What impact will Chiang Mai visa extension have?

Chiang Mai is a very popular tourist destination in Thailand. During the Spring Festival, if you are already in Chiang Mai, there is official news about the visa issue. The point is what to do when the visa expires.

According to the website of the Consulate General of China in Chiang Mai, Thailand, according to the latest notice of the Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau, China citizens who entered Thailand with tourist visas or tourist arrival visas and were unable to return to China recently due to the novel coronavirus epidemic need to apply for visa extension. Please apply for visa extension at the original address of Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau with a letter of consular assistance issued by the Consulate General of China in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau emphasizes that from March 2, 2020, in addition to the above conditions, applications for short-term tourist visa extension services, foreigners' 90-day reports, residence notices, etc. should be handled at the Promenada one-stop service center of Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau.

In addition, the Immigration Bureau of Chiang Mai reminded that its previously issued regulations on exemption from detention for China citizens with tourist visas or landing visa entering Thailand due to the novel coronavirus epidemic only apply to China citizens who plan to return to China within the prescribed time limit, excluding China citizens who travel to third countries or other regions via Thailand.

The Immigration Bureau of Chiang Mai recently wrote to our library, saying that it will provide more convenient and efficient services for foreign citizens according to the relevant policies of the Thai National Police and the National Immigration Bureau.

From March 2, 2020, foreign citizens who apply for short-term tourist visa extension service, 90-day report and residence notice should go to Promenada one-stop service center to handle related matters.

Service center address:

Area A, Floor 2, Shopping Center, t.thasalaA.MuangPromenada Resort, Chiang Mai.

Service center working hours:

Monday to Friday 09:00- 17:00 (except legal holidays in Thailand).

For more information, please refer to the website of Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau: www.chiangmaiimm.com.

On February 12, the staff of Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau revealed in an interview with the media that many China tourists chose to stay in Chiang Mai because they didn't want to return to China because of the epidemic. Since last week, a large number of China tourists have been waiting in line for renewal at the Immigration Bureau every day, with an average of 200-300 China tourists waiting in line at the Immigration Bureau every day.

According to a Thai student who helped translate at the Immigration Bureau, many tourists did not want to return to China because of the spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic, so they chose to renew their contracts at the Immigration Bureau. Some tourists can renew 15 days at a time, while others can renew for 30 days, depending on the decision of the consulate.

According to a police officer of Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau, Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau has set up a special office since early February to help those China tourists who want to renew their contracts because of the epidemic. Recently, there are 200-300 midstream tourists waiting to renew their contracts every day. However, the Chiang Mai Immigration Bureau only allows China tourists except Wuhan to renew their visas. Because Wuhan is the source of the epidemic, 50 Wuhan tourists who applied for renewal before were refused visas. The Immigration Bureau also kept the information of these Wuhan tourists and sent them back to China.