IT Square

This week I did something I've never done before; I visited the Immigration Department branch at IT Square to extend my visa exemption stamp for an additional 30 days.

When I returned from Laos last month, I had to re-enter Thailand on a visa exemption stamp, which is what most short-term tourists get in their passports. I will be leaving Thailand in just a few days to meet my mom and brother in Sri Lanka for an amazing adventure, but before that, I had to make sure that my Thai visa exemption was up to date.

I woke up early on a Thursday morning and gathered my passport, ID photos, blue pen (only blue ink is accepted by the Thai government), extension fee in cash (1,900 Thai baht), and the requisite 3-page printout of the visa extension form.

Usually when I have to extend my visa, I need to go to the Thai Government Building, a massive complex that is home to many of the government's agencies. This time, because I re-entered as a tourist, I had to go to a smaller branch of the Immigration Department which is located on the third floor of what seemed to be an abandoned shopping mall...

The thing about the Thai government is that, while the bureaucracy can be irritating at times, it always works. If you have all of your paperwork in order and submit all of your documents on time, you will definitely get what you need. It's a hassle, but it's more or less reliable.

I had everything that I needed, and I was in and out in a matter of hours. I was fortunate enough to just clear the cutoff before the department closed for lunch. I got my passport back just before noon with a brand-new 30-day stamp.

Such is the life of an expat!