Thailand visa question No. 201/20: Extension is narrow
Questioner: Tony
I received my CoE for Thailand based on my Retirement Visa and a re-entry stamp (and of course all other requirements such as covid insurance, 72 hours Covid test, fit to fly test, flight ticket, five different health certificates and the quarantine hotel booking.).
I am also tight with the expiration date of my retirement visa. I will be arriving in Bangkok on Friday 4 December and will be out of quarantine hotel on Saturday 19 December and Monday 21 December is the last day of my retirement visa (valid untill 21 Dec 2020).
It is debatable whether that last day is -to- or -to-. I have emailed the Immigration Office in Chiang Mai for advice but have not received a response. If the extension is not accepted, what are my options?
Reaction RonnyLatYa
It is the period of stay obtained with a visa that you extend, not the visa itself.
1. It is indeed not always clear what exactly is meant by “until”, but for immigration it is usually “until”.
2. In your case it won't matter much since you will be quarantined until Saturday 19 December. It is not possible to extend on December 19 and 20, since immigration is normally closed in the WE. You can only go on Monday.
But normally that won't be a problem. If a period of stay ends during a period when immigration is closed, you can still submit your application the next working day. In addition, people will also take it into account, I think you are coming out of quarantine.
3. There are simply no other options and you cannot solve it with a “border run” at the moment.
If you cannot extend in time, you are in “overstay” and normally your extension will be refused. You will then receive a stay period of 7 days within which you must leave Thailand. Same as when an extension is declined for any reason. Although people are sometimes willing to overlook something if the “overstay” is limited, or if you have a good reason (including quarantine). You then pay the “overstay” penalty and the extension will simply take effect on the normal date. But that depends on your immigration office. They may as well apply the rule strictly
But actually I don't expect any problems at all with your extension if you just apply for your extension on Monday. However, don't wait any longer.
Good luck in advance.