Tourist Visa For 20 Countries

[Sunbelt Asia]

The following countries when getting a tourist visa from an Embassy/Consulate will still get 90 days.

However, before they would get a 60 day stamp on arrival and then 30 day extension at Immigration. ( 60+30)

They now will just get a 30 day entry stamp when arriving with the tourist visa( This not VOA stamp, as this visa was applied for outside Thailand). If they like to stay longer in Thailand, they go to Immigration and get a extension for an additional 30 days. Afterwards they are allowed one more additional extension for another additional 30 days. ( 30+30+30) Each extension is 1,900 Baht.

The VOA stamp stays the same, they still need to leave when the visa expires.

List of 20 countries is as follows :

1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan

2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Taiwan)

3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus

4. Czech : Czech Republic

5. Estonia : Republic of Estonia

6. Hungary : Republic of Hungary

7. India : Republic of India

8. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan

9. Latvia : Republic of Latvia

10. Liechtenstein : Principality of Liechtenstein

11. Lithuania : Republic of Lithuania

12. Maldives : Republic of Maldives

13. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius

14. Oman : Sultanate of Oman

15. Poland : Republic of Poland

16. Russian Federation

17. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

18. Slovakia : Slovak Republic

19. Slovenia : Republic of Slovenia

20. Ukraine

If you do not extend your visa after 30 days on a tourist visa, you are considered overstay on your visa and will be fined 500 Baht per day.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[Firefan]

So price for 3 months in total goes from about 4000 Baht to 6000 Baht. 50% increase.

Obviously this has nothing to do with "need to check background via embassy", OR shortening the total stay but rather just a question of collecting more money?

I am beginning to think the same is the main reason for the other changes we see.

Cheers!

[lopburi3]

Actually it probably alerts authorities to overstay people much earlier as they will likely not bother to extend even the first time.

[kipara]

Aha, so that is also what is going on in my post from yesterday. Thanks for the clarification.

Sunbelt, what group of countries or category is Kenya in? I can't find anything on the immigration site. They used to get 60 days on arrival, now 30.

I guess I'll have to get used to it... :-(

[thaihome]

Aren't these the same countries that used to have to get the real VOA (not visa exempt) at the airport and were given 14 day entry stamps?

TH

Edited October 11, 2006 by thaihome

[Sunbelt Asia]

Aren't these the same countries that used to have to get the real VOA (not visa exempt) at the airport and were given 14 day entry stamps?

TH

Yes, these are the same countries that get the VOA for the period of not exceeding 15 days

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[WilliamIV]

Hi Sunbelt

Is there an official website that says

30+30+30 can be normally expected?

(Subject always to discretion of Immigration of course)

The reason why I ask is that IN THE PAST

- the Countries on the 15 day VOA list

- particularly the Indian sub Continent

When their passport holders obtained a Tourist Visa

and were given the usual 60 days stay stamp

- THEY were NOT entitled to an extra 30 days extention

in my experience they were normally given - in the past

only 10 and latterly only 7 days.

So if they can now expect a total of 90 days

this would be an improvement in their entitlement overall

albeit they have to pay !

[JR Texas]

So price for 3 months in total goes from about 4000 Baht to 6000 Baht. 50% increase.

Obviously this has nothing to do with "need to check background via embassy", OR shortening the total stay but rather just a question of collecting more money?

I am beginning to think the same is the main reason for the other changes we see.

Cheers!

JR Texas (51, USA): These changes reflect a major shift in the government's posture with regard to foreign immigrants.....a shift in thinking that was initiated and heavily promoted by TOXIN. The official reason for the recent wave of immigration/visa changes was to "stop people from working illegally in the Kingdom." The reality, in my opinion, is different: it is a full-frontal attack on expats living in the Kingdom who are not rich or "of high quality" (excuse me while I go BARFFFFFFFF). Of course, this segment of the expat community represents the vast majority and the government will soon find this out as fewer and fewer dollars start to circulate within the Kingdom. If security is the issue, why not simply allow foreigners to get a paper from their local embassy in Bangkok stating that they are not criminals? Very simple solution. Why compel them to return to their country of origin for certain visas? (think about what that means to a citizen of the USA). The idea, I think, is that a better security check can be done in the country of origin. But, with computers and the internet, we all know that is not the case. And, like I said, most of us have an embassy/consulate in Bangkok where such matters can be clarified. Maybe the new administration will recognize that these changes are TOXIN changes.......he is gone, forced out........but his ideas are still here......maybe his ideas need to go as well.

For the record, I left Thailand before TOXIN was forced out. I can't tell you how happy I was when I read the news that the Thai military (not the people) had actually done the right thing. I was thinking about how positive it was for Thailand and what a great opportunity Thailand now had to set things right again. Then my happiness was reduced as I began to realize that his ideas and policies on immigration/visas did not leave with him. Maybe that will change within the next few months. They just do not get it: People should not be judged in terms of income alone. Having lots of money does not make a person "good." TOXIN is a perfect example of this. And if money is the new criterion upon which long term admission to Thailand is decided, then Thai logic dictates that the Buddhists monks should be the first to be forced out of Thailand. Just look at them........poor....put a wig on them and they would look like "hippies" or that Christian guy. Surely they must be of "low quality." Right? Good thing that there is no thing called "Thai logic."

Best wishes,

JR

[WilliamIV]

Hi Sunbelt

Another question concerning

30+30+30 stay for VOA Countries

Are you able to say...

Are they required to produce a ReturnTicket

- to obtain the Tourist Visa?

- to produce on entry to Thailand?

Would a return Ticket for a return journey say 85 days after

first arrival be acceptable OR should it INITIALLY be for less

than 30 days and the return jouney only be changed to a later date after an extension of 30 days has been obtained

I am NOT seeking speculation

I am asking if there are laid down procedures

These are not theoretical Questions

An Indian Passport holder will be visiting me next month

and wishes to stay for more than 2 months.

Thanks

Bill