How Does The 60 Day Tourist Visa Work?

[Cakiko1]

I will be travelling to Thailand for the first time this spring and I am trying to figure out how to deal with the 60 day tourist visa.

(I'm a 26 year old American).

My problem(s): I will be volunteering for 3 weeks (june 15- july 6) and then sitting a meditation retreat july 16- july 26. I figured that I would apply for a 60 day tourist visa for this period of time...possibly june 10th-aug 10th. However, there is a tour of Cambodia and Loas that I would like to go on that begins on may 20th and ends on june 6th. Unfortunately it begins and ends in Bangkok which means that I will be in Thailand for over the granted 60 days if my visa starts when I enter the country for the tour.

My question: If I apply for the 60 day visa for june 10th-aug 10th can I enter the country before the visa start date or will the 60 days automatically begin the moment I enter the country? Will the 60 day count down continue even after I've left the country for cambodia or will it be put on hold and resume once I've re-entered?

My apologies if this is confusing. I'm just trying to see if my plan is possible.

Any suggestions would be an absolute blessing.

Also, when you are issued the visa is there a set date on which you must enter the country (what you put on your visa app) or is there flexibility in terms of entry?

Cheers.

[Mahout Angrit]

A single entry tourist visa allows one entry to Thailand. You are generally given 3 months to use it (enter Thailand) from the date of issue. Once you enter Thailand you will be given a stay of 60 days and the visa is used. If you leave you will need another to return to Thailand. You can, however, apply for a re-entry visa once you are in Thailand (Costs B1000 and a photo at any immigration office) which will allow you to leave Thailand and will re-activate the visa when you return provided you return within the 60 days given to you when you first entered. It will however not extend your stay, the date stamped in your passport when you should leave remains the date you must leave.

As a USA citizen you can get a 30day visa free stamp on arrival so if you want to stay a bit longer than the 60days overall simply leave the country at any border and return with a 30 day visa free stamp (you can do this 3 times).

If you're in Thailand when the tourist visa expires you can extend it by 30days at any immigration office for B1900 and a photo.

Your other option would be to get a double entry tourist visa which will generally give you 6 months to use both entries.

Edited March 25, 2007 by Mahout Angrit