Tourist Visa Questions

[Tamrak]

Good morning,

I am a citizen of United States of America who would like to visit Thailand as a tourist for 40 days. I realize that I will be exempted from obtaining the visa for a 30-day period of stay.

The tricks are the following:

1. I plan to stay in Thailand during the first 10 days;

2. Then, I will be visiting my friend in Kenting, Malaysia and go to Singapore for 3-4 days;

3. Then, I will stay in Thailand, for another 26 days before going back to the States.

Questions:

1. Do I need to request any type of tourist visa?

2. I read the Thai web site and cannot differentiate between the transit visa and tourist visa. Is the transit visa allowed to enter Thailand?

3. Will there be any fee when I left the Kingdom and come back from Malaysia?

4. If I obtain the visa directly from the consulate, is this a multiple entry visa? If it is, it will resolve my issue.

Thank you for your time. I will be waiting for your response. Take care.

[Penkoprod]

I think you are confusing the Tourist Visa, with the Visa Exemption rule

A Tourist Visa is valid for 60 days and can be extended by a further 30 days at the nearest Immigration office

A visa exemption is just a stamp in your passport, allowing 0-30 days stay depending on nationality

Penkoprod

[Tamrak]

Thank you for your time.

Based on my situation, what will be your recommendations?

First of all, do I need a visa?

Couple of my friends told me no. This is because I will enter the Kingdom for 10 days and leave for 4 days. Then, I will enter again and back to the states after 26 days.

I sent my question to the Thai consulate in Chicago. They still do not know whether I need a visa or not.

I will post the reply, if someone from the consulate told me. Thanks.

[sjaak327]

How do you plan on travelling to Malaysia, if by air I suppose you have a ticket out of country, because you need to show proof of onward travel in order to get the 30 day exempt stamp. Also airlines can refuse to board you, if you don't have a ticket out within 30 days.

But judging from your second question, I guess you plan on entering Malaysia by land. In that case, the best thing to do is get a tourist visa, for your first 10 days, whhen you come back to Thailand, you will be leaving in 26 day (by Air I presume) so you will get the visa exempt stamp.

You could also apply for a multiple entry, but in this case it's not needed, and you will save some money, as each entry will cost you.

The 30 days visa exempt stamp is free of charge.

[Brian Allen]

Hi there

Given the schedule you've posted you don't need a consulate-issued visa.

In any 180 day period an American may aggregate 90 days in Thailand, a courtesy 30-day visa ("chop") being issued at whichever, land/air etceteras, border you enter.

There is no fee but if you are flying out of Thailand there is an airport tax of 500 Baht.

Trust this helps.

Best regards.

Sincerely - Brian .:

D:

[BADBRAD]

If you already have a ticket from Thailand to Malaysia then there is no need for a visa. First you enter Thailand on Visa Exempt status. Possibly but not definately, they will ask you for proof of onward travel out of the Kingdom. You show them your ticket to Malaysia. Then you travel to Malaysia and Singapore. When you come back to Thailand on another Visa Expempt Entry they will (possibly) ask you for your your proof of onward travel, which I would assume is your ticket home. If you have these "proofs of onward travel" then there is no need for a visa of any kind. If you do not possess a ticket to malaysia upon your arrival to Thailand then it would be advisable to obtain a tourist visa prior to your arrival to avoid any possible problems. I am certainly no expert on these matters, but this is the way I interpret the law. I am sure someone will be along shortly to correct me.

[Tamrak]

All,

Thank you for your response.

I plan to travel to Malaysia by car. Three of my friends will be traveling with me to Kenting and down to Singapore. We plan to stay there for four days before driving back to Thailand. We plan to enter and reenter at Sadao's (Songkhla.)

My first thought was not to obtain any visa because I will have a 30-day stay. Then, I am uncertain whether they can renew any type of tourist visa at the immigration checkpoint or have to pay the fee on the spot.

Look like obtaining a tourist visa might be the best bet in my case. My round trip plane ticket will have a 40-day window.

All comments and suggestions are welcome.

[Tamrak]

All,

I have just hung up the phone with the consulate in Chicago. They informed me that a tourist visa is an assurance to prevent me from any potential problem.

The official told me that, if I had a round trip ticket from Thailand (Hat Yai) to Malaysia, that should not be a problem and I can use a 30-day visa exempt status. On the re-entry, I need to show my round trip ticket to the States.

He suspected that, if I travel by car, I won't have any evidence to prove my intention whether to stay in the kingdom and I will be under mercy of the Thai Immigration at the border. This will not work really well for me.

He cautioned that, if I plan to do this often, I should have applied for two or multiple entries.

The tourist visa will cost me $30. It has only a validity for 90 days. It is shorter than the one issued by the Chinese embassy. That was valid for 180 days. It will take around a week from the mailing time until getting them back.

The personnel at the consulate was very helpful. It took them a while to get back to me.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Getting a tourist visa solves all of your problems. BTW the departure tax in Thailand is 700 baht but it should be included in your airline ticket.

[lopburi3]

The information you received from the Consulate is correct - although not having onward ticket could be an issue at both immigration and boarding your original flight from the US. Get the visa.