How Long Can I Stretch It?

[JayS]

Hi,

my first arrival in Thailand was on November 7th. I got the 30 day stamp at the Airport.

On December 6th i went to KL and returned the same day back to Thailand to get another 30 day stamp.

Right now my stamp is valid until January 4th.

I want to stay in Thailand for as long as possible without signing up for the ED Visa. Money isnt an issue at this time.

Can i go back to KL on January 4th, apply for a tourist visa and come back to Thailand the same day?

When the tourist visa ends, can i still sign up for the language school to get the ED Visa?

I read about the red stamp issue at some embassys. How many tourist visas is it safe to get before signing up for the language school to obtain the ED visa?

Thank you!

[thaiphoon]

You can apply for a double entry tourist visa at the consulate in Vientiane which, with extensions and a border run in the middle, would give you nearly 6 months stay. They are currently free. You can study on any type of visa. The advantage of having Non-ED visa is that you can apply for extension of stay at Thai immigration with paperwork from the school avoiding the need to do border runs. You can sign up at language school at any time.

[JayS]

Thank you, but how many tourist visas can i get before i must sign up for the ED visa? I want to stay in Thailand for as long as possible without going to school.

Could i do a normal border crossing on January 4th to get another 30day stamp and then apply for the tourist visa on the next visa run?

[thaiphoon]

Yes you can do border run for 30 day stamp and then apply for tourist visa. Be aware that there is a crackdown on issuing many back to back tourist visas. The issue of a visa is at the discretion of each consulate and there is no set rule on how many back to back visas will be issued before warning/refusal.

[JayS]

This would be my 2nd back run. Should i be worried now?

What is recommended to do now? Apply for tourist viss? Do back to back run first and then apply for tourist visa? When that tourist visa is over id apply ED visa.. does my plan work ?

[thaiphoon]

There is currently no restriction on the number of times you can fly in/out and obtain 30 day visa exempt stamp on arrival. It is just costing you money for flights. For long stay it is best to be on proper visa/extension of stay. Enrolling at a language school would do that for you. If you don't want to do that immediately then obtain double entry tourist visa from Vientianne ... or if have Thai friends consider obtaining 12 month Non-O visa from consulate in Perth on the basis of visiting friends. Would have to do 90 day border runs and can stretch the visa to 15 months. Is up to you.

[TerryLH]

Q

"Could i do a normal border crossing on January 4th to get another 30day stamp...?"

A

"Yes you can do border run for 30 day stamp..."

If I'm not mistaken, if you do a border crossing by land you will only get 15 days. 30 days if you fly in.

For tourist visas it takes 2 days. Apply one day, pickup visa the second day.

[thaiphoon]

Q

"Could i do a normal border crossing on January 4th to get another 30day stamp...?"

A

"Yes you can do border run for 30 day stamp..."

If I'm not mistaken, if you do a border crossing by land you will only get 15 days. 30 days if you fly in.

You are correct. Believe the Op is talking about flying, so border run will give him 30 days visa exempt entry.