Visa Extension and Passport Validity / New Regulation

[bapak]

According to the New Regulation from August 13, 2013, when submitting application for Visa Extension if the validity of passport of the applicant is not longer than one year left before expiry,
the extension of stay will be permitted not exceeding the expired date of passport.
After the renewal of your passport of obtaining a new passport,
you have to re-apply for Visa Extension by submitting required document and paying extension fee ( 1,900 Baht ).
In case of overstay, the fine is 500 Baht per day.

Source: http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/intro1.html

[lomuamart]

Interesting. I did my extension on 21st August this year with my passport valid until 14th May 2014. Was given the extension until 14th May 2104 but the officer told me to simply come back in with my new passport when I had it and they'd transfer the extension until September 11th which is my normal date (I've done things earlier than normal because of a trip back to the UK).
The reminder to extend the date further is also stamped in my passport.
I guess this new regulation hadn't filtered down to Imm here last week? Well, if, in due course, I'm told I need to re-extend then I'll do so. Must admit that that's what I was expecting anyway and thought it very nice of the Imm officer to tell me that I'd get the extra time. Ho hum.

[hhfarang]

I read this on a Bangkok blog, not an official government site so I don't assume responsibility for its accuracy but thought it may be interesting to know and verify.

My passport expires in August of 2015. If this is true, I will have to renew my Passport a year before it expires to extend my visa in September next year (2014).

A new regulation issued by the Immigration Bureau on August 13

The regulation is now in effect at immigration offices across the country

Under the new regulation, immigration officers will no longer issue one-year permits-to-stay that extend beyond the expiry date on a passport.

“Previously, 12-month permits-to-stay could be issued in the current passport, and later transferred into the new passport. That is no longer possible

Consequently, applicants whose passports expire during an extension of stay must reapply for a new extension of stay after receiving their new passports.

“The fee for applying for a 12-month permit-to-stay remains at 1,900 baht,”

However, the new rule will not affect those who already have been issued permits-to-stay.

“Foreigners who already have a permit-to-stay that extends beyond the expiry date on their passport will be allowed to have their current permit-to-stay transferred into their new passport when it arrives,”

“The new rule will phase this out,”

The change in policy enables immigration officers to perform their tasks more efficiently


“We strongly suggest that people have at least 18 months left on their passports when they apply for 12-month permits-to-stay. This gives them enough time to apply for their next passport and next permit-to-stay,"

* Long-term permits-to-stay issued by immigration are commonly referred to by many foreigners, although mistaken, as “long-stay visas” or “visa extensions”.

[Huahinian]

I don't think so HHF. You can renew your passport and have your exisitng visa transferred to the new passport OR renew your passport and apply for the new visa a month before it expires.

[hhfarang]

Huahinian, I may be reading it wrong, but it recommends you have 18 months (to be safe) of validity left in your passport as they will no longer transfer from the old passport to the new one. The options are to have more than a year validity on the passport when you go for extension, or go for another extension as soon as you get a new passport.

I think Lomu got lucky as the new rule was just implemented before he went. By next year I suspect they will be enforcing it here.

It will be interesting to hear back from him when he goes in with his new passport to see if it is transferred or he has to re-apply for a new extension starting with that new date.