Immigration offices send a shiver of fear through expats as there are long queues, impatient people, and paperwork which must be 100% right. But it is always possible to do the visa yourself.
Our visa article list all the required documents, visa fees, validity period, period of stay, extension of stay, and more requirements for all types of visa.
Different immigration offices in Thailand have different standards and policies. For example, when reporting in Nonthanburi they insist on a filled in TM30 form, or house registration and landlord declaration of foreign guest.
But immigration for Bangkok in Chaengwattana doesn’t need this. It makes things confusing but you have to go with the flow and get through it the best you can.
There are three rules to help you apply for a visa in Thailand easily. Let’s take a look.
First Rule: Check Documents from Other People
The first rule is to check required documents from other people who visit the same immigration office or embassies and do the same visa as you. Required documents for Thailand visas regularly change. And the bad part is that information shown on the immigration site–and even embassy sites–tends to be outdated.
This Thailand Visa Advice group is a great help.
If you want to be 100% sure, you should call the immigration office you are planning to go and find out.
Second Rule: Bring More Than What is Required
The second rule is to bring more than what is required. For example, when making a copy of your passport, make a copy of all pages that are required, including your Thai visa stamp page. Sometimes an immigration officer asks for it although it isn’t listed as a requirement.
Third Rule: Get the Form Offline
The final rule is to get immigration forms at the immigration offices instead of downloading online. Online forms might not be up-to-date. The best way to fill in the form is to follow examples found at the immigration office that you visit.
As long as you have all required document, you should have no problem with making the visa.
Using an agent is optional. Agents handle all the paperwork and wait in long queues at the immigration, making the whole visa experience to be better. If working for a mid- to large-sized company, they should offer this service to you free of charge.
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