Entry Stamp To Tourist Visa Addvice

[globalhopkinations]

Hello I have a buddy who entered LOS the 18th or 19th of feb and has somehow fallen in love "LUST" and is trying to figure out how to stay for a while "he currently says couple months but who knows how long before he will run outta money. But anyways he's American got the 30 day stamp when he came in and now I'm advising him to try and get him a extension on that think he can get up to 15 days(which would bring him to April 4th), then after that try and get in on this free tourist visa deal they got going on. I know he can easily go to the tourist place in Jomtien and should be able to get the extension on the entry permit but does he have to apply or go outside the LOS for the free tourist visa and is this free tourist visa for a 3 or 6 month stay. Thank you for the help I feel kinda responsible I've ranted and raved so much about going to LOS and now he's gone and he's gone and gotten roped in (may be love may be lust I can't really comment to much to him ............ just trying to help a buddy out in his en devours ). Any advice is very helpful thanks again guys.

if this is already posted somewhere else could you please let me know where to seek the info needed to tell my buddy

[globalhopkinations]

Also I forgot to add to the post he's in his early 20's

the please read before posting says make sure and put nationality and age

[thaiphoon]

On a 30 day 'visa exempt' entry your friend can obtain a 7 day extension of stay from Thai immigration with sight of air ticket out of the country within that time period. The fee is 1,900 baht. Visas are issues by consulates abroad. The consulate at Vientiane (Laos) will issue double entry tourist visa which, with extensions and a border run in the middle, will give nearly 6 months stay.

As you say, the new 'free visa' promotion does not start until 1st April, and it appears your friend's current permission to stay will expire around 19th March. A 7 day extension does not really work for him and his options would therefore appear to be:

- to go to Vientiane when current permission to stay expires to apply for double entry tourist visa (and pay the fee) or

- do a border run at that time which would give 15 days permission to stay at land crossing (or 30 days by air) on entry and then apply for double entry tourist visa at Vientiane from 1st April.

[globalhopkinations]

All right I'll advise him that he can only get a 7 day extension at immigration office not 15 like I thought i read somewhere, so he should do a border run around the 17th -19th depending on his entry date. Which would give him the time to wait till April 1st to go get a tourist visit but this has to be done outside the country. The reason you say go to Vientiane is because there the only close(closest to pattaya) immigration office ones doing x2 tourist visa's? (tourist visa = 60 days yes?) If he doesn't need a x2 tourist visa he can go to Cambodia or wherever also though correct? I'm not sure what he's done with his return flight to the states but I'm sure he'll figure it out one way or another, can't do everything for him.

Thanks again for the help

[thaiphoon]

If he entered the Kingdom on 18/19 Feb, I calculate his 30 day permission to stay will take him to 18/19 March. A border run and new 15 day entry (if re-enters on 18/19 March) will take new permission to stay through to 2/3 April.

I suggested Vientiane because it is the only consulate in the region that will issue a double entry tourist visa, and saves him the extra trip to consulate for second single entry visa if planning to stay for more than 3 months. If he obtains single entry tourist visa that will give 60 days permission to stay on entry, and can then be extended for a further 30 days at Thai immigration (fee 1900 baht). If he then decides to stay longer he can travel to consulate again for another tourist visa, and then obtain 30 day extension again if required. Be aware that Penang consulate will not issue a second tourist visa if there is already an extension in the passport.