Apply For A 6 Month Or Nine Month Visa Before Travelling?

[theVenerable]

Hi

I asked a few months ago a similar question... but, as I wont get round to be able to travel until may, I thought I'd re-ask, incase any laws or processes have changed.

Basically, I will be visiting thailand, and would like a 6 month visa at least, before I travel.

I can apply for one, and should be able to get one.

But can i even apply for a 9 month visitors visa?

I have no 'special situation', I would just be visiting there, not working etc.

So perhaps I would not qualify.

I think even with a 6 month visa, I may need to do a visa run..

But am unsure now.. as times change.

thanks for any advice you can give.

[lopburi3]

What you apply for is a tourist visa, three entry. You get 60 days and can extend 30 days and then must leave country and return for next.

[Lite Beer]

Triple Entry Tourist Visa if you can get one.

Each entry gives 60 days and can be extended at Immigration by a further 30 days at a cost of 1,900 Baht.

[theVenerable]

cool

and when u say 'leave the country'

do i have to leave via airplane, or just go to the cambodia border and turn back again?

thanks

[Lite Beer]

Leave and return any way you want.

[terryq]

Just exit Thailand, enter another country (in your example Cambodia) exit other country and then re-enter Thailand, can be done by land or air. No minimum time in other country required. But must enter and exit other country to get proper stamps in passport.

Edit..Sorry LB posted same time.

[theVenerable]

cool thanks

adn dont apologise for the double post

it just re-confirms the message!

[chris1970]

where are from ?

if you want to stay in thailand a long time say 9 months then don't apply for a tourist visa too early before you travel because the validity starts from when it's issued.

each 60 days are stamped into your passport on the date you enter thailand so they are safe but if you want to try and stay around 9 months they you will need to also extend each entry and also not apply for the visa too soon before you travel.

if your applying by post 1 week before travel is fine, or if applying in person a day or two before travel is ideal.

all depends on your plans and you'll need to know how to use the visa correctly.

[theVenerable]

I'm in luton.

Thanks for the reminder.

I will apply for the visa by post, about 1 or 2 weeks before i travel i guess..

Then I will just follow the steps above when I am in thailand.

Extend the 60 day to a 90 at the immigration office.

Then take a tripr to cambodia after the 90 days.

Then repeat the process.

Thanks

[wayned]

In order to get the maximum number of days, you should do your third entry the day before the "must use by" date on the VISA, not the expiration of the "permission to stay" stamp in your passport.

[chris1970]

I'm in luton.

Thanks for the reminder.

I will apply for the visa by post, about 1 or 2 weeks before i travel i guess..

Then I will just follow the steps above when I am in thailand.

Extend the 60 day to a 90 at the immigration office.

Then take a tripr to cambodia after the 90 days.

Then repeat the process.

Thanks

if you apply 2 weeks early then you will be cutting your maximum trip down by 2 weeks :

60 + 30

border run

60 + 16

border run

60 + 30

you will only get 16 days from one of the first 2 extensions because you will have to goto the border for your last visa run a day before the visa expires .

it's tricky because you want to make sure you have your passport in plenty of time before you fly incase it gets delayed in the post but 99% of the time special class delivery is very quick and reliable, just look at your flight date and the weekends to time the application well.