Coming To Thailand This Week; Visa Question

[rideswings]

I am arriving in Thailand on August 9, this is my 4th holiday in Thailand since December 2007. Since December I have stayed a total of 64 days, but in the past 6 months I have only stayed 50 days. This trip I will be staying approximately 65 days consecutively until October 12 which in total will exceed the 90 day limit for 6 months.

My question is this... will Thailand let me enter knowing that I will exceed my cumulative 90 days limit while I am there? My plane ticket shows a return date of October 12 which exceeds the cumulative maximum allowable days by at least 10 or 15 days. Should I just go and get a Visa in Washington, DC (the closest Thai embassy to me in Atlanta) before I leave, or can I obtain a Visa once I arrive in Thailand? I just dont want to get to Thailand after 2 days of travel and get turned away at immigration.

Once again, I will be staying from August 8 until October 12, a total in Thailand of approximately 65 days consecutively. I already bought my ticket, but would it be better if I shortened my trip to less than 60 days?

If you recommend I get a Visa here in the USA before leave, what type of Visa will I need for my stay (i wont be working in thailand) and what documents should I bring aside from:

- Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months

- Visa application form completely filled out

- One recent( 4 x 6 cm.) photograph of the applicant

- Air ticket paid in full

- Financial means (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)

- Consular officers reserve the rights to request for additional documents as deemed necessary

Thank you!

[Maestro]

It is highly unlikely that the immigration officer would deny you entry with a visa-exempt permission to stay for 30 days when you arrive in Thailand. However, it is highly probable that the airline will refuse to check you in for your flight without a visa in your passport because your return flight is later than 29 days after your date of arrival.

My suggestion: get a single-entry tourist visa. This will give you an initial permission to stay for 60 days and you can get a 30 day extension at any immigration office in Thailand (cost: 1,900 Baht). This solves the problem with the check-in and if you do the figures you will probably find that it also costs you less than doing two border runs for new visa-exempt entries.

The list of requirements you copied and pasted from some website are all you need as a maximum for a tourist visa. Most consulates do not ask for evidence of funds. Some do not ask for a copy of your ticket but since you will have it on hand you will have no problem if it is needed. Call the consulate where you will apply for the visa for confirmation what you should send them with your passport.

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Maestro

[rideswings]

Thanks Maestro for the help!!!!

[Maestro]

De nada.

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Maestro

[rideswings]

Maestro, I hope you can help on this one. I have not left the USA yet, I am coming to Thailand next week, going to China first.

I have been to the Thai embassy in Washington DC, and the consulate in Atlanta and they will not be able to get me a Visa before I leave. They said it takes up to a week. Should I delay my departure until I get the Visa?

Thanks again.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Maestro, I hope you can help on this one. I have not left the USA yet, I am coming to Thailand next week, going to China first.

I have been to the Thai embassy in Washington DC, and the consulate in Atlanta and they will not be able to get me a Visa before I leave. They said it takes up to a week. Should I delay my departure until I get the Visa?

Thanks again.

I'd delay it a week.

[rideswings]

I think I had better delay, thanks Dr.

[rideswings]

Ok stupid question. What if I were to come to thailand anyway, and I overstay by 10 days. Will I go to jail or get a fine or both?

[britmaveric]

Problem is the airline, not overstaying in thailand. You will not be allowed to board unless you have a visa or proof of onward travel prior to 30days.

[sjaak327]

Yep if you don't have a visa, and only qualify for visa exempt, the airline wants to see a return ticket within those 30 days, anyway 10 days overstay in Thailand is kind of expensive as well at 500 baht, then I would at least do another visa run.

The only thing you could do (apart from getting the visa and postponing your flight) is contact the airline, and get them to confirm (in writing) that they will let you board the plane. Immigration at suvarnabhumi won't care, and once in the country, and around the time your entry stamp has expired get a tourist visa in Laos, as you will probably exceed the 90 days in the last 6 months rule.

[rideswings]

Thank you for all the information gents. I have delayed my departure until next week so I can have ample time to get the Visa beforehand.

I made the mistake of thinking I could just walk in to my local Thai embassy or consulate and get a visa while waiting, but thats not how it works. The embassy in Washington DC needed a minimum of one week to process it, and my wonderful local consulate in Atlanta told me she could have it in as little as 24 hours if it was urgent. So I will be applying at my local consulate and she said I should have it within 48 hours since it is not an emergency.

Thanks again for all the help.