Obtaining 60Day Double Entry Tourist Visa:

[TradeMark]

Hello Thaivisa members,

Thanks in advance for all the great threads that have helped a great deal in my "semi permanent planned stay" in Thailand so far!

Apologies in advance if this exact question has been answered before but I can't seem to find a DIRECT and current answer relating to my needs.

I am a South African citizen, currently staying in Phuket and have been in Thailand close on 90 days (60day single entry tourist and 30day extension). Pre planned out language school ED visa dropped a bomb on me today saying I need police clearance for Ministry of Education approval for my course. Thought no big deal but appears it takes the South African Government close on 8weeks to process one of these for me. By then my Visa will be expired, not to mention the time also required for Ministry of Education letter to be approved.

So 1st question, logically I presume a Visa run to Penang would be a good option, presumably allowing me another 60day single entry and 30day extend option?

2nd question, are there any viable visa run options from Phuket that would allow me to apply for a double entry 60day tourist visa as opposed to the single entry?

3rd question, can a double entry be activated for its "second leg" at any border post or can only specific ones offer this as is the case with the longer visas on visa runs.

And 4th and final question would be suggestions on the best services based in Phuket to complete these scenarios and all the potential scenarios at my disposal.

Side note money isn't an issue at all but iam not bill gates so with in reason and my preference would obviously be a double entry if I need to do this in any case and the language school can wait.

Thanks in advance and apologies for the long winded 1st post!

[lopburi3]

1. Although have seen reports it has ended Penang had a policy not to issue tourist visa to anyone having previously extended such a stay. I would check first if they will issue or prepare to move onward to KL if refused.

2. The only current reports close 2 tourist visa posts are in Laos. Vientiane or Savannakhet.

3. Any exit and return activates second entry - but remember both must be made during validity which from a local Consulate will be 90 days from date of issue.

4. No idea but I would do it yourself.

As for this "police clearance" have never seen any such report. Am sure member would be interested in details if you know them.

[Colabamumbai]

1 . 2. You should be able to get a double entry tourist visa 60 x 2 from any of the surrounding countries. That would give you a total of 180 days with extensions at immigration.

3. It can be activated at any entry point in Thailand.

4. You can do this yourself, or travel with an agency in a van if they run from Phuket.

[Colabamumbai]

You mention Ed. Visa. I was on an Ed. visa also and never asked. Something does not sound right, you need police clearance for an Ed. Visa? I have never heard of that, nor in three years on TVF have never seen a similiar post. Could it be your nationality?

[TradeMark]

1. Although have seen reports it has ended Penang had a policy not to issue tourist visa to anyone having previously extended such a stay. I would check first if they will issue or prepare to move onward to KL if refused.

2. The only current reports close 2 tourist visa posts are in Laos. Vientiane or Savannakhet.

3. Any exit and return activates second entry - but remember both must be made during validity which from a local Consulate will be 90 days from date of issue.

4. No idea but I would do it yourself.

As for this "police clearance" have never seen any such report. Am sure member would be interested in details if you know them.

Thanks for the reply!

Just to clarify on your answer to question 1, are you saying that the applications for Visa runs for a 60day tourist Visa at Penang are no more? Meaning this is not a possible or viable option? Or is this only for double entries?

[TradeMark]

1 . 2. You should be able to get a double entry tourist visa 60 x 2 from any of the surrounding countries. That would give you a total of 180 days with extensions at immigration.

3. It can be activated at any entry point in Thailand.

4. You can do this yourself, or travel with an agency in a van if they run from Phuket.

Thanks for reply, would Penang in particular or any other viable options for Phuket be a "Guaranteed" grant for a double entry tourist Visa and can anyone comment with recent experiences given my scenario?

With regards to the question pertaining to this bomb that was dropped on me for police clearance the very pleasant Thai lady sounded more upset and shocked than me, from my understanding of her explanation she had multiple applications for students from various countries put in along side mine and mine was the only one with an issue, in her words: "new law South Africa citizen need letter, police clearance, so sorry! We can still do for you they say ok, but we must have police clearance from South Africa"

[TradeMark]

Any further feedback and clarification on the viable Phuket Visa run options (Penang in particular) with RECENT success/experiences for double entry (preferable) or single entry 60day tourist visas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[lopburi3]

What I posted is what I know - in the recent past Penang would not issue another tourist visa if you had previously extended your stay on a tourist visa. I believe this policy has changed but very limited reporting and I would advise contact with a visa service there or allow time to go elsewhere if rejected. I do not believe 2 entry will be available but as said very few reports for many months as most people seem to be giving it a miss.

[TradeMark]

What I posted is what I know - in the recent past Penang would not issue another tourist visa if you had previously extended your stay on a tourist visa. I believe this policy has changed but very limited reporting and I would advise contact with a visa service there or allow time to go elsewhere if rejected. I do not believe 2 entry will be available but as said very few reports for many months as most people seem to be giving it a miss.

Thanks for the information, much appreciated! Also cant seem to find much thus the reason for the posts and a lot of the visa run service websites haven't been updated for a while, a call wont hurt tho.

Again if anyone has recent experiences with successfully obtaining a 60day tourist visa and double entry in particular at Penang please let me know! Besides Penang as you said people have been giving it a miss where is the "best" option to head to for the double entry?

[Mario2008]

Best option is probably Laos, in Vientianne and Savanakhet.

[TradeMark]

And that would be best option for general success or best option for the double entry? No comments on the Penang situation? Thanks

[Mario2008]

Best option for double entry.

Regarding Penang I have othing to add to Lopburi's post.

[TradeMark]

Thanks Mario!

Update on the language school after speaking to western owner, I require Royal Thai Police clearance as a South African, not home country police clearance (just incase i set up a drug ring of sorts in my short stay), for fellow SA citizens we have only been recently added to this list of countries where it is essential, note for future ref. This cannot be done in Phuket or anywhere else in Thailand besides Bangkok. This requires going to RTP Headquarters in Bangkok in person, filling out forms and applying, wait 10 working days, receive forms, them present them to language school for further presentation to the MOE.... FML

If anyone else can chime in for best visa run solutions closer to Phuket or any Phuket residents that are doing Visa runs regularly it would be greatly appreciated! Also anyone with recent specifics on Penang!

Thanks again!

[lopburi3]

Thanks for that update - important and specific information for readers.

[ubonjoe]

1 . 2. You should be able to get a double entry tourist visa 60 x 2 from any of the surrounding countries. That would give you a total of 180 days with extensions at immigration.

You should do a little research before posting.

Latest reports indicate that neither Penang or KL issue 2 entry visa's.

[TradeMark]

Just an update for those interested and RSA citizens in particular:

I have made contact with the Thai consulate in Savannakhet and Penang + the most popular Visa agents in those respective places. In both circumstances the actual consulate has said I will NOT be able to obtain a tourist visa due to the nature of how I want to obtain it and my citizenship (ie a visa run/ RSA citizen).

However both Visa agents in those respective places have told me that they can guarantee me the tourist visa (double entry Savannakhet + single entry Penang) on their VIP package when they go to the consulate for me. The Visa agent in Penang even sent me a picture of a RSA citizens passport with a fresh tourist Visa in it obtained less than a month ago.

I have decided to give the Penang one a try and head out on Wednesday evening. With the backup plan being KL as suggested by the members even though I have received no reply from the KL consulate or any of the Visa agents I have tried to contact there.

Will report back on success of the mission + I will also let you know in the near future how the previously mentioned police clearance thing worked out + obtaining ED and B visa for myself and my girlfriend thereafter.

Thanks again for help!

[MattyElms]

Hi Folks,

I've read that double entry visa's require a return flight. Right now I'm living in the US, but plan to stay in Thailand indefinitely. Will I need to book a return flight just to get the visa? If so, do I book the return flight for something like 60 days after the arrival date (even though I know 30 day extensions are possible)?

Once I'm there, I probably will switch to an Ed visa after a few months.

What do people usually do in my situation?

Thanks,

Matt

[AdventureArtist]

Penang is not the great place to get visas as it once was. I love Penang and their Indian food, but no longer go there for visas unless desperate. Me, my friends, and none of the people I've talked to have been able to obtain double entry visas there in recent years. Also, many people are getting rejected for any visa if they have too many visas already. This includes the agents who have gotten to the point where they just open your passport, take a glance, and say no. The very same agents that used to be able to get you any visa. If this Thai visa you have, with a single extension is the only Thai visa in your passport, it's a pretty good chance you'll be able to get another single entry 60day visa, unless of course the tourist visa your running out of was obtained in Penang, and then your chances look pretty bad. You're almost guaranteed not to get a double entry in Penang right now. The same goes with Kota Bahru from what I've been hearing, although I haven't personally been down there in about a year. If you're going south, head to Kuala Lumpur, I hear they are doing double entry, but might require a plane ticket home. Singapore is another place they want a lot of paperwork.

Vientiene is my tried and true for the last while, fingers crossed. My friend also just got back from Savanaket, stayed at the casino, everything taken care of, 60 day double entry while he sat at the tables, sounded like a good deal.

[lopburi3]

Hi Folks,

I've read that double entry visa's require a return flight. Right now I'm living in the US, but plan to stay in Thailand indefinitely. Will I need to book a return flight just to get the visa? If so, do I book the return flight for something like 60 days after the arrival date (even though I know 30 day extensions are possible)?

Once I'm there, I probably will switch to an Ed visa after a few months.

What do people usually do in my situation?

Thanks,

Matt

Any visa may require a return or onward flight to be issued by the Consulate - they are not normally interested in the timing or if two entry at a Consulate in the US.

[tideout]

Sorry if this is such a newbie questions but this seems as good a thread as any. For starters, I'm a US citizen and I'm here on a 30 day tourist visa looking for ESL work.

I want to maximize the # of days I can return while minimizing the pain. Can I just go to the Laos border now and cross back into Thailand with a 60 day tourist visa and then extend for 30 days again within Thailand at this point? Hopefully, I'll have some work by the end of that 90 days anyway.

It appears extending visas multiple, multiple times is getting tough.

Thanks for your ideas.

[Mario2008]

Sorry if this is such a newbie questions but this seems as good a thread as any. For starters, I'm a US citizen and I'm here on a 30 day tourist visa looking for ESL work.

I want to maximize the # of days I can return while minimizing the pain. Can I just go to the Laos border now and cross back into Thailand with a 60 day tourist visa and then extend for 30 days again within Thailand at this point? Hopefully, I'll have some work by the end of that 90 days anyway.

It appears extending visas multiple, multiple times is getting tough.

Thanks for your ideas.

Only if you go to a Thai consulate to obtain a tourist visa. If you go to Laos and obtain a tourist visa at one of the Thai consulates you will be allowed to stay 60 days and can extend by another 30 days for 1,900 baht.

[tideout]

Sorry if this is such a newbie questions but this seems as good a thread as any. For starters, I'm a US citizen and I'm here on a 30 day tourist visa looking for ESL work.

I want to maximize the # of days I can return while minimizing the pain. Can I just go to the Laos border now and cross back into Thailand with a 60 day tourist visa and then extend for 30 days again within Thailand at this point? Hopefully, I'll have some work by the end of that 90 days anyway.

It appears extending visas multiple, multiple times is getting tough.

Thanks for your ideas.

Only if you go to a Thai consulate to obtain a tourist visa. If you go to Laos and obtain a tourist visa at one of the Thai consulates you will be allowed to stay 60 days and can extend by another 30 days for 1,900 baht.

Thanks for responding Mario - just wanted to confirm given the latest information flying around about Malaysia.

- Regards