My 78 year old mother would like to visit Thailand for just under 90 days from the US.  What does she need to do for a visa?  I originally thought she could just show up and get the 30 day freebie and then go extend it, but through reading it seems that's not allowed.  Is there a 90 day visa for tourists?  Or just 60?  If her ticket shows her being there just under 90 days, what does she need to do...

 

Thanks!!

It should be possible to get a single entry tourist visa (allowing an initial 60-day stay) which can be extended for a further 30 days at an immigration office inside Thailand. Sometimes, the consulate might want to see an onward ticket out of Thailand within 60 days in order to issue the visa. In your mother's case, I think explaining her plans would be sufficient for them to accept a return flight within 90 days.

 

Depending on your own immigration status in Thailand (especially if you are married to a Thai) there may be possibilities of getting a single entry Non Immigrant O visa allowing a 90-day stay, but this would definitely require some documentation in support of the application.

Agree with the above ... although I'd say it is not an issue to have a return flight from Bangkok greater than the 60 days on the visa, mine are normally for a return 6 months later and I've never had an issue (as I go to other countries short-haul and return to Bangkok for the long haul return to the UK).

Single-entry tourist visa plus 30-day extension in Thailand is the easiest solution.