Visa Run Virgin Looking For Info.

[Dunnyira]

Hello, I hope this is a straightforward request for the panel - I'm living in Bangkok and my 12 month non-immigration visa is just about to expire. I want to stay for about another 2 months, and plan to do 2 x visa runs. I don't want to apply for an extension - apart from anything else, I don't have 400,000 baht left (after 12 months in Bangkok - it's not that cheap anymore is it!?)

So my first question: is it that easy - 2 day trips to Cambodia and that's it?

Secondly, can anybody recommend a company to use. I am just going by the ads in The Bangkok Post and they all seem to be about the same price. Do you know if any of them are more reliable/comfortable than the others?

And finally, have any of the old hands here got any tips or warnings to offer? (Other than bring a long book, don't forget the i-pod etc.)

Any and all information gratefully received.

Thanks for your time

BD

[Crossy]

Firstly, if your VISA has not yet expired you can get another 90 day stay by doing a border crossing, provided you re-enter Thailand before the 'use before' date on the visa you will get a 90 day stamp

OK, IMHO as a 'virgin' you should use one of the organised visa run companies, it's not the cheapest way to do it but is the most painless. There are a number of companies doing runs, the most famous is Jacks Golf (do a Google search to find their website, all necessary info is there). I do NOT advise the use of one of the mini-bus operations, way to dangerous.

Make sure you have photos, money (for the Cambodian visa and the 'means' [10kBaht I think] to live in Thailand if they ask for it) and, as you say, a good book.

The most important advice in the current climate is make sure you are not on overstay, there have been several repoerts of buses being stopped and passengers checked and arrested if they've overstayed by even one day. If you ARE past your permission to stay I'd advise a run by air rather than the bus.

[Dunnyira]

Firstly, if your VISA has not yet expired you can get another 90 day stay by doing a border crossing, provided you re-enter Thailand before the 'use before' date on the visa you will get a 90 day stamp

Thanks for that Crossy. I had heard it was only 30 days. My visa expires on monday 27th Feb. I'm planning to do the run on sunday 26th. Do I get 90 days because I'm on a Non-immigrant visa? I know I have been getting 90 days each time during the duration of the visa, but will I still get 90 days even though my 12 months are up?

And yes, I had looked at a couple of sites and Jack Golf looks like the best bus.

[Crossy]

Thanks for that Crossy. I had heard it was only 30 days. My visa expires on monday 27th Feb. I'm planning to do the run on sunday 26th. Do I get 90 days because I'm on a Non-immigrant visa? I know I have been getting 90 days each time during the duration of the visa, but will I still get 90 days even though my 12 months are up?

And yes, I had looked at a couple of sites and Jack Golf looks like the best bus.

Absolutely

Unlike other countries (eg the UK) a Thai visa is a permit to ENTER the country as opposed to a permit to stay, the stay allowed is determined by your visa type as opposed to it's expiry date. So long as your visa is still valid when you enter the country you get a full 90 days. Means you can get nearly 15 months out of a 1 year visa.

Edited February 16, 2006 by Crossy

[Maestro]

My visa expires on monday 27th Feb....

...my 12 months are up

Dunnyira, you’ve got me confused. At one point you say that your visa (apparently a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa) expires on 27 February, at another point you say that your 12 months are up.

At this point, two stamps in your passport are important. One is the visa stamp issued by the Thai embassy. On this stamp, the “this visa must be utilized before...” date counts.

The other is the stamp you received when you last entered Thailand. On this stamp, the “admitted until...” date counts.

Question: on which of these two stamps is the date of “27 FEB 2006” stamped?

And what is the date on the other stamp?

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Maestro

[Dunnyira]

My visa expires on monday 27th Feb....

...my 12 months are up

Dunnyira, you’ve got me confused. At one point you say that your visa (apparently a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa) expires on 27 February, at another point you say that your 12 months are up.

At this point, two stamps in your passport are important. One is the visa stamp issued by the Thai embassy. On this stamp, the “this visa must be utilized before...” date counts.

The other is the stamp you received when you last entered Thailand. On this stamp, the “admitted until...” date counts.

Question: on which of these two stamps is the date of “27 FEB 2006” stamped?

And what is the date on the other stamp?

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Maestro

OK, thanks for your help - I told you I'm a virgin! Last time I came in to Thailand on 30th nov last year I was admitted until 27th Feb. That's what I meant by expired. However, when I look at the original visa now I see the date of expiry was 3rd Feb. I guess that means I can't get 90 days next week. Can I still get 30?

Thanks for that Crossy. I had heard it was only 30 days. My visa expires on monday 27th Feb. I'm planning to do the run on sunday 26th. Do I get 90 days because I'm on a Non-immigrant visa? I know I have been getting 90 days each time during the duration of the visa, but will I still get 90 days even though my 12 months are up?

And yes, I had looked at a couple of sites and Jack Golf looks like the best bus.

Absolutely

Unlike other countries (eg the UK) a Thai visa is a permit to ENTER the country as opposed to a permit to stay, the stay allowed is determined by your visa type as opposed to it's expiry date. So long as your visa is still valid when you enter the country you get a full 90 days. Means you can get nearly 15 months out of a 1 year visa.

Hello again Crossy. Looks like I've slipped up. As the maestro has pointed out there are 2 relevant dates. I have been admitted until 27 Feb, but the or5iginal visa expired on 3rd Feb. So, can /i still do 2 day trips to Cambodia this month and next?

thanks for your help

BD

[Maestro]

OK, thanks for your help - I told you I'm a virgin! Last time I came in to Thailand on 30th nov last year I was admitted until 27th Feb. That's what I meant by expired. However, when I look at the original visa now I see the date of expiry was 3rd Feb. I guess that means I can't get 90 days next week. Can I still get 30?

Yes, you can. Leave Thailand on or before 27 Feb., re-enter without visa, and you get a 30-day on arrival stamp. Before these 30 days (29, really) are up, repeat the procedure, seeing that you want a total of an additional 60 days in Thailand.

Happy to see that you enjoy Thailand so much that you are extending your stay.

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Maestro