Best Place To Get Visa If In Phuket

[debbielong]

hi, my son lives in Phuket and needs to re-new his visa, where is best /nearest/cheapest place to get it please? is there anyone who needs to re-new that he could go with? it runs out middle of May.

thanks

Deb

[lopburi3]

For a new visa he would have to visit a Consulate in another country to obtain and at least one night would be required. Malaysia would be the cheapest location as most people are allowed entry without need of a visa. If below age 15 there is no overstay fine imposed for children.

[debbielong]

thx for promp reply. what are the costs please? and will he have to give backhanders to anyone ? is there anyway he can find out if he can hook up with others going from Phuket, other than asking locally.

ta

deb

[lopburi3]

A tourist visa costs about 1,000 baht and non immigrant about 2,000 baht single entry (in local currency). Transportation/hotel/meals would be extra and if using a visa service in Penang there fee. Not sure if there is any visa service from there to Malaysia or not (suspect may only have for border crossing to Burma for 15 day visa exempt entry or visa stay for those with multi entry visas).

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I have no idea how this company is, never tried it, indeed, I've never even been to Phuket. But probably worth a call or an email to ask for details.

http://www.phuket-visarun.com/index.html

Mac

[Saman]

What visa your son has now ? as I know students visas are most cheapest way to stay in Thailand, he has to try for language schools

[debbielong]

thx, he just told me it runs out on 27th april, so it was only a 2 month visa. he wants 90 day one really. and now he's just been told he can get one in Phuket town. i'm sure that's not correct. as he's going to do a telf course soon maybe they could help him get one.

[Lite Beer]

If he has a 60 day Tourist Visa he can extend it by 30 days at Immigration in Phuket.

1,900 Baht fee.

[visaruna]

lite beer is right.

tell him to slip over to the immigration office in phuket town.

fill out a 1 page visa extension form on site. [often there are volunteers who can help him] 1900 baht.

photocopies and passport photos can be got downstairs [first] for a reasonable fee [120 baht all up i think]

the whole process is quite painless if you get there early [opens 8.30am i recall]

should be all done in 30 mins. and back on the beach by 10!

ps

then start planning for the next double entry visa run.

[keeniau96]

Do the extension first per visaruna advice. Go to the main office in Phuket town at Saipan Hin. Get there as early as possible, just less waiting.

Have to get actual visa (vs extension) outside Thailand. In Phuket the best bet is AirAsia flight to KL (very cheap r/t if advance purchase; get 1st flight of day leaving Phuket, last flight leaving KL the next day). From KL airport get taxi to Thai embassy (can do bus but then have to take taxi to the embassy from downtown). There are affordable hotels near the embassy, check on travel site eg. Agoda. Need that because of visa and flight timing. Flight to Penang is an alternative to KL; more amenable Thai officials but more hassle getting there.

[debbielong]

ta so much everyone, lets hope the <deleted> does it before it runs out. is anyone else off to kl next month? he'd like to join them

thx

deb

[jdean]

There are several companies that run mini-vans to Penang. They come pick you up and leave at night and reach the Sadao border when it opens. They provide a hotel and all meals. They do all the work to get your new visa. The prices I have heard were quite reasonable as they basically hold your hand from beginning to end.