Hi all,

I am wanting to be in Thailand from January 20th (2013) - April 6th (2013) (total of 15 weeks = 3 months and 3 weeks = 105 days). So that I can come back to apply for a 1 year type-o visa in May in New Zealand as I need to be back in Thailand from May 2013 - May 2014 as it ties in with my husband's visa.

What are my options for visas for 105 days???

I have researched that I can get a 60 day tourist visa and then apply for an extension at the immigration department in Bangkok for another 30 days... but what about the other 15 days? And also - I will be BOOKING tickets this week for the dates above PRESUMING I will be granted the extension ... OR do immigration want to see a return ticket before the 60 days e.g. a ticket from January 20th to return March 17 (exactly 60 days) ? That means I have to book a ticket KNOWING i am staying longer to have to pay the airlines extra money to extend my air ticket to leave April 6th?

Also..... how many extra days will I get on a 60 day tourist visa if I do a border run ? My preffered border run will be over the Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot over to Burma.... but does that count or do I have to go to Cambodia or Laos etc ?

ANOTHER question - If my hubby and I are wanting to be in Thailand for a total of 2 years from May 2013 - May 2015 do we HAVE to come back to New Zealand to apply for new 1 year type o visas or is there a way of getting a 2 year visa or extending over in Thailand side?

Thank you Thank you!

You have several options.

The best option is to apply for a double entry tourist visa, this will give you 2 entries into Thailand for each 60 days. So in total 119 day. When you arrive you get 60 days, on the last day you cross the border at Mae Sod and come back again and get another 60 days.

You could also get a single entry, extend it for 30 days and make a border run but that might be more trouble and actually cost more. Also you might need to make 2 extra border runs, as the day you leave Thailand and re-enter Thailand will be the same. So day 90 and day 1 of returning are the same day and at a land border you only get 15 extra days without a visa).

So if I have a double entry visa and cross the border I automatically get an extra 60 days.... but... if I have a single entry visa and cross the border I only get 15 days??

I suggest you get a 2 entry tourist visa for your trip. By doing a border run instead of the extension you would get a total of 120 days.

You could get extension of stay for a non-o visa entry if you qualify. If your husband gets an extension of stay you can get one as his dependent.

Edit: A border run overland only gives you 15 days unless you have a valid visa by air you get 30 days.

Edited November 8, 201213 yr by ubonjoe

I'm sorry I might be blonde.. howcome sometimes when you do a border run you only get 15 days, other times 30 days and sometimes 60?? what does it depend on? Cheers!!

Entry without a visa is called a visa exempt entry. For these you get 15 days by land and 30 by air.

If you have a visa you always get what the visa allows. IE: 60 for a tourist visa, 90 for a non immigrant visa.

A key question is what status will allow you and husband to obtain non immigrant O visas next year? That could effect both now and then and yes if he/you qualify for a non immigrant O visa it should not require travel to NZ to obtain. There is no two year visa but extensions are available for valid reason (and only a single entry visa would be required)

We are going over based on volunteer status. My husband has been working over there without me for 6 months and recieved his 1 year visa this May which will expire next May, but I will be going back with him in January on a tourist visa so that I can come back with him in May so we can apply for 1 year visas together.

Thanks for all the help so far!

Does your husband have a work eprmit and 1 year extension of stay, or only a 1 year multiple non-O visa and leaves the country every 90 days?

The diference is important for your options.

He does not have a work permit so it is the former of the two options you suggested as he leaves the country every 90 days.

No workpermit means he is working illegaly and subject to a jailterm of up to 5 years. Volunteers also need a work permit and him not having one also limits your options.

If I am going over for 105 days on the tourist visa knowing that I will get the 60 day extension - if i book my return flight presuming I am getting the extension - do they check through customs or the border run?

As long as you have a visa you will have no problems

apply for a double entry tourist visa which covers your flights,

if you try and do it on a single entry you may not be allowed to check in at the airport,

when applying for the tourist visa it says purpose of travel and say your going on holiday or travelling.

you will need to do a border run/crossing approx. half way during your stay at either burma, malaysia or cambodia from bangkok is usual.

you can also get another double tourist visa from laos in the future which is good for a 180 day stay if used correctly.

you may also be able to apply for a triple entry tourist visa from new zealand which can sometimes be used for upto 270 days stay depending on the type.

you say your husband has a 1 year visa at the moment and it runs out in may ? if he has a type-o visa he can do a border run a day or two before it expires and he can get another 3 months stay beyond may . maybe he has a work permit or an education visa ?

As said, as long as one has a visa there is no problem. The visa does not have to cover the intended durration of stay, you can even fly on a one-way ticket.

A single entry tourist visa will be enough with extension and border run, a double entry more confortable.