35 Days In Thailand

[sorensen]

I will soon be back in Thailand and stay for 35 days this time. I don't have time and it is not practical possible to apply for a visa up front, so I will just take the 30 days visa on arrival. With that in mind what is the best strategy?

1. Can I go to Soi Suan Plu and get an extension or is that only possible for visa holders?

2. Overstay and just pay the 5 days on departure.

3. Visa run. Waste of a day and I don't like that idea.

4. Any other options?

[Lite Beer]

You need a Visa as the airline may not let you on the plane without one. Can apply by post and they are free.

If you do manage to make it, Immigration will give a 7 days extension if you can show an air ticket leaving within those 7 days.

As I said Airlines can and do refuse entry to the flight if passengers do not have the correct Visas for their trip.

[welo]

Lite Beer,

Recently I hear more people warn about possible problems when coming to Thailand on the 'Visa Exemption Rule'. Since some of my friends will come for a visit in October I wonder whether I better advise them to apply for a Tourist Visa.

They have a proper return ticket though. I think they booked with Eva Air which offer direct flights VIE-BKK.

I myself came without a Visa about 2 years ago and did not have any problem, but obviously that is just 1 case. You probably heard of people that actually had problems, can you provide more information? Are there any countries or companies that are more likely to cause problems?

I just checked on the website of the Thai Embassy in Austria (which btw. is listed as malicious/suspicious website by Google as it has been probably hacked in the past 3 months, see here ) and they offer the Tourist Visa for free (as supposed to), but still, they just stay 3 weeks...

welo

You need a Visa as the airline may not let you on the plane without one. Can apply by post and they are free.

If you do manage to make it, Immigration will give a 7 days extension if you can show an air ticket leaving within those 7 days.

As I said Airlines can and do refuse entry to the flight if passengers do not have the correct Visas for their trip.

[Lite Beer]

Without a Visa you need a ticket exiting Thailand within 30 days.

The problem being that if you are refused entry it is the airlines responsibility to fly you back and they also get fined.

Yes Tourist Visas are free until next March.

[welo]

Sorensen,

• 7-day extension will be THB 1900.
  
• Overstay will be THB 500 per day, payable on the airport on departure, it is a pretty standard procedure. Should be THB 2500 for 5 days if you got your day-count right.
  

It will all come down to times vs. money.

As Lite Beer pointed out, Tourist Visa should be free at your embassy, and it will be the cheapest and most flexible option.

A border-run would be the worst option considering time AND money (transport, Visa in case you go to Laos or Cambodia).

welo

[welo]

Without a Visa you need a ticket exiting Thailand within 30 days.

The problem being that if you are refused entry it is the airlines responsibility to fly you back and they also get fined.

Yes Tourist Visas are free until next March.

I understand. They will stay 3 weeks and have a proper return ticket. Thx for the clarification.

welo

[lopburi3]

They do not need visa for a stay of 3 week having an onward ticket. Assuming they hold passports of a country allowed 30 day visa exempt entry.

[sorensen]

Thanks Welo,

Sound like over-stay is the simplest solution after all.

Sorensen,

• 7-day extension will be THB 1900.
  
• Overstay will be THB 500 per day, payable on the airport on departure, it is a pretty standard procedure. Should be THB 2500 for 5 days if you got your day-count right.
  

It will all come down to times vs. money.

As Lite Beer pointed out, Tourist Visa should be free at your embassy, and it will be the cheapest and most flexible option.

A border-run would be the worst option considering time AND money (transport, Visa in case you go to Laos or Cambodia).

welo

[torrenova]

Thanks Welo,

Sound like over-stay is the simplest solution after all.

Sorensen,

• 7-day extension will be THB 1900.
  
• Overstay will be THB 500 per day, payable on the airport on departure, it is a pretty standard procedure. Should be THB 2500 for 5 days if you got your day-count right.
  

It will all come down to times vs. money.

As Lite Beer pointed out, Tourist Visa should be free at your embassy, and it will be the cheapest and most flexible option.

A border-run would be the worst option considering time AND money (transport, Visa in case you go to Laos or Cambodia).

welo

No, never. Overstay seems easy but any manner of things could happen during that time which could cause a world of hurt. You could end up in the IDC (detention centre) and end up with a nightmare end to your holiday.

You may have issues checking in, to which your argument is that you are leaving Thailand overland to Cambodia or elsewhere after about 3 weeks and coming back for a week.

I'd get a visa but if you cannot and you can deal with the check in issues, then get an extension at immigration. Fill the forms in, get the photocopies and photos and you can apply before your 30 day stamp runs out. They say you need a ticket but I have never been asked for one when I've had to extend in the past. Then again, you'd already have your flight details so it should be no problem.

[welo]

I wonder whether it is more likely to catch the Dengue Fever than to be jailed by the police because of overstay. Honestly, I have no idea!

Certainly I would never recommend to break the law! And whereas there is no vaccination for Dengue Fever, there is one for overstay (called 'extension'), so make your choice.

Quote from the thaivisa page on overstay (http://www.thaivisa.com/303.0.html).

Do not overstay in Thailand!

[...]

Warning - Note that overstaying is technically breaking the law and while there is little problem if you 'surrender' yourself to Immigration at the airport, it can be a very different story if you are stopped by the police beforehand for whatever reason and are found to have overstayed - no matter for how long. This may well lead to you being detained in an Immigration Detention Center for a few days while your case is processed. Needless to say, this is an experience you can do without, as conditions inside have been described by Amnesty International as 'cruel and degrading' and 'seriously overcrowded'.

Though the chances of ending up in this situation are very small, you would be advised to not overstay your visa if at all possible. If you do overstay for any reason, obviously you should steer well clear of any kind of activities that might attract the attention of the authorities.

welo

[sorensen]

That sound like being offshore in China!!!

Well, I could always just stay at home and watch all 5 seasons of LOST during the last 5 days of my stay.

Still considering all options.

I wonder whether it is more likely to catch the Dengue Fever than to be jailed by the police because of overstay. Honestly, I have no idea!

Certainly I would never recommend to break the law! And whereas there is no vaccination for Dengue Fever, there is one for overstay (called 'extension'), so make your choice.

Quote from the thaivisa page on overstay (http://www.thaivisa.com/303.0.html).

Do not overstay in Thailand!

[...]

Warning - Note that overstaying is technically breaking the law and while there is little problem if you 'surrender' yourself to Immigration at the airport, it can be a very different story if you are stopped by the police beforehand for whatever reason and are found to have overstayed - no matter for how long. This may well lead to you being detained in an Immigration Detention Center for a few days while your case is processed. Needless to say, this is an experience you can do without, as conditions inside have been described by Amnesty International as 'cruel and degrading' and 'seriously overcrowded'.

Though the chances of ending up in this situation are very small, you would be advised to not overstay your visa if at all possible. If you do overstay for any reason, obviously you should steer well clear of any kind of activities that might attract the attention of the authorities.

welo

[welo]

Well, I could always just stay at home and watch all 5 seasons of LOST during the last 5 days of my stay.

Well THAT sounds scary! I guess you would not walk out sanely after those 5 days, the twisted plot having messed up your brain and the white flash at the end of season 5 reprogrammed you to follow some evil plan to gain world domination

I just watched the final a few days ago and still feel dizzy (maybe that explains some of my postings here on thaivisa)

Have a good time in Thailand!!

welo