I just got back my double entry tourist Visa from New York.

It is dated November 9.

My flight for Thailand is January 9. I will enter Thailand January 10.

The expiration date is Febuary 9.

This obviously only allows me a 30 day stay for my first entry, at which point i can leave and re-enter Feb 8.

WHY did they issue for only this amount of time... espececially when they need tourism more than ever.

The double entry is (almost) worthless to me! I want to stay as long as possible What can i do?

Is there a way I can send back the Passport and ask for a different date?

Thank you for your help.

Why didn't you wait until closer to your departure date before applying. You could request a change, but that's up to them, not unusual for some consulaes outside the region to give a validity of 6 months on double entries.

Edited November 17, 201114 yr by beechguy

I guess i did {wrongly} 'assume' they would give me a 6 month validity, - particulalrly with all this talk of waived fee's and what not.

Moreover I was hoping they might view the date of entry for my flight as Jan 9 and mark it as valid then, not for the day it was issued and 8 days it spent in the rapid US mail system.

Thanks for your responce.

Any guidance as to how I might request a change?

If you enter on 10 January they will give you 60 days. Near the end of the 60 days you can go to immigration, in Thailand, and get an extension for another 30 days, cost 1900 baht. At the end of the 30 day extension you must leave and your second entry cannot be used since your visa expired on 9 February. The visa only gives you permission to enter Thailand, the lenght of time that you are permitted to stay is stamped in your passport when you arrive. Basically you will have the ability to stay fo 90 days from your entry on 10 January even though your visa expires on 9 February. So you should be able to stay until around 9 April. If you had used the visa soon after it was issued you could have taken advantage of the second entry and stayed almost 6 months with one border run. I'm surprised that NY only gave you a 3 month double entry visa, but it's normal in SEA.

The date on your visa is the date you must use it by, not the date you must leave Thailand. As long as you use that visa before the 9 of Feburary your fine. Now it;s the second entry you need to get changed.

Edited November 17, 201114 yr by Nowhereman60

Thanks for the help thus far

My plan as of now it to fly in the 10th of Jan, stay until feb 8, re-enter using ground transportation at malayasian checkpoint - on feb 8th, and then stay another 60 days +30extension.

this is 119 days. Not 180 which is a bummer.

The date on your visa is the date you must use it by, not the date you must leave Thailand. As long as you use that visa before the 9 of Feburary your fine.

Yep, I have to use my second entry before this date.

Now it;s the second entry you need to get changed.

yes, THIS is what I am looking for, does anyone know

HOW can i do this?

To get it changed of course you have to approach the consulate and ask them to change it. They can either say no, yes they can change the existing visa for no charge, or yes they can issue a new visa with better dates for a charge. Best to communicate your desired travel dates to make it clear you NEED the new date on it, which I suspect you may not have done initially. I had a similar problem years ago at a Thai embassy in South America. I asked them to change the validity date and they were nice about it but simply said, sorry that's our policy (so, no).

To get it changed of course you have to approach the consulate and ask them to change it. They can either say no, yes they can change the existing visa for no charge, or yes they can issue a new visa with better dates for a charge. Best to communicate your desired travel dates to make it clear you NEED the new date on it, which I suspect you may not have done initially. I had a similar problem years ago at a Thai embassy in South America. I asked them to change the validity date and they were nice about it but simply said, sorry that's our policy (so, no).

Right, well would i write them a letter?

Or fill out ANOTHER Visa form?

I'd like to get it changed but it seems like a hassel to do this, I can't travel all the way to the new york consulate to do this, it would need to be done by mail - which seems difficult to communicate my request ; and it may also be denied

Telephone or e-maill the consulate in NY and explain to them what your situatuion is and ask THEM if anything can be done to change the date and either they will say no or yes. If they say yes ask THEM what you have to do to get it done. Soliciting comments and suggestions from people that have never been in this position with the consulate in NY is useless and a waste of time, and time is not on your side. If you do contact them we all would be interested in the results for future reference.

Telephone or e-maill the consulate in NY and explain to them what your situatuion is and ask THEM if anything can be done to change the date and either they will say no or yes. If they say yes ask THEM what you have to do to get it done. Soliciting comments and suggestions from people that have never been in this position with the consulate in NY is useless and a waste of time, and time is not on your side. If you do contact them we all would be interested in the results for future reference.

i'm only 23... time is most certainly on my side

i will call THEM tomorrow