Can I Do Like This With Visas?

[Kaksa]

Hello there!

I am a lady from Finland and planning to spend 5 next winter months in Thailand (I hate winter-time!!!).

I am just a little confused of these new visa-rules... I know people here knows alot, so I would like to know if I will have any problems if I do like this:

First I would get 60 days tourist visa from Thai-consulate in Finland. Then I would get an 30 days extension from Bangkok. (is it possible to get in any immigration? In Phuket? Some people tell it is only possible in Bangkok... How long it takes to get? Can I get it at the same day or should I go couple days before my 60 days are running out?).

After that extension run out I would fly to Kuala Lumpur. Spend a week in there and get a new 60 days Tourist visa from Thai-consulate and then come back to Thailand. Is it easy to get another 60 days visa right after the first one? How long it takes to get it from Kuala Lumpur, days?

So please tell me, could I stay 5 months like this?? ...or is there something I should do different?

Sorry my english!

[torrenova]

If you're sure its for only 5 months, get a 2 entry tourist visa. You get 60 days on arrival, then extend for Bt1900 at any immigration. After about 90 days, go on a visa run (or fly somewhere for a few days) and return. You'll get another 60 days which you can extend if you want to .

Alternatively, get a multiple entry non immigrant "O" visa. You'll get 90 days on arrival and then do a border run or fly out for a day or a few days and get another 90 days when you return.

No problems unless you don't get a visa before arrival.

[Kaksa]

Thanks for the fast response torrenova!

Somehow I was thinking that it is hard to get 2 entry tourist visas... I have to find out from the embassy! That would really be the easiest way!

How about the extension? Can I get it in a one day??

I am just wondering because couple of months ago I called to embassy in Helsinki and they said I must go to Bangkok office to get it...and here people are writing that it is possible to get from any immigration...

[Maestro]

Kaksa, you can get the extension at any Immigration office in Thailand. You fill out the application form TM.7 and submit it with a photo, pay the fee of 1,900 Baht, and get approval immediately.

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Maestro

[bangkapiboy]

Most important is to get 1 or best 2 Tousit visas at the Thai embassy or colsulate before you leave Finland. Then you will be A-OK with extensions for your stay in Thailand.

[DrFisher]

I would suggest a 1 year B visa that way you only have to leave Thailand 1 time for a stamp and have none of the paperwork problems.

[thedi]

I would suggest a 1 year B visa

Methinks: It is best to get the right visa. She is a tourist, hence she should get a tourist visa. B-visas are for business and the embassy may require more informations or it may lead to confusions with taxe clearance in TH.

Finnland is the best place for her to apply for a visa. Two or even three entry tourist visas should be no problem in her home country.

Regards

Thedi

[Charles2550]

Alternatively, get a multiple entry non immigrant "O" visa. You'll get 90 days on arrival and then do a border run or fly out for a day or a few days and get another 90 days when you return.

How does she get a multiple entry non immigrant "O" visa?

(if she is a tourist...)

I would suggest a 1 year B visa that way you only have to leave Thailand 1 time for a stamp and have none of the paperwork problems.

How does she get a 1 year B visa?

To Kaksa: if your trip plan includes a visit to one of the neighbouring countries, a tourist visa could wprk very well for you.

By the way it would be interesting to know the maximum of entries (on a Tourist Visa) a Thao Consulate or Embassy in Finland will deliver to you?

Please let us know, as these facts are hard to gather for those already being in Thailand.

Good luck to you

[Kaksa]

Thanks for everybody for helping me!!!

I was reading the rules of Tourist visa from the embassy pages, and there seem to be one big problem with 2 entries visa...

Visa Validity: Your visa is valid for 90 days. This means your entry/entries into Thailand must be within 90 days of the issue date of the visa, as written on your visa stamp.

Period of Stay: Your length of stay has nothing to do with the validity of the visa, as mentioned above. Your visa is issued with a length of stay of 30, 60, 90 or other number of days. This is the number of days you may stay in Thailand without renewing your visa, counted from the day of entry to Thailand.

What is the difference between "Validity of Visa" and "Period of Stay"?

The validity of Visa means the period during which the visa can be used to enter to Thailand.

So I guess it means that if I get it couple weeks before my trip, so 90 days starts already even I am still in Finland... So those 2 entries has to be done in 90 days and the days starts to count of the issue date, not the date I arrive to Thailand at the first time... This is so stupid!!! Why it has to be so hard!!!

What you think, should I just do like I was planning and get another 60 days tourist visa from Kuala Lumpur, or is there something I haven't think well? Do you think the visa is easy to get from there?

Thank you all for helping me, I am so scared if I will do something wrong with this visa thing... I just would like to know everything for sure before I go, so there will be no surprises on the way!

[opalhort]

Thanks for everybody for helping me!!!

I was reading the rules of Tourist visa from the embassy pages, and there seem to be one big problem with 2 entries visa...

Visa Validity: Your visa is valid for 90 days. This means your entry/entries into Thailand must be within 90 days of the issue date of the visa, as written on your visa stamp.

Period of Stay: Your length of stay has nothing to do with the validity of the visa, as mentioned above. Your visa is issued with a length of stay of 30, 60, 90 or other number of days. This is the number of days you may stay in Thailand without renewing your visa, counted from the day of entry to Thailand.

What is the difference between "Validity of Visa" and "Period of Stay"?

The validity of Visa means the period during which the visa can be used to enter to Thailand.

So I guess it means that if I get it couple weeks before my trip, so 90 days starts already even I am still in Finland... So those 2 entries has to be done in 90 days and the days starts to count of the issue date, not the date I arrive to Thailand at the first time... This is so stupid!!! Why it has to be so hard!!!

What you think, should I just do like I was planning and get another 60 days tourist visa from Kuala Lumpur, or is there something I haven't think well? Do you think the visa is easy to get from there?

Thank you all for helping me, I am so scared if I will do something wrong with this visa thing... I just would like to know everything for sure before I go, so there will be no surprises on the way!

In the past you had to state the date of your planned arrival in Thailand on the visa application form (not sure if this is still the case?). When you apply for the visa insist that they match the beginning of the visa validity with your first date of arrival.

Call the embassy/consulate to make sure this is still possible.

DO NOT rely only on what you read on Thai embassy websites, they are seldom up-to-date!

opalhort

[Kaksa]

I was in Thailand for 5 weeks last January, and I was checking my passport that the validity of my tourist visa started at the day I got it from the consulate...almost one month before my trip started. I had my arrival day in my application!

In high season they are asking people to come early to get visas, because of so many applications at the same time. So it's really stupid that they count days like that!

I call there and ask if it's possible to change the starting day! It is just so hard to ask them anything, because they don't speak finnish or english very well...but I'll try!

[Kaksa]

I called to Thai-embassy in Helsinki and they said that visa with 2 entries is valid for 6 months!!!

Well, it seems like that will solve my problems!

There is still one more question I want to ask if somebody knows:

Is it easy to get 30 days extension for the second 60 days period? (60+30 and 60+30) So could I spend 6 months in Thailand?

Or do they give extension only ones?

And Charles 2550, embassy said it is possible to get 3 entries for tourist visa!!!

[Maestro]

Is it easy to get 30 days extension for the second 60 days period? (60+30 and 60+30) So could I spend 6 months in Thailand?

When you have a tourist visa valid for more than one entry, you can very easily get a 30-day extension after each entry.

Happy to hear you can get a double-entry tourist visa. This will indeed let you stay for 6 months, with only one visa run (leave Thailand and re-enter same day) after the first 90 days.

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Maestro

[thedi]

Why it has to be so hard!!!

As you found out by yourself, it is not hard at all.

You are an ideal model of a tourist, thats what tourist visas are for and thats what Thailand want: tourists. Hence the rules for tourist visas are defined in a way to make it easy for you. (But still prevent immigrants from abusing this tourist visas).

This will also be your experience when you extend your visa for 30 days. You can expect to get the extension in less than an hour and there will be no problems. Just be sure to bring all documentations along:

- passport with

- 2 photocopies of all relevant pages

- passport photo

- a pen to fill out the form

A smile helps too, and if you take your return ticked along, this may help to prove, that you are a normal tourist. So I do not remember, that they ever asked me to show my return ticket when I extended a tourist visa for myself.

Hope you will enjoy your stay here.

Thedi

[Kaksa]

Thank you Maestro, Thedi and all the others!!!

It is really nice to see that so many people here are ready to help with the questions!

Now I feel really good, I can make my dream come true and get away from cold and dark (winter time) Finland!!!

I just booked my plane tickets for 6 months!!! Can't wait....

[Maestro]

...I can make my dream come true and get away from cold and dark (winter time) Finland!!!

I just booked my plane tickets for 6 months!!! Can't wait....

Hasn’t spring arrived yet, with warmer temperatures? Isn’t summer about to come?

Of course, you are a lot further north than I am in Switzerland and it will probably be quite cold in Finland (depends also which part of the country) for quite a while yet.

Enjoy your extended stay in Thailand! It is definitely much warmer there.

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Maestro

[Kaksa]

Yes Maestro, summer-time is coming and the weather is getting warmer here in Finland!!!

...but it doesn't last long...only 3-4 months before the nightmare winter is coming again...

I'll stay the summer here and leave to Thailand in november!! I just wanted to ask Visa questions before I booked my flights!

So I still have to wait 5 months more...

And thanks, I will enjoy of my stay in Thailand for sure!!!

[Maestro]

I'll stay the summer here and leave to Thailand in november!!

That’s the way to go! Six winter months in Thailand, the summer in Europe. You may find March and April a bit hot in Thailand, but personally if I had to choose between extreme heat and extreme cold, I would prefer the heat. On the other hand, who was it who said “when it gets cold you can put on more clothes, but when it gets hot you cannot take them all off”?

You know what I would do? Fly to Thailand before the last Sunday in October and return after the last Sunday in March, eg toward end April, but this is just a reflection of my inertia (read laziness). This way, I would not have to change the clocks around the house twice, first for standard time, then for daylight saving time

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Maestro

[Kaksa]

Good point Maestro!

I didn't think about the clock, but I am being lazy too and I was thinking that this way I don't have to change winter tires to my car!!! ...snow is usually coming in November and melting in April...