I am a US citizen arriving in BKK from NY and flying out to Kuala Lumphur the next day (then going to Bali on Air Asia for a month). I have a 60 day tourist visa. Will my sixty days begin to run the day I enter BKK even though I leave the next day? If yes, can I apply for a separate transit visa in the US along with the 60 day tourist visa? I don't want to lose my 60 days because I will not return to Thailand until 30 days later and I wish to stay in Thailand for 90 more days.

Officially you're not supposed to avoid using your visa.

You can however ask the immigration chap to give you a visa exemption (30 day stamp) and keep the visa for later, whether he/she obliges or not depends upon what sort of day they're having.

If he insists on using the visa you'll lose the lot when you exit unless you get a re-entry permit to protect your 60 day stamp, and that will involve a trip to immigration as you can no longer get one at the airport.

Also you're not supposed to have more than one active visa in your passport.

If the worst comes to the worst, get another Tourist Visa in KL

You can ask for the visa to not be used but by the rules they will use the visa for entry and the 60 days will end on your exit the next day.

If you plan to return for a 90 day stay and the visa is used suggest to contact the Consulate to obtain a new tourist visa. The below address may not be current but last I can find.

THE ROYAL THAI CONSULATE ( Bali )

Mr. Peraphon Prayooravong – Honorary Consul

Mr. Poramate Khemwongthong – Consular Officer

Address:

Jl. Puputan Raya No. 81, Renon Denpasar 80235

Phone: 263 310, Fax: 238 044

Email: [email protected]

Office hours:

Monday to Friday 09.00 - 12.00 & 13.00 - 16.00

Visa hours:

Monday to Friday 09.00 - 12.00 & 13.30 - 16.00

You can however ask the immigration chap to give you a visa exemption (30 day stamp) and keep the visa for later, whether he/she obliges or not depends upon what sort of day they're having.

I tried that last year and the officer was having none of it, he called his supervisor over who agreed I have to use the visa "Visa free, no promplem".

Another option is to avoid going through immigration in BKK altogether. Just don't check in your luggage and then when you arrive in BKK, you should be able to stay in the airport hotel until you flight out the next day.

Also you're not supposed to have more than one active visa in your passport.

I wasn't aware of this. If I happen to have two valid visas in the same passport is there something I should do to correct this?

I had a double entry tourist visa. Entered Thailand 2 days after it was issued ten days later left for a day and got a Non Immigrant visa. When I came back in I pointed the non immigrant one out because was worried they'd make a mistake and stamp it in wrong.

No big deal? or is there something I should do to correct this?

I'll be going to immigration in a couple months to apply for one year extension. Don't want any potential problem.

If he is staying longer than 12 hours he must clear immigration. Also most local flights are not full service and would require baggage claim/check-in.

jimky:

If you have two visas in a passport I would not worry about it - most Consulates just will not want to stamp another when one is already there.

I had just gotten a non-im O visa (multiple entry) when I got tasked to go to Thailand for 3 weeks to teach some classes. I needed a work visa. I went to the Thai consulate with all the paperwork for my work visa, and they issued it, but voided my O visa that should have been good for a year. I had to spend the money to replace it when I returned....

So much for thinking they don't care if you have 2 visa in your PP...

You can use a Non-O visa to support a work permit application in the same way as a Non-B visa, so actually there was no need to change. But you are right that the consulate will usually 'void' any curent visa when issuing a new one.

You can ask for the visa to not be used but by the rules they will use the visa for entry and the 60 days will end on your exit the next day.

If you plan to return for a 90 day stay and the visa is used suggest to contact the Consulate to obtain a new tourist visa. The below address may not be current but last I can find.

THE ROYAL THAI CONSULATE ( Bali )

Mr. Peraphon Prayooravong – Honorary Consul

Mr. Poramate Khemwongthong – Consular Officer

Address:

Jl. Puputan Raya No. 81, Renon Denpasar 80235

Phone: 263 310, Fax: 238 044

Email: [email protected]

Office hours:

Monday to Friday 09.00 - 12.00 & 13.00 - 16.00

Visa hours:

Monday to Friday 09.00 - 12.00 & 13.30 - 16.00

Thank you so much for your replies to my problem. Judging from the replies, I think I have two options: 1. Fly into Kuala Lumphur and forget about going through BKK (have not bought my NY-BKK or NY-KL ticket yet and can change the Air Asia BKK to KL leg for my return trip) or 2. Fly into BKK without a visa (as everyone else does who is spending less than 30 days) and then hope I can obtain a Thai 60 day visa in Densapar, Bali. Are these my best options?

As you have a ticket out the next day you would not require a visa for Thailand on first arrival.

Both options will work.