I'm a US citizen holding a US passport. I just got back from Laos a few weeks ago where I obtained a 60 day Tourist Visa (start date Nov. 27). Looks like I will have to leave the country fisrt week of January and won't be back until after the 60 day portion of my Visa expires. Can I apply for the 30 day extension before I leave in early January ?

Frankmoniz2002, from the entry date you provided, your initial 60 days

shouldn't be up until JAN 25. If you did get the 30-day extension, you'd

also need to get a re-entry permit so it all wasn't cancelled when you

departed. I think a single re-entry permit is 1,000 baht which I guess

you could take care of when you were visiting immigration. Then, the

other thing, depending on which immigration office you visit, you may

be asked to show proof of onward travel for the extension. Whether

or not you can get the extension 3 weeks before the expiry of the

original tourist visa is debatable. Doesn't hurt to try I suppose.

Frankmoniz2002, from the entry date you provided, your initial 60 days

shouldn't be up until JAN 25. If you did get the 30-day extension, you'd

also need to get a re-entry permit so it all wasn't cancelled when you

departed. I think a single re-entry permit is 1,000 baht which I guess

you could take care of when you were visiting immigration. Then, the

other thing, depending on which immigration office you visit, you may

be asked to show proof of onward travel for the extension. Whether

or not you can get the extension 3 weeks before the expiry of the

original tourist visa is debatable. Doesn't hurt to try I suppose.

Yes, if the OP goes to an office that doesn't have onward ticket requirements (to keep it simple), they may issue the extension....it will be interesting to see if it can be done this early. I know that 1 week early is no problem.

...Then a few days later go in and get a re-entry permit.

Frankmoniz2002, from the entry date you provided, your initial 60 days

shouldn't be up until JAN 25. If you did get the 30-day extension, you'd

also need to get a re-entry permit so it all wasn't cancelled when you

departed. I think a single re-entry permit is 1,000 baht which I guess

you could take care of when you were visiting immigration. Then, the

other thing, depending on which immigration office you visit, you may

be asked to show proof of onward travel for the extension. Whether

or not you can get the extension 3 weeks before the expiry of the

original tourist visa is debatable. Doesn't hurt to try I suppose.

Yes, if the OP goes to an office that doesn't have onward ticket requirements (to keep it simple), they may issue the extension....it will be interesting to see if it can be done this early. I know that 1 week early is no problem.

...Then a few days later go in and get a re-entry permit.

Sorry guys. For the record I have a double entry 60 day Tourist Visa. It would be unfortunate for it to go to waste. That's why I was wondering if I could apply for extension 2-3 weeks before the 60 days is up on Jan. 25 ???

Well, you've got to give us all the relevant data. It's a popular misconception we're

all levitating about in the lotus position, chanting our mantras with incense floating

around, somehow able to intuit these things, it's just not true (for me anyway).

Jokes aside, you need to check the validity. If you've only been given 3 months from

date of issue, extensions and/or re-entry permits may be pointless. In order for

you to be able to utilize that second entry. And make sure they didn't invalidate it by

writing "used" over it even though you were given a double. Another member reported

having that experience already. Not knowing your history of visa-exempt entries,

I don't know how many cards you've got left up your sleeve. You can certainly apply

3 weeks before it expires, whether or not they'll give it to you or will having a good

reason make a difference, I can't say. Crunch all the numbers you've got there.