I went to Nong Khai Immigration today to do a 90 day report. OK for me no problems.

My mate wanted to get a 30 day extension on a 60 day tourist visa issued in Vientienne in Laos so he came with me.

Because he did not have a ticket out of Thailand they gave him 7 days. Still charged him 1900 Baht.

A Dutch guy wanted to renew a 1 year visa but because his passport expired before the year was up they refused. They gave him 90 days free of charge to enable him to get a new passport..

John

wokkawombat wrote:I went to Nong Khai Immigration today to do a 90 day report. OK for me no problems.

My mate wanted to get a 30 day extension on a 60 day tourist visa issued in Vientienne in Laos so he came with me.

Because he did not have a ticket out of Thailand they gave him 7 days. Still charged him 1900 Baht.

A Dutch guy wanted to renew a 1 year visa but because his passport expired before the year was up they refused. They gave him 90 days free of charge to enable him to get a new passport..

John

Too bad about your mate John, what's he to do now? He can always get another 60 day in Vientiane. As for the Dutch dude I would say Imm was very generous considering the guy tried to renew with a passport not valid for more than 18 months. Either case it's "know before you go".

He will go to Vientienne in 7 days and get another 30 days then go again and get another 2 months and by then he will be married and eligible for a marriage visa.

John

wokkawombat wrote:Because he did not have a ticket out of Thailand they gave him 7 days. Still charged him 1900 Baht.

I wonder if an Udon - Vientiane bus ticket would suffice? After all it's a genuine ticket out of Thailand and only costs 100 baht. It's worth a try I guess!

lee wrote:

wokkawombat wrote:Because he did not have a ticket out of Thailand they gave him 7 days. Still charged him 1900 Baht.

I wonder if an Udon - Vientiane bus ticket would suffice? After all it's a genuine ticket out of Thailand and only costs 100 baht. It's worth a try I guess!

Not according to the MFA:

2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED


- Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
- Visa application form completely filled out
- Recent( 4 x 6 cm.) photograph of the applicant
- Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full)
- Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)
- Consular officers reserve the rights to request additional documents as deemed necessary

The again it may also be at the discretion of the Imm officer

Last October I applied for 30 days extension to my Non-immigrant O visa, I got only 7 days and was informed that it is 7 days for all visas..
Does anyone know if it still is that way? All information on internet says 30 days extension to a 60 days Tourist visa

Ditto serpent... I tried in August for 30 day extension to 60 day tourist visa and the guy said impossible to get 30 days and only offered 7.

wokkawombat wrote:My mate wanted to get a 30 day extension on a 60 day tourist visa issued in Vientienne in Laos so he came with me.

Because he did not have a ticket out of Thailand they gave him 7 days. Still charged him 1900 Baht.

This is the rule that they are applying in Nong Khai. If you have a confirmed ticket exiting Thailand within 7 to 30 days from the expiry of your tourist visa then they will give you an extension for that number of days. If you do not produce a confirmed exit ticket then they will give you 7 days.
Personally I am totally unsure what happens if you have a confirmed ticket 31+ days after the tourist visa expires but I would guess that you get 7 days then as well...

Why is it impossible to find this information online? My source say the same rule applies in Pattaya.

I believe that the law actually says that up to a 30 day extension to a 60 day tourist can be given by any immigration office at the discretion of the immigration officer for a fee of 1900 baht.
Since about August Nong Khai have requested the exit ticket as a way of calculating how many days they will give you. Prior August they were nearly always giving 30 days, virtually on request.
I think the rational behind this move is because people were getting 3 VOAs then a 60 day Tourist, then extending it for 30 days then back onto 3 VOAs. Now you have to get 2 Tourist visas. I guess it is just their way of trying to force long stay guests onto something other than VOAs & Tourist visas...

Incidentally, Immigration in Patong Phuket aren't putting any such obstacles in the way. They extend my friend's 60 day tourist visa by a further full 30 days each time, without comment, let, hindrance, prevarication, obstacle or seeing any tickets whatsoever, and with a smile! Well she is female.

Also, if I do my 90 day address notification there, they ask to see nothing, not even a form. They just stamp a new date on the existing form, stapled in my passport.

BobHelm wrote:I believe that the law actually says that up to a 30 day extension to a 60 day tourist can be given by any immigration office at the discretion of the immigration officer for a fee of 1900 baht.
Since about August Nong Khai have requested the exit ticket as a way of calculating how many days they will give you. Prior August they were nearly always giving 30 days, virtually on request.
I think the rational behind this move is because people were getting 3 VOAs then a 60 day Tourist, then extending it for 30 days then back onto 3 VOAs. Now you have to get 2 Tourist visas. I guess it is just their way of trying to force long stay guests onto something other than VOAs & Tourist visas...

"At the discretion of the immigration officer" Seems to be the case. Last year I arrived here on a 60 day tourist visa and applied for a 30 day extension. Instead of 30 days, the official granted me 60 days. He looked at me and said I give you 60 days. Not for you, not for your wife, I give you for your daughter. So I guess they can do as they please when pertains to issuing visas. I was very surprised, especially after reading of the horror stories from NK Imm.

What about a student visa for someone taking Thai Language Classes at AUA? Thanks, Jan

Jan Elliott wrote:What about a student visa for someone taking Thai Language Classes at AUA? Thanks, Jan

Info here:

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/v ... hlight=aua

BobHelm wrote:I think the rational behind this move is because people were getting 3 VOAs then a 60 day Tourist, then extending it for 30 days then back onto 3 VOAs. Now you have to get 2 Tourist visas. I guess it is just their way of trying to force long stay guests onto something other than VOAs & Tourist visas...

I would not be surprised if the next rationale will stipulate that the showing of the air ticket will now be for countries not local to Thailand.

Must admit that the long term sex tourists were not too inconvenienced by moving onto the rotating 3 VOA's,60 day Tourist,30 day extension then back to 3 VOA's to get them through the year but it is a good money earner for Thailand.