Voa Inquiry

[hkochi]

I have been using Thailand as a base for travel to neighboring countries and have just been told about this new law, I'm not sure I understand it. I have heard so many different stories from tourists, to expats, to immigration officers and was hoping someone might clarify. This is my situation:

I arrived in Thailand on Dec. 9, 2006 and obtained a VOA. I then left Thailand on Dec 12 to Burma for 10 days and returned to Thailand on Dec 22, also obtaining a VOA. Then I left Thailand on Jan 2 to Laos for ten days, then returned to Thailand on Jan 12. My VOA runs out on Feb 12 and I am wondering if I need to go to Vientiane or one of the other neighboring countries capital's to apply for a two month tourist visa or if I am able to make a border run, because the 3 VOA were not consequetive and not comprimising 90 days.

Thanks for any help you can offer, whether it is pointing me to a website that can answer this for me.

[lopburi3]

The laws are about 30 day entry without visa, which I assume is what you are talking about. VOA is not what they should be called as there is a VOA and that is a paid visa for a 15 day stay.

The law is that you can not have more than 90 days in any six month period using entry without visa. There is no limitation on the number of entries, only on the total number of days. Once you get to 60 day or more you will no longer receive a 30 day entry stamp but only what may be remaining to total 90 days.

In your case it should not be a problem but will be very helpful if you can prepare a piece of paper listing your entries and total days of each (remember entry and exit days each count as one day). This should make it much easier for immigration officer to know what to check and what you qualify for and is likely to save both you and him time.