What Happens After You've Used All Three 30-day Visas Available To You?

[beaner]

Hi everyone,

I've searched the forum and can't seem to find an answer to this, so I'm posting... sorry if it's already been answered before. If so, please point me in the direction of the post.

I've been in Thailand for 3 months now - first entry with 60-day visa and then two subsequent 30-day visas. I know that I only have one more 30-day visa available to me and then I've gotta scram in early October. Flight is booked, unfortunately for two days after my visa expires so I know that I'll be paying a fine for those two days.

In any case, is there a minimum time period that I need to stay out of the country before applying for another 60-day visa back home, or even receiving a 30-day visa at the airport upon re-entry?

Thanks!

[lopburi3]

Once you use the 90 days visa exempt entry you have to wait until six months after first arrival date to obtain another. You can always obtain visa for entry from a Consulate.

I would advise getting a tourist visa on your next exit (you could do a few days early if you like) and keep that extra 30 day visa exempt in reserve. That way you will not overstay. There is always the chance of jail on an overstay. Small, yes, but a chance.

[Sir Burr]

Just out of curiousity, but, why didn't you extend your 2 month visa for a month?

[sweetchariot]

Just out of curiousity, but, why didn't you extend your 2 month visa for a month?

I was thinking that - maybe one of the 30 day stamps was an extension?

To elaborate on Lopburi's post, you can get another tourist visa at a local consulate - Vientienne seems to be favourite at the moment. They will give you a double entry which, with extensions, will last you for 6 months.

[beaner]

Thanks all - and sorry for my ignorance, but I'm totally confused by your responses... ugh. Can you "dumb it down" for me?

First, to answer your questions...

Sir Burr: Just out of curiousity, but, why didn't you extend your 2 month visa for a month?

I didn't bother extending as I booked my Laos/Vietnam trip to occur in the middle of my 60-day visa, so there was no point in extending it to 90 days and losing 60 days; Turns out I ended losing 30 days because of the trip anyway.

Sweetchariot: No, the first 30-day Tourist Visa wasn't an extension of the 60-day - it was simply a 30-day visa.

Now for my questions...

Here's a run-down of the chronology because I'm not sure it's very clear from my original post:

-- I entered Thailand on May 15th with that 60-day visa issued by the Thai Consulate in Vancouver, Canada. As mentioned, I only used 30 days before going to Laos and Vietnam for one month - I left Thailand on June 14th.

-- I re-entered Thailand on July 9th and received my FIRST of the three "allowed" 30-day Tourist Visas - expiry of August 7th.

-- I did a visa-run to Ranong on August 7th for my SECOND of the three 30-day Tourist Visa - expiry of September 5th.

-- On September 5th I plan to get the third of three allowable visas by doing a visa-run to Ranong for my THIRD and final allowable Tourist Visa. I calculate that this visa will expire 29 days from that date which will be October 4th. (I know it's inadviseable to cut it so close to the expiry date to do the visa-run (ie the day of) but I don't want to waste any of the 30, actually 29, days that I've been alloted.)

-- My flight to Vancouver is booked for October 6th - thanks for the warning lopburi3 on the jail time, but I'm not sure what else I can do other than hope that I don't get jailed and pay the estimated 1000B fine.

So...

1. lopburi3: You advised that I get a Tourist Visa on my next exit so as to "keep that extra 30 day visa exempt in reserve", however this is my final allowable visa - isn't that correct?

2. Also, you mentioned that I could do the run a few days early (to avoid any hiccups with doing it the day of) but then am I not losing out on days if I do that?

3. My original dumbed-down question is: When can I re-enter Thailand, with any kind of visa (Tourist or Non-Immigrant B - if I can manage to secure one)? By lopburi3's post I assume that it is six months from my very first entry (May 15th) which would be November 16th, 2008? Is that correct?

4. Does the cycle of THREE 30-day Tourist Visas then start again?

5. What are my other/better options to increase the time I can spend and decrease the amount of times that I'll need to do visa-runs? Aside from the Non-Immigrant B visa, of course, ie what Sir Burr mentioned - extending the 60-day visa to a 90-day visa at the Thai Embassy in BKK (that's the only place to do it, correct?).

Again, thanks for replying everyone - totally appreciate it, especially when I'm so confused by this whole process!

[lopburi3]

1. There is no limit to the number of visas you can get/use. You are not getting visas (that is the problem) and they (visa exempt entry) is limited to 90 days in a six month period. There is no limit to visa entry days.

2. A tourist visa entry allows 60 days - you only need about 40 days - so you can leave early to obtain that visa and not lose anything.

3. You can always enter on a visa entry. Only the border 30 day visa exempt stamp is limited.

4. It starts over after six months - or on about January 9 for you.

5. The country is Thailand so there is no Thai Embassy here. You obtain an extension of stay from an Immigration office. Most tourist cities and border posts have such an office. If you are planning a long stay obtaining a multi entry non immigrant O visa from an Honorary Consulate in Europe/UK/USA/Oz might be your best bet. They allow unlimited stays of up to 90 days for the only year validity of the visa.

[beaner]

1. There is no limit to the number of visas you can get/use. You are not getting visas (that is the problem) and they (visa exempt entry) is limited to 90 days in a six month period. There is no limit to visa entry days.

Aha - now I get it. I was thinking that the 30-day stamp was considered a visa and therefore getting my nomenclature mixed up! Thanks for this.

2. A tourist visa entry allows 60 days - you only need about 40 days - so you can leave early to obtain that visa and not lose anything.

I need to go to Penang to request a 60-day Tourist Visa, correct? I can't do it in Ranong?

3. You can always enter on a visa entry. Only the border 30 day visa exempt stamp is limited.

Perfect - I get the difference now.

4. It starts over after six months - or on about January 9 for you.

You are calculating this from the July 9th date as the first date of entry for the 30-day stamp, correct?

If I get a second (actually will be a third if I do #2 above again) I won't have this 6 month restriction, is that correct, as I would like to return in December?

Do you think the number of visas and entry stamps I'll have in my passport will affect whether they give me another 60-day visa?

5. The country is Thailand so there is no Thai Embassy here. You obtain an extension of stay from an Immigration office. Most tourist cities and border posts have such an office. If you are planning a long stay obtaining a multi entry non immigrant O visa from an Honorary Consulate in Europe/UK/USA/Oz might be your best bet. They allow unlimited stays of up to 90 days for the only year validity of the visa.

Will apply for this in Canada should I fail to secure a 60-day visa as I assume this is more difficult to obtain. However, if I get working I'll have a Non-Immigrant B visa available to me with none of these restrictions. Is that right? I'll only have to go to Penang four times over the 12 months that it is valid?

[lopburi3]

2. You have to travel to a Royal Thai Consulate outside of Thailand. Penang is close.

4. Number of entries is not a factor - for the 90 days in six months it is a day count and a big mess trying to keep track of - best to avoid. Currently believe at least some immigration officers are not enforcing the rules but that is not something you should depend on. No Consulates are currently reported to be refusing visa because of too many visa exempt entries.

5. Not sure if there are Consulates in Canada that will issue non immigrant O to visit friends. If you obtain a multi entry non immigrant B visa for work you just need to cross border/enter other country/return for a new 90 day stay. No need to go to Penang or other Consulate except to obtain the visa itself.