Please, Some Clarification, Please

[RobertRoth]

i'm very confused at the moment, since everybody tells me different things about the Visa laws. Please clarify for me. Would be much appreciated!

My Situation; Swedish guy, living in Bangkok. I first lived here 6 months, then I ws in sweden for 4 months, and now ive been here almost 3 months. Totally i have done 5 "permission to stay"s (30 days on entry) and 2 touristvisas, 60 days each, both issued in Laos. Im on my second one now, which will expire in a week.

Questions;

1. Can I extend my touristvisa at the immigration for 1900 baht or not? Any special requirements for that or is it just to go there and pay?

2. How many times can one get a thaitouristvisa per year? Unlimited times or 2 times per year or does it depend on the mood of the people at the border abroad?

3. Do you have to show any special documents or bankstatements to get the touristvisas nowadays? I didnt, 2 months ago, but i read it everywhere... ?

PLEASE help me. I read and hear different things everywhere, makes me worried...

[lopburi3]

1. You can extend for 1,900 baht. But you could be asked to show a ticket out of Thailand and only provided a 7 day extension of stay if you do not have one - rather than the normal 30 days you are expecting. This has been very seldom done but it could be.

2. Depends on the Consulate you use - there is no binding limit.

3. No. But if it seems obvious you are not a tourist (and you are starting to get into that area) they could ask to see a bank account to satisfy themselves that you can support your extended stays. It is not a common practice.

[RobertRoth]

2. Depends on the Consulate you use - there is no binding limit.

Thanks for the reply lopburi3.

As for your second answer, how then can one be sure to not be left in the other country outside of thailand, whiles going to get the next touristvisa.. Seems kind of risky? Especially for someone without a lot of money while doing it (like me)

Recommendations? As I said, ive done it 2 times in Laos. Should I change consulate?

Thanks a lot

[RobertRoth]

I dont really get what's on here either http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2495

Sweden is not on that list.. Whatever the list means. Seems to mean the list of countries that can extend their touristvisas? Or I'm a horribly wrong here?

Thanks again

[lopburi3]

Vientiane should still be good - you might even be able to obtain a two entry tourist visa. The best advise is to keep at least one 30 day visa exempt entry in reserve - don't use more than 60-70 days in a six month period. Then you can always return for a short period without a visa.

[RobertRoth]

Vientiane should still be good - you might even be able to obtain a two entry tourist visa. The best advise is to keep at least one 30 day visa exempt entry in reserve - don't use more than 60-70 days in a six month period. Then you can always return for a short period without a visa.

When you say 'keep one 30 day visa exempt entry' you mean do not go and extend the visa 30 days at the immigration office? Or are you talking about the 30 days on entry? (if anything would go wrong getting the visa outside of thailand) ?

How many times can one do the 30 days on entry nowadays? 3 entries per 6 months?

thanks

[jstumbo]

2. Depends on the Consulate you use - there is no binding limit.

Thanks for the reply lopburi3.

As for your second answer, how then can one be sure to not be left in the other country outside of thailand, whiles going to get the next touristvisa.. Seems kind of risky? Especially for someone without a lot of money while doing it (like me)

Recommendations? As I said, ive done it 2 times in Laos. Should I change consulate?

Thanks a lot

You cannot be sure. Most people recommend that you have some visa exempt entry days remaining so that if you do get denied a visa, you could return to Thailand for at least a few days to make arrangements.

Also if you get denied a visa at one consulate, you could travel to another consulte in the area or fly to your home country where you would probably have much higher chances of obtaining a visa.

[jstumbo]

Vientiane should still be good - you might even be able to obtain a two entry tourist visa. The best advise is to keep at least one 30 day visa exempt entry in reserve - don't use more than 60-70 days in a six month period. Then you can always return for a short period without a visa.

When you say 'keep one 30 day visa exempt entry' you mean do not go and extend the visa 30 days at the immigration office? Or are you talking about the 30 days on entry? (if anything would go wrong getting the visa outside of thailand) ?

How many times can one do the 30 days on entry nowadays? 3 entries per 6 months?

thanks

He is talking about the visa exempt entries. The ones where you come in the country without a visa, and they stamp your passport saying you can stay for 30 days. You can have as many entries as you want, but they cannot total more than 90 days in a 6 month period. So you could come 10 times for 9 days each time and you would be fine.

[lopburi3]

Vientiane should still be good - you might even be able to obtain a two entry tourist visa. The best advise is to keep at least one 30 day visa exempt entry in reserve - don't use more than 60-70 days in a six month period. Then you can always return for a short period without a visa.

When you say 'keep one 30 day visa exempt entry' you mean do not go and extend the visa 30 days at the immigration office? Or are you talking about the 30 days on entry? (if anything would go wrong getting the visa outside of thailand) ?

How many times can one do the 30 days on entry nowadays? 3 entries per 6 months?

thanks

Actually the number of entries is not limited - it is only limited by the number of days (90 in a six month period). The extension of stay will be of a visa entry and not counted against that 90 days. It is the entry without visa (30 day stamp) that counts toward the 90 days so you do not want to use that entry too often.

[RobertRoth]

Thanks alot everyone!