Stay up to 7 months on a tourist visa plus 2 border runs

[Soapy 100]

Thanks

           I read a post saying its possible to stay up to 7 months if you come on a tourist visa and do 2 border runs,

but i cant find this post after searching for it.

My friends before covid always stayed for 6 months on a double entry tourist visa,now they are ready to return

for hopefully 6 months,so 

       if you come in on a tourist visa that gives you 60 days plus a 30 day extention = 90 day

then according to the post you can then do 2 border crossing in one year giving you 30 days plus 30 days extention

    Total stay 7 months if needed

The Chiang Khong/Laos border is now open so 2 border runs would not be a problem for them

    Can this  be confirmed in order to book flights etc

Thank you

[ubonjoe]

The 2 entry tourist visa was replaced by the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV in 2015. The METV allows unlimited 60 day entries for 6 months from the date of issue. It is possible to get a total say of almost 270 days by getting a new 60 day entry just before the visa expires and then a 30 day extension of it.

It would be possible to get a Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) that would allow them to stay for a total of 90 days. Then do 2 border hops to get a new visa exempt entry and extending each one for 30 days.

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, Soapy 100 said:

   if you come in on a tourist visa that gives you 60 days plus a 30 day extention = 90 day

then according to the post you can then do 2 border crossing in one year giving you 30 days plus 30 days extention

That would work no problem. 

[BritTim]

The plan is OK. However, note:

• Each initial entry stamp is for one day less than people think (59 nights, not 60, and 29 nights not 30). The extensions give you a further 30 nights as expected. For that reason, do not plan on the basis of a stay of 210 days. It should be a few days less unless you want to stay a few days in Laos.
• There may be no easy way of staying longer, if your visitors want to do so. Two visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year is a hard limit. If, however, the trip is planned such that you have a visa exempt entry close to the end of the year, then 1st January gives you two fresh visa exempt entries to play with, allowing a longer stay.

Actually visiting embassies/consulates in the region for actual tourist visas may also be possible, though it is not 100% certain that applications would be successful. The good news is that, with a visa, entry, through almost all land crossings is assured.

[Soapy 100]

Thank you for the excellent information 

[Toby1947]

Make sure it's a multi entry tourist visa. Last time I used a single entry tourist they were only giving 15 days extension on that at Jomtien. Scuppered my plans so had to go up to the Thai Embassy in Laos for another tourist visa. They do exactly as they please on any given day be careful

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, Toby1947 said:

Make sure it's a multi entry tourist visa. Last time I used a single entry tourist they were only giving 15 days extension on that at Jomtien. Scuppered my plans so had to go up to the Thai Embassy in Laos for another tourist visa. They do exactly as they please on any given day be careful

A SETV gives a 60 day stamp upon entry and you can extend that by 30 days. 

 

Show your stamp from Jomtien that was a 15 day extension. 

[spambot]

12 hours ago, BritTim said:

The plan is OK. However, note:

• Each initial entry stamp is for one day less than people think (59 nights, not 60, and 29 nights not 30). The extensions give you a further 30 nights as expected. For that reason, do not plan on the basis of a stay of 210 days. It should be a few days less unless you want to stay a few days in Laos.
• There may be no easy way of staying longer, if your visitors want to do so. Two visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year is a hard limit. If, however, the trip is planned such that you have a visa exempt entry close to the end of the year, then 1st January gives you two fresh visa exempt entries to play with, allowing a longer stay.

Actually visiting embassies/consulates in the region for actual tourist visas may also be possible, though it is not 100% certain that applications would be successful. The good news is that, with a visa, entry, through almost all land crossings is assured.

Is the 2 x Visa exempts / calendar year a black and white rule for both land and Air crossings?

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, spambot said:

Is the 2 x Visa exempts / calendar year a black and white rule for both land and Air crossings?

Visa exempt via air unrelated to land border entries.

Via air is unlimited, however can/will be questioned and perhaps refused entry if continuous and back to back.

Via land visa exempt is 2 per CALENDAR YEAR.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, spambot said:

Is the 2 x Visa exempts / calendar year a black and white rule for both land and Air crossings?

No. It is a black and white rule by land. By air, Immigration scrutinises you to decide whether you are using visa exempt entry for "normal tourism purposes", which is obviously subject to interpretation. By land, you are virtually 100% safe in trying to enter visa exempt within the two per calendar year limit (the only exception being the rogue crossing at Poipet/Aranyaprathet). By air, if you have already spent months in Thailand as a tourist, it is a gamble, with the risk being higher at some airports than others.

[shdmn]

60+30 extension +30 on arrival border crossing visa waiver x2 is 5 months, not 7.  Or am I missing something?

Edited July 14, 2022 by shdmn

[Upnotover]

2 minutes ago, shdmn said:

60+30 extension +30 on arrival border crossing visa waiver x2 is 5 months, not 7.  Or am I missing something?

Yes.  You are missing the 2 x 30 day extensions of the 2 x 30 day land entries.

[shdmn]

6 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Yes.  You are missing the 2 x 30 day extensions of the 2 x 30 day land entries.

Ahh ok.  PiTA getting those 3 extensions though.  You could be sitting around the immigration office half the day.  Or pay a premium to get an agent to do them all.

Edited July 14, 2022 by shdmn

[kiwikeith]

3 hours ago, shdmn said:

60+30 extension +30 on arrival border crossing visa waiver x2 is 5 months, not 7.  Or am I missing something?

No, I picked that up on the abacus as well, many haven't yet thanks.