How To Extend Your Tourist Visa In Chiang Mai 2017
Visas, immigration. Such a time suck, cluster fuck. Pain. In. The. Bum. The bane of any regular travellers life, but a necessary evil. You can’t do much of one, without the other.
As it goes, Visa Extensions are rarely quite as traumatic as we build them up to be; with that constant – will they bang me up in The Bangkok Hilton?” – chatter in our minds. The first time is always the worst, but you get used to it, and before you know it you are in and out like Phileas Fogg on a particularly tight schedule. You may not like it, but you do endure. And the secret to success? Like a good boy scout (or girl guide) – be prepared. This guide will help you do just that.
The more you research Visa Extensions In Chiang Mai, the more confusion will likely ensue. There is a lot of conflicting information out there. This is in part due to ever-moving goalposts by Thai immigration, but also seems to be directly related to the movement of the immigration office in Chiang Mai. This changed locations obviously, but also procedures. What was right then, may not be right now. So check you’re: “in the know, mofo”. This guide gives only gives the essential information as of the beginning of 2007.
All that follows is based on first-hand actual experience, from someone going through the experience for the first time (that would be me then).
Personally I think a newbie’s experience can be more relevant than someone who’s done it a hundred times and has forgotten what a stress it can be. As a newbie you take nothing for granted; you don’t assume anything, and your mind is fresh with the questions you need the answers to.
Basically, we’re in this together so; lets do this.
First things first:
What You Need
- Passport
- Departure Card
- Application Form TM7 (2 pages on 1 sheet, double sided)
- 6 x 4 cm photo (x 1)
- Copy: Passport Main Page With Photo (x 1)
- Copy: Pages Containing Visa & Arrival Stamp (x 1)
- 1900 THB Cash
- Local address
- Pen
- Patience
Where To Get It
Ok, now you know what you need, you need to think about where to get what you need. You have two obvious options here:
- Prepare in advance
- Sort it all out when you get there
I prepared everything in advance based on my previous research (but without benefit of actual experience). This gave me some semblance of confidence, however as previously alluded to there is a lot of conflicting information out there, which reduced that confidence. Until you’ve “been there, done that”, you never really know.
I had doubts about:
- My photo size being correct (i had some 2” x 2” left over from my trip to The Philippines).
- My application form being printed on 2 sheets instead of 1 sheet (double sided).
It turns out, my concerns were founded, that said it wasn’t a problem. These formats were not correct, however they were accepted (common sense prevailed – hallelujah!). So it was fine on this occasion – but that doesn’t mean to say that would always be the case. Common sense rarely does prevail, when it comes to administration in SE. Be prepared in case someone gets out of bed the wrong side (again, pretty damn common). Hence, i’d er on the side of caution and stick to the correct formats as much as possible (but don’t stress it).
Based on the hassle and time it took to sort everything out in advance; observing others (less prepared than I) in the queues, I concluded: it would have been simpler, quicker and safer just to get everything sorted at the immigration office. Next time, that is what I would do to save time and avoid any concerns about correct formatting.
Prepare by all means, but just know: you don’t have to go overboard. As long as you have your passport, departure card, address and cash with you; everything else is available at the immigration office. The only thing you may want to consider and account for is any additional time required to sort things out, once you get there.
When To Go
This is highly debatable in online groups. Some say arrive first thing – before the office opens. However, there are also many reports that it’s very busy at this time (due to this very advice). Others advise, to go after lunch, when by all accounts it is somewhat quieter. The risk you take here is that, you don’t get everything processed before closing time at 4:30pm, which means a return visit to collect your passport.
All things considered, the latter option made more sense to me – avoid the crowds and an early start and it worked out ok for me (I arrived at 13:50 and was done by 16:20).
However, the earlier option makes sense if you don’t want to waste the entire day. Even in a worse case scenario – you should be all sorted by noon; and there are reports of people being done and dusted by 10am. That of course would depend on how early you get there, and get in the queue.
“Up to you”, as they say.
Where To Go
The new immigration office for Chiang Mai is situated at:
Promenada Resort Mall
192-193 Moo 2, Tumbon Tasala, Amphur Muang Chiang Mai, 50000
Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm except on National Holidays.
The copy/photo shop opens at 8:00am to 4:40pm and doesn’t close at lunch.
How To Get There
You will notice from the map, that Promenada is quite a haul. Depending on traffic; from Nimman, you’ll need an hour or so to get there and from Thape gate (Old City) 30 mins or so.
Easiest and cheapest way to get there is as follows:
From Nimman, grab a Songtaew (red pick up truck) to Thapae Gate (pay no more than 40 THB) or even better directly to Amora Thapae Hotel, where you can jump on the Free Shuttle Bus. You can’t miss it, it’s the tallest building on the outside of the moat.
The hotel that is – not the shuttle bus (that’s a green thing with wheels on it).
Just wait at the hotel entrance steps (out of the sun) and it will pull up there.
Here is the schedule:
As you can see, there are also other pick up points. You can check the other locations here on this route map I made.
I took the 13:20 bus, arrived around 13:50 and was done and dusted in about two and a half hours – but, I had my stuff prepared. If you don’t, you’d need to add another 30 mins or so i’d imagine, and that might be cutting things a bit fine, as the office closes at 16:30.
If you want be on the safe side and avoid having to come back the next day, you might want to aim for the 11:50 bus, although note the immigration office is closed for lunch from 12:00 to 13:00. I don’t know if you can still pick up a form at this time, but the photo/copy shop does not close for lunch. I’d also imagine there will be a bigger queue at 13:00, so you pays your money, you takes your choices.
Once You Get There
Promenada is a medium sized, pleasant, higher end, relatively quiet mall. There is no signage to the immigration office (that i could see at least), but it’s still relatively easy to find.
The immigration offices take up several store-like glass fronted units in the basement of the building. It’s actually most easily and quickly found and accessed if you avoiding going through the main entrance of the Mall.
So instead; as you arrive outside the main entrance (to the left of photo below, under the arch), you will see Tom n Tom’s coffee shop (to the right). The immigration offices are located two minutes walk away, directly below Tom n Tom’s (see the arrow), although this is not obvious at all from the front, so you need to walk down the steps at the side.
You will see a number of immigration admin offices and the photo & copy shop to your left. Ignore these for now. Keep walking towards the melee of Farang congregating, in the near distance.
This is outside the main office area and this is where you begin the process. What you’re looking for is the One Stop Service desk here:
So you’ve arrived now what?
What To Do
If you’ve prepared everything in advance: get in the queue (in front of ‘TOURIST’ sign above). This is where you initially get all your documents checked over to ensure you have everything required. If you are missing anything, you will be told what you need. You could easily be in this queue for an hour or more here if it’s busy, so bring some patience – and maybe your iPod.
If you’ve not prepared proceed as follows:
- Get the application form from the front of this desk. Don’t queue. Push in. You can see the forms on the desk, if in doubt ask to ensure you get the correct one. It looks like this:
- Go back the way you came, to the copy shop on your right.
- Get your photo taken (i believe its 200 THB for 6 photos – which will come in handy for future visas)
- Get photocopies (2 THB each) of:
Passport photo page x 1
Visa/Entry stamp pages x 1
Departure card x 1
Complete the application form. You brought a pen right? Doh!
Go back to the queue and wait. And wait. And wait.
Once you get to the front of the queue. Hand in all your documents and your passport, they’ll be checked over. If all good, you’ll be asked for your 1900 THB. If you don’t have the correct amount, you’ll receive your change at the end of the processing.
You’ll then be instructed to go inside and wait for your name to be called. There’s about 100 seats in there, but you may not get one immediately at the busiest times. At best you have at least an hour to kill here, so if you want to grab a coffee or a bite to eat (there is a KFC across the bridge in the adjacent building), now is good time to do that. Although, i’d suggest better to get back in plenty of time rather than miss your name being called out.
And now you wait. Again.
Listen for your name to be called for a photo. Go to the front desk, they’ll direct you to the side and your photo will be taken. This will only take a few minutes. Then you’ll have another 5-15 mins wait. You’ll be called again, you’ll get your passport with your visa extension stamp, your receipt and your change.
Sorted. You’re good to go. For another 30 days at least.
My Basic Advice
In the main, best advice I can give based on my experience is:
- Know what you need
- Decide to prepare in advance or sort everything out when you arrive and plan your arrival time accordingly
- Take something to read/watch/listen to
- Don’t worry
Good luck!
Additional Notes & Resources
Print & Copies
Many online sources say you need two copies of everything – but you don’t. Don’t waste your time (as i did) completing two forms. Save the trees.
If you’re preparing in advance, you can get a printout of the application form and your photocopies at the postbox in the basement of Maya.
You’ll need to email them the form, so make sure you it accessable on your phone. If you don’t have data, you can ask for their WiFi access. Make it clear there are two pages to the form, and you require them printed (double sided) on one sheet only.
Application Form
Reason for extension? Don’t over complicate it. I just put ‘Tourism’.
Local Address
I wasn’t asked for proof of address, but you must have that information for the application form and you’d be advised to have proof should you be asked for it.
Here is page two of the application form, so you can see exactly what info you need, and prepare accordingly:
I had no luck with Google translate on the above, but I know you do need an accurate address including the area and postcode. If in doubt have your place ready on a map, so you can show where it is, if the officer needs clarification (this happened to me).
Free Shuttle Bus
The bus i took at 13:20 only had two other people on it. The earlier ones may be busier, so you might want to have a back up plan. I imagine a Songtaew all the way would be closer to 200 than 100 THB, so maybe Grab or Uber might make more sense.
For the return journey, you need a ticket from the info desk (inside the main mall entrance). My return at 17:00 was almost full, so plan ahead.
What You Don’t Need
- Proof Of Onward Travel
- Proof Of Funds
- Two Copies Of Everything
- To Be Somewhere Else
Additional Resources
If you have any specific questions, the Thai Visa Forum is the best place to get answers from the old hands (although be prepared for conflicting information).
The Chiang Mai Section is best place to ask for anything specific to the Chiang Mai Immigration office.
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