Quick Question

[Totster]

Hi all

Later on in the year I plan to come to thailand and stay for up to six months. I will be obtaining a tourist visa with 3 entries from The Royal Thai Consulate in Hull.

My question is, can I apply for the 30 day extension on the first entry as soon as I enter Thailand ?

Totster

[12call]

NO

You get 60 days on arrival.

after that you goto Immigration and get a 30day extension for baht1900

I also cannot see the use for 3 entries as each visa is only valid for a 90 day period.

Just get the double tourist visa.

[Totster]

Thanks 12call

The reason I was going to get the 3 entries is that I did not want to rely on the extensions being granted, am i being overly cautious ?

Also, to clarify, if I am staying in BKK for a week when I first arrive, can I apply for the extension then ?

I suppose what I am trying to ask is, can the extension be applied for any time within the 60 day period ?

cheers

Totster

[chingy_]

no! see above

[thaiflyer1]

Totster just to clarify what has already been said a double entry will be fine dont worry about not getting the extensions. You/ll get 60 days on arrival on the 59th day go to immigration and pay the 1900baht you/ll get an extra 30 days after this you/ll have to nip out of Thailand and back in for a further 60+30 days......reason i say go on the 59th day is that if there is any sort of problem it/ll give you a day to exit and re-enter Thailand (but there wont be!) just to ease your worries! Also you/ll have to make sure you go to immigration on the Friday if your first 60 days happen to expire at the weekend (immigration isnt open sat and sun). Have a nice trip.

[Totster]

Thanks thaiflyer1, thats exactly what I wanted to know.

totster

[monkgonemad]

I don't get it. Why should he (I) not get 3 entries on a tourist visa? In USA the cost is us75 (3 entries) plus us25 for overnight (tracked) envelopes nest day. Total cost US100 or B4000+/-.

Your advice

=============

2 entry visa: 50

Mailers: 25+/-

30 ext1 = <50

30 ext2 = <50

-----------------------

Total: US175 (!!!!!!!!)

Your advice costs (50%) more, WAY more hassle and leaves vulnerable not getting extention(s).

Visas have expiry of 6 mos. you do 58+58+58(+30). BTW you can go from Bangkok to Penang for B2000 r/t ac-cl2 (as low as B1200), turn right round and get a free 30. You get to see another country/city (Penang) -essentially gratis.

So instead of paying B1900 (!!) for a 30 day (incidently, extentions are only 2 weeks in Pattaya [!!!]).

Why on earth would you not want to simply get an extra stamp -no hassles for us25? You save 2 trips and mucho hassle to immigration (and possible issues with them) PLUS the costs of transit, lunch, HASSLES.

That is really bad advice by multiple people - please enlighten me.

Edited July 1, 2004 by dr_Pat_Pong

[rainman]

because by the time you could use that 3rd entry, your visa will already be expired no worries regarding extensions for another month, they are always granted, never heard of anyone being rejected. also, maybe go a few days before your visa expires, not just one day before. i once went 3 days before and it turned out that there were 2 days of holiday, so i ended up extending the day my visa was expiring!! make sure you check the calendar so you won't run into surprises and ask a few thais.

[rainman]

You save 2 trips and mucho hassle to &lt;deleted&gt; immigration (and possible issues with them) PLUS the costs of transit, lunch, HASSLES.

i suggest you don't/view immigrations with "f" words; not in thailand or anywhere in the world and you're most likely not to run into any problems, especially not in thailand, they're always very friendly. no need for that.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

You save 2 trips and mucho hassle to &lt;deleted&gt; immigration (and possible issues with them) PLUS the costs of transit, lunch, HASSLES.

i suggest you don't/view immigrations with "f" words; not in thailand or anywhere in the world and you're most likely not to run into any problems, especially not in thailand, they're always very friendly. no need for that.

He does say that he has gone mad Rainman. I suspect that his attitude might make a few obstacles for him in the LOS.

[thaiflyer1]

Totster....please listen to people who know.......ive given you good advice....do it my way. Monkgonemad surprised they have been giving you any extensions with your attitude.........ive lived in Pattaya for 6 years and always got a 30 day extension from soi 8 immigration. As Dr.P says most the immigration staff are friendly enough.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Totster....please listen to people who know.......ive given you good advice....do it my way. Monkgonemad surprised they have been giving you any extensions with your attitude.........ive lived in Pattaya for 6 years and always got a 30 day extension from soi 8 immigration. As Dr.P says most the immigration staff are friendly enough.

Unless you use F's for punctuation when addressing immigration. Then they are inclined to show that they are none to fond of the punter abusing them. And as we know, they have the wherewithall to impede one's visa application progress.

[nogutsnoapplepie]

I don't get it. Why should he (I) not get 3 entries on a tourist visa? In USA the cost is us75 (3 entries) plus us25 for overnight (tracked) envelopes nest day. Total cost US100 or B4000+/-.

Your advice

=============

2 entry visa: 50

Mailers: 25+/-

30 ext1 = <50

30 ext2 = <50

-----------------------

Total: US175 (!!!!!!!!)

Your advice costs (50%) more, WAY more hassle and leaves vulnerable not getting extention(s).

Visas have expiry of 6 mos. you do 58+58+58(+30). BTW you can go from Bangkok to Penang for B2000 r/t ac-cl2 (as low as B1200), turn right round and get a free 30. You get to see another country/city (Penang) -essentially gratis.

So instead of paying B1900 (!!) for a 30 day (incidently, extentions are only 2 weeks in Pattaya [!!!]).

Why on earth would you not want to simply get an extra stamp -no hassles for us25? You save 2 trips and mucho hassle to immigration (and possible issues with them) PLUS the costs of transit, lunch, HASSLES.

That is really bad advice by multiple people - please enlighten me.

With out saying to much.&lt;deleted&gt; Off U dip Shit!!! U no JACK.

[Roger13]

These 30 day extensions.

Can you tell me are they 30 days from

the expiry date of the Original visa

OR - 30 days from the date you apply

for / are given the extension?

Roger

[thaiflyer1]

30 days from when you recieve the extension...... if you apply 3 days before your 60 day stamp has expired you/ll lose 3 days effectively (87 days in total instead of 90days)

[Roger13]

30 days from when you recieve the extension...... if you apply 3 days before your 60 day stamp has expired you/ll lose 3 days effectively (87 days in total instead of 90days)

Toster,

I think this is the real answer to your Question

Roger

[monkgonemad]

I am still mystified at the pervasive bad advice - lots of name calling but no one knows what the ###### they are talking about. As for my liberal use of the english language - i lernt' it from th eus vp.

but to the point....

The visa expiry is usually six months -it CAN be more. but for the sake of argument (cause thats all youlike to do).... here it is:

enter on day...14

use 58 days = 72

enter on day 74

use 58 days = 132

enter on day 135

use till day 58

Giving the benefit of the doubt, maybe some of you are under the impression that the visa usually expires on day 180. I have always been under the impression that it is your ability to utilize the visa that limits to day 180. In other words -show up on day 159 at the boarder and you are in.

Everyone has done an excellent job bashing me but not one of you as provided a proper explanation after my post.

Finally, I dont need any of the like of you mutts to tell me how to get about in Thailand and whatnot. The guy who has a lawyer keep track of his time expired in Thailand.

Too many fat old men - The Internet and Viagra have ruined the country.

Thaiflyer: Lose 10 days and spend us75 less and no immigration runs -works for me.

Noguts: I don't know jack -but you've failed to enlighten me other than cursing me.

PatPong: I have never had immigration problems in the 15 years of living and travelling in Thailand.

Thaiflyer: Last time I was in Pattaya Immigration they were handing out TWO WEEK extentions. That is a double screw. Paying b1900 for two weeks when you could have had a month for us25.

Rainman: The only civilized post here. Maybe I am wrong -MAYBE the visa does expire after 180 days. Why does Thailand issue them then? The words I use to describe a corrupt third world kleptocracy would be echoed by most Thais and by my vice president and good friend of the primate in the whitehouse. It is a loathesome government who loved us poorer folk when times were bad. Now Thailand sees itself as an up and comer (fueled by??? TOURIST DOLLARS) and wants no part of decent folk without large somes of money to squander.

Even if I am wrong about the 180 days. OK i MAY be wrong. But the discourse here is wholly uncivilized. Funny, all you new money guys with no class and lack of taste. Name calling, just address the question.

[JimGant]

if you apply 3 days before your 60 day stamp has expired you/ll lose 3 days effectively (87 days in total instead of 90days

Not sure this is correct. I went to Immigration 15 days before my entry permit was to expire, but got the 30 day extension tacked on from day 60, not day 45. But, with Thai Immigration, it's probably been done all kinds of different ways. Also, the consensus for applying for entry permit extensions is that it's supposed to be done during the last 30 days of the permit. But, again, there have been examples of folks getting it done soon after arrival. Not sure if Johnny Walker Black was involved in these examples.

Monk's points are valid, especially if your work schedule, or whatever, has you entering Thailand 3-times in 6-months, but for stays of less than 60 days. Or, if you extend after each entry, re-entering Thailand on day 179 of your visa will allow for another 60+30 days of playtime, essentially giving you 9-months in Thailand per required trip to an Embassy/Consulate for a new visa.

[Totster]

I also cannot see the use for 3 entries as each visa is only valid for a 90 day period.

Just get the double tourist visa.

Just checked the Thai Consulate Website - this is what they say:-

There are various options of Tourist Visa available:-

a) Single Entry

The validity of this visa is 3 months from date of issue and allows a visitor to enter Thailand for a single period of up to 60 days after which they must depart. A further visit will require another visa which can only be obtained outside Thailand.

b.) Double Entry

The validity of this visa is 6 months from date of issue and allows a visitor to enter Thailand for one period of up to 60 days after which time they must leave the country. They can then re-enter for a further stay of 60 days. On expiry of the second stay they must depart and cannot return without a new visa which can only be obtained outside Thailand.

c) Triple Entry

Same principle as for Double Entry except that it allows for up to three visits within a period of 9 months.

d) Quadruple Entry (maximum)

Same principle as for Double Entry except that it allows for up to four visits within a period of 12 months.

Also I would like to point out that on an earlier topic I was advised by Dr Patpong to get the 3 entries

Totster

[thaiflyer1]

Totster......yes you get 60 days on arrival with a double entry but you can extend this by 30 days before you must leave the country then you can re-enter obtain another 60 days on arrival and extend for another 30 days giving you a total of 180 days. If you intend to come for longer than 180 days by all means get the 3 entry visa otherwise its not neccessary. Monkgonemad.....you wrote in your previous post.......enter on day 14......enter on day 74.....enter on day 135.....then you wrote....."no immigration runs ,works for me" What are day 74 and day 135 if not immigration runs?

[monkgonemad]

OK...first of all. theres a good deal of yelling but we havent solved the problem. It is nice to see the tone of the thread become more civilized....for the moment eh?

Dr.Patpong - You advised the guy to get a triple. so what of it? I think it's a good idea. You may get shorted out a few weeks but add a month at the end of the 58+58+60(+30) and you've got yourself a proper long stay. Can you advise why dragging yourself down to (BKK) immigration for what appears to be nothing more than a hassle and add'l b3000 is a good move?

Totster - Precisely. I am honestly not certain. I have always 'got' doubles in the USA and then doubles in SEA. Now, with all the hassles, I am going w/ a triple and see what happens on theother side. But back to the issue.

NOTE: " On expiry of the second stay they must depart"

Which I read as if you came in on the 179 day of the visa, you'd still be good until the 60 days expire.

Thaiflyer: I misstated, you have to do a visa run every 60 days per the visa req. I meant -you dont need to run up to Immigration in BKK for essentailly nothing except to give them an extra US75 and spend even more money in transit. I have never seen wisdom in doing an extention. Of course, if you are only staying one more month - it is purely understandable.

They (extentions) are hugely expensive now (i.e. one month extention = b1900. Two month visa = b1000). I have no shortage of time in Thailand. I sp[eak many neighboring languages and find it's refreshing to get out of the country and see what the rest of the world looks like. So, when I wrote visa run -I was really referring to a trip (and hassles) of going to Bangkok.

I am not just picking a bone...I would really like to know if:

a) The visa expired on the 180 day

Why getting extentions are a good thing? This is based upon the notion that visa runs every 2-3 months are refreshing and save money over extentions - which are double the price for half the time.

I await illumination

ps: Jim your point is well taken in that Immigration has no consistant pattern to anything it does. It is so hilarios all of you defending -IMMIGRATION. The do nothing but cause hassle in your lives and you defend the erratic and hapless action by a bunch of bumblers. That's why this board is essentially here -because no one understands what the ###### is going on. Each embassy, consulate, immigration bureau and offical you speak with is free to interpret the issue as s/he sees fit. That is why you will rarely get an answer out of an emb/consulate -they know how screwed up it is and they are the public face of the country. If they send you an email/letter with some b.s. in it -that is hard copy and fodder for attack. Emb/consular officials unlike Immigration monkeys are the cream of the crop. They know better and that is why it is next to impossible to get complicated immigration questions answered on the fly.

Good day gentleman and good bless the poor for godd made so very many.

[thaiflyer1]

Monkgonemad......this is where we disagree....i dont see visa runs as refreshing but as a neccessary evil. I would rather do a run every 90 days (60 +30 ext) than doing a run every 60 days.....but i guess it is each to thier own. If the original poster wants to travel out of Thailand twice in 6 months to visit Poipet or wherever then a 3 entry would obviously be best...........if he wants to spend his time in Thailand, then i stand by my original advice that a double entry is best.