Here's the situation;

I'm currently living in Chumphon, or "the gate-way to the south" as they like to call it. I plan on living here for a while, as my girlfriend is a teacher here and I'm working on a novel. I've got a DOUBLE ENTRY TOURIST VISA and a little over a week to either leave and then enter again OR, as suggested by a friend, get a 30 day extension to prolong leaving and re-entering. This friend of mine is no longer around to answer questions so here I am. I see the slight benefit of getting an extension but...

1) Where do I go to get a visa extension?

2) How much does it cost/ Is it worth it?

3) Are there other options?

4) should I just leave and re-enter as originally planned?

I've found this forum extremely helpful in the past but before I could locate an answer for my current situation, my batteries were almost out of power so I had to ask what's probably been covered before.

Thanks in advance for all the advice.

Cheers

Low batteries mean quick answer. If you're looking to extend first tourist visa out of two, be careful that your second visa will still be current for 60 days when you make it to Hat Yai.

I don't know how the difference of 30 days on the first might help, but that is done at the local immigration office, inside Thailand. It costs 1900 thb.

I'd stick with the original plan and get to the border if it's the first of a double-entry tourist visa, but I am no expert on these things. I hope that if someone can answer more properly while your batteries hold out, there maybe better information.

Chook dee, kap.

You can extend a tourist visa for 30 days at local immigration office. You will need to take with you completed application form TM7, recent passport sized photo, copies of your passport photo page, visa page, entry/permission to stay page + TM6 departure card. Fee 1900 baht. Applying early will not lose you any days.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/tm7.doc

The advantage of obtaining extension now (and again after using second entry) is that you can stretch your stay to nearly 6 months.

The disadvantage in that location is if you extend Penang (the normal visa run Consulate) currently is reported to not issue another tourist visa - if you do not extend they seem to issue. As you seem to be open ended suspect keeping new visa issue possibilities alive might have priority.

Even with passport showing no extensions, Penang would be single entry tourist visa only. If here for the longer term, Vientiane would be better option to obtain another double entry tourist visa. An alternative would be to go to Perth and obtain 12 month multiple entry Non-O visa on basis of visiting friends (using Thai friend/gf ID).

True but Penang is a one transport run from his location - the other alternatives are not. I was going for the easy trip - we old folk look for that.

Speaking for myself - not poster.

Agreed. Just giving the options . The Op has to make his own decision as what suits him best.

The disadvantage in that location is if you extend Penang (the normal visa run Consulate) currently is reported to not issue another tourist visa - if you do not extend they seem to issue.

That's interesting.

For how long has this been the situation?

Last few months this procedure has been reported.