Questioner: Marcel
Arrived safely on July 08 in Bangkok with Qatar airlines. To Doha about 100 people on board, Doha to BKK only 48 passengers. Now in very bad “budget” ASQ Hotel, where I spend 14 nights.
My urgent question. Am married, have NON-O visa for 90 days until October 05:
- Can I extend this FIRST (60 days extension based on visiting my wife) and only then apply for a YEAR extension based on the monthly 40.000 baht deposit? OR
- Do I have to apply for a year extension BEFORE October 05?
- How long in advance do I have to apply for the annual extension on the basis of the 40K scheme?
Thank you all
Reaction RonnyLatYa
You have obtained a stay of 90 days with a Non-O visa. Normally you could first extend that period of stay by 60 days and only then apply for your annual extension. Your immigration office will decide on that, but I don't think such a thing is a problem.
Although I wonder what you gain by first paying 1900 Baht (say 50 Euro) for 60 days and then again 1900 Baht for your annual renewal? Anyway. You do what you want with it, of course.
You can request a year extension as standard 30 days before the end date of your stay, in your case roughly from 5 September. So it really isn't that urgent and you still have plenty of time.
There are immigration offices that will also accept it up to 45 days in advance. You can actually submit that application until the last day of your stay, although I would not recommend waiting until the last minute. That is also not necessary because you do not win or lose anything by applying for it 30 days in advance or 5 days in advance. This annual extension will always follow the end date of your period of stay.
You will probably first get an “under consideration” stamp (usually 30 days) but that is normal procedure with a “Thai marriage”. That also makes no difference to your final annual extension. If you receive your year extension after the “under consideration” stamp, it will also match your previous period of stay. You don't win or lose anything with it.
Apparently it is your first time and then you should first go to your immigration office. There you will hear what exactly they want to see with your application, because everyone has their own local rules. They will then tell you, among other things, what exactly they want to see from that deposit, whether you should bring a witness or not, etc.…
Note: If you have a bad experience with a “budget” ASQ Hotel it might not be a bad idea to let the readers know. Although it is of course a personal experience that others may experience differently.
For example, I assume that taking a “budget” hotel will also have its consequences for comfort, among other things…
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