Thai Tourist Visa

[mackabug]

Hi there folks, just after some advice/knowledge.

I arrived in Thailand in November and then left after 30 days. I got a two month visa, which was extended recently to the maximum 90 days. This expires in early March, giving me a total of 4 months in Thailand. I have been planning to do another trip abroad to get another two month visa.

While doing so research I came across this message:

Important Note :

- Foreign nationals who stayed in Thailand (for a maximum stay of 30 days for each entry) with a total period of stay exceeding 90 days within 6 months counting from the date of the first entry to Kingdom are not permitted to re-enter to Thailand. They have to wait for another 90 days before re-entering Thailand.

Does this mean that I cant get another two month tourist visa? and I cant come back for another 90 days?

If this is so, can I change the type of visa I am on? I was going to look for some work, teaching English?

Slightly concern tourist.

Any help/knowledge would be grafeful.

Cheers

[thaiphoon]

That is an old immigration rule that was scrapped over a year ago, and related to visa exempt entry only. There is no restriction now on how long you can stay.

[mackabug]

Thanks very much. New to all this visa requirements and what to do.

[thaiphoon]

You will need to obtain a new visa when your current permission to stay expires. Single entry tourist visa will give you 60 days permission to stay on entry which you can then extend for a further 30 days at Thai immigration. Depending on how long you want to stay, you could consider obtaining double entry tourist visa from the consulate in Vientiane (Laos). With extensions and border run in the middle that would give you nearly 6 months stay. Or if want to stay longer consider studying and obtaining Non-ED visa.

[mackabug]

Once again, khob kun krub. I wanted to go to Vietnam (Saigon) as I have a friend living there. Do you know if they will issue a double entry tourist visa at their consulate in HCM. I know the tourist visas have been free lately but this apparently stops on the 4th of March, any idea if this will change after this date?

I will probably be applying for a work permit soon, (hopefully), anyway. Or the other option we are looking at is heading down the marriage line, but thats still some ways off, but we may have to do anyway, if I move back to Australia.

But the education line isnt a bad one either.

Thank you once again, you have been very helpful.

[monty]

Do you know if they will issue a double entry tourist visa at their consulate in HCM. I know the tourist visas have been free lately but this apparently stops on the 4th of March, any idea if this will change after this date?

They have extended the free tourist visa's till the end of 2010.

Not sure if HCM will issue double entry, additionally double entries are usually not included in the "free" offer, although some consulates do seem to issue them free of charge (Vientiane in Laos for example)

[thaiphoon]

Have seen no reports of double entry tourist visa at Ho Chi Minh, and suspect very unlikely will issue.