Pls Help .. Tourist Visa

[RomilaRavish]

Hi Me and my husband will be travelling to Thailand for our Honeymoon. We are from India and not nearing retirement age (both are in our late twenties) We are reaching Thailand on 4 Feb' 09 and our return flight is on 5 Feb'09. As Indian residents , we are eligible for 15 days visa on arrival but our stay comes to 16 days in total. Please advise what should we do? ... our flights are already booked

- apply for the 15 day visa on arrival and take an extension during our stay there

- or should we apply for 16 day visa beforehand while we are in India

Please Help

Thanks in Advance

Romila & Ravish

New Delhi, India

[jdinasia]

Why not avoid all the drama and just go get a tourist visa?

[sniffdog]

Fly in on 4 and return on the 5th? That looks like two days to me .... I guess this should be 15 of Feb (but that would be 17 days).

Easiest, come in on a visa exempt (15 days as you said) and overstay a day (or two) (1 day is free at the airport, two days would be 1,000 baht per person).

Don't bother to get a tourist visa or an extension ... the risk is minimal.

From the Indian Consulate website:

'Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from traveling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau , Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. (662) 287-3127 or 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5 or at website http://www.police.go.th/frconten.htm'

[tropo]

Fly in on 4 and return on the 5th? That looks like two days to me .... I guess this should be 15 of Feb (but that would be 17 days).

Easiest, come in on a visa exempt (15 days as you said) and overstay a day (or two) (1 day is free at the airport, two days would be 1,000 baht per person).

Don't bother to get a tourist visa or an extension ... the risk is minimal.

If it was me, I'd do it the same - overstay by a day or two.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Fly in on 4 and return on the 5th? That looks like two days to me .... I guess this should be 15 of Feb (but that would be 17 days).

Easiest, come in on a visa exempt (15 days as you said) and overstay a day (or two) (1 day is free at the airport, two days would be 1,000 baht per person).

Don't bother to get a tourist visa or an extension ... the risk is minimal.

If it was me, I'd do it the same - overstay by a day or two.

If it was me, I'd get a Thai tourist visa rather than overstay. I've been to the IDC (Illegal Detention Center) at Thai Immigration, Suan Plu. While not as bad as regular Thai jails and prisons, it is still a decidedly unpleasant place to spend a few days (if you're lucky) before your case comes up to the court, you pay your fine, and are escorted to Swampyboom for DEPORTATION.

While the "risk is minimal," perhaps, it is still there. Might just be in a fender bender in a taxi and the police take names of witnesses and check passports. That's just one way to get caught. NOT WORTH THE RISK, and plenty of time for the newly weds to obtain visas.

Mac

[ubonjoe]

You can apply for a tourist visa at a Thai conulate in India. The cost is about the same and it will be easier when you arrive because the lines for a visa on arrival can be long. I am not sure but you may even be able to apply by mail.

For a list of conulates in India with contact info see the following webpage.

Link: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2712.php

[Lite Beer]

I agree. Get a Visa.

http://www.vfs-thailand.co.in/index.html

[tropo]

Fly in on 4 and return on the 5th? That looks like two days to me .... I guess this should be 15 of Feb (but that would be 17 days).

Easiest, come in on a visa exempt (15 days as you said) and overstay a day (or two) (1 day is free at the airport, two days would be 1,000 baht per person).

Don't bother to get a tourist visa or an extension ... the risk is minimal.

If it was me, I'd do it the same - overstay by a day or two.

If it was me, I'd get a Thai tourist visa rather than overstay. I've been to the IDC (Illegal Detention Center) at Thai Immigration, Suan Plu. While not as bad as regular Thai jails and prisons, it is still a decidedly unpleasant place to spend a few days (if you're lucky) before your case comes up to the court, you pay your fine, and are escorted to Swampyboom for DEPORTATION.

While the "risk is minimal," perhaps, it is still there. Might just be in a fender bender in a taxi and the police take names of witnesses and check passports. That's just one way to get caught. NOT WORTH THE RISK, and plenty of time for the newly weds to obtain visas.

Mac

The risk is miniscule.

Even if they were caught, in this case they have confirmed tickets out the day after their VOA expires. Do you really think it would go to court considering a free day overstay is offered anyway.....I doubt that very much.

If they were really concerned with the overstay, cutting back the stay by a day is another good option.

[Lite Beer]

Assuming their exit flight is on 15th their stay is actually 12 days.

Hopefully he will come back with the correct dates

[Mario2008]

The risk is miniscule, maybe. I don't know if they check the tickets of people when they apply for a visa on arriaval. The consequences of being denied will be great.

[tropo]

The risk is miniscule, maybe. I don't know if they check the tickets of people when they apply for a visa on arriaval. The consequences of being denied will be great.

Do you mean the consequences of being denied could be great if they check ticket dates and refuse them entry and then send them back to India?

I really doubt they would do that over just one day even if they do check dates.

We don't hear much about VOA's on this forum. Maybe someone will be able to answer this question: Do they check ticket dates when issuing VOA's (visa on arrival).

[sniffdog]

Assuming their exit flight is on 15th their stay is actually 12 days.

Hopefully he will come back with the correct dates

Yes, you're right. Oops ... not 17 but 12 days ....