Thread: Three top hospitals offer in-house visa extensions

Three top hospitals offer in-house visa extensions

Three of Bangkok's leading hospitals - Bangkok International, Bumrungrad and Samitivej - have set up in-house visa-extension facilities to help patients who have to overstay their visas while undergoing medical treatment.


The service gives a substantial boost to Thailand's competitive position as it seeks to attract more global visitors to its world-class medical facilities.

Bangkok International Hospital launches its immigration service today. The unit, in cooperation with the Immigration Department, provides visa facilities for foreign patients, as well as tourists who come to use the hospital's services or stay in a hotel near the Hospital.

"With the opening of the unit, the hospital intends to provide a special immigration service to facilitate foreign patients and foreign tourists as well as expatriates," said CEO Chatree Duangnet.

He said hospital staff would help with visa extensions and other necessary services in its Concierge Department. Service time is Thursday afternoons.

Bumrungrad and Samitivej hospitals have also been providing space for immigration officials to come once a week and process paperwork. Having an in-house facility is far more convenient than having staff shuttle back and forth every day with the paperwork between the hospital and the Immigration Department's head office in Soi Suan Phlu.

Thailand's health, wellness and medical facilities are becoming increasingly popular all over the world. Previously, people wanting to avail themselves of such facilities first had to determine which type of visa they held and the duration of stay permitted.

Visitors come to Thailand on different types of visas. Citizens of 41 countries and territories receive a 30-day visa-free stay, 20 nationalities receive a 15-day visa on arrival, and the rest must apply for a visa beforehand.

The different types of visas have various terms and conditions related to extensions of stay. Some are extendable, while others are not. Many come to Thailand under a 90-day tourist visa specifically for treatment, while others take advantage of their presence in Thailand under a 15-day visa on arrival to receive a check-up and follow-up treatment, if any.

Either way, many find that an extension of stay is required. The Immigration Department acknowledges that patients seeking treatment should be given an extension, so as not to incur an overstay fine upon departure.

Extensions are now being granted for periods of one month to 90 days, depending on the type of visa the patient is holding. A doctor's certificate is required (organised by the hospital), along with the original passport, a photocopy of the passport and one photograph.
An Immigration Department form must also be filled out, which is normally handled by the hospital. A fee of Bt1,900 is levied by the department, and the hospital may add a service charge. The extension is normally granted immediately.

Suchat Sritama
The Nation

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006...s_30008596.php

My Mom was an inpatient at Bamrungrad back in 2001 as a result of a nasty skin infection she picked up in Myanmar. They offered in-house visa extension service way back then....

Originally Posted by William

The service gives a substantial boost to Thailand's competitive position

"Thailand" and "competitive", in the same sentence.

Now that is fucking funny.

This country is a fucking joke, run by fucking jokers, for fucking jokers.

So if you don't want to do a visa run report to Bumrungrad with a bad back. They'll get you a 30 day extension.

Visa run to Cambodia - 2000 baht

Trip to Bumragrad - Entering the door 300 baht
Consultation 500 baht
Myriad of tests 5,000 baht
overnight private room 8,000 baht

oh and BTW, they charge the patient 1,500 baht for the in-house visa extension

The look on the dumb shmuck's face when he receives the bill - Priceless!

^ Not if you have health insurance.

Actually, I used the service at Bumrungrad a couple of times. It only operates on Wednesdays, though, from 9 to 3. First time they charged me 2000 baht, but they did everything, made all the copies, even filled out the application. Second time I had to do it all myself and they charged the usual 1,900. The wait, I guess, was about 20 minutes, but the atmosphere is more relaxed than at Suan Plu...The service consists only of a receptionist and a couple of immigration officers...

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

^ Not if you have health insurance.

I guess your health insurance does not pay for the visa extension?

Originally Posted by Fabian

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

^ Not if you have health insurance.

I guess your health insurance does not pay for the visa extension?

If you're in a coma it might.