Double Entry Tourist Visa - Time Limit?

[kaosoi]

Hello,

I got a double entry tourist visa last September in Laos and used the first one on return to Thailand. I left Thailand in November and just returned yesterday.

At the airport the (cranky) official said that the second one was no longer valid cos it was issued last year. He pointed to the use by date on it (end of Nov) which was a date covered within the time span of the first 3 month Visa. He asked me though if I accepted that..I said ok because I had no idea. He himself though seemed unsure.

1.I guess he was right - was he?

2. (strikes me as odd that you have to use both withing year issued - what if double enrty is issued in last 3 months of year?

Thanks in advance for any helpful input.

[thaiphoon]

Double entry tourist visas from Vientiane are issued with 90 day 'use by' period. Your visa was issued in September, so when you re-entered Thailand in January your visa had already expired. The immigration officer was right.

[Jdietz]

Laos issued visas have a validity of 90 days from date of issue. This is stated clearly as 'use before' date.

Having to deal with visas and border runs, there are 3 dates you have to monitor:

1) Expiry date of passport (need to be 6 months in the future at the day of entry into Thailand)

2) Expiry date of visa (Enter BEFORE means exactly that, doesn't mean ON or AFTER)

3) Admitted UNTIL date on your entry stamp (have to leave Thailand ON that day or before that)

Note that even as Laos occasionally has issued triple entry visas, the expiry date has always been 90 days from day of issue, so if you intend to stay in Thailand and not travel, they are useless for you.

The best you can get out of a double entry visa is:

1) Initial 60 days, Entry #1

2) Extend 30 days at immigration WITHIN those 60 days

3) At day #89 do a border run

4) 60 days Entry #2

5) Extend 30 days at immigration WITHIN those 60 days

6) Extend 7 days at immigration WITHIN those 30 days (though this is usually not cost effective)

[Mario2008]

A visa states a date before it must be used. It has not have to be used in the same year it was issued, only before the date stated on the visa itself. Any entries not used before that date become invalid.

Normally a double entry visa is valid for 6 months from day of issue, but some consulates only give 3 months.

[kaosoi]

A visa states a date before it must be used. It has not have to be used in the same year it was issued, only before the date stated on the visa itself. Any entries not used before that date become invalid.

Normally a double entry visa is valid for 6 months from day of issue, but some consulates only give 3 months.

Thanks.

1. So the "use by date" being just under 3 months reffered to my one chance of using the second visa? (ie I had to return to Thailand immediately which i did and go back to Laos or wherever to enact the second one after 89ish days to get full use)

2. the "use in the same year thing was incorrect by the official?

*I had thought the use by November bit referred to the first one, I thought since I has used the first within 90 days the second would still somehow be valid....didnt realize there was such a tight timeleine on using both.

Why only 3 months to use both? seems arbitrary/stingy.

[lopburi3]

Because the visa is designed for those who travel and return - not for someone to stay in Thailand for an extended period. Most tourists on vacations from work would use the two entries in a few weeks.

[oMega69]

I have some new news !

In Ban Leam border check point you can use your Tourist Visa same day as it says " Enter Before "

I just can confirm that today and my visa agent have lots of customer done this on same way .