Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Visa Extension and how easy it is compared to other countries here in Southeast Asia. I got to thinking of this when reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Thailand's tourist entry rules aren't worse than her regional rivals. I thought this was interesting. 

We have done a number of videos recently about comparing Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines briefly as well, various other jurisdictions in the region and the hoops you have got to jump through, the costs associated with it; let's be clear this is all still pretty vague. There is a lot of fog out there with respect to the information. As evidenced we just did a video comparing Vietnam or giving an update in comparing Vietnam and Thailand Immigration. At first blush we did a video that Vietnam looked relatively straightforward to go into and then now we have talked to people and obviously this is anecdotally that have said “hey, no it is not the easiest thing in the world. Vietnam has kind of their own version of Thailand Pass etc." But there has been sort of a, I don't know, there seems to be some ambivalence out there as to whether or not Thailand is really all that much worse than any other place around the region. I would say that it is probably shades of gray with the one major glaring exception being Cambodia. Cambodia seems to have really just thrown open the gates here recently and are just allowing basically as unfettered an entry as I have heard of any place in Asia in the last two years. So take that for what it is worth.

I got to thinking about this issue with respect to extension after reading this article and I urge those who are watching this video, go read this article yourself. There is a lot of information in there but this little excerpt I thought was interesting. Quoting directly: "All neighbouring countries warn arrivals that extension of a Tourist Visa is not automatic with several stressing there is no "right" to stay once the permission has run out. Extending a Visa in Thailand is far and away the easiest procedure in the whole of Southeast Asia." It is an interesting notion. I don't know that I know that for sure insofar as I talk to people in Cambodia. Again it is my understanding, extension of status in Cambodia is relatively straightforward but it has its own hiccups and problems, most notably very un-transparent, very hard to figure out even get guidelines sometimes for a local Immigration Office as to what is going to be required to get things done. Now regionally, some other countries we have discussed this in more detail, the notion of extension. Again I think it's shades of gray compared to Thailand. I think Thailand though, one major issue is Thailand has always been such a, I don't know what you want to call it, "destination haven". It is very popular amongst expats, long term stayers here in Thailand and for that reason, the Immigration system is not only relatively sophisticated but it is relatively transparent compared to its counterparts in the region. 

So in one sense I would say yes extending Visa status here in Southeast Asia is probably easier in Thailand than many other places in Southeast Asia, if not all places in Southeast Asia, although there probably are some exceptions, Singapore most notably is pretty transparent in how they do things. The long story short is, does it really matter? If you are coming to Thailand, you are coming to Thailand. You are not coming to Thailand to forum shop for Visa Extensions. It may be easier in Thailand on any given day and then on top of that, every case is different. Some cases move through the system at breakneck speed; like grass through a goose if you will. Other folk's cases get caught up. Sometimes it's just the way it is. So I don't know.