Visa Help In Thailand Needed

[jmcw]

Hello,

I apologise if the information i need has already been posted, ive searched this nice forum and found some good information, but i thought i would start my own topic and hope somone can point me in the right direction.

Im a British citizen of 35 yrs and i arrived in Bangkok to visit my Dad on August 12th 2009, after almost a month here i took a bus trip to Cambodia to extend my visa (im here on holiday and was only granted a 30 day permit when i entered Bangkok) My extention to stay in Thailand was only granted for 15 days although i was told it was 30, but due to recent chabged border crossings are now only 15 days...oh.

Anyways, I decided to stay in Thailand a bit longer and extended my flight home to the end of November, and as its been 2 weeks since i went to cambodia i decided to goto immigration and pay 1900 baht and extend for 15 days more, only i just got 7 days...oh again.

I basically want to know what my options are for staying longer in thailand without visiting immigration every week!

My father has lived and worked in Thailand for 6 yrs and somone told me i can have him sponsor me or somthing and look after me as so to speak. I also have a friend who says i can goto Laos and get a 2 month visa (she knows somone) i have to pay a few thousand bath and job done! can i trust this? i wont be flying, it will be a border crossing.

Somone also suggest flying to Penang for a day, but will i get a 30 day visa on reentry to Thailand of just 15?

Maybe it would be worth me viiting one of these visa places on Sukhumvit, but i thought a non bias internet community would be more impartial. Im also thinking of teaching English in Thailand, but thats for another forum i guess =)

Anyways sorry for the lenghty post, any feedback would be most welcome from anyone who knows about this kind of thing.

Thankyou and regards jmc

[beechguy]

You weren't getting visas or extending them, you were getting visa exempt entries. Probably easiest to go to Laos and obtain a double entry Tourist Visa. Each entry would be for 60 days and could be extended 30 days. You would just need to be careful and make the second entry before the "enter before date".

The visas are free for now, and the 30 day extensions are 1900 Baht.

[thaiphoon]

You originally came here on visa exempt entry and that can only be extended once for 7 days at immigration. If you do a border run you will get 15 days permission to stay at land crossing and 30 days permission to stay if arriving by air.

Probably your best bet is to go to the Thai embassy at Vientianne and obtain a double entry tourist visa. They are currently free. That will give you 60 days stay, then obtain 30 day extension at immigration. Just before the "utilise before" date on your visa do a border hop to activate the second 60 day stay. Then extend again at immigration for 30 days. That will give you nearly a 6 month stay. Extensions cost 1,900 baht a time.

Enrolling at a language school is another option for you.

[jmcw]

thankyou both for your comments. I want to stay in thailand until the 29th of November and im just trying to work out how best to achive this. I have friends who live near the Laos border and I can get to the Laos embassy no problems.

Do I need to visit the Laos embassy in Thailand to obtain a visa to visit or can i just turn up at the border and expect entry?

Also if intance i visit Penang by air for a day will my re-entry into Thailand be for 30 days of just 15?

Im sorry im so unaware of the visa implication on how i can stay in thailand, it all seems confusing to me lol.

How does this double entry visa work in Laos? does it mean I can stay in Thailand for 60 days if i visit the embassy, is it the Thai embassy or the Laos one? will i need to go by air or a bus border crossing?

any help is appreciated thanks again

[lopburi3]

1. Any air entry gives you 30 day visa exempt stamp.

2. Any land entry gives you 15 day visa exempt stamp.

3. A single entry tourist visa gives you 60 days that can be extended another 30 days - that is all you need.

4. A two entry tourist visa could provide stay of almost six months with one border crossing and two extensions of stay.

[Lite Beer]

The Thai Consul in Vientienne will issue a single or double Tourist Visa free of charge.

Single will give 60 days and can be extended another 30 days.

Double will give up to 6 months with extensions and a border run in the middle.

[thaiphoon]

1. Any air entry gives you 30 day visa exempt stamp.

2. Any land entry gives you 15 day visa exempt stamp.

3. A single entry tourist visa gives you 60 days that can be extended another 30 days - that is all you need.

4. A two entry tourist visa could provide stay of almost six months with one border crossing and two extensions of stay.

Number 3 is indeed your solution. You need to go to a Thai embassy/consulate outside Thailand to obtain your tourist visa; you cannot obtain within Thailand. Vientianne would be a good choice for you. Tourist visa is currently free.

[jmcw]

Excellent, thanks very much for your posts.

OK so as i understand I goto Vientianne Thai embassy and get a free 60 day tourist visa, how long will i need to stay in Laos in order to obtain this? can i just visit for a day or so or do i need to stay longer?

Do i have to goto Laos emabssy in Thailand to gain a visa to enter or can i just turn up as it were like i did in Cambodia?

Also, Does it matter how i enter Laos, i was thinking of taking the bus, will that be ok or will i need to fly?

sorry for so many questions i just want to make sure i get this right.

many thanks again

[thaiphoon]

1) Apply in the morning day 1 and collect in the afternoon day 2

2) You can obtain a visa for Laos at the border

3) Travel in however you like

[jmcw]

1) Apply in the morning day 1 and collect in the afternoon day 2

2) You can obtain a visa for Laos at the border

3) Travel in however you like

Really appreciate your help thaiphoon, Ill be off to spend a few days in Laos then!