How Do You Get

[farangatang]

ok, l have an australian friend wanting to stay in thailand for 6 months. l heard it is possible to get a 6 month tourist visa. My friend rang the Thai embassy in Brisbane & was told he could only get a 2 month tourist visa. Appreciate any advice on how he is to aquire a 6 month tourist visa.

[lopburi3]

A tourist visa allows only a 60 day stay for holders of Australian (and most) passports. But it can be extended 30 days. Some Consulates will issue a 2 entry tourist visa so that could be used 60+30 exit/enter 60+30 (that is where the six month name comes in). So he should ask for a 2 or 3 entry tourist visa rather than a six month tourist visa.

[midas]

If your friend intends to be here on business and if he has an Australian

passport he could see if he can qualify for an APEC Business Travel Card

and then in a 6 month period he would only need to make one visa

run after 90 days - tell him to look at the following website for more information :-

http://www.businessmobility.org/key/abtc.html

[Savanna]

I have a six month tourist visa, I arrived on 24 Feb - it is valid until 20 Aug 2008 - when do I need to exit?

[lopburi3]

There is no six month tourist visa. You either have a 2 (or 3) entry tourist visa (often called six month) that is valid for either three or six months from issue date. You must make last entry before the expiration date of the visa.

If you arrived on 24 Feb you were either stamped permitted to stay until 30 or 60 days later. Prior to that time you must either exit the country or extend your stay for 30 day at an Immigration office using TM.7 and paying 1,900 baht. At the end of that you can repeat for 2nd (and 3rd if marked 3 entry). But your last entry must be made before 20 August.

[Sojourner]

I guess we all tend to forget to look at what is stamped and written in our passports after we exit Immigration. I think that's where most of the problems come from that catch us off guard. Everyone.....right now look at your latest stamp and see when you are really suppose to leave. This is a public service announcement.

[Savanna]

There is no six month tourist visa. You either have a 2 (or 3) entry tourist visa (often called six month) that is valid for either three or six months from issue date. You must make last entry before the expiration date of the visa.

If you arrived on 24 Feb you were either stamped permitted to stay until 30 or 60 days later. Prior to that time you must either exit the country or extend your stay for 30 day at an Immigration office using TM.7 and paying 1,900 baht. At the end of that you can repeat for 2nd (and 3rd if marked 3 entry). But your last entry must be made before 20 August.

Just checked my passport, I need to exit before 23 April - so when should I go to immigration to extend for the 30 days? 22nd? or is this a process and therefore needs to be done a week or so before?

[lopburi3]

It is a simple process - TM.7 form with 4x6cm current photo and copy of passport/departure card probably. Best to do it a few days early so a week would be fine - the extension of 30 days will still start at the end of your current permitted to stay until stamp.

[Super Hans]

It is a simple process - TM.7 form with 4x6cm current photo and copy of passport/departure card probably. Best to do it a few days early so a week would be fine - the extension of 30 days will still start at the end of your current permitted to stay until stamp.

Can this be done in regional offices or just in Bangkok? Am in Pattaya at the moment - anyone know where to go? Do you need an onward flight ticket as well? Is your passport stamped there and then or do you leave it overnight?

[lopburi3]

The immigration office is located in Jomtien and that office has asked some for Ticket in the past (only 7 days if not shown) but have not seen any recent reports of this happening. Passport should be stamped immediately.

[Super Hans]

Thanks.

[offset]

I was at Jomtien yesterday for second extention I was not asked for onward ticket