My First Visa Run, Seeking Guidance

[fifthhouse]

I am a Canadian citizen, 50 years old, and my Tourist visa runs out December 15. This is a two month visa which was extended the extra month here in Bangkok. My plan is to make this visa run twice, as I want to stay in Thailand six more months. My understanding is that i will have to make a visa run before December 15, and then again several months later before the new tourist visa runs out.

One question I have is about "double entry." If I get a double entry, does that in effect give me two 60 day visas? And if so can I extend each of those another 30 days?

Is there anything else I should know about this process? I should bring my passport, enough cash for the visa and other fees.

How long will it take to apply and receive a new visa? Is it always an overnight process?

One final question: Does the new tourist visa start the day I receive it, or is it extended from the final date of my current visa? My current visa runs out December 15, so will the new visa begin on that day, or on the day I receive the visa?

[lopburi3]

You need to go to Vientiane or Savannakhet in Laos to obtain a 2 entry visa valid for 3 months. It is issued in two days (apply in morning and get next workday afternoon). You entry for 60 and extend 30 but exit/return before expiration of visa to do the same a second time.

[fifthhouse]

You need to go to Vientiane or Savannakhet in Laos to obtain a 2 entry visa valid for 3 months. It is issued in two days (apply in morning and get next workday afternoon). You entry for 60 and extend 30 but exit/return before expiration of visa to do the same a second time.

OK, thank you for this. One question, Should I wait until as close to the expiration date on my current tourist visa, which is December 15? Does the new visa start the day I get it, or does it start the day my current visa ends?

[chris5346]

your current visa will be cancelled as soon as you exit thailand and you'll lose any days left on it.

apply for a new 2 entry tourist visa in laos as mentioned (2000 baht and take some photos).

if you re-enter thailand as soon as you collect your visa you will basically be able to stay for 179 days if you do the border run on the correct day.

the border run to activate the second entry can be done at any land or air crossing - you can just exit thailand and re-enter on the same day if you want.

this is what most people do :

goto laos apply for visa,

enter thailand get 60 days,

extend 30 days at bkk,

goto a land border from bkk to cambodia or burma,

enter thailand end get next 59 days,

extend 30 days at bkk.

this involves quite a lot of travel usually on mini buses and taxis etc is that something you want to do ? or do you want to fly everywhere ?

if your after an easy option maybe better to just fly to penang or phnom penn and apply for single visas every 90 days. ?

[chris5346]

you can fly to vientiane or a cheaper option is to fly to udon thani with nok air and they have a mini bus to the border which is only a 30 min taxi ride to the embassy.

you also have to get a visa to enter laos which usually costs 35$.

i'm not sure about savaanket maybe it is closer to bkk if your willing to take a mini bus ?

[fifthhouse]

if your after an easy option maybe better to just fly to penang or phnom penn and apply for single visas every 90 days. ?

If I go this route, do the visas last the full 90 days, or do I still have to get the 30 day extension after 60 days? Also, can I do the flight and get the visa all in one day?

[chris5346]

if your after an easy option maybe better to just fly to penang or phnom penn and apply for single visas every 90 days. ?

If I go this route, do the visas last the full 90 days, or do I still have to get the 30 day extension after 60 days? Also, can I do the flight and get the visa all in one day?

no it's still 60 days and option to extend 30 days for 1900 baht,

you still have to apply in the morning and collect next day in the afternoon.

the reason suggest this is because you talk about flying and maybe doing the border run for you isn't convenient.

if there's an early flight to penang and an evening one maybe a better option, also you should work out the dates exactly to make sure your visa run doesn't fall on a weekend or a holiday,

how long do you want to stay in thailand for ?

[fifthhouse]

I plan to stay in Thailand another 180 days, or as long as the double entry visa will give me.

It looks like going to Savannakhet and applying for the double entry tourist visa is my best bet.

Can someone recommend a company to do the trip with? I heard you can get a package where they take care of 'everything', whatever that means, I don't know.

[chris5346]

i notice your just 50 years old maybe you can apply for a different type of visa ?

if not a double tourist visa is ok for 179 days if used correctly,

[visarunner]

I plan to stay in Thailand another 180 days, or as long as the double entry visa will give me.

It looks like going to Savannakhet and applying for the double entry tourist visa is my best bet.

Can someone recommend a company to do the trip with? I heard you can get a package where they take care of 'everything', whatever that means, I don't know.

One of the sponsors of this section is the Savan Vegas Hotel in Savannakhet.

If that is not suitable for you, pls pm me and I can advise other option available for Vientiane.

[bananafarang]

You need to go to Vientiane or Savannakhet in Laos to obtain a 2 entry visa valid for 3 months. It is issued in two days (apply in morning and get next workday afternoon). You entry for 60 and extend 30 but exit/return before expiration of visa to do the same a second time.

Does this apply only for western passport holders? My g/f is Chinese and she needs to apply for new tourist visa soon. Can she do this in Laos?

[lopburi3]

Chinese can not obtain visa in Laos. Visa issue in Cambodia takes four days. Laos is the best choice in area to obtain 2 entry tourist visa (most of time others will not provide - and if too many consulates in Laos may not).

[Colabamumbai]

I plan to stay in Thailand another 180 days, or as long as the double entry visa will give me.

It looks like going to Savannakhet and applying for the double entry tourist visa is my best bet.

Can someone recommend a company to do the trip with? I heard you can get a package where they take care of 'everything', whatever that means, I don't know.

The Savan Vegas Casino Hotel has a visa package. if you stay there in Savannakhet they will get you visa for you and meet you at the airport or I think bus station on the Thai side, but they do not run you up from Bangkok. They advertise on this site.

[fifthhouse]

i notice your just 50 years old maybe you can apply for a different type of visa ?

if not a double tourist visa is ok for 179 days if used correctly,

The only additional option for being over 50 that I am aware of is a retirement visa. Is that what you are referring to? Or are there other possibilities?

[fifthhouse]

Do people have preferences in terms of making a visa run to either Savannakhet or Vientiane?

Time to get there? Overall experience?

[Mario2008]

Being over 50 in tiself only qualifies you for a non-O based on retirement. (You don't have to be actually retired, as long as you don't work in Thailand).

[aniceguy2012]

This is not reply to your specific topic but I am in the situation (I'm a retired Canadian travelling in Thailand) where my 60-day tourist visa will expire on Dec. 22. When you got the first extension to your tourist visa, did you have to exit the country first and return to Thailand by air, or were you simply able to go to the Thai Immigration Office in Bangkok and apply for the extension?

Your early reply is greatly appreciated.

Aniceguy2012

[lopburi3]

You do not have a choice - you must apply using TM.7 at local immigration office and pay 1,900 baht to obtain a 30 day extension of a tourist visa.