Newbie Confusion Over Multi-entry Tourist Visa And Expiry/validity

[neek]

Hi all, long time reader, possibly first time poster..

I'm about to leave Thailand, and need to re-enter in January, currently making wedding plans with my Thai girlfriend for March. I've always been confused over a certain aspect of visas, so please bear with me. I'm English, a British passport holder, 31 years of age, clearly with a serious Thai girlfriend connection. As usual, I could phone the Thai immigration office in BKK, but value the advice on this forum, and hope the replies might aid others sharing my problem. And as you may perceive from my comments below, I doubt that I would obtain the correct advice from a Thai person trying to answer my carelessly worded questions.

A few months ago, I got a 2-entry tourist visa from the Thai embassy in London, 6 month validity, with the intention of staying in Thailand for 6 months. I had phoned the Thai embassy in London, spoke to a nice Thai lady, and said that I wanted to stay in Thailand for 6 months, and I had heard the best way to do that was to get a tourist visa, stay for 60 days, get a 30 day extension, then leave the country, get another visa for re-entry, and repeat the process. She said 'yes'. I now think there was some confusion.

My main problem is that I think there is a difference between the "visa" whole-page sticker in my passport, and the "visa" that you are issued on entry to the Kingdom that means you can stay in the country; I've always assumed they are one and the same. My initial understanding was that the "visa" I was issued in London was for 60 days, which I've used, is now useless. Recent posts on this forum, and some debatable wording on the Thai embassy website at thaiembassyuk.org.uk, indicate that each entry allows me a 60 day stay.

I had thought that I would _have_ to apply for another tourist visa, back in London, just as I did the first time, in order to re-enter thailand for the second part of my 6 month stay. I thought that the visa was completely 'used up' after staying the 60 days, and 30 day extension. Now, it seems that with a 2-entry tourist visa, each entry into Thailand within the 6 month validity period allows me a 60 day stay, and implicitly a 30 day extension. This is the point I don't understand.

Can I use my existing visa, which is 2-entry and only the <1> has been marked on the visa, the <2> is left blank, to re-enter Thailand in January and stay for another 60 days with 30 day extension? It will be inside the 6 month validity period of the visa, and will be the second entry of the 2 I am allowed.

All this probably seems ridiculous to experienced visa users Please, have a chuckle, then advise whether I'll have trouble on 6th Jan when I fly back and try to re-enter Thailand on my existing visa.

Thank you

Nick

[Mahout Angrit]

Can I use my existing visa, which is 2-entry and only the <1> has been marked on the visa, the <2> is left blank, to re-enter Thailand in January and stay for another 60 days with 30 day extension? It will be inside the 6 month validity period of the visa, and will be the second entry of the 2 I am allowed.

Yes, you must enter Thailand for both entries before the expiry date of the visa, on each entry you will be given a 60 day permission to remain in the country, each entry is extendable by a further 30 days in country. The second permission to enter stamp or extension can continue past the validity of the visa.

[naka]

Can I use my existing visa, which is 2-entry and only the <1> has been marked on the visa, the <2> is left blank, to re-enter Thailand in January and stay for another 60 days with 30 day extension? It will be inside the 6 month validity period of the visa, and will be the second entry of the 2 I am allowed.

Yes, you must enter Thailand for both entries before the expiry date of the visa, on each entry you will be given a 60 day permission to remain in the country, each entry is extendable by a further 30 days in country. The second permission to enter stamp or extension can continue past the validity of the visa.

The OP neek should note this important point !. It means that the expiry date on the visa is the "Use by" / "Enter by"

date and not the "Have to leave by date".

Simply put, you can enter Thailand the day before the expiry date printed on the Visa and

potentially stay another 2+1 months (about).

Naka.

Edited December 17, 2007 by naka

[neek]

The OP neek should note this important point !. It means that the expiry date on the visa is the "Use by" / "Enter by"

date and not the "Have to leave by date".

Simply put, you can enter Thailand the day before the expiry date printed on the Visa and

potentially stay another 2+1 months (about).

Mahout, naka, thank you so much, that's exactly what I wanted to hear I did understand about the 'enter by, not leave by' detail.. I'll be entering Thailand for the 2nd entry in Jan, well before the 6 month expiry, but may end up staying for the full 3 months which will be past the end of the 6 month validity period, but that's not a problem.

I'm so relieved Cheers.