Switching From Retirement To Tourist Visa

[AfterLOS]

Will be leaving LOS within 6 months. My retirement visa expires in about a week. Cannot renew it because don't want to deposit the 800k minm. requirement no more. So need to switch to a tourist visa.

(1) Can I get a 3-mo. tourist visa from Immig. without leaving the country? (have held retirement visa for 6 years continuous)

(2) What's the longest duration tourist visa I can get? (US national)

(3) Best visa run option for a chiangmai resident?

Thanks

[lopburi3]

1. No

2. 60 days - can be extended 30 days.

3. Vientiane. Two entry tourist visa is available and free. That will cover your six months with one border crossing/return required (plus the visa issue trip).

[ballbreaker]

Instead of 800k in bank can you obtain letter from your embassy stating you have 65k a month income and go for retirement extension? Or perhaps a combination of the two.

[lopburi3]

If you have such income you can - but poster seems to have no need for another retirement extension of stay if only remaining six months.

[Searat7]

Another option- Why not do a border run and then apply for a re-entry permit ?

[lopburi3]

His extension of stay expires in days. A re-entry permit would have no effect on that. And a border run will only give him a 15 day visa exempt entry.

[AfterLOS]

1. No

2. 60 days - can be extended 30 days.

3. Vientiane. Two entry tourist visa is available and free. That will cover your six months with one border crossing/return required (plus the visa issue trip).

Thanks.

[AfterLOS]

Instead of 800k in bank can you obtain letter from your embassy stating you have 65k a month income and go for retirement extension? Or perhaps a combination of the two.

Thanks BB. Don't want to go the 65k route. Actually I've been on an extended holiday for 10 yrs, LOS just being the last & best country I've lived in. But I'm going back to work and have no idea how long I'll be gone or whether I'll be coming back. Hence the 6 months to clear all loose ends and leave with zip. If I return, I'll start with visas from scratch.

[AfterLOS]

Thanks to everyone for help/suggestions.

While I follow-up with reading the board on the Vientiane suggestion, I wouldn't mind anyone posting travel/hotel ideas for Chiangmai to Vientiane - go with visarun outfit or drive myself, or fly there, overnight stay reqd., etc., no problem making the trip a mini-holiday.

[AfterLOS]

updating .....

did some travel and got a 2-entry tourist visa for LOS from Thai consulate in Mumbai on Jan 5, 2010 - exp. July 4, 2010.

LOS re-entry stamp on Jan 8, 2010, admitted until March 8, 2010.

(Keeping Vientiane for next time)

still fuzzy on this whole visa stuff ... some questions ...

(1) I'm going to get the 30-day stamp directly from Chiangmai Immigration on Monday, March 8, i.e. 3 days from today and pay 1,900 Baht. Is this the correct thing to do?

(2) What happens after the above mentioned 30 days are over? Go to Vientiane and come back into LOS right away for an additional 60 or do I need a whole new tourist visa?

Thanks much

[Lite Beer]

updating .....

did some travel and got a 2-entry tourist visa for LOS from Thai consulate in Mumbai on Jan 5, 2010 - exp. July 4, 2010.

LOS re-entry stamp on Jan 8, 2010, admitted until March 8, 2010.

(Keeping Vientiane for next time)

still fuzzy on this whole visa stuff ... some questions ...

(1) I'm going to get the 30-day stamp directly from Chiangmai Immigration on Monday, March 8, i.e. 3 days from today and pay 1,900 Baht. Is this the correct thing to do?

(2) What happens after the above mentioned 30 days are over? Go to Vientiane and come back into LOS right away for an additional 60 or do I need a whole new tourist visa?

Thanks much

You can go on Monday. Personally I would have gone this week.

The last day of the 30 days extension or the day before exit and return to activate your 2nd entry 60days. Just make sure that your Visa is still valid when you re enter. That can also be extended for 30 days at Immigration . 1,900 Baht.

[lopburi3]

As long as you have a visa entry you do not have to go to Vientiane - you can cross the border into Burma from Chiang Mai on a day trip and return with the new tourist visa entry.

[AfterLOS]

updating .....

did some travel and got a 2-entry tourist visa for LOS from Thai consulate in Mumbai on Jan 5, 2010 - exp. July 4, 2010.

LOS re-entry stamp on Jan 8, 2010, admitted until March 8, 2010.

(Keeping Vientiane for next time)

still fuzzy on this whole visa stuff ... some questions ...

(1) I'm going to get the 30-day stamp directly from Chiangmai Immigration on Monday, March 8, i.e. 3 days from today and pay 1,900 Baht. Is this the correct thing to do?

(2) What happens after the above mentioned 30 days are over? Go to Vientiane and come back into LOS right away for an additional 60 or do I need a whole new tourist visa?

Thanks much

You can go on Monday. Personally I would have gone this week.

The last day of the 30 days extension or the day before exit and return to activate your 2nd entry 60days. Just make sure that your Visa is still valid when you re enter. That can also be extended for 30 days at Immigration . 1,900 Baht.

Thanks LB.

updating ... filled the form, paid the 1,900 Baht and got the 30-day stamp at Immigration, CM. No problems encountered, in and out quite fast.

[AfterLOS]

As long as you have a visa entry you do not have to go to Vientiane - you can cross the border into Burma from Chiang Mai on a day trip and return with the new tourist visa entry.

Thanks boss, things are getter much clearer now.

[AfterLOS]

As long as you have a visa entry you do not have to go to Vientiane - you can cross the border into Burma from Chiang Mai on a day trip and return with the new tourist visa entry.

re: cross the border into Burma

did you mean cross at Mae Sai, boss? If so, at the present moment is this still a good rec? Aiming to do this tomorrow or day after.

Is there some sort of unspoken time one must spend on the other side before crossing back into LOS?

Thanks very much

[lopburi3]

Any legal border crossing can be used and there is no requirement to spend any time in the other country once you get your stamp.

[AfterLOS]

Any legal border crossing can be used and there is no requirement to spend any time in the other country once you get your stamp.

Thanks.

[AfterLOS]

As long as you have a visa entry you do not have to go to Vientiane - you can cross the border into Burma from Chiang Mai on a day trip and return with the new tourist visa entry.

re: cross the border into Burma

did you mean cross at Mae Sai, boss? If so, at the present moment is this still a good rec? Aiming to do this tomorrow or day after.

Is there some sort of unspoken time one must spend on the other side before crossing back into LOS?

Thanks very much

updating ......

crossed the border into Burma at Mae Sai, got stamped out of LOS and then stamped into Burma for a fee of 500 Baht. Requested immediate stamp out of Burma (they were surprised I didn't want to shop, but were extremely courteous and friendly) which was granted.

Walked back into LOS, got my Thai visa marked "USED" with a line thru' it and a 60 day permisssion to stay stamp.

The entire operation was as smooth as silk. No hassles, no qts about how much money etc., etc.

Question: When these 60 days are over, can I still get the local 30-day extension for 1,900 Baht at CM Immigration Office like I did before, despite my 2-entry Visa now being marked as USED?

Thanks very much

[lopburi3]

Yes.

[AfterLOS]

My first 6-month tourist visa is now almost over. I've decided to go to Cambodia instead of Laos to get a new 6-month double-entry tourist visa for LOS. Taking the bus with a buddy from Bangkok to Poipet, then to PP ....

Is getting a cambodia visa at the border a problem (US passport)?

Any latest updates on problems re: double-entry TV for LOS at thai consulate in PP?

much obliged

[tropo]

My first 6-month tourist visa is now almost over. I've decided to go to Cambodia instead of Laos to get a new 6-month double-entry tourist visa for LOS. Taking the bus with a buddy from Bangkok to Poipet, then to PP ....

Is getting a cambodia visa at the border a problem (US passport)?

Any latest updates on problems re: double-entry TV for LOS at thai consulate in PP?

much obliged

I doubt you'll get a double entry tourist visa in Phnom Penh, especially now that they're free. I know of one agent who organises visa runs from Pattaya that appears to be successful getting double entries, but I have not tried them personally.

If I was you I would go to Vientiene where you chances are high.

[tropo]

There's something else I should have mentioned. If you get a double entry in Vientiane (or Phnom Penh) it will only be valid for 3 months so you will have to carefully time your 2nd entry.

[AfterLOS]

There's something else I should have mentioned. If you get a double entry in Vientiane (or Phnom Penh) it will only be valid for 3 months so you will have to carefully time your 2nd entry.

Thanks tropo. I'll keep Vientiane for next time as I heard its too boring there, Cambodia being more fun, so a holiday is possible. Will report the results here.

[Jimi007]

Sounds like you should have got an earnings statement six months ago and extended your retirement visa for 1,900 Baht. Oh well, too late now. The earnings statement is only $30 or 900 Baht and a photo 100 Baht. You even have a US consulate in Chang Mai. Of course a re entry permit is another 1,000 Baht, but much better than visa runs in my opinion...

Best of luck, Jimi

[AfterLOS]

Sounds like you should have got an earnings statement six months ago and extended your retirement visa for 1,900 Baht. Oh well, too late now. The earnings statement is only $30 or 900 Baht and a photo 100 Baht. You even have a US consulate in Chang Mai. Of course a re entry permit is another 1,000 Baht, but much better than visa runs in my opinion...

Best of luck, Jimi

Thanks Jimi, wish I knew that before, it is the easier way.

[AfterLOS]

My first 6-month tourist visa is now almost over. I've decided to go to Cambodia instead of Laos to get a new 6-month double-entry tourist visa for LOS. Taking the bus with a buddy from Bangkok to Poipet, then to PP ....

Is getting a cambodia visa at the border a problem (US passport)?

Any latest updates on problems re: double-entry TV for LOS at thai consulate in PP?

much obliged

I doubt you'll get a double entry tourist visa in Phnom Penh, especially now that they're free. I know of one agent who organises visa runs from Pattaya that appears to be successful getting double entries, but I have not tried them personally.

If I was you I would go to Vientiene where you chances are high.

You were abs. correct, tropo. I got a single entry.

Turned the passport in on tue, got it back on fri; offered to pay extra for same day service, but was told that that's not done. There were no touts around.

A couple agents (in almost any hotel, they offer these services) said they'd get me next day service for $20. But because of their uncertainty about the double-entry, I decided to do the whole thing on my own.

I won't be going back to Cambodia again. The only thng I liked was the Angkhor dark beer - best darkie ever!!!!

If I need another visa, its Ventiane next trip.

So, since my current tourist visa is single entry, after the 60 days in LOS are over, can I exit/reenter at Mae Sai as before and get another 60 or do I have to go to Immigration CM, pay 1,900 and get a 1-month extension?

Thanks much

[Lite Beer]

So, since my current tourist visa is single entry, after the 60 days in LOS are over, can I exit/reenter at Mae Sai as before and get another 60 or do I have to go to Immigration CM, pay 1,900 and get a 1-month extension?

You can:

1. Go to Immigration and apply for the 30 day extension.

2. Exit/re enter the country and get 15 days.

3. Apply for another Tourist Visa at a Thai Consulate.

Your Choice.

[Jimi007]

Sounds like you should have got an earnings statement six months ago and extended your retirement visa for 1,900 Baht. Oh well, too late now. The earnings statement is only $30 or 900 Baht and a photo 100 Baht. You even have a US consulate in Chang Mai. Of course a re entry permit is another 1,000 Baht, but much better than visa runs in my opinion...

Best of luck, Jimi

Thanks Jimi, wish I knew that before, it is the easier way.

The US Consulate just raised all their prices, by the way. Now, it's $50 for an earnings statement. $50 to stamp and sign a piece of paper! A bit over the top in my opinion...

[AfterLOS]

Need a bit further help ..

My tourist visa expires on October 7. I used up the last extension for 1,900 Baht.

I had a flight reservation for Oct 7 to leave LOS, but now have to change it to October 13. So I need to be here a few more days.

Instead of doing the 6-month visa at Vientiene can I just stamp out and in at Mae Sai and get, I believe, 15 days? I'm still in chiangmai.

Thanks for your continued help and advice.

[Mario2008]

Yes, that is possible.

Another possibility is to get an additional 7 day extension of stay for 1,900 baht from immigration. You would need to show your ticket to confirm that you will leave the country within those 7 days and there is no guarantee it will be aproved. Also bring a photo.