Visa Run Vs Extend Visa (39 Days In Country)

[goodthaitravel]

To all,

I'll give you my itinerary and then you give me your thoughts....

I arrive in BKK on 12/6/12, travel north and enter Loas on 12/15/12. I will end up in Cambodia. I then return to BKK on 12/23/12, at this point I have 39 days before my return flight home. I would like to know what my best option is ...in order, not to be in violation and over stay my visa.

1. Do I need to make a visa run via land (new visa 15 days) of air ( NV 30 days). which ever I do, I'm under the impression that this will be my third and final visa???

2. or can I go to a immigration office and pay the 2000+baht and receive a extension on the current 30 day visa. I have read two different amounts of time that the Thai govt will extend a 30 day visa.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter, any help will be greatly appreciated!

[wayned]

Your best bet would be to get a double entry tourist visa before you leave your home country and forget about the visa exept entries, extensions and border run.

Enter 12/16/12 - first entry, get 60 days permission to stay. Exit 12/15/12. Re-enter 12/23/12 via land or air , second entry, get 60 days permission to stay. Leave 39 days later. No vists to immigration for extension or extra border runs required.

[goodthaitravel]

Thanks Wayned,

unfortunately, I'm in Afghanistan and will travel back to the states for a very small window, just long enough to turn in gear and then flying to BKK. out of the 2 options that I have once in Thailand, which one should I go with?

Thanks!

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Thanks Wayned,

unfortunately, I'm in Afghanistan and will travel back to the states for a very small window, just long enough to turn in gear and then flying to BKK. out of the 2 options that I have once in Thailand, which one should I go with?

Thanks!

Depending on where you're turning around stateside, I've gotten visas processed same day at Thai consulate, try giving them a call ahead of time and let them know you can show them your outbound ticket, didn't even have to pay any extra. . .

[lomatopo]

Can you get a tourist visa in Laos or Cambodia, between Dec. 15 & 23? Even a single entry 30 day could be extended for 15 days in country.

I've gotten visas processed same day at Thai consulate

And which Thai consulates in the U.S do same-day visa processing? That kind of detail would be helpful.

[lopburi3]

If you return by air you will get 30 day visa exempt and can only extend that 7 days (for 1,900 baht) and it is not a real extension but a 7 day period to exit country - the extension is marked unapproved. Best option would be a quick border crossing and return for a 15 day land visa exempt entry (from Bangkok price is about 2,000 baht and firms travel every day all inclusive). There is no limit on the number of visas or visa exempt entries you may have.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

And which Thai consulates in the U.S do same-day visa processing? That kind of detail would be helpful.

The reason I didn't give it is because both times were a long time ago, and I'm sure it varies depending on their current workload, who's on duty or even who answers the phone etc. I was just recommending giving it a shot on the off chance. . .

Once in NYC and once in Melbourne.

[wayned]

One of your BIGGEST problems might be that you don not have an outbound ticket from Thailand within 30 days of arrival. The airline that you are flying from the US might not let you board your flight! This has happened to many and they have been forced to purchase an ongoing ticket before being allowed to board the aircraft.

If you enter without a visa by air, you will get 30 days permission to stay, by land you will only get 15 days permission to stay. Either entry can only be extended 7 days (1900 baht) and you must have a ticket out during the 7 days.

So if you do manage to get on the plane and enter on 12/6 you will get 30 days. Leave on 12/15 -Okay. Re enter 12/23 by air and get 30 days and then make another border run and reenter by land and get 15 days. You'll be covered legally with another border run and no overstay.

Double entry tourist visa would be best. Try calling Mary at Portland and see if she can do anything to issue the visa quickly: Visa application porcedures, Portland Oregon.doc

[goodthaitravel]

wayned,

good copy... on how the airline (Airchina) will view

my itinerary, I will not have proof of on ward travel out of Thailand, do to the fact that I'm crossing over into Laos on land, but what I will have is my itinerary, with my flights from Laung Prabang to Siem Reap(12/21) and Phonm Phen back to BKK (12/23). I hope this is sufficient enough to show that I will be out of Thailand with in the first 30 day visa,.... now... if there really up on there math and notice the 39 day block of time on the tail end, I once again may have a problem.

to simplify this, should I just make a run up to Vientiane prior to my 2nd visa expiration??

I would like to take the the the train up and fly back (new 30 day visa)....would a pre booked train ticket be enough for the the airline,to show that I was leaving Thailand in that 39 day block of time.

sounds like I should just book some onward travel...in that last 39 days,

one again...Thank you!

I'll give Mary a try too

[goodthaitravel]

lopburi3

Thank you, that's good info...

I'm wondering if I will have trouble with my airline prior to leaving the states, not so much in the fisrt leg of the trip. I have booked air fare showing me out of Thailand bifore that first 30 day visa is up,but I have from the 12/23 to 1/30 that I need to show my airline that I will not stay in Thailand for the full 39 days. I think some booked onward travel in the first part of January will work out best.

Thank you for your help!

[lopburi3]

Local flights do not normally require show of onward travel for visa exempt entry although if going to be in Vientiane for more than a day it would be a good idea to buy a tourist visa as that would solve all your issues.

[wayned]

When you return by air on 23/12 you will get 30 days permission to stay. You said that you would stay 39 days.

If you do nothing, you will have 9 days of overstay at 500 baht/day = 4500baht on leaving. BUT, during the period you are on overstay if, for any reason, you are stopped by the BIB and asked for your passport you'll be in a bind, maybe even IDC, since you effectvely are in the country illegally. You should do a quick border run by land near 30 days and get another 15.

How many days are you going to be in the US before your flight to Thailand?

[goodthaitravel]

Wayned,

as for the airlines, i called AirChina and asked if my Laos/Cambo flights were valid "proof of onward travel" They say yes, so I'm covered there. as for the 39 days on the tail end of my trip. I've decided to make a visa run prior to the 2nd 30 day visa expiration. I will have proof of onward travel through out my time in south east Asia

wayned, to answer your question: 2 days in the states.

Thanks again!

Visa run: Air Asia has some great prices for Hanoi.... Has any one used a site for a prearranged visa on arrival to Vietnam?

From what I have read there are some shyster's out there when I comes to arranging this on line...please advise if possible.

Thank you

[wayned]

Looks like youv'e got it covered. Hope your flight from Afghanistan isn't delayed, your'e cutting it close. No experience with Vietnam visas. Didn't need one when I was there last!

Good luck!

[goodthaitravel]

I'll start leaving AFG on the 23rd of this month..that's right I said " start".... it can take a week on MilAir. I have a flight leaving kuwait late on the 2nd.... going to the west coast, then at that point I have 2 days.

good to go on the Vietnam visa.... Thanks for the help!

take care.......

[Sirius1935]

I have a friend who is in Thailand on a Non Immigrant O visa. Has a Thai wife and son. He didn't leave when he should have last June as he signed on a boat as crew which was unable to depart on schedule. He has now overstayed for a few months. If he goes to the airport and pays the ฿20,000 fine and flies out to a neighbouring country to get a new visa, will he be given a red stamp in his passport or worse?

[asiaexpat]

Viet Nam Visa on Arrival requires an advance letter that is obtained using a website. I recently used Vietnam-visa.com and was ok. Otherwise you must get a visa from thier embassy.

[CantSpell]

For Cambodia, E-Visa is highly recommended: regular visa, you will have to queue on arrival to process the visa (usually fast: 15-20 minutes and you will get a HUGE sticker wasting one page of your passport and then get the entry stamp.

E-Visa you print yourself and only go get entry stamp while presenting the E-Visa paper.

Takes around 3 to 5 days by internet: http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/ (official Website Ministry of Foreign affairs)

[ubonjoe]

I have a friend who is in Thailand on a Non Immigrant O visa. Has a Thai wife and son. He didn't leave when he should have last June as he signed on a boat as crew which was unable to depart on schedule. He has now overstayed for a few months. If he goes to the airport and pays the ฿20,000 fine and flies out to a neighbouring country to get a new visa, will he be given a red stamp in his passport or worse?

He will get a small blue stamp in Thai that says he overstayed X number of days and the fine paid.

He will not have any problem getting a visa for his return.

How much longer will he be staying? If he just flew out and back (overstay border runs by land are risky) and get a 30 day entry he could then get an extension for 60 days to visit his wife/child at immigration. Which he could of already of gotten for his non-o entry instead of overstaying and then gotten another 60 day extension of a 15 day entry after making a land border run.

[Sirius1935]

Many thanks for that reply. He is planning a trip to Malaysia by air to get a new 3 month visa and return.

I have passed on your advice.

May I ask another question as I have been given conflicting answers?

I am on a retirement extension, valid until 30 September next year. My first 90 day report is on 12 December. However I left Thailand on 3rd October to go to Canada and returned to Thailand three weeks later. I was told that, on checking in at Immigration at Suvarnambum I would get another 90 days starting from then.

They said No: you have to report to your home immigration office (Mae Sai) on the original date, 12 December. The problem is I leave my home area in a couple of days and set sail from Phuket to Malaysia on 12 December. I won't return to Thailand until the end of January.

So, as I won't be in Thailand on 12 December and I won't be in this part of Thailand after this Wednesday, should I do a 90 day report at Mae sai tomorrow? I will only have been in Thailand for 18 days.

[lopburi3]

Who is they? Airport immigration? They have nothing to do with 90 day address reporting. You are not due to report until 90 days after most recent arrival and as you are departing again it will then be 90 days from that next arrival (and if you keep travelling without staying 90 days you will never need to report).

[Sirius1935]

O.K. Thanks for that.

Yes, "They" are the Immigration people at Suvarnambum.

I was expecting them to remove the piece of paper that says I must report by 12 December or

I was expecting that date to be changed to 90 days from my arrival back in Thailand, which would have been 28 February next year. The supervisor said No you have to report to your "Home Imm. Office" on 12 December.

As I'll be on a yacht on my way to Langkawi on that date it will be a bit difficult.

I much appreciate the assistance by the way.

After I get to Langkawi I fly to Aus for Christmas & New Year then fly back to Langkawi, then sail back to Phuket at the end of January.

[lopburi3]

Immigration was right in that they do not touch your 90 day report as it has nothing to do with them. You just remember (or write on receipt) 90 days from last entry and date of entry being day 1.

[Sirius1935]

O.K. Thanks for that Lopburi3.

I probably won't be in Thailand for 90 days consecutively until my retirement visa is due for renewal at the end of September 2013. Does that mean I just show them the arrival and departure stamps as proof of 90 day or less report?

S.

[Mario2008]

The exit and entry stamps show you did not need to make a 90 day report.

[Sirius1935]

Oh Good. And Thanks again.

I wish the Immigration officer and her supervisor at Suvarnambhum had said that instead of clearly saying ( in Thai which I understand well) that my arrival on 30 October was irrelevant and I had to report to Immigration at Mae Sai as stated on the slip in my passport (12 December).

[davidstipek]

Can you get a tourist visa in Laos or Cambodia, between Dec. 15 & 23? Even a single entry 30 day could be extended for 15 days in country.

I've gotten visas processed same day at Thai consulate

And which Thai consulates in the U.S do same-day visa processing? That kind of detail would be helpful.

Portland Oregon... does 1 day. I send info required by fed ex with return fedex mailer (or post office doesn't matter ... just be sure it has address and postage attached)

Emai in Portland of Consulate:

Mary Wheeler

Mary Wheeler

Consular Assistant

Royal Thai Consulate General

1136 NW Hoyt Street, Suite 210

Portland, OR 97209

503-221-0440

[email protected]

www.thai-or.com

It takes one day to arrive 2nd day she does Visa and returns to me.. I get on 3rd day... get mulpiple entry what ever you do!!

Hope this helps

David