Tourist Visa Questions

[kharmabum]

I'm confused about many things. if anyone knows the answers to some of these questions, then thanks in advance.

I have a U.S. passport. If I get a double/multiple entry 60 day tourist visa from the thai embassy in seoul, korea(where i live), will I be able to extend it for another 30 days to spend 90 days total in thailand, then go to india/nepal for 6 months, then come back on a second entry of the original thai tourist visa and get another 60 days-30 day extension? or is 6 months too long in between to use the same visa? should I just get the 60 day single entry tourist visa in seoul, then get another in india before I fly back to thailand?

Also, my wife is Korean. I know koreans get 90 day visa exempt status, which fits the time frame of our trip and matches the 90 days I would get with a tourist visa(60 days+30 day extension). but will she be able to enter thailand with out a confirmed seat on a return ticket within 90 days? we'll both have 1 year open ended tickets back to korea. I ask this because i read on this forum that I(an american) would not be able to fly into thailand on a 30 day visa expemtion without a confirmed seat on a return/onward flight within 30 days. it seems silly that she would also need a 60 day tourist visa in her passport if we don't have a confirmed seat on a return air ticket, since she gets longer, 90 days, on visa exemption.

also, when I go to apply for my thai tourist visa at the thai embasy in seoul, do I need to show my ticket at that time? the website says that I do, but that doesn't make sense, as most coutries embassy wesites say don't buy a ticket until AFTER you get the visa. I mean, what happens if you've bought your ticket and the embassy doesn't have your passport with visa ready in time to fly out? or they decide NOT to issue you a visa for some reason? or even more likely, you go to pick it up and the embassy is closed for some obscure holiday or remodelling you didn't know about?(this last example has actually happened to me before.)

it's all so complicated.

[Jdietz]

The answer unfortunately is mostly "It Depends"...

Foreign embassies, consulates, immigration and airlines basically set their own rules you have to comply with. To the best of my knowledge the following applies to you:

1) Some embassies / consulates give Visas with 90 days validity, others (especially those outside S.E.A.) give up to 180 days. So you'll have to check with your embassy, if they can make you a "Double Entry Tourist Visa, with an Enter Before date of 180 days in the future" you can just make it on one. If not you'll have to visit a Thai embassy/consulate in India for your return trip.

2) Immigration usually couldn't care less about your outgoing ticket, only the airline sometimes won't let you board the plane to Thailand if you don't have a return / onward ticket -OR- a valid visa, because they are liable for your transportation back home and a fine if you get refused entry. So, check with the airline.

3) At the moment (and basically to at least next year) Single entry tourist visas are free of charge, so you might as well get one for your wife as well, even if she probably won't need it. It's a nice sticker page

So, in short:

- Check with your embassy / consulate if they will give 180 day or more validity on visas

- Check with your airline if they will let your wife board without a visa and open ticket because of her visa-exempt status.

If both are OK you're good to go.

[lopburi3]

1. You can not use a two entry tourist visa so forget it. You will be well over the 3 or 6 month use before date of a visa on your second entry.

2. Visa exempt is dependent on exit ticket so she may indeed require either a ticket out or a visa for airline boarding.

3. It is up to the Embassy - in the US it is also a requirement to have tickets but not normally asked of residents. You should obtain the visa early enough to avoid last minute troubles - that is why they allow you 90 days or more to use the visa for entry.

[kharmabum]

1. we'll have return tickets paid for, just seats not confirmed for departure.

2.If my korean wife enters thailand on visa exempt status she gets 90 days. it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't allow her on the flight with an open ended return ticket good for 1 year, but without a confirmed seat out within 90 days, but would allow her onto the flight with a 60 day tourist visa. she gets longer WITHOUT the visa, and she doesn't have to pay 1900 baht to have it extended after 60 days.

3. it sucks that i can't get my visa before my plane ticket. before i pay for my plane ticket i have to make sure i get back the deposit on my apartment. in korea people pay large deposits instead of monthly rent that you get back when you move out. getting your deposit back can take 1 day or a few weeks, depending on how long it takes for the landlord to find a new tenant. so i guess we'll have to live out of a motel for a week while my passport sits at the thai embassy, and hope i get it back in time to fly out.