DanceAllNight

So, it's that time again... I need to extend the first entry of my DETV soon. I have extended a tourist visa twice before and never had to prove address. Once, I was staying in a hotel, and the other time a friend's house owned by the family.

I will extend at CM immigration. If I need to prove address, what do i need to bring?

I can stay in a hotel for a few days, and that's fine.

But i would like to continue staying at my friend's house. I currently stay with a friend and family of my friend.

If they need proof of address for the Thai family, who needs to go with me and what documents are needed? An ID card, blue book? If my friend goes with me is it good enough, or does the owner need to go?

I may just try and do it tomorrow and see what happens. If a hassle arrives, i will go back with the proper needed paperwork.

ive extended a tourist visa twice and never had to use a TM 30...

Personally, I am on a SETV but I can get Non O (either single or multi) easily enough (Thai daughter by Ex GF). METV if required not too much of a problem.

As I have to return once a year to my country of Permanent residence (NOT my country of citizenship). I am under 50 living off a disability pension.

The Consulate in my nearest city back home has assured me I will qualify for METV if I show proof of my pension (since I cant work!). If necessary and required, I will enjoy lovely extended border runs for few weeks at a time every 3-5 months to lovely place or lovely places nearby and thank the MFA and General for the change of and tightening of rules that has inspired me to see new horizons and enjoy other nearby by countries and cultures. If required to do so I'll switch between SETV, non o, METV,perhaps even ED sandwich VE's inbetween as to have back to back tourist visas.

I do sincerely hope others can do similar.

For those that are interested it is possible to do a 3 month ED visa for 11,000 THB in Chiang Mai. Not a bad idea for some, 3 months SETV (60 days + 30 Day extension) do a VE + 30 day exemption 5 months total then go some where lovely and travel for a few weeks say 1 month..documents in hand for 3 month ED visa (no test a immigration as no extension required or given!) do another VE + Extension of VE total 5 months. At this point you are 11 months in Thailand (+ one month traveling around) go for another extended break out of the country for 1 month..by this time is one year since you last applied for a SETV and 7/8 since the last one expired..and you've only had 60 days in that past year on Visa Exempt (VE) entries..so rinse and repeat and stick two fingers up to the rule makers (that's one finger each hand!).

Or find another way of legitimately playing around with existing rules such as a stint volunteering somewhere nice.

i just got a double-entry tourist visa, but after that, i'd like to stay here. I am also interested in learning Thai....for real, not just for a visa. Where is the school for 11,000? Do they provide all docs needed for the visa? And if i have several visas, will that be held against me?

Mae Sai is much cheaper. I did this trip a few months ago. It is tiring day, but what can you do. At least u can buy cheap liquor and beer there, but check the bottles if u buy hoegaarden for black stuff on the bottom.

My advice: Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua ,Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru....these places are more than happy to take your money and let u stay.

Blame China! Thailand wants to be in their good grace....

i knew this would happen... i am glad i got my visa in time.

so it is not new? i have never seen it before or missed it. haha....sorry, my mistake

yes, that is it. i never saw it before. should i have left it blank? i am worried because i said stay with friend, so i dont want problem with immigration. but the address i used it the same as the one i stay at.

it was on the back of the arrival card they asked. maybe it is brand new.

I re-entered Thailand recently, and I noticed the arrival cards had changed. On the back, they're asking more questions now. They ask about income, occupation, where you're staying (specifically....friends, apartment, hotel, etc...) and you're address in your home country.

It looks like Vientiane are being lenient one last time before METV

I think this is true, because they know after Nov 13 they're not going to be making that much money anymore.

Since they're no longer offering DE visas, i might as well go to a place like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and get the single entry and I don't need to get a visa to enter that country.

Update:

I got my double entry visa. Nothing was said to me by consulate or IO at border.

As stated earlier, this is my 2nd back to back DE visa from Vientiane and 3rd visa overall. Also, I did have exempt stamps as well. But get there before Nov 13. Even Laos will no longer do DE for non-residents when the METV is available. Too bad. They're going to lose a lot of money on the local economy and Thailand will, overall, lose a lot of money as well.... but they'll soon realize that.

Anyway, if you get there before Nov 13, you should have no trouble getting a 2nd visa back-to-back. As for a third, I cannot comment on that. Good luck to everyone!

I am going soon to pick me visa up. I will let you know as soon as I can get WIFI how it went. I will head to Udon Thani by bus from the station or take a tuk tuk to the border and go from there.

Day 1:

I just got back from dropping my passport off at the consulate in Vientiane.

This is my 2nd time going there for a double entry visa.

They have changed the queue system. Before, you lined up outside until the consulate opened, and then were given a number. Then, you went to a window, an official looked through your passport and it took a long time.

Today, however, you go inside before the consulate opens and your chair is how you get your queue. First come, first served. The chairs are basically the order of the queue.

Then, you hand the application and passport to the person and come back the next day. You don't pay, and it is VERY fast. They don't like at passport, but briefly, give u a number and receipt and you get the visa the next day.

There were hardly any people there today compared to last time...maybe 50ish?

I was out of there like 10 mins after they opened..... last time, maybe 2 pm.

I did not see anything about no DE visa after Nov. 13

First, there was one girl - older, faster, and then a new girl came... she was younger and asked more questions and took longer (i think she is the one some people refer to as having problems). She asked me some questions. I said I want double entry visa, will there be a problem? (since this is my 3rd thai visa, and 2nd back-to-back from VTE). She said, no, and gave me the receipt, queue number.

Will see how tomorrow goes when I pick the passport up.

But the process is much faster now, with less people.

I have been informed by Thai visa service that they have heard nothing about what Vientiane will be doing.

Also the consul in Bali has informed me that the embassy in Jakarta will make an announcement next month. He knows nothing at the moment bud did say they will be doing 2 or 3 entry visas until informed otherwise.

Thanks for the lastest info.

well, i hope i can still get the DE visa before Nov 13

so it's official: no more double entry visa from Laos. This is a bummer. A lot of people will be affected by this, and not for the good.

that is quite a large number of tourist visas from Vientiane...even with the breaks.

i am in my 20's, so i hope I am not getting a single entry

oh well, if that happens, just hangout on the beaches in Vietnam or Philippines or head to South America

My life isn't ruled by a Thai visa .... but i still want the double entry 555

thanks for letting us know.

i am going soon for a 2nd double entry in a row and was a little worried.

anything about changing visa policies after Nov 13? You'd think they'd have a sign or something to let people know.

Out of curiosity, why are you looking to get the visa from Vientiane instead of Savannakhet . For someone who doesn't want a crowded consulate and is planning to travel within Laos, Savannakhet is the better option especially from Chiang Mai.

Savannakhet is better is from Bangkok. Chiang Mai is good for Vientiane and Luang Prabang...more so Vientiane. I don't want a crowded consulate, but i don't want to travel back to Thailand from there and from Vientiane it is another 300b for the bus to Savannakhet. I would only go there if for some reason Vientiane denies me the 2 entry visa.

I want to travel laos, but more so in the north. and i want to apply before nov. 13

well, since i am not likely to be denied a double entry in Vientiane, when is the least busiest day of the week to go? The day where their are no visa run companies The last time I went, there were a ton of people, but luckily I got there early and was in the front of the queue.

I am not pressed for time, so I want to go when it is slow...if that is possible. I plan on doing a little traveling, perhaps to Luang Prabang, Pakse, Vang Vieng. Who knows. I like Laos a lot. And I have all the time in the world.

The visa run companies are there on Mondays and Thursdays so it's best (less busy) to go on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Apply on either of those days and you get the passport back next day. Fridays are good as well, but you cannot collect your passport until the Monday.

Thanks!

well, since i am not likely to be denied a double entry in Vientiane, when is the least busiest day of the week to go? The day where their are no visa run companies The last time I went, there were a ton of people, but luckily I got there early and was in the front of the queue.

I am not pressed for time, so I want to go when it is slow...if that is possible. I plan on doing a little traveling, perhaps to Luang Prabang, Pakse, Vang Vieng. Who knows. I like Laos a lot. And I have all the time in the world.

My last experience in Vientiene (~2 months ago) was that old visas from 2014 caused them to blue-stamp me and restrict to single-entry. I had a 7-month break outside of Thailand, which was not considered. I had received only one TV, after that period.

I was not warned of this when I submitted my application, nor asked for any supporting documentation - though I offered it (bank statements showing foreign-sourced funds and condo-lease). I only discovered I was getting a blue-stamped, single-entry, when I received the visa the next day. I was only charged for the single-entry, as payment is now made upon receipt.

how many previous visas did you have and where were they from?