American With 30-day Entry Stamp

[starchy]

hello,

i'm an american, 34 years old, with a 30-day entry stamp on my passport.

i'm supposed to go to laos but the dates i've arranged (not paid for yet) are actually five days beyond when my entry stamp expires. after that, i was planning to re-enter.

i'm a university researcher, here on a short preliminary research trip, and need to be able to make and keep appointments. when i come to do the actual research, i will have arranged for an appropriate longer stay visa.

how difficult will it be to extend my stay for another week without leaving bangkok? do you know how much time this will take and how much it will cost? or should i just plan to go to laos sooner?

thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

[lopburi3]

Do not know if it will be considered without an air ticket out within 7 days. But normally the only extension available would be 7 days using a TM.7 form/photo and payment of 1,900 baht. Usually takes less than an hour.

[sniffdog]

You can extend it by seven days at the immigration police Suan Phlu. Fee is 1900 baht. Depending on the time you arrive at Suan Phlu it takes between 30 minutes to 4 hours. Best time is early in the morning (I think they open at 8.30am).

[starchy]

thanks for the info, lopburi3 and sniffdog.

i was planning to take the train to nong khai and then cross the border there. do you think suan phlu would accept a train ticket or should i get a flight just to be sure?

also, excuse my ignorance, but i'm having trouble finding an address for suan phlu on the web and in the forum. i've been digging, but the connection is slow and maybe i'm not digging in the right place.

and are they open weekends?

i really appreciate your help with this! great forum.

[lopburi3]

They are listed as closed but believe they are open Saturday mornings for limited service. I really don't know about train ticket, or even that they will require an air ticket. Often they will try to be helpful.

[sjaak327]

Suan Plu is off Thanon Sathon Thai, best take the subway and get off at Lumphini station, from there take the taxi.

[starchy]

Thanks so much, everyone. I've decided it'll be least worrisome if I switch some things around and move my trip to Laos up a few days to avoid any overstay worries that way.

I really appreciate all your help with this!