Tourist METV Usage Question up to 269 Days

[Dazzler]

Hi All, 

 

I have just received my METV in London. It is valid until 13 Dec 2025. I arrive in BKK on 5 July.

 

I am aware that before my visa validity expires I can leave the country and re-enter to get an additional 60 + 30 days, which can take the total visa usage up to nearly 270 days.

 

Would I have to leave Thailand and reenter before 13 December to do this, or would the final date be 179 days from 5 July (my arrival date in Thailand), i.e. 31 December?

 

Thanks!

 

 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, Dazzler said:

Would I have to leave Thailand and reenter before 13 December to do this, .... 

Yes you need to enter prior to Dec 13 in order to be stamped in for 60 days. 

Provide your eVisa print out to immigration to make clear you are entering on the METV and not visa exempt

[Dazzler]

Thank you DrJack, so just to be clear, as I already have my visa and it is valid from 17 June until 13 Dec, I have in effect 'lost' a couple of weeks when I could have stayed longer in Thailand? 

 

This is not an issue, and I applied 3 weeks in advance not knowing how long it would take to get the visa just in case...

[DrJack54]

26 minutes ago, Dazzler said:

so just to be clear, as I already have my visa and it is valid from 17 June until 13 Dec, I have in effect 'lost' a couple of weeks when I could have stayed longer in Thailand? 

Yes it's clear you understand how a visa works. 

It has an issue date and enter by "until date" 

 

So for a single entry eg Non O it has a period (90 days) that you can used it to enter Thailand. 

Even if you entered on last "untill date" You would be stamped in for 90 days. 

 

Your visa is a multi entry. Yes  by applying tad early you miss out on max period possible in Thailand. 

Being multi entry you receive a 60 day stamp every entry while visa is valid. 

By entering Thailand Dec 13 or prior (I would do min Dec 12) you will be stamped in for 60 days. 

As you are aware you can also obtain 30 day extension to the 60 for 1900b 

[Dazzler]

Thanks for the clarification DrJack 🙂 

[Tod Daniels]

15 hours ago, Dazzler said:

I have in effect 'lost' a couple of weeks when I could have stayed longer in Thailand? 

You are correct, you did indeed 'lose that time'. 

The visa is valid for 6 month from the date it's issued, not the date you ever the country the first time 

[Bvor]

On 6/18/2025 at 2:14 PM, DrJack54 said:

 

Provide your eVisa print out to immigration to make clear you are entering on the METV and not visa exempt

I provided my eVisa print out to lady IO at BKK and she stamped me in without a word (see attached). However I now see that it was a visa exempt stamp that i carelessly misinterpreted at the time. Does this mean that she rejected my METV and gave me visa exemption instead?  Also does METV allow first entry anytime after evisa issuance until expiration of 6 month validity or must first entry be conditional within 3 months as per London Embassy website and visathailand .com?

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, Bvor said:

Does this mean that she rejected my METV and gave me visa exemption instead?  Also does METV allow first entry anytime after evisa issuance until expiration of 6 month validity

Yes you can enter anytime during validity of the METV. 

Seems the io may have stamped you in 60 day visa exempt. 

Even if thats the case, thinking next entry again show your METV eVisa print out. 

[Unown]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes you can enter anytime during validity of the METV. 

Seems the io may have stamped you in 60 day visa exempt. 

Even if thats the case, thinking next entry again show your METV eVisa print out. 

Hey there, not related, could you please your dm? Thanks 

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, Unown said:

Hey there, not related, could you please your dm? Thanks 

Done. The post you requested removal has been made. 

[Bvor]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes you can enter anytime during validity of the METV. 

Seems the io may have stamped you in 60 day visa exempt. 

Even if thats the case, thinking next entry again show your METV eVisa print out. 

My next entry air ticket has already been paid for and is outside the 3 month first entry condition that some immigration entities advise of hence my seeking clarification of same. Tried to get jomtien immigration to correct the VE stamp error. Of course lady IO refused to assist and told me to go back to BKK and see IO which I will do when I depart 30/6. I don't want the VE to add to my history and then be accused of too many VE's in the future.  Not to mention that I paid for METV and was given a visa exemption instead.........ahh such is life in Land of Smiles.