Hi all,

I have a couple of questions for you visa experts here in the forum and am hoping that someone can give me definite answers.

I am holding a visa extension issued by the One-Stop Service Center in Bangkok’s Chamchuri Square. Have tried to call there multiple times, but nobody ever picks up the phone, hence this post.

My current one-year extension expires on 26 October 2015.

My questions:

1) Will the One-Stop Service Center be open for business on Monday, 26 October? There seems to be a long weekend.

2) If the center is NOT open on that day, is it possible for me to renew my extension for another year well ahead of the current expiry date of 26 October? I might need to go on a business trip abroad from 19 October until 24 October, so I would have to renew during the week of 12-16 October latest.

3) If early renewal is possible, will the one-year renewal be valid until 26 October 2016 (remember, the current extension expires on 26 October 2015) or – supposed I go for renewal on 14 October – only until 14 October 2016 (i.e. 1 year from the day of issue)?

4) How will early renewal affect my current extension? Will it automatically expire as soon as the renewal extension has been issued?

If you’re not clear about one or another of my questions, please let me know and I’ll try to rephrase. Thanks in advance for all answers.

You can go anytime from now (during opening hours).

30 days in advance before due date is completely OK without excuses.

Don't wait for the 26th (even though it is a working day).

Likely quite crowded.

Edited October 2, 201510 yr by KhunBENQ

AND!

Get a re-entry permit after you have completed the extension.

Can someone confirm that it will be valid until the new extension date in 2016? (quite sure)

Edited October 2, 201510 yr by KhunBENQ

1. Don't know.
2. Yes you can apply anytime from now to when it expires. You will need to get a re-entry permit (1,000 baht) so you can re-enter on Oct 24. You can apply for the permit when you do the extension.
3. Regardless of the date you apply for the new extension will apply from Oct 26 being the expiry date of your current extension.
4. Your existing extension is not affected at all by applying early.

Extensions always start from the expiration date of the current permission to stay. So you do not lose any time on your new extension by applying before the ending date of the current permission to stay's expiration.

The 23rd and 27th are holidays. Source: Public Holidays 2015 I have seen no announcement that the 26th has been made an additional holiday.

As said you can do your extension up to 30 days early.

Thanks to all you guys. Very helpful answers.

I wasn't aware that one can apply for a further extension up to 30 days before expiry of the current one. Always went just a couple or so days before expiry. So that's a great thing to know!

Since I have all documents - including my FM endorsement letters - ready, I'll get my extension sometime during the next two weeks, so I can go on my business trip with peace of mind.

Oh, and I always get a multiple re-entry together with my extension, of course.

Thanks again for your help.