7 Day Extension Stamp misleading

[jp1948]

I needed to extend my 90 day stay (non-immigrant O Multi entry) by 3 days (due to problems exporting a cat). Applied to Phuket immigration before 90 days and was charged 1900 Baht and given 7 days. However the stamp says  'Application for extension NOT approved, Applicant must leave the Kingdom not later than --- (7days after the 90)'.

No problem leaving but on the next arrival at Phuket Airport it took 2 officials almost 30 minutes checking every entry it my new and old passports and wanted an explanation for the 'Refusal'. It sounded as though I had been told to leave the country on the last visit.

Anyone had similar problems?

[FritsSikkink]

you were NOT given an extension of 7 days, the application was refused and then you have 7 days to leave the country.

[lopburi3]

That is the standard stamp for issue when you do not qualify for actual extension of stay and is issued often to allow 7 days to pack out.  Suspect your double check had more to do with your new entry and why you are not using yearly extensions of stay if you intended to return.

[jp1948]

This was not 7 days from when I applied it was 7 Days AFTER the 90. Phuket Immigration call it a 7 day 'Extension' and this is the standard stamp they use.

[Fithman]

They call it 

1 minute ago, jp1948 said:

This was not 7 days from when I applied it was 7 Days AFTER the 90. Phuket Immigration call it a 7 day 'Extension' and this is the standard stamp they use.

 

They call it an "extension" for ease and to avoid disputes with foreigners ! 

 

The only extension(s)  available to those with a 90 day entry are based on a] Marriage or b] Being the parent of  Thai child.

 

 

All other applications for an "extension" will be and are refused and 7 days are given during which time the country must be left.

[lopburi3]

18 minutes ago, jp1948 said:

This was not 7 days from when I applied it was 7 Days AFTER the 90. Phuket Immigration call it a 7 day 'Extension' and this is the standard stamp they use.

The 7 days to pack out is from your normal permitted to stay - so in effect you have 7 extra days but it is not called an extension and is always marked as disapproved on passport.

[jp1948]

Thanks Fithman, wish I had know this before. I would have had time to do a quick trip to KL or somewhere instead. It was definitely this 'negative' stamp they didn't like at Phuket arrivals.

They have changed the rules to apply for a Non-immigrant 'O' now so I am hoping I don't have a problem there.

[ubonjoe]

I think most of the problem you had was where you did your entry. Phuket airport immigration is known to be problematic.

I suspect if you had entered at any other airport or even a border crossing they would not of even noticed the 7 day stamp.

[jp1948]

I asked the Thai Immigration volunteers before I applied and was told that this was a 7 day extension.

 

[Fithman]

2 minutes ago, jp1948 said:

Thanks Fithman, wish I had know this before. I would have had time to do a quick trip to KL or somewhere instead. It was definitely this 'negative' stamp they didn't like at Phuket arrivals.

They have changed the rules to apply for a Non-immigrant 'O' now so I am hoping I don't have a problem there.

 

Airport immigration in Phuket are notoriously "fussy". I would suspect they were examining the nature of your "comings/goings"  I am surprised they did not ask about what you are/were doing in Thailand !

[lopburi3]

3 minutes ago, jp1948 said:

I asked the Thai Immigration volunteers before I applied and was told that this was a 7 day extension.

 

Perhaps not be the best source of accurate information - just as they often call normal TM.7 approvals as visa extensions when it is actually just an extension of your permitted stay.

[jp1948]

Many thanks for all the replies.

I usually only come about twice a year for 90 days with possible one shorter trip. It was only this one time that I had to stay a little longer because of delay in paperwork for a cat export.

Maybe a Retirement Visa would be a better alternative to the Non-immigrant 'O'.

I am not married to a Thai.

[Fithman]

4 minutes ago, jp1948 said:

Many thanks for all the replies.

I usually only come about twice a year for 90 days with possible one shorter trip. It was only this one time that I had to stay a little longer because of delay in paperwork for a cat export.

Maybe a Retirement Visa would be a better alternative to the Non-immigrant 'O'.

I am not married to a Thai.

 

You may, depending on your home country, experience difficulty in securing any further "O" visas. 

The alternatives are single or multiple entry Tourist visas or an O-A (long stay/"retirement") visa.