Koh Tao Visa Run

[PeterD5]

Hi - my son is currently in Koh Tao having just completed a diving course while using a 'B' Visa (British citizen). He entered Thailand on the 18th Aug, so his 90 days expires on 16th Nov. His flight Bangkok to UK doesn't depart until 2nd Dec. What's your advice please for his best option to extend his visa or re-enter on a tourist visa (bearing in mind that he has to travel to/from Koh Tao)? Thank you!

[lopburi3]

He can not extend more than 7 days to depart and even a border crossing will not supply the need time unless he arrives back by air so a border crossing followed by 2 days overstay or a 7 day extension appears to be what is available unless he can go to a Consulate and obtain a tourist visa (or returns by air).

[PeterD5]

Thanks lopburi3 for such a rapid reply! I'll feed this over to him and he can work out his next steps!

[ubonjoe]

Check for flights to Malaysia from Samui. He would get a 30 day entry for a flight out and back.

[wayned]

Boat to Samui, bus to Hat Yai, cross into Malaysia and back - 15 days, must do on last day of permission to stay 2 days overstay.

Boat to Chumphon, van to Ranong, cross into Myanmar and back - 15 days, must do on last day of permission to stay 2 days overstay.

Boat to Samui, fly to Singapore, KL or Hong Kong and back - 30 days VERY EXPENSIVE, no overstay.

Could aviod overstay by purchasing 7 day extension - 1900 baht

[PeterD5]

Brilliant - thank you ubonjoe and wayned for more great options.

[Eureka]

He can not extend more than 7 days to depart and even a border crossing will not supply the need time unless he arrives back by air so a border crossing followed by 2 days overstay or a 7 day extension appears to be what is available unless he can go to a Consulate and obtain a tourist visa (or returns by air).

If this "B" Visa is a NON-B as stated by the OP, what length is it for 3mths or 1 year?

Many divers on Koh Tao from England arrive with a 1 year NON-B with the Dive shops assisting them ass part of their marketing of the Zero to Hero Dive traing package. If this is the case then the information supplied would need to be ammended.

Check the Visa with one of the long termers, many Westerners on Koh Tao have been there well in excess of 10 years and are very familiar with Visa requirements both long and short term.

Alternatives are Island Travel & Visa (Koh Tao), Fame Tour (Chumphon), Kiat Travel (Chumphon). Contact information can be found locally in both Koh Tao - A Complete Guide and Koh Tao Info publications.

[PeterD5]

Hi Eureka - thank you for your thoughts. He's on a 3 month non-immigrant B visa (the longest he was able to get in London). Since opening this thread, my son has spoken to lots of colleagues in Koh Tao who, as you say, have got loads of experience and advice. I think he has his plan sorted! (He's going with the boat to Chumphon, van to Ranong, cross into Myanmar option).

Thanks to everyone who has chipped in with advice - really impressed!