I'm planning for my first longer (more than one month) stay in Thailand, hopefully at least 3 months. I would really appreciate if anyone could answer these questions:

1. I will apply for a 60-day tourist visa, which I'm hoping to be able to extend for another month. My question is, when can I apply for this extention? Do I have to wait until the end of the 60 days or can I do it as soon as I arrive at the airport (Bangkok). My next question is where exactly do I go to apply for the extension; where do I find the Immigration division?

2. If I would want to stay longer than 90 days (extension included), would it be possible to extend my visa with another 30 days simply by going on a short trip to a neighbouring country and returning? Are there any rules as to how long I need to be out of Thailand before I can return? I'm from Sweden, so normally when I enter Thailand I get a 30-day tourist visa without having to file any application forms.

Let's say for example I went to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and  returned the next day. Would I then be granted a further 30 days when I enter Thailand?

Any help on this would be highly appreciated.

 

1. You must apply at the local Immigration office a couple of days before your 60 days expires. Address:

Immigration in Bangkok

2. Yes, see under "Visa run" on Thaivisa web site.

3. 10 minutes would be ok, just out and in again.

4. Yes, you will get 30 days on arrival every time.

I have a Swedish friend who applies for, and gets, a 12 month validity multi-entry Thai visa in Sweden. He is unmarried and doesn't qualify for a retirement visa.

When he arrives in Thailand, he is given a 90 day visa by immigration. After 90 days he leaves the country (Chong Chom) for 5 minutes and upon re-entry, receives another 90 day visa, and so on. We have yet to determine how long a stay he will be able to get after 359 days, e.g. the 12 month visa will be still valid so he should get a further 90 days. But, this is Thailand.

If your friend with a Multiple Non-Immigrant visa enters Thailand again *before* the visa detail "This visa must be utilzed before [date]", he will be given 90 extra days on entry.

So a multiple entry visa is actually good for nearly 15 months, if you use the last part of it beofre it NEARLY expires.

Dear George or anyone else,

Could you pls help me be clear about this.

I'm holding a multiple entry one year Non-Immigr O ("others") visa.

I entered Thailand most recently on Nov 15 last year, so I am stamped to stay until Feb 12. The "Valid Until" date on my original visa is Feb 18; that would be one year since the visa was issued.

Do you mean that if I left and returned to Thailand on or before Feb 18, I would get 3 more months - until mid May? Even though the total would be more than one year?

If so, how close to Feb 18 should I return - 16, 17, 18th?

A simple crossing of the border (perhaps at Mae Sai-

Tachilek now that Aran-Poipet is closed) will suffice?

Thank you,

Peter

To avoid overstay you must leave Thailand latest on Feb 12.

You must enter again LATEST on Feb 17, and you will get new fresh 90 days stay.

A multiple entry visa for one year actually works for nearly 15 months as you have figured out.

Just exit and enter again at any border point. (See Thaivisa.com website - Visa run)

Dear George

Thank you for your help. One more please?

I am going to Nong Khai today. That would extend my multiple entry one-year non-imm O for 3 months, to first week of May.

Now, as I mentioned, the "valid until" date on the original visa is Feb 18.

However, I am also planning to go to Philippines Feb. 18 for 4 days. When I return to Bangkok, would they continue to stamp me to stay until first week of May? I hope so; otherwise no point in going to Nong Khai. Or would they give me a tourist visa on arrival and supercede the non-imm O, which expired Feb. 18?

Thank you, Peter

No Peter...........once you leave Thailand your latest visa is finished.  The validity is UP to 90 days, and the present visa will be expired. For another lengthy  stay, you'll need to apply for another visa in the Philippines to enable your proposed stay without hassles.