Okay... here goes.

Next month i need to renew my visa here in Thailand. I travelled in on a 2 stamp visa i got in Australia back in November which gave me 4 months. Now the question i have is when i go and do a border run what is the longest i can stay again with the new visa.. is it 30 days, 60 days, 90 days?

I will be going to Cambodia from Bangkok

You can not stay 4 months on a single tourist visa entry so something is not right. If you used a 60 day stamp and then exit/return for a new 60 day stamp that is all you get - but you could extend that second entry at immigration for 30 days (as you could have done with the first). If this is not the case and you have not actually stayed 4 months then an exit/return if your visa is still valid and one more entry allowed will get a new 60 day entry that can be extended 30 days. But if you visa is expired or used you would only get a 30 day visa exempt entry by air or 15 days by land..

Gave you 4 months? This alongside your "First Visa run" says that something is already wrong. A double entry tourist visa (assuming this is what you are referring to) gives you a 60 day entry stamp. If you look in your passport you should have an "admitted until" stamp. This is the date you were due to leave Thailand on your 1st entry.

The most common mistake made the world over in relation to visas is what they mean. A visa is just your pre-determined access level to a country. For example, you got a tourist visa. This means that they will allow you 60 days on entry. Once you are in a country the visa means nothing at all. The visa just tells immigration how to deal with you. Your stay in the country is determined by your "entry stamp".

Please can you verify your visa type and entry date (you say late November). If this is true then your "admitted until" date will be late January and you have already overstayed on this visa. You can leave the country now and pay B500/day on the border, look sheepish then return back in collecting a new 60 day stamp. You can gain a 30 day extension on this visa at immigration once in Thailand.

You can not stay 4 months on a single tourist visa entry so something is not right. If you used a 60 day stamp and then exit/return for a new 60 day stamp that is all you get - but you could extend that second entry at immigration for 30 days (as you could have done with the first). If this is not the case and you have not actually stayed 4 months then an exit/return if your visa is still valid and one more entry allowed will get a new 60 day entry that can be extended 30 days. But if you visa is expired or used you would only get a 30 day visa exempt entry by air or 15 days by land..

yes this is my second stay on a double entry visa... so what you are saying is i can only extend for another 30 days and thats it, no more visas

Gave you 4 months? This alongside your "First Visa run" says that something is already wrong. A double entry tourist visa (assuming this is what you are referring to) gives you a 60 day entry stamp. If you look in your passport you should have an "admitted until" stamp. This is the date you were due to leave Thailand on your 1st entry.

The most common mistake made the world over in relation to visas is what they mean. A visa is just your pre-determined access level to a country. For example, you got a tourist visa. This means that they will allow you 60 days on entry. Once you are in a country the visa means nothing at all. The visa just tells immigration how to deal with you. Your stay in the country is determined by your "entry stamp".

Please can you verify your visa type and entry date (you say late November). If this is true then your "admitted until" date will be late January and you have already overstayed on this visa. You can leave the country now and pay B500/day on the border, look sheepish then return back in collecting a new 60 day stamp. You can gain a 30 day extension on this visa at immigration once in Thailand.

its a double entry visa... i arrived on late november and got the first stamp which was to january. i left the country and returned again and now on second stamp which gives me to late march. if i go to the border and return can i get a new 60 day stamp?

Edited February 11, 201214 yr by traveller22

You can not stay 4 months on a single tourist visa entry so something is not right. If you used a 60 day stamp and then exit/return for a new 60 day stamp that is all you get - but you could extend that second entry at immigration for 30 days (as you could have done with the first). If this is not the case and you have not actually stayed 4 months then an exit/return if your visa is still valid and one more entry allowed will get a new 60 day entry that can be extended 30 days. But if you visa is expired or used you would only get a 30 day visa exempt entry by air or 15 days by land..

can i keep doing 60day visa border runs... i mean how many can you actually do?

A double entry is valid for two entries. As you seem to have entered Thailand already you cannot get another entry of 60 days.

You do know that you can extend a tourist visa entry of 60 days with 30 days at an immigration office for 1,900 baht?

You can get a new visa, but would need to go to a Thai consulate for that.

Gave you 4 months? This alongside your "First Visa run" says that something is already wrong. A double entry tourist visa (assuming this is what you are referring to) gives you a 60 day entry stamp. If you look in your passport you should have an "admitted until" stamp. This is the date you were due to leave Thailand on your 1st entry.

The most common mistake made the world over in relation to visas is what they mean. A visa is just your pre-determined access level to a country. For example, you got a tourist visa. This means that they will allow you 60 days on entry. Once you are in a country the visa means nothing at all. The visa just tells immigration how to deal with you. Your stay in the country is determined by your "entry stamp".

Please can you verify your visa type and entry date (you say late November). If this is true then your "admitted until" date will be late January and you have already overstayed on this visa. You can leave the country now and pay B500/day on the border, look sheepish then return back in collecting a new 60 day stamp. You can gain a 30 day extension on this visa at immigration once in Thailand.

its a double entry visa which i applied and got in australia.. i arrived on late november and got the first stamp which was to january. i left the country and returned again and now on second stamp which gives me to late march. if i go to the border and return can i get a new 60 day stamp?

No. Double entry. You can only extend this entry stamp. For future reference you should travel as soon after picking up your double entry, extend the first entry (now 90 days on one visa) then re-enter, extend the 2nd entry and now you have stay 180 days on a tourist visa.

At the border now you will get a 15 days entry. Entering by plane will get you 30 days entry. Travelling to Vientiane, Laos will get you another double entry tourist visa and you are back on day 1 of 180.

---Edit---

Corrected incorrect terminology that would cause confusion.

Edited February 11, 201214 yr by draftvader

Gave you 4 months? This alongside your "First Visa run" says that something is already wrong. A double entry tourist visa (assuming this is what you are referring to) gives you a 60 day entry stamp. If you look in your passport you should have an "admitted until" stamp. This is the date you were due to leave Thailand on your 1st entry.

The most common mistake made the world over in relation to visas is what they mean. A visa is just your pre-determined access level to a country. For example, you got a tourist visa. This means that they will allow you 60 days on entry. Once you are in a country the visa means nothing at all. The visa just tells immigration how to deal with you. Your stay in the country is determined by your "entry stamp".

Please can you verify your visa type and entry date (you say late November). If this is true then your "admitted until" date will be late January and you have already overstayed on this visa. You can leave the country now and pay B500/day on the border, look sheepish then return back in collecting a new 60 day stamp. You can gain a 30 day extension on this visa at immigration once in Thailand.

its a double entry visa which i applied and got in australia.. i arrived on late november and got the first stamp which was to january. i left the country and returned again and now on second stamp which gives me to late march. if i go to the border and return can i get a new 60 day stamp?

No. Double entry. You can only extend this entry stamp. For future reference you should travel as soon after picking up your double entry, extend the first entry (now 90 days on one visa) then re-enter, extend the 2nd entry and now you have stay 180 days on a tourist visa.

At the border now you will get a 15 days entry. Entering by plane will get you 30 days entry. Travelling to Vientiane, Laos will get you another double entry tourist visa and you are back on day 1 of 180.

---Edit---

Corrected incorrect terminology that would cause confusion.

okay i think ive got it. the best bet now is going to laos and getting another double entry visa. what do i need when i go to laos in terms of documentation?

2 or more (always a good idea) passport/visa approved photographs

2 photocopies of your passport

Pens

US Dollars (if possible as the exchange rate offered at the border is rubbish). These are actually for your Laos visa (different price for each country), but USD are VERY useful in Laos and will often get you a better deal than Kip. Baht is also widely accepted in Laos at excellent rates, but for the border take USD.

2 or more (always a good idea) passport/visa approved photographs

2 photocopies of your passport

Pens

US Dollars (if possible as the exchange rate offered at the border is rubbish). These are actually for your Laos visa (different price for each country), but USD are VERY useful in Laos and will often get you a better deal than Kip. Baht is also widely accepted in Laos at excellent rates, but for the border take USD.

fantastic, thought things were looking grim. so once i reach the border i get a laos visa (any cost there) stay for a few days and then return to thailand and get a double entry on the way back

Yep, there is a cost. I am not sure about how much as they have (rather handily) changed the whole Laos embassy in Bangkok's website to Mandarin. I really can't remember how much you pay, we pay, etc, but every country is different. They quote in USD and their conversion rates are AWFUL. Bring clean USD (Bangok Bank in Silom is good for this).

The largest cost I remember is Canada and they were being charged $45. One can only wonder what those highly offensive Canadians have done this time

You visit Thai Consulate in morning to apply for a 2 entry visa (and they could say no but probably will allow one more) and then you obtain the next day at Consulate for your later return to Thailand - you do not obtain on entry. The Lao visa will cost about US $35 depending on nationality.

Yep, there is a cost. I am not sure about how much as they have (rather handily) changed the whole Laos embassy in Bangkok's website to Mandarin. I really can't remember how much you pay, we pay, etc, but every country is different. They quote in USD and their conversion rates are AWFUL. Bring clean USD (Bangok Bank in Silom is good for this).

The largest cost I remember is Canada and they were being charged $45. One can only wonder what those highly offensive Canadians have done this time

We have an idiot for a PM who is pi$$ing everybody off. I just did my Vientiane run last week and the Lao visa cost 1,800 baht. The Lao immigration guy laughed when he told me the cost as he watched my jaw drop and said "Yes, Canada very expensive,,,haw, haw"

Edited February 24, 201214 yr by DowntownAl

Yep, there is a cost. I am not sure about how much as they have (rather handily) changed the whole Laos embassy in Bangkok's website to Mandarin. I really can't remember how much you pay, we pay, etc, but every country is different. They quote in USD and their conversion rates are AWFUL. Bring clean USD (Bangok Bank in Silom is good for this).

The largest cost I remember is Canada and they were being charged $45. One can only wonder what those highly offensive Canadians have done this time

We have an idiot for a PM who is pi$$ing everybody off. I just did my Vientiane run last week and the Lao visa cost 1,800 baht. The Lao immigration guy laughed when he told me the cost as he watched my jaw drop and said "Yes, Canada very expensive,,,haw, haw"

Always use U.S. Dollars.

Yep, there is a cost. I am not sure about how much as they have (rather handily) changed the whole Laos embassy in Bangkok's website to Mandarin. I really can't remember how much you pay, we pay, etc, but every country is different. They quote in USD and their conversion rates are AWFUL. Bring clean USD (Bangok Bank in Silom is good for this).

The largest cost I remember is Canada and they were being charged $45. One can only wonder what those highly offensive Canadians have done this time

We have an idiot for a PM who is pi$$ing everybody off. I just did my Vientiane run last week and the Lao visa cost 1,800 baht. The Lao immigration guy laughed when he told me the cost as he watched my jaw drop and said "Yes, Canada very expensive,,,haw, haw"

paid 2000 TB in laos for double entry last march.

2 or more (always a good idea) passport/visa approved photographs

2 photocopies of your passport

Pens

US Dollars (if possible as the exchange rate offered at the border is rubbish). These are actually for your Laos visa (different price for each country), but USD are VERY useful in Laos and will often get you a better deal than Kip. Baht is also widely accepted in Laos at excellent rates, but for the border take USD.

fantastic, thought things were looking grim. so once i reach the border i get a laos visa (any cost there) stay for a few days and then return to thailand and get a double entry on the way back

a visa on arrival for laos costs 35$ at the land crossing nong khai or you can pay in baht but it costs you a bit extra you can also get a visa from the laos embassy in bkk but that only helps you if you want to use one of the express bus services from thailand to vientiene,

you can get a flight from bkk to udon thani with nok air and they also provide there own shuttle bus to vientiene or the airport has mini buses to the border and you can then get a taxi etc to vientiene,

once in vientiene you need to goto the thai consulate/embassy to apply for a tourist visa :

http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/en/consular/consular_check/

this will take 2 days to process - you apply in the morning only and collect the next day in the afternoon - cost 2000 baht for a double entry,

when you come back into thailand fill in the arrival card and fill in the visa number section and they should stamp you in for a 60 day stay which you have the option to add another 30 days at any immigration office inside thailand for 1900 baht,

you could also fly from bkk to vientiene but those flights are quite costly compared to the udon thani ones,

there's also other consulates you can get thai tourist visa.

I'm sure you found out by now that apparently there are no double entry tourist visas from Cambo, that's what I was told.

I went to Lao in March. From Pattaya took the bus to Ekamai (actually got out early at BTS Udon Suk), BTS to Asok, MRT to Hua Lampong train station. About 980 baht for 2nd class Air Con lower bunk (recommend lower, only about 100 baht more). The whole train thing was nice, about 12 hours, got about 8 hours sleep, very clean all things considered. From Nong Kai (train lets you out there), I got a 3 wheeler taxi thing to the border, about 50 baht. Get your Lao visa (bring $ 35 USD if you can, or else pay 1500 baht). Then shared a minivan to the Embassy, very cheap, 200 or 300 baht each. Got to the Embassy around 9:30 or 10 am. took about 90 minutes to wait in line and submit the passport. Picked up next day at 1 pm.

Vientiane is pretty nice, small town, cheap beer. Took the night train back the same day, gets back to BKK around 7 am, back in Pattaya by about 1 PM.