Basic Help For A Newbie

[laptopsurfer]

I am a freelance consultant, and arrived on holiday in Bangkok a month ago and fell in love with the place. I Decided after 3 years of not taking any time off that I would extend my stay.

I am from the UK and my 30 day stamp in my passport is about to expire. I need to get it renewed and see three options.

1. Get a 30 day extension (this from airport or from office in Bangkok ?)

2. Do a Visa run to one of the border crossings

3. Fly to Singapore

To add a level of complexity, an international company out here that I do some consulting work for in the UK has offered me a job! Although we are still talking and It might turn into nothing, however if it does they will arrange a B visa for me and I get to stay long time!

So my question(s) are the following.

If I get a 30 day extension how is that done? Do I just go to the airport? Where do I go? :-) ... do they stamp me for another 30 days? Will that affect me if I want to stay even longer? I assume I will have to do option 2 or 3 then.

Would it affect me if I was to apply for a B visa later on next month.

If option 1 is not the best one, then I guess I need to do a visa run to the boarder or fly to Singapore. Singapore would be my last option simply from a time / hassle point of view.

I have read lots of threads about visa run companies and border crossings but for a newbie most of it does not make sense. I really do not like the sound of sitting in a mini bus for hours on end. I would like to hire a car / driver (not really bothered about the money issue) that would take me to border, help with paper work and drive me back the same day. Does anyone know of someone that can do that? and ideally not queuing up all day. From what I read that the time it takes comes from a decision on what day to go (I was thinking next Tuesday) and which crossing. I have no idea which is the best one.

Some real newbie help would be much appreciated.

[lopburi3]

There is no option one. The most you can get is a 10 day extension from Immigration at Suan Phlu.

That leave an exit/entry for another 30 day stamp and you could charter a taxi to the border and on a weekday it should not be too crowded. But there is large bus service that may be just as comfortable and can help you fill out the forms if that is a problem. Not much to it really. And it should not affect a later visa.

A trip to Singapore or Penang (or other) would normally require a morning application for visa and pick up next afternoon but you could then stay 60 days and extend another 30 days and that visa could be converted inside Thailand for a business type later if desired.

[laptopsurfer]

Hi

>That leave an exit/entry for another 30 day stamp and you could charter a taxi >to the border and on a weekday it should not be too crowded. But there is large >bus service that may be just as comfortable and can help you fill out the forms if >that is a problem. Not much to it really. And it should not affect a later visa.

I do not want to start a war on here in terms of asking for recommendations. However in terms of the VIP style bus, which is the best company? Lots of companies have been listed, but most people are looking for cheapest option rather than most comfortable. If you have one please PM me rather than reply on here. I saw one guy on here post he paid 2500 for a taxi and was back in a few hours. To me seems good option!

If I was to do this - there seems so many crossings ? I have read on here about some being better than others. But have no context of where they are, how far away, pros and cons. Maybe would be good to list the crossing and pros and cons of using them.

If going to a crossing takes an extra hours traveling but means you do not have to queue up makes more sense to me than going to the closest. Based on this - which crossing should I go to ?

If I was to hire a taxi ? Is doing it yourself that difficult? What do I need apart from passport photos? If I am just doing another 30 day entry stamp (no visa) why do I need to anything other than fill in a new basic immigration form as I filled on the plane when I first came here. The country I am crossing into I assume is Cambodia ... what do I need to enter Cambodia. As I am there - worth going anywhere for a day? or just come directly back ?

Thanks

>A trip to Singapore or Penang (or other) would normally require a morning >application for visa and pick up next afternoon but you could then stay 60 days >and extend another 30 days and that visa could be converted inside Thailand for >a business type later if desired.

OK might be a good option, assume I just visit that Thai embassy in Singapore ? I just need passport, photos ? anything else ?

Thanks for the newbie answers! I would be happy to write a newbie FAQ for this site! – really needs one.