My intra-Asia vacation with two long stops in Thailand

[jacobjm1]

I arrive in Bangkok this week, but want to make sure I've got my timing right on visa exemption / length of stay / re-entry. I am a US citizen.

 

Here's my itinerary in order of stops:

- 24 days - Bangkok

- 14 days - Manila

- 10 days - Siem Reap

- 57 days - Bangkok 

(exit BKK by train to Kuala Lumpur)

 

It's the last stop that I need some help with. I don't think I can re-enter BKK from Siem Reap with a train ticket that's almost two months out, given that the visa exemption is only given for 30 days  upon entry and then I'd need to apply for a 30 day extension at immigration post-arrival. So, I'm guessing I'll need to buy a plane ticket within 30 days on the last stop (no problem).

 

My bigger question is do you think I'll have any issues getting the 30 day extension, given that I was in BKK the month before?

 

I return back to school in January, so trying to make the most of time while I have it off! And Thailand I like the most, and it's where I want to spend most of my time.

 

Thanks

 

 

[tonray]

You will likely have zero problems getting a 30 day extension. 

[Phuket Man]

30 day extension will be no problem.

[BritTim]

Assuming you have not spent much time in Thailand in the past, your itinerary should not be an issue. I assume you are planning to use visa exempt entries for both of your Thailand legs. Are you aware that there are no longer direct rail services from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur? Services were completely reorganized (again) early this year. You now need to get one train to Padung Besar, and a separate train on the Malaysian side of the border (with no guaranteed connection). If you did reconsider and decide on a flight ticket out of Thailand to KL, I think it would be acceptable when checking in for your Siem Reap to Bangkok flight. On these short hops, they will rarely insist on the flight being within 30 days, if they even check at all.

 

EDIT: I am assuming you are planning to use the regular train service, and not the Eastern and Orient Express (though, if you can afford it) that is quite an experience.

[JackThompson]

I agree with others that trouble on entry is unlikely, if these are your first ever Thai visits.  But since you said "BKK" - I assume you are flying in, and the airport immigration are the worst of the batch.  It is also possible your airline would not allow you to board without a visa OR a flight-out in 30 days. 

What I would do to erase all concerns: While in Siem Reap, use an agency to obtain a Thai Tourist Visa (they will get it from the Thai Consulate in Phnom Penh).  I would not recommend trying this during a short-stay, given that consulate is known to be slow, but 10-days are enough. 

 

Obtaining that visa would remove the need to deal with a Thai immigration office for a 30-day extension during your 2nd visit AND the need to show an outgoing ticket when boarding a plane to Thailand (and/or maybe the IO, if he is in a bad mood), avoiding any issue with that leg of the journey.

 

The cost of the visa vs an extension should be about the same, since there will be agent-costs in addition to the visa-fee.

[jacobjm1]

Thanks, I appreciate all the feedback and advice. Yes, it is the Eastern Orient Express!

 

I've been to Thailand before, and had a student visa at one time, but that was 8 years ago. It's been a while,. I do like your idea about getting a tourist visa in Cambodia.

 

Any recommendation on the agency to use?

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, jacobjm1 said:

Yes, it is the Eastern Orient Express!

That, based on accounts I have heard, should be an amazing trip. Certainly, I cannot imagine requests for financial proof when you show how to intend to exit Thailand!

[jacobjm1]

My plan is to apply for a visa when I get to Siem Reap. The hotel tells me the hospitality desk can help arrange. However, my 10 day stay includes 4 weekend days, leaving only 6 business days to get my passport to Pnom Penh and get it back to me. Is this to tight of a timeline? Should I consider extending my stay in Cambodia a few days? Just not sure what the processing times are at the Thai embassy in Pnom Penh.

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, jacobjm1 said:

My plan is to apply for a visa when I get to Siem Reap. The hotel tells me the hospitality desk can help arrange. However, my 10 day stay includes 4 weekend days, leaving only 6 business days to get my passport to Pnom Penh and get it back to me. Is this to tight of a timeline? Should I consider extending my stay in Cambodia a few days? Just not sure what the processing times are at the Thai embassy in Pnom Penh.

Assuming there are not, besides weekends, also public holidays that reduce the time available, the time is ample for a competent agent to arrange your visas.

[JackThompson]

13 hours ago, jacobjm1 said:

My plan is to apply for a visa when I get to Siem Reap. The hotel tells me the hospitality desk can help arrange. However, my 10 day stay includes 4 weekend days, leaving only 6 business days to get my passport to Pnom Penh and get it back to me. Is this to tight of a timeline? Should I consider extending my stay in Cambodia a few days? Just not sure what the processing times are at the Thai embassy in Pnom Penh.

As you have fixed-travel pieces in your itinerary, I can understand your concern. 

 

There is plenty of time in that plan - but what is critical, is ensuring the agent does not "sit on" your passport, waiting for other applications, to scrape off a bit more profit by sending a batch of passports to Phnom Penh.  I have experienced this. 

 

As long as the agent understands and respects your travel-constraints, you should be fine.  I would set my "need by" date earlier than your real planned-departure date.  If there is any hesitation to meeting this date, you could offer to pay-extra for the agent to courier your passport to Phnom Penh immediately upon your arrival, to ensure it arrives at the Consulate on the morning of the next working-day.  

 

If you cannot find an agent who can guarantee to return your passport with the visa on the specified date, it would be time to switch to "Plan B" - arriving visa-exempt, and using a throwaway ticket.  But, given the time you have allotted, I doubt this would be necessary.

[jacobjm1]

Thanks all. I talked to the front desk. They said they could do, and it would be someone coming to collect my passport. I asked about filling out a visa application, and the desk at the hotel didn’t seem to think I needed to do that and that the company coming to pick up the passport would do everything for me (but I don’t know if that means they’re just going to go to an embassy with my passport without an application or with one). Seems to me the embassy would want an application.

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, jacobjm1 said:

Thanks all. I talked to the front desk. They said they could do, and it would be someone coming to collect my passport. I asked about filling out a visa application, and the desk at the hotel didn’t seem to think I needed to do that and that the company coming to pick up the passport would do everything for me (but I don’t know if that means they’re just going to go to an embassy with my passport without an application or with one). Seems to me the embassy would want an application.

Usually, you just give the agent your passport, photos and cash. They fill out the application form for you, and arrange anything else needed. They may charge you less if you can give them copies of hotel reservations in Thailand and onward flight ticket out of Thailand. If you are unlucky, the embassy may require financial proof. In my experience, the agents cannot fudge that one, and it can cause substantial delays in the application if you are asked for it later.

[jacobjm1]

I got it all worked out. Thanks all

[jacobjm1]

This worked perfectly! I got my passport back today with the visa. Thanks again for recommending.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, jacobjm1 said:

This worked perfectly! I got my passport back today with the visa. Thanks again for recommending.

Given your report of talking to the hotel's front-desk was last Sunday, it appears to take a full work-week to get this done (maybe a day less, if not for the Thursday holiday).  This information may be helpful to others who go to Siem Reap, and need to know the expected turn-around time - thanks for coming back with the follow-up. 

 

It would be great if you could also include the hotel, so others can use their services.