What Visa Do I Need, How To Ask, Where To Get?

[LiquidWisdom]

So I didn't come to Thailand to work or anything special, I came to eat fruit and get in touch with nature (way harder than I thought...) and so I just want to get a 90 day visa, then do a border run to renew that, I figure if I can do that twice then I can stay a year. I'm from the US so I got a 30 day exempt, a visa extension gets added on top of that right? so 90 days would be 120 days total? Where do I go? I'm traveling north on bicycle and will probably be passing through Bangkok tomorrow, I'm just outside of Chon Buri now. Where should I go and what should I ask for? How much should I expect to pay? Does it matter where I go or is it going to be the same deal anywhere? I was in Pattaya the other day and saw advertisements for visas but didn't do it because I don't know specifically what to ask for or how much to expect pay. Also, when you renew these through a border run, do you have to wait till its almost out, or can you do it at anytime? Like can you actually get the full 180 days or if you do it at day 80 then end up with 170 days? What's the process like? Anything specific I need?

[Lite Beer]

You would probably only qualify for a Tourist Visa.

This gives 60 days and can be extended at immigration by a further 30 days (1,900 baht)

You need to visit a Thai Consulate in another country to apply.

There are companies that take you on these trips.

A lot of people recommend Jack Golf but there are others.

[Mario2008]

A visa exempt entry is 30 days, than you have to leave the country. Leaving and returning by land will give you 15 days, returning by air another 30 days.

Only if you qualify for an extension of stay would you be able to convert to a non-immirgant visa and get 90 days. You do not give any information based upon which you might ualify for a conversion, like being marreid to a Thai or being 50 years or older.

You might want to apply for a tourist visa in a neighbouring country. That would give 60 days and can be extended by 30 days.

[lopburi3]

If you are here on a 30 day visa exempt entry that is it. There is no extension available inside Thailand (other than a 7 days get out of country allowance) so you need a new visa exempt entry by leaving country, entering another and return (15 days by land or 30 days by air) or spend a day or two in other country and buy a tourist visa allowing a 60 day return stay that can be extended at any immigration office inside Thailand for 30 days. You might be able to get a two entry version that could be used, with one exit and two 1,900 baht extensions, to stay almost six months.

[LiquidWisdom]

dam_n... okay then, so how many times can I cross the border to extend my stay? My 30 days is up on january 24th, but I'd like to stay till the end of february when winter is up. I remember reading somewhere here that there is currently unlimited border crossings allowed? Is that correct? I'd rather not have to pay for a visa, so if I could just cross twice then that would take care of things. If not, what other options do I have? And can I cross at any time and get the 15days added on top?

[lopburi3]

Should not be a problem crossing twice - after three or more they might ask why (to find if your working) but currently there is no limit on the number of such entries.

[wayned]

When you leave and re-enter you get 15 days from the day that you enter. It is not "added on top" of anything that was remaining on your permission to stay when you left, it starts all over again.