Extending Triple Entry Tourist Visa?

[patjk]

In October I will be getting a triple entry tourist visa. It expires 6 months from the date of issue. I'm slightly confused how this gets extended to the 90 additional days (30 per entry) since it expires within 6 months.

Say I get the stamp on Oct. 15, that means I have to use all my entries by April 15th. If I extend my first 2 entries 30 days, that means by April 15th, I will still have 1 entry left, but since it expires then, how exactly does that work?

I know i can extend each one from 60 days to 90 days, but since I have to use all within 6 months, what is the best way to get to 9 months?

Thanks!

[Lite Beer]

As you say the Visa is valid from day of issue so don't apply too early.

Your 3rd entry must be made before that expiry date.

You can then extend that entry.

You will probably lose a few days of your second extension but should get a total of almost 9 months.

[jacktrip]

you do the last border run for the 3rd entry a couple days before the visa expiration date, this gives you the three months valid after the expiration date listed.

[lopburi3]

It gives you 60 days plus 30 days extension from the date you return - if you do it early the time is lost.

[patjk]

That makes sense, thanks for the info.

Another visa-related question: I will likely get my visa on Oct. 5th or so. In mid-November, I want to go to Malaysia to visit a friend who has time off and travel for a couple weeks. Considering I want to do this, what is the best way to make it happen, yet still maximize my visa in Thailand?

Thanks!

[lopburi3]

Although you might be able to use a re-entry permit expect entry immigration will want to use your next visa (which is actually the purpose of 2/3 tourist visa issue) so I would just do so. If you decide to stay longer you can visit a Consulate to obtain a new tourist visa later. Or have your friend visit Thailand for vacation?

[patjk]

Although you might be able to use a re-entry permit expect entry immigration will want to use your next visa (which is actually the purpose of 2/3 tourist visa issue) so I would just do so. If you decide to stay longer you can visit a Consulate to obtain a new tourist visa later. Or have your friend visit Thailand for vacation?

Thanks for the suggestion. I wouldn't mind my friend visiting, but he offered to show me around Malaysia and Singapore and I don't want to pass that up if possible. If I use my triple entry visa, what are the odds they will allow me to get another tourist visa? I've heard they don't want people getting them after 3.

Basically my issue is I want to ensure I don't lose months of time in Thailand simply by visiting Malaysia for a couple weeks toward the beginning of my time in Asia.

[wigantojapan]

Although you might be able to use a re-entry permit expect entry immigration will want to use your next visa (which is actually the purpose of 2/3 tourist visa issue) so I would just do so. If you decide to stay longer you can visit a Consulate to obtain a new tourist visa later. Or have your friend visit Thailand for vacation?

Thanks for the suggestion. I wouldn't mind my friend visiting, but he offered to show me around Malaysia and Singapore and I don't want to pass that up if possible. If I use my triple entry visa, what are the odds they will allow me to get another tourist visa? I've heard they don't want people getting them after 3.

Basically my issue is I want to ensure I don't lose months of time in Thailand simply by visiting Malaysia for a couple weeks toward the beginning of my time in Asia.

you will only miss the 2 weeks you are in Malaysia in the total of 9 months,

getting a double entry visa is hard enough nowadays in bordering countries of Thailand

[lopburi3]

Unless using a re-entry permit he will lose the entire tourist visa stay/extension period. And it is not a problem getting another tourist visa in the area if you only have 2 or 3 in passport. It is when there are a handful that some Consulates will not issue (but even then others will).

[IMA_FARANG]

Say I get the stamp on Oct. 15, that means I have to use all my entries by April 15th. If I extend my first 2 entries 30 days, that means by April 15th, I will still have 1 entry left, but since it expires then, how exactly does that work?

------------------

Yes, that's the thing about a triple entry visa...it's good for 3 entries before that expiration date.

Each ENTRY gets you 60 days with a possible extension of 30 days on that entry.

You see, the immigration is counting the number of ENTRIES...not the time in Thailand.

So, what you do to maximise the time you actually get in Thailand is to plan to do a "border run:....going to the nearest border on (in this case) the the 14th of April. You exit Thailand ...making sure you get an exit stamp in your passport...then turn around and re-enter Thailand.

You will then get another 60 day entry stamp...which you can also extend for another 30 days.

Even though your actual visa expires on 15 April, that 14 April re-entry stamp allows you a "permitted to stay" date from ((14 April plus (60 day entry plus 30 day extension))....or sometime in July.

In practice...that means you may have to give up (sacrifice) some days in Thailand from that 2nd entry/extension in order to get your 3rd entry/extension before the expiration date arrives.

[patjk]

Unless using a re-entry permit he will lose the entire tourist visa stay/extension period. And it is not a problem getting another tourist visa in the area if you only have 2 or 3 in passport. It is when there are a handful that some Consulates will not issue (but even then others will).

That was what I figured, which means I essentially will lose 3 months worth of guaranteed time in Thailand by doing this Malaysian trip. What are the odds of getting a re-entry permit, as opposed to using one of my entries on my visa?

Also, say I arrive Oct. 15 in Thailand, and Nov. 15 I leave to visit my friend until Dec. 1. Does this mean I still need to leave Dec. 15 (60 days after initially arriving) to extend my 60 day visa to 90 days? Or can I extend my visa in Bangkok at an immigration office without leaving the country?

Thanks for your time guys, I really appreciate it.

[SimonD]

I'll have a stab at this - I like puzzles!

Arriving in Thailand on 15th Oct. and maximising the number of days available on the first entry will take you to 12th January (one day short for safety margin). If you exited on 15th Nov. you would lose the remaining 30 days of your first entry entitlement plus the whole 30 days of the possible extension. That's a 2/3rds waste of the first entry. You could have done that with a visa exempt stamp.

If you instead exit Thailand for your visit 15 days short of 12th January you will only have lost the last two weeks of the 30 day extension that piggybacks on the first entry. This makes full use of the first entry.

I think that makes sense. Have a play around with this date/days calculator: http://www.timeandda...e/duration.html

That means you would still have the full two entries (~180 days) remaining, give or take a few days here or there.

Somebody check my figures please.

Edit: You should always maximise the full 60 days of each entry in Thailand. If needs must, sacrifice part of the 'bonus' 30 days that comes with the extension(s), otherwise you will lose the remainder of that entry and all of the extension that comes with it.

[Maestro]

You can still get a 30-day extension from your local immigration office. Your scenario would look like this:

1. 15 OCT: arrival in Thailand; permission to stay until 13 DEC
   
2. Any time before leaving Thailand: get single-entry re-entry permit (cost: 1,000 Baht)
   
3. 15 NOV: departure from Thailand
   
4. 01 DEC: arrival in Thailand; permission to stay until 13 DEC
   
5. About 06 DEC: extension of stay (cost: 1,900 Baht); new expiration of stay 12 JAN
   

Please note that you do not have to wait until the last day, ie 13 DEC, to apply for your extension of stay. Do it any time, eg during the last two weeks, and you will always get the 30 days added to the end of your current permission to stay. The immigration office may even give you the extension of stay during the same visit when you apply for your re-entry permit, ie before15 NOV. If you do that, ie on the same visit to immigration, apply first for the extension, then for the re-entry permit.

[patjk]

Thanks all for your suggestions.

You can still get a 30-day extension from your local immigration office. Your scenario would look like this:

1. 15 OCT: arrival in Thailand; permission to stay until 13 DEC
   
2. Any time before leaving Thailand: get single-entry re-entry permit (cost: 1,000 Baht)
   
3. 15 NOV: departure from Thailand
   
4. 01 DEC: arrival in Thailand; permission to stay until 13 DEC
   
5. About 06 DEC: extension of stay (cost: 1,900 Baht); new expiration of stay 12 JAN
   

Please note that you do not have to wait until the last day, ie 13 DEC, to apply for your extension of stay. Do it any time, eg during the last two weeks, and you will always get the 30 days added to the end of your current permission to stay. The immigration office may even give you the extension of stay during the same visit when you apply for your re-entry permit, ie before15 NOV. If you do that, ie on the same visit to immigration, apply first for the extension, then for the re-entry permit.

On point 2, would I need to get a single entry if I already have a triple entry visa?

I just thought of another option: what if I don't use my triple entry visa at all when I first enter by air, and just stay for "under 30 days w/o a visa". Then when I return to Thailand, I use my first entry (or second I guess since I used my first upon initial arrival)? Is that possible?

Now that the dates are a bit closer, it is looking like Nov. 12th or 15th, and return Dec. 5th.

I haven't got my triple entry visa yet, but I plan to in the next few days. Getting a triple is the best option, correct? Basically, I want to haveas much time as possible in Thailand, but still being able to make this trip.

Lastly, when I have to exit the country again, I want to travel to another country for a couple weeks (since I'm exiting anyways). When I re-enter is when I'd use my 3rd entry, correct, and from that point on I'd basically get 90 days?

So it looking like:

OCT 4 - issued triple entry visa - will be doing 2 weeks traveling before entering Thailand

OCT 24- Arrive into Bangkok, uses first entry of the triple entry visa

NOV 12 - Leave Thailand to Malaysia/Singapore

DEC 5 - Arrive into Bangkok, use second entry of triple entry visa

FEB 4 - Extend second entry 30 days

MAR 4 - Exit country to travel for a couple weeks

MAR 20 - Re-enter Thailand using 3rd entry

MAY 20 - Extend visa 30 days

JUNE 20 - 30 day extension expires, leave to try to get another entry.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that is about the best I can make of this, unless I re-enter on APR 4 instead of MAR 20, which I may end up doing. Thanks in advance!

[lopburi3]

If you have a visa immigration can require it be used or cancel it. You can ask for them to just provide visa exempt and maybe they will - but don't push it if they say no; or you could lose totally lose that visa.

[patjk]

If you have a visa immigration can require it be used or cancel it. You can ask for them to just provide visa exempt and maybe they will - but don't push it if they say no; or you could lose totally lose that visa.

I'm sorry, can you clarify that? I don't quite understand. Thanks.

[Mario2008]

I just thought of another option: what if I don't use my triple entry visa at all when I first enter by air, and just stay for "under 30 days w/o a visa". Then when I return to Thailand, I use my first entry (or second I guess since I used my first upon initial arrival)? Is that possible?

You have to ask about that at the airport. Immigraiton might or might not be willing to do that. They might say they will cancel your visa before giving you a visa exempt entry. But they might also just allow you the visa exempt entry and leave your visa.

People seem to get mixed results.

[patjk]

I got my triple entry visa today, OCT 2, so does this look like the best way to go about my trip?

OCT 2 - issued triple entry visa - will be doing 2 weeks traveling before entering Thailand

OCT 24- Arrive into Bangkok, uses first entry of the triple entry visa

NOV 12 - Leave Thailand to Malaysia/Singapore

DEC 5 - Arrive into Bangkok, use second entry of triple entry visa

FEB 2 - Extend second entry 30 days

MAR 2 - Exit country to travel for a couple weeks

MAR 20 - Re-enter Thailand using 3rd entry

MAY 20 - Extend visa 30 days

JUNE 20 - 30 day extension expires, leave to try to get another entry.

[wayned]

If it was issued Oct 2 then it should expire on April 1 - April fools day! Plan looks Okay, however, when you leave in June you will not be able to get another entry, you will have to get a new visa or reenter on a visa exempt entry; 30 days by air, 15 by land. Neighboring countries currently do not issue 6 month triple entry visas. The most you can get is a 3 month double entry

[riclag]

I got my triple entry visa today, OCT 2, so does this look like the best way to go about my trip?

OCT 2 - issued triple entry visa - will be doing 2 weeks traveling before entering Thailand

OCT 24- Arrive into Bangkok, uses first entry of the triple entry visa

NOV 12 - Leave Thailand to Malaysia/Singapore

DEC 5 - Arrive into Bangkok, use second entry of triple entry visa

FEB 2 - Extend second entry 30 days

MAR 2 - Exit country to travel for a couple weeks

MAR 20 - Re-enter Thailand using 3rd entry

MAY 20 - Extend visa 30 days

JUNE 20 - 30 day extension expires, leave to try to get another entry.

Hi I'm curious to know since its June 2013.How you made out? Can or did you get the rentry visa in June

[patjk]

I got my triple entry visa today, OCT 2, so does this look like the best way to go about my trip?

OCT 2 - issued triple entry visa - will be doing 2 weeks traveling before entering Thailand

OCT 24- Arrive into Bangkok, uses first entry of the triple entry visa

NOV 12 - Leave Thailand to Malaysia/Singapore

DEC 5 - Arrive into Bangkok, use second entry of triple entry visa

FEB 2 - Extend second entry 30 days

MAR 2 - Exit country to travel for a couple weeks

MAR 20 - Re-enter Thailand using 3rd entry

MAY 20 - Extend visa 30 days

JUNE 20 - 30 day extension expires, leave to try to get another entry.

Hi I'm curious to know since its June 2013.How you made out? Can or did you get the rentry visa in June

Yes, the triple entry worked great, and I did make it out, and back in for 2 weeks before heading out again.