30 Day Tourist Visa?

[ShawnaJeanWarner]

My husband and I are both Americans in our 30s. We have a 20 month son who is also an American. While we don't have work in Thailand, we'd like to work here, though we probably won't find teaching jobs until the new school year. We're also looking into the possibility of starting a business with a Thai friend in the meantime. My husband has a year long visa where he only has to leave every 90 days.

My question is this: how many times can someone come in on a 30-day tourist visa if they leave the country for a few days in-between stays? The baby and I are here on our 2nd 30-day tourist visas that we got when we landed. We got our first 30 day visa in November. We went to Laos for a weekend in early December. Our 30-days is up January 2nd and we were planning on doing another trip. But then I got confused by something someone said. One person told us we can stay here, "resetting" our visas this way up to 15-months and another person told us we can only come in on three 3-day visas "in a row." We have traveled to Thailand 2 previous times in 2011 but left for several months in-between. So my passport has 4 entry stamps in it, granting 30-days, though the first two are from months and months ago.

[lopburi3]

There is no set limit but you might want to get a tourist visa now which would allow 60 day stay and 30 day extension without leaving. The 30 day entry you have been getting is not a visa but a visa exempt entry

[CharlieH]

If you stay the visa exempt route you can only get 30 day by AIR and 15 day by LAND border.

As suggested it would be better to get a double entry tourist visa which can provide 6 months with extensions.

The 15 months you spoke of is a 12 month multi entry visa which if you exit within the last remaining days and re-enter you will get an additional 90 days making the 15 months.

The only problem you may have is that having too many back to back 30 days exempt and then applying for a tourist visa in some places may cause you to be denied as it would be clear you are not just a tourist. Better to get the correct visa as soon as is practical.

[ShawnaJeanWarner]

Thank you everyone! This is very helpful.

[RandomSand]

The only problem you may have is that having too many back to back 30 days exempt and then applying for a tourist visa in some places may cause you to be denied as it would be clear you are not just a tourist. Better to get the correct visa as soon as is practical.

Hi Charlie, I'm trying to get more information on what you mentioned as I've been in Thailand for 18 months on a combination of 30 day airport stamps, 15 day land stamps and 1 double entry from Laos. I now want to get a double entry again but cannot go to Laos as got the red stamp. Do you know where I could find information about the current views of Thai immigration ?