How To Extend Your Thai Visa at Bangkok Immigration

[TotallyOz]

If you need a visa extension while in Bangkok, here is what you do. First, the visa office is not on Sathorn Soi 3 anymore. They have moved near the old airport and it is a massive building.

 

 

They open at 8:30 and it is best to go early but I have been told that most times you go there is little wait for the extension.

 

 

Address: No. 120 Mu 3 Chaeng Watthana Soi 7 Thung Song Hong, Laksi Bangkok 10210

 

You can take a taxi or go by public transportation. I did each and I much prefer the taxi although more expensive. The taxi from the Sathorn area was around 200 baht each way depending on traffic. And, I told them to take the highway to make the trip faster and that was about 100 baht more each way as well.

 

For going by Skytrain, take it to Mo Chit station and either take the buses or a Motorcycle Taxi. It is a hike from there via bus so it depends on your time. I did the bus with one of my Thai boys and he knew what to do. It was much longer than taking the taxi in no traffic as we switched buses 2 times and had some walking to do. I did not take the train back. We just took a taxi as there is a slew of them waiting outside for you.

 

You will need your passport, an application that you get at the office, a passport photo and a copy of your passport and current Thai visa stamp. You will be asked for your telephone number and address in Thailand. I was never asked for this in Pattaya but I was here.

 

The office will make copies for you if you need for a charge. I didn't need photos so I don't know if they do that for you or if it is available in the building.

 

Once you fill in your application in Division 1, you will go back and get a ticket number at the counter. It is very quick to do and then you wait by the area of your letter on the ticket. Mine was Letter K and I was called in about 5 minutes.

 

 

 

I gave them all my stuff and they took about 30 minutes to process. They called me back with a stamp for an extra 7 days. You get 7 if you have a 30 day Visa or 30 days if you have a 60 day visa. I believe the cost is the same for both: 1,900.

 

You can then just take the passport and leave. Like I said, there are taxis outside waiting. The place is much nicer than Pattaya and the speed was great. I was impressed with the whole thing.

 

[Bob]

That's the first nice immigration building I've ever seen in Thailand.  The one here in Chiangmai is a dump and over-crowded as is the immigration office in Hua Hin. 

[TotallyOz]

That's the first nice immigration building I've ever seen in Thailand.  The one here in Chiangmai is a dump and over-crowded as is the immigration office in Hua Hin.

Bob, the building is massive. It is not all part of the immigration department but the complex takes a taxi a few minutes to get around.

 

Inside, things were very clean and organized. Everyone for the Extension waited in one area and the rest were in other areas. It was the most organized I have seen in a long time.

 

And, the ladies that took my information were friendly and professional. They did charge me an overstay for a holiday they were closed the day before but they said the computer would not take it otherwise and there might be problems at the airport. So, I paid. I think that is what took a bit longer than the other ones waiting with me. Most were in and out in 15 min or less. Truly remarkable after my sometimes 2-3 hours wait in Pattaya.

 

The only negative is the place is far away from everything. It is not convenient to get there but once there, it was easy and pleasant experience.

[Guest Promsak]

A good description Michael.

An alternative method of getting there is to take the Skytrain to Mor Chit and then taxi from there. Just tell the driver Chaeng Wattana, Immigration. The meter fare is about 100 Baht.

This way is quicker than getting across town in a taxi.

The building complex is, as you say, vast. It houses many government departments and immigration is just inside the door (if you've taken the correct entrance)

I believe that the complex has won design awards.

The ground floor consists of a huge-- really huge-- empty hall surrounded by the various departments. The hall is used occasionally as a market.

Go down the escalator and the lower ground floor is full of places to eat, banks, bookshops etc. and at least one copy shop.

[TotallyOz]

Go down the escalator and the lower ground floor is full of places to eat, banks, bookshops etc. and at least one copy shop.

I did not know this or I would have done that. Thank you. I will try the next time.

 

You are also right about the entrance. If you are taken to the wrong one, I imagine it would be a bit of a PITA.

[pong]

of course there are direct citybus-nr 52, from MOchit BTS-this bus starts at BangSue MRT/SRT stations. It now has as only English word ''immigr'' on it. but its a nonAC private thingy. And loads of vans. All set you on the main road, and the office is more as 1 km in the compound.

At the right times there are also direct AC-buses from BMTA -mainly for the workers- from the Vict. Monument via expressway. As you pass 2 booths, its indeed a fairly high toll for cars/taxis.

NOte for this site: there are loads of m2m special massageshops along that main road, Chaeng Wattana, only advertising in the Thai press. But they only open from 14/15.00. To relieve the pressure of you.

[Guest]

So can I get my 30 day stamp at the airport, then next day go to immigration and get the stay extended to 37 days?

[TotallyOz]

So can I get my 30 day stamp at the airport, then next day go to immigration and get the stay extended to 37 days?

No, if you get an airport 30 day, the max you can get is 7 additional days. I don't think you can go the next day either but you can go closer to the expiration and you can't wait until the day it expires.

[ChristianPFC]

There are a few bus lines (66, 166, 505 come to mind) that go to a bus terminal close (a few hundred meters) to the building which has the immigration office. They are not in the bus maps I have (even though must be in operation for a few years). Just today I went for my 90 days reporting and saw bus number 59 there as well (but not reported in bus map).

 

NOte for this site: there are loads of m2m special massageshops along that main road, Chaeng Wattana, only advertising in the Thai press. But they only open from 14/15.00. To relieve the pressure of you.

 

Can you elaborate on this? I live in the area and have been along Change Wattana Road several times, but never saw anything that piqued my interest.

[Guest bbillybb]

Well, ll in all, the visa situation in Thailand seems like one big mess of confusion. Unless I misunderstand.one must continually return for updates of some sort every 90 days just to collect money and see that you are still there. Being from the US if I wanted to visit/stay for a year and in fact I do get that piece of paper, That should be it. It may be oversimplified but maybe that is what deters me from longggggg stays.  Just saying.

[Bob]

If you have a one-year visa of some type which allows you to stay the entire year (such as what we call a retirement visa), all you need to do is to go to immigration every 90 days (and/or do the mail option) and report your address.  There isn't any charge for this and that simple process shouldn't deter anybody's desire to stay here long term.

[mahjongguy]

If you live in Bangkok you can do your 90 day reporting by mail. Most other Immigration offices don't offer mail-in service but you don't need to do it in person. You can delegate that errand to your b/f or your chauffeur. 

[kokopelli]

So you can do the 90 day reporting by mail, meaning the Thai Postal Service or by male,  meaning your boy friend or chauffeur?