Goodbye, Amnesty. Hello, Hard Stamp
For my fellow foreigners “stuck”, staying or sticking it out in Thailand, this is my experience of successfully (but not painlessly) ascending from the state of amnesty and getting my visa extended.
I first arrived in Thailand at the end of February, after spending six weeks visiting in Singapore, Myanmar and India. I left the U.S. on 15 January on a planned trip around the world that was to last for as long as one year.
I’d gotten only as far as a week in Bangkok, a day trip to Ayutthaya, a few days in Pak Chong and Khao Yai when the pandemic was declared, coinciding with my arrival on Koh Samui. (Long story short: I spend two and a half months on Koh Samui at the start of the pandemic, then returned to Bangkok in the third week of May.)
What was in my packet to apply for an extension after I first entered Thailand on 28 February, visa exempt:
Online queue reservation at immigration center; I went to Muang Thong Thani. A hard copy of rez may or may not be necessary but when I was there — end of August — I was told to bring one.
Support letter from U.S. embassy. Some people said they printed it in color. I did not. I was asked to show the "original" — the email from the embassy with the letter attached — on my phone. Some people subsequently said they were not asked to do this.
Copies (2) of passport bio page
Copies (2) of visa page
Departure card (TM.6) or certified copy. I had to go to the police station having lost mine but that was easy and straightforward; I stressed needlessly over this.
TM.30 from my hotel. Just to be safe; they asked me more than once where I was living.
These three (3) forms: Application for extension of temporary stay, acknowledgement of terms and conditions for permit of temporary stay, acknowledgement of penalties for overstay
Passport photo. I had several with me. Some people reported they needed two. Don't go without at least two, just to cover yourself.
Disclaimer: People are now reporting different processes from my experience that follows.
I went to immigration a total of FOUR times. First time, I was sent away because I had no reservation/appointment.
I made a reservation and returned the next day, presented my complete packet, signed here and here... then was told that I'd have to come back the following day or after. I still don’t know why I had to come back; maybe because this was all brand-new to immigration. I went to Muang Thong Thani literally right after the U.S. embassy sent the email that they would provide support letters to people wishing to continue to stay in Thailand.
I returned Monday and presented all those same documents to the same officer. I then paid the 1,900 baht, handed over my passport and was directed to another queue. After a bit of waiting, I was given my passport back with the under-consideration stamp and a return date two weeks out.
When I returned two weeks later, I came with only my passport and a copy of my online queue rez. I handed over my passport and was sent to an adjacent area and within maybe seven minutes, I got my passport back with the extension to 26 October.
It was a stressful process but I'm grateful.
Since I got my extension, I've learned that some people got the extension in a single visit. No "fill out the paperwork and come back tomorrow". No under-consideration stamp, come back in two weeks. Just one and done.
Regardless, I'm relieved and would say it was completely worth the effort. I’m planning to pursue a longer-term visa but I’m still figuring out what the options are for me.
Good luck!