Can the experts here confirm (I hope!) my understanding of a Triple Entry Tourist Visa.

I got a triple from my home town Dublin. With all the recent unpleasant news from Penang I have decided to forego visiting that consulate if can be avoided.

My understanding is that I can enter Thailand 3 times within the period of the Triple's validity (6 months in this case) and receive a 2 month Tourist Visa each time. Therefore I can enter Thailand for the 3rd time on the last day of the Triple's validity and get a 2 month Tourist Visa which I can extend for another 30 days. All in all giving a theoretical maximum stay of 9 months from the Triple.

Is that right?

(I have already extended my first Tourist Visa by 30 days but am planning to not extend my 2nd, just get a 3rd Tourist Visa before the triple expires to avoid having to visit any foreign consulates/emabassies.)

Thanks

Tricksy

Tricksy, I'm afraid the experts are out to lunch at the moment. I'm

the janitor, but I'll be happy to help answer your question.

You seem to have a good grasp on this, the sticky part of course they

give you a triple-entry visa but the period of validity isn't...quite enough.

What you're proposing to do should work, as long as you enter before the

validity expires, and pass on the one extension as you mentioned.

from the mfa.go.th website:

"Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay.

Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand.

In general, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases, visas may be

issued to be valid for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years. The validity of a visa is granted

with discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General and

is displayed on the visa sticker. "

Hi Tricksy, welcome to T.Visa,

I'm not an expert either, merely the guy who polishes the chrome on the hood ornaments.

You'll get a few Thai re-entry stamps in your passport - the baby blue rectangular ones. However, you should know that the date that counts for getting the extended 2 or 3 months is the date on your original full page visa. So, get your buns out and back in to Thailand before that date, day before to be safe - in order to have a stab at getting the extended time.

Each 30 day extension of stay is subject to approval, but normally is approved. But there have been a few recent reports of those who are long stay on tourist visas being asked to show a ticket out of the country and if they can not only receiving 7 days.

Each 30 day extension of stay is subject to approval, but normally is approved. But there have been a few recent reports of those who are long stay on tourist visas being asked to show a ticket out of the country and if they can not only receiving 7 days.

Yes, even the thai consulate at home gave me a 2 entry TV saying that an entry was anyway cheaper than an extension and the extension is not automatic....

Some questions on multiple entry TV.

When I enter Thailand i must use the TV or I can use a voa 30 days and the next month use the TV?

more than 1 voa will not be useful due to the expiration of the Visa.

I don't know if it make sense but after the first one entry is it possible to use a 30 days voa before the second entry?

You can ask and it is normally allowed - but no guarantee - and at least one poster seems to have lost an entry that way.

All in all giving a theoretical maximum stay of 9 months from the Triple.

Yes thats correct. Have done it twice. No problems at the immigration for me.