I have a question regarding the double entry tourist visa.

On 12th March I was issued a DOUBLE entry tourist visa in Vientiane and I entered the Kingdom of Thailand on the same day.

When the 60 days were up (11th May), I went to Immigration and extended the double entry tourist visa by 30 days (valid until 10th June).

So far, so good.

On the TR visa there is a field that states "enter before 8th June". I simply assumed that this meant my first entry into the Kingdom (i.e. 12th March).

On 7th June I flew out of Thailand and had a few days abroad. Upon my return on 10th June the Immigration officer told me that I should have entered Thailand BEFORE 8th June and thus my double entry tourist visa was no longer valid and the best he could do was to give me 30 days.

NOWHERE on the TR visa does it state that the SECOND entry has to be made before 8th June (the date that the Immigration officer claimed was the last possible date on the second entry on the same visa).

I really want to know if the Immigration officer is right or not and if he is right, I simply don't understand why it's not clearly stated on the visa that the "enter before" date is actually the date for the SECOND entry.

Who's right? Him or me? If I'm right, can I have this rectified at Immigration in BKK? The new, 30 day TR visa kind of screw up my plans...

Has this happened to any of you guys? Thanks in advance.

Immigration is right - all entries must be made by the date indicated on the visa - that is the expiration date for entry.

That;s absolutely right....the ENTER BEFORE date means BOTH entries must be used before that date on a double entry and all THREE entries on a triple entry by that date.

Any unused entries not used by that date are VOIDED after that enter before date.

Some consulates try to explain this to people that get double or triple entry visas...some don't.

But that's the way it works with all double entry or triple entry visas.

That's just the rules of the game...even if the player doesn;t know the rules...he/she has to play by them.

"enter before 8th June" is the expiry date of the Visa.

From the Thai immigration webside, the validity is often a issue as many visitors do not notice the "Enter Before" date or "Must be utilized"date.

You will have to apply for a new visa.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/content/visaxpiredate.html

You get a double, but you have to use them straight away. You don't get free time between the visas. I got a double from Paris and they gave me time inbetween. I got a visa from Laos and they didn't give a single day. They're so clever over in Vientienne.

When you get a double entry visa in a neighboring country they normally are only valid for three months, therefore you have to use both entries during the three months, back to back to get the whole 180 days. Visas that are obtained in other countries normally have a validity of 6 months so the entries do not have to be used back to back. You must use both entries before the " must enter by date" on the VISA, not the permission to stay date stamped in your passport.

The official policy is as below - and more Consulates appear to be adopting the 3 month standard.

7. Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay. Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. In general, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases, visas may be issued to be valid for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years. The validity of a visa is granted with discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General and is displayed on the visa sticker.

Thank you all for clearing that up.

Looking at it that way, it does make sense - but I was completely confused by the fact that it wasn't clearly stated on the visa that the second (as in my case) entry must be made before the date on the visa. Anyways, you live and learn...

Next question re double entry tourist visa: how many of these double entry tourist visas can I apply for back-to-back or in a give time period?

When my 30 day tourist visa expires, can I apply for another double entry tourist visa at a Thai consulate/embassy abroad?

I'm eligible for a work permit at the place I'm working at, but am still interested to know how many double or triple entry tourist visas one can apply for in a given time frame.

Thanks again!

It seems you are working illegally.

If you get a work permit you wouldn't need the tourist visas. You could get a 1 year extension of stay if the company can supply the documentation. Otherwise a multiple entry B visa would give you a year making border runs every 90 days.

Since you have had only one tourist visa you should be able to get another one without a problem. But your next trip should be for a non-immigrant B visa which you can get with a work permit application receipt (WP3) and documentation from the company which is first step of getting a one year extension or multi entry visa.

I'm afraid I have to come back to the "double entry" tourist visa issue again.

I'll have to leave Thailand again in July and apply for a double entry tourist visa. I know, from past experience, that I can get it in Vientiane easily enough.

I would, however, like to visit some other city in one of the neighbouring countries and turn the visa run into a short holiday.

I know there are Thai embassies and consulates in other countries, but I'm looking for one that doesn't make it difficult/complicated for expats to get a double entry tourist visa.

Any recommendations? Colombo? Manila? Kuala Lumpur? New Delhi?

I've been to Vientiane a few times and I'm really just in the mood to see something different.

Thanks in advance!

From the Thai immigration webside, the validity is often a issue as many visitors do not notice the "Enter Before" date or "Must be utilized"date.

You will have to apply for a new visa.

http://www.immigrati...axpiredate.html

Strangely, that link does not say whether you have to actually enter before the "enter before" date.

the visa is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires

How anyone can be confused about having to enter before the "enter before" date is beyond me.

I'm afraid I have to come back to the "double entry" tourist visa issue again.

I'll have to leave Thailand again in July and apply for a double entry tourist visa. I know, from past experience, that I can get it in Vientiane easily enough.

I would, however, like to visit some other city in one of the neighbouring countries and turn the visa run into a short holiday.

I know there are Thai embassies and consulates in other countries, but I'm looking for one that doesn't make it difficult/complicated for expats to get a double entry tourist visa.

Any recommendations? Colombo? Manila? Kuala Lumpur? New Delhi?

I've been to Vientiane a few times and I'm really just in the mood to see something different.

Thanks in advance!

At the moment Vientiane and Savvanakhet are the only nearby consulates issuing two entry visas.

Bali is issuing 3 entry tourist visa's.

I'm afraid I have to come back to the "double entry" tourist visa issue again.

I'll have to leave Thailand again in July and apply for a double entry tourist visa. I know, from past experience, that I can get it in Vientiane easily enough.

I would, however, like to visit some other city in one of the neighbouring countries and turn the visa run into a short holiday.

I know there are Thai embassies and consulates in other countries, but I'm looking for one that doesn't make it difficult/complicated for expats to get a double entry tourist visa.

Any recommendations? Colombo? Manila? Kuala Lumpur? New Delhi?

I've been to Vientiane a few times and I'm really just in the mood to see something different.

Thanks in advance!

At the moment Vientiane and Savvanakhet are the only nearby consulates issuing two entry visas.

Bali is issuing 3 entry tourist visa's.

Thanks! That's good to know.

the visa is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires

How anyone can be confused about having to enter before the "enter before" date is beyond me.

True, but the confusing part was "which entry" was meant. The first or the second? That wasn't stated anywhere and that's what confused me. Thanks nevertheless for the input.

All entries must be made at the expiry date the latest. After the expiry date you can no longer use the visa to enter Thailand and any entry not used would be void.

Re one Post ....... Colombo is fine, only problem you have to wait 4 days

See http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/189375-latest-reports-of-getting-a-visa-in-the-region/

while on that page you can check out other places, and what people said/got

Re one Post ....... Colombo is fine, only problem you have to wait 4 days

See http://www.thaivisa....-in-the-region/

while on that page you can check out other places, and what people said/got

Thanks a million! That's great!