Report: Nick
Subject: Immigration Jomtien
Extension tourist visa - for your information. My tourist visa expires on April 18. With the closing days of Songkran in prospect, I went to immigration in Jomtien today, April 4, to ask from how many days in advance I can apply for an extension. The answer was: from 30 days in advance.
Reaction RonnyLatYa
Thank you for submitting.
The period within which an extension can be requested depends on what is applied locally. It has less to do with some public holiday, which does not mean that you should not take that closing period into account, of course.
In general, 30 days before the end of the stay is the default, but some also accept 45 days before for annual renewals. However, it can also be less for tourist extensions, where it will only be accepted in the last 14 days, or even the last week.
It is therefore wise to inquire about this locally. Just like you did now. But even if you forgot, or don't know that immigration is closed and your period of residence would expire during such a closing period, there is still no big problem.
Expiring a period of residence in a period within which an immigration office is officially closed normally has no consequences. You must then present yourself on the next working day of that immigration office for an extension application. If you do so, you will normally not be charged for the “overstay” days. You will then also simply receive your extension, which will then follow on from your previous period of stay, as if nothing had happened. Perhaps you will only get the comment to keep an eye on the closing days next time.
If you come on the second working day, you will be charged for the full "overstay" period and this can also result in a note in your passport.
It is of course best not to walk on the edge and to apply for your extension in good time. You don't win or lose anything by waiting until the last day.
Regards,
RonnyLatYa