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Can I fly to Bangkok with an expired visa on June 17th after my visa exemption ends?

visa exemptionThailand visaoverstay fineChiang Mai immigrationBangkok immigrationCOVID extensionvisa extensionexpat advice
Jun 15, 2022
3 years ago
Lê **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My visa exemption expires on June 16th. Can I still fly to Bangkok on June 17th with an expired visa?

For context, I entered Thailand on May 18th and have been in Chiang Mai. I went to Chiang Mai immigration today and was told if I want to extend 30 days, I have get the 2 month covid extension, which requires me to go back to inmigration in CM in 15 days. However, I'm meeting some friends in Bangkok from Friday til next week, and will spend the rest of my trip in Phuket afterwards. I don't want to go back to CM when I'm already in Phuket. So the immigration officer basically told me I have 2 options: overstay a few days and go to Bangkok to pay the fine extend my visa, or fly out to BKK tomorrow and extend my visa there, which will do away the requirement to come back in 15 days. I already have a flight booked on Friday tho. Any suggestions on what I should do?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is facing the expiration of their visa exemption on June 16th and is unsure if they can travel to Bangkok the next day with an expired visa. They received conflicting advice from immigration in Chiang Mai regarding extending their visa, with the option to either overstay and pay a fine later or modify their travel plans to extend their visa before heading to Bangkok. Users commented on the risks of overstay and different options available for visa extensions in Bangkok compared to Chiang Mai.
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Mickey ***********
If you can avoid the covid extension then avoid it . Whilst they don give it to you the people at the airport question you had next time you come in from OS when you do a real border run
3 years ago
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James *********
I applied for an extension two weeks ago - and received 30 days, even though I just asked for an extra 15 days. Total cost; 1,900THB. If you have money to burn - you could either do a visa run or, (poor man’s option) just pay the overstay fine.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@James ********
 I suspect a typo. All extensions are 1,900 baht regardless of length.
3 years ago
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James *********
@Stuart ********
 You’re right. Edited.
3 years ago
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James *********
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Miguel *************
Why would they accept your visa extension in Bangkok if they refused it in Chiang Mai?
3 years ago
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Miguel *************
Why would they accept your visa extension in Bangkok if they refused it in Chiang Mai?
3 years ago
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Miguel *************
Why would they accept your visa extension in Bangkok if they refused it in Chiang Mai?
3 years ago
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John **********
I was in immigration today doing my annual extension. Farang comes in & says chonburi asked him to go to Cambodia. (I'm close to Cambodia). I don't want to go to Cambodia he says, immigration officer says ok you go on overstay. Me to immigration officer: overstay ok? Immigration officer: mai but I not give extension, easier just to say that.
3 years ago
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Wayne *********
Overstay is not a good thing, going to immigration after expired visa they may stamp you 7 days to get out of the country depends on the mood of the IO on the day. Personally I wouldn't risk it.
3 years ago
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Lê **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wayne ********
yeah that makes sense, I figured it would be best if I go to Bangkok tomorrow too, just kinda a hassle to change plans all of a sudden. Thank you for the advice!
3 years ago
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Wayne *********
@Lê *********
 Vietnam is one of the 56 countries allowed 30 day visa exempt so no reason why your also not entitled to the 30 days extension. Maybe between yourself and the CM IO there was confusion. Get to Bangkok and apply quickly is my suggestion.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Wayne ********
 not true. Vietnam and Hong Kong are special cases where they can enter for 30 days but not extend.
3 years ago
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Wayne *********
@Stuart ********
 So would they be better of to grab the 7 days and then try for the covid 60 ? Rather than an overstay ?
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Wayne ********
 no. The 7 days is a refusal to issue an extension and they MUST leave. You can’t get a Covid extension once you’ve got that stamp.
3 years ago
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Wayne *********
@Stuart ********
 ok so also no guarantee at all they get covid ext either as obviously they can return home
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Wayne ********
 Yes it’s up to the discretion of the immigration office(r). Some offices will hand them out like candy others flat out refuse.
3 years ago
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Wayne *********
@Stuart ********
, thats crazy thai again for you. I could not find it on the visa exempt, i was looking for it and you answered for me 🙂
3 years ago
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Nigel *********
@Wayne ********
 "thats crazy thai again for you. I could not find it on the visa exempt, i was looking for it and you answered for me 🙂". It's a bi-lateral agreement... Thais get 30 days in Vietnam Visa exempt... Vietnamese get 30 days in Thailand. Neither get option to extend (i don't know if vietnam offers the 7 days denied or covid extensions like thailand does.)
3 years ago
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Nigel *********
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Wayne *********
Why didn't you just get the 30 day extension for 1900baht. Everyone is entitled to apply for that if they entered Thailand on 30 days visa exempt. Then you could try for the 60 covid extension if its still available
3 years ago
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Lê **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you all for your great advice. I booked another ticket to Bangkok tomorrow and hopefully will be able to extend it in BK before it expires. Appreciate all your help!
3 years ago
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Lê **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wayne ********
I asked for the 30 day extension today too, but they said they can either extend 7 days for me or 2 months on the covid extension. I don't know if it's because I'm from Vietnam :-/
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Lê *********
 The 7 day extension is not an extension. It’s a refusal to issue an extension after which you must leave within 7 days. Once you’ve got that stamp there is nothing anyone can do for you. You can’t get a Covid extension even a visa agent couldn’t help. Avoid that option at all costs if you can.
3 years ago
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Miguel *************
@Stuart ********
 why do you figure they’d refuse the 30-day extension, though? And what’s so bad about getting a covid extension if the officer himself offered that as a viable option?
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Miguel ************
 Vietnamese passport holders have a arrangement for a maximum of 30 days visa exempt. No clue why or what bilateral arrangement that stems from. Nothing bad on applying for a Covid extension while you still can. Only problem for the OP was the under consideration stamp which meant he had to return to the same office 15 days or more later to close it out.
3 years ago
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Miguel *************
@Stuart ********
 ah, so he’s Vietnamese. Ok, I didn’t know that (I didn’t know about the exemption cap either, so I guess it wouldn’t have helped either, lol).

I’m aiming for the covid extension too (entering on visa exemption), so it’s good to know these things.
3 years ago
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Miguel *************
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Stuart *********
@Lê *********
 Vietnamese passport holders are eligible for 30 day visa exempt entry but not a 30 day extension off of that.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Wayne *********
@Lê *********
 mmm not sure on being Vietnamese either. Tod Daniels would be your man for that question.

Maybe the 7 days then apply for the 60 in Bangkok better than overstay
3 years ago
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Wayne *********
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Stuart *********
Internal flights don’t involve immigration so your visa status is not checked.
3 years ago
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Lê **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
thank you!
3 years ago
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Lê **********
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