30 Day Extension Of 2 Entry Tourist Visa

[elektrified]

Hi everybody. Next month will be 60 days on my first entry of my two entry tourist visa. I am planning on going the retirement visa route but need some time to get things together since I just turned 50 yesterday. I have already opened a bank account with a small balance at Kasikorn Bank when I was in Bangkok. While I was in Bangkok I had a free consultation with a high priced law firm specializing in visas, work permits, etc. The attorney spoke excellent, near-fluent English. I told her I was planning on applying for the retirement visa in due time but that for the time being needed other options. She looked at my visa and said that I should leave in January and come back in on the second entry. I told her that I had planned on applying for a 30 day extension in Chiang Mai (and again when the second entry runs out). I told her that this would give me six months and since the 800K needs to be in the bank 90 days before applying for the retirement visa, that I needed all the time I could get. She just looked at me and said "better to leave in January and use second entry". I asked her why she was against the 30 day extension and if it would be a black mark in the computer. She said "no, no, no black mark." Thinking that perhaps she misunderstood what i meant by "black mark", I asked her again if applying for a 30 day extension would in any way hurt me in as far as applying for a retirement visa in the future. Again, she said "no, no, no, but best to leave in January."

Could anyone shed some light on this? Communication with the attorney was excellent except for this one point. Thanks in advance for your input.

[lopburi3]

The only catch with 30 day extension is that you may be asked to provide a ticket out during the time period - and if you do not have the ticket only receive a 7 day extension. This has not been common but it is a possibility.

[cali4995]

Elektrified, the one thing you have to be careful of is the validity term for the visa.

Often, even with a double-entry, they will only give a 3-month validity. It is entirely

possible to use the first 60 day entry, then obtain a 30 day extension and have the

validity expire before you are able to utilize the second entry. Might want to check.

[lopburi3]

But you can always leave on the 28th day of extension or whatever to obtain a new 60 day entry - you just have to do so before the expiration date.

[elektrified]

Thanks for the very helpful information guys.

cali4995, how do I determine the term of validity of my visa? The visa was issued 1 November (even though I did not actually receive the visa from the Prague Embassy until around the 20th of November). The visa says "Enter before 31 January 2008". I entered on 27 November and am admitted until 25 January on Entry No. 1.

lopburi3, are you saying that I may be asked at Chiang Mai Immigration to show a ticket out during the time period of the 30 day extension even though I have to leave anyway at the end of the 30 days? Or do you mean that I should have in my possession an advance bus ticket to Vientiane leaving on 24 February?

[lopburi3]

1. Your visa is valid until 31 January 2008. Both entries must have been performed prior to that date.

2. As you were late using your visa you should not bother with the first 30 days extension of stay (which would only be 4 days if you want to use the second entry. Just exit and return for a new 60 day entry and if you want to extend that entry 30 days you can do when the time comes.

[elektrified]

1. Your visa is valid until 31 January 2008. Both entries must have been performed prior to that date.

2. As you were late using your visa you should not bother with the first 30 days extension of stay (which would only be 4 days if you want to use the second entry. Just exit and return for a new 60 day entry and if you want to extend that entry 30 days you can do when the time comes.

Thanks lopburi3, i kinda thought that was the case as far as the period of validity is concerned. Unfortunately the Prague Embassy put me through so much trouble requesting countless documents in order to get the visa that I did not receive it from them for three weeks after I first applied.