like your friend. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post technologybytes Posted February 21, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 21, 2015 It's good to see so much good and accurate advice in the thread. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post pittsdaulga Posted February 21, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 21, 2015 I'm very sorry to hear of your friend's situation. Make sure the hospital gives you/he the forms for extension for medical care before his next reporting date or the date his visa is up. If you provide the documents to immigration after that date, he will be in overstay and need to pay the fine, up to 20K baht. I don't know if there are any other fees to pay when submitting the extension for medical care. You/he may need to do this more than once, based on his condition. The hospital would need to give you a new letter/form before the old forms are no longer valid. On my papers, the hospital stated I couldn't travel for 3 months. At the end of this time, I was still unfit and received a new form that gave me another 6 weeks. I hope this helps you. --Pitts 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WALOCK2015 Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 YES I AGREE. WELL DONE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bish Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 I have had some positive feedback today concerning my friends problem. I would just like to thank everyone for your valued advice on this matter. Once again thank you all for your help. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogavnture Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 u believe the hosp. is paying for home care!!!!!!!! u better make sure. u might be on the hook, nothing is free. what country is he from . I would contact that countries embassy staff here for advise. not thai visa. com. we are not well suited for life threatening situations. I would be more worried about his health than a visa. im sure the thais are compassionate, but that guy cant sit here for ever, especially if the thais are paying for his care..........that aint gonna go on indefinitely..........I feel your question is better asked to the home country embassy not thai visa. com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paz Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 u believe the hosp. is paying for home care!!!!!!!! u better make sure. u might be on the hook, nothing is free. what country is he from . I would contact that countries embassy staff here for advise. not thai visa. com. we are not well suited for life threatening situations. I would be more worried about his health than a visa. im sure the thais are compassionate, but that guy cant sit here for ever, especially if the thais are paying for his care..........that aint gonna go on indefinitely..........I feel your question is better asked to the home country embassy not thai visa. com I'm not sure what is the rage against the OP posting for advice here. You may have missed few facts in your hurried written posting: - Nobody has said that medical care was to to be free. - Nowhere is stated that the consulate/embassy has not been notified - Normally the embassy will not act about sick citizens, beside a cursory attempt to locate next of kin. - The OP is, quite naturally, thankful about the advice received. So... just chill, do not assume the rest of the world is stupid. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Boo Posted February 21, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 21, 2015 A hateful post and understandable replies to it. Exercise empathy and refrain from posting hateful views on thai visa 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnydrops Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I wonder about the free part. Someone I know had to go to ICU at the government hospital. After he was moved to a standard "room", he was not allowed to check out until his bill was paid, which was over 200,000 and growing daily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinneil Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 What ever else ,please make sure his visa situation is kept upto date. Thai immigration can be absolute ba....ds when they want , no compassion what so ever . In my case i was in a coma . When i was able to coverse with my wife (in writing) as i had tubes in my mouth. I told her my visa was expired, she went to immigration was treated disgustingly by officers, over stay 35 days they demanded she pay 20.000 baht or i would be deported. These points i make are 100% correct( before any smart a..e says otherwise). I have the receipt to prove it. Even with certificate from the hospital they would not change what was said/done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paz Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 What ever else ,please make sure his visa situation is kept upto date. Thai immigration can be absolute ba....ds when they want , no compassion what so ever . In my case i was in a coma . When i was able to coverse with my wife (in writing) as i had tubes in my mouth. I told her my visa was expired, she went to immigration was treated disgustingly by officers, over stay 35 days they demanded she pay 20.000 baht or i would be deported. These points i make are 100% correct( before any smart a..e says otherwise). I have the receipt to prove it. Even with certificate from the hospital they would not change what was said/done. Which office was it? Immigration is never expected to act on compassion but on documentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paz Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I wonder about the free part. Someone I know had to go to ICU at the government hospital. After he was moved to a standard "room", he was not allowed to check out until his bill was paid, which was over 200,000 and growing daily. I think that someone was OK with stay. A debt toward an hospital in Thailand is like any other - has to be paid but it cannot be coerced. All what one has to to is to get up and walk. A human person is not like a car left for repairs to a garage - no "mechanic's lien" right apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krisb Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I'm never leaving my country without the right insurance ever again. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pittsdaulga Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 What ever else ,please make sure his visa situation is kept upto date. Thai immigration can be absolute ba....ds when they want , no compassion what so ever . In my case i was in a coma . When i was able to coverse with my wife (in writing) as i had tubes in my mouth. I told her my visa was expired, she went to immigration was treated disgustingly by officers, over stay 35 days they demanded she pay 20.000 baht or i would be deported. These points i make are 100% correct( before any smart a..e says otherwise). I have the receipt to prove it. Even with certificate from the hospital they would not change what was said/done. That's exactly what happened to me. I went to immigration when I was able to do so and despite the forms and papers from the hospital, all they cared for was that the overstay fee be paid. --Pitts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ubonjoe Posted February 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 22, 2015 What ever else ,please make sure his visa situation is kept upto date. Thai immigration can be absolute ba....ds when they want , no compassion what so ever . In my case i was in a coma . When i was able to coverse with my wife (in writing) as i had tubes in my mouth. I told her my visa was expired, she went to immigration was treated disgustingly by officers, over stay 35 days they demanded she pay 20.000 baht or i would be deported. These points i make are 100% correct( before any smart a..e says otherwise). I have the receipt to prove it. Even with certificate from the hospital they would not change what was said/done. That's exactly what happened to me. I went to immigration when I was able to do so and despite the forms and papers from the hospital, all they cared for was that the overstay fee be paid. --Pitts The problem is that once on overstay immigration have no authority to cancel it or waive the fine. It is not a case of an individual officer or an office not caring or not understanding they just cannot do anything about it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pittsdaulga Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 The problem is that once on overstay immigration have no authority to cancel it or waive the fine. It is not a case of an individual officer or an office not caring or not understanding they just cannot do anything about it. Good point Ubonjoe. I didn't think of the possibility that they cannot waive the fee as if they had a choice. I can see making arbitrary decisions could reek more havoc at these offices when making exceptions. --Pitts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maake55555 Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 This very good to know, have friend who is old and it may happen to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eff1n2ret Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 What ever else ,please make sure his visa situation is kept upto date. Thai immigration can be absolute ba....ds when they want , no compassion what so ever . In my case i was in a coma . When i was able to coverse with my wife (in writing) as i had tubes in my mouth. I told her my visa was expired, she went to immigration was treated disgustingly by officers, over stay 35 days they demanded she pay 20.000 baht or i would be deported. These points i make are 100% correct( before any smart a..e says otherwise). I have the receipt to prove it. Even with certificate from the hospital they would not change what was said/done. That's exactly what happened to me. I went to immigration when I was able to do so and despite the forms and papers from the hospital, all they cared for was that the overstay fee be paid. --Pitts The problem is that once on overstay immigration have no authority to cancel it or waive the fine. It is not a case of an individual officer or an office not caring or not understanding they just cannot do anything about it. Also, once you're on overstay you can't get an extension. I know of one case where Immigration (in Rayong) took the pragmatic view that it was best if they knew nothing about the chap who was severely incapacitated by a stroke and was several months overdue for his annual extension. They took one look at the photos of his pitiful bedridden state and told his wife she need not come back again. His hospital fees were covered by insurance, but this did not extend to homecare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubonjoe Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Also, once you're on overstay you can't get an extension. That is not correct. Immigration can do extensions when a person is on overstay and do it on a regular basis. But a person has to have a reason for the extension. Their have been cases where a person was given 7 days to leave after paying the overstay fine and the 1900 baht for an extension application. In the case of medical care they would certainly do an extension after the overstay fine was paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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