Hi everyone. I was listening to a group conversation between ex-pats in a resort, and out of it came the idea that it is possible to get a total of 22 Months from a 1-year Cat 'O' Non-Immigrant Multiple Entry visa. I really would like to know if the scenario described is in fact true, or of course, not. Or if there is a way to get even more ? It goes like this :

Arrive in Thailand with the 1-Year Cat 'O' Multiple Entry visa - - - after doing all the 90-day visa-runs, do a final one just before the 12-months is up, so extending the original visa to 15 months. The day before that finishes, go to the out-of-country Thai Consulate that is convenient, and apply for a Double-Entry Tourist visa, thereby getting 2 x 60 days, or approx 4 months more in LOS. But, just before each 60 days expires, go to one's local Immigration Office and extend that by another 30 days (for 1,900 Baht). Then, just before all that expires, leave Thailand and FLY back in, thereby getting another Visa-On-Arrival of 30 days (for many nationals). This gives a total of 12 months + 3 months + (60 + 30 days) + (60 + 30 days) + 30 days = 22 Months approx.

Is that true / allowed ?

( On the Consulate application form, if one put '3' in the Tourist Visa 'How many entries' space - are 3 x 60 days ever given ?)

Thanks in advance.

ps: I tried to Edit the Title to 'Nearly 2 Years...' but i was unable to find a way to edit titles - is it me being stupid or are they unavailable to editing ?

Edited March 2, 201313 yr by lookingeast

Nothing to stop you doing what you describe, but it's not getting 22 months out of the O visa as you are getting a 2 entry Tourist Visa to replace it. Nothing to stop you getting another 2 entry TV once your first TV finishes.

If you have a multi entry Non-OA (retirement) visa you can get almost 2 years out of it as it allows a 12 month stay on each entry. Just do a border run immediately before the visa expires and get a second 12 month stay (will need a re-entry permit if you want to leave Thailand during the second year).

EDIT No, users cannot edit topic titles once they've been submitted.

I was listening to a group conversation between ex-pats in a resort

Sounds more like a bunch of tourists. Expats don't need to do this nonsense.

Out of interest would someone do a table of dates for a 2 x 60 days tourist visa starting on the 1st january until end of stay.

Reason I'm asking is I have never actually had or seen one but if it's 2 x 60 days and starts on say 1st Jan then if it has an expiry date 120 days later. I see it being 60 for the first entry, extend 30 days at Imm', then in-out for another 60 days then extend for 30 again. total 180 days.

Just average each month as thirty days so it would last until end of June. Is that how it works ?

Cheers

Edited March 2, 201313 yr by overherebc

Nothing to stop you doing what you describe, but it's not getting 22 months out of the O visa as you are getting a 2 entry Tourist Visa to replace it. Nothing to stop you getting another 2 entry TV once your first TV finishes.

If you have a multi entry Non-OA (retirement) visa you can get almost 2 years out of it as it allows a 12 month stay on each entry. Just do a border run immediately before the visa expires and get a second 12 month stay (will need a re-entry permit if you want to leave Thailand during the second year).

EDIT No, users cannot edit topic titles once they've been submitted.

Ah - thanks for the info about titles. On the Cat 'O' - yep, got it - i was thinking about a Non-Immigrant 'O' for my own situation using the category 'UK Pensioner', with no other financial requirements and i should have said so. My fault.

I was listening to a group conversation between ex-pats in a resort

Sounds more like a bunch of tourists. Expats don't need to do this nonsense.

Point taken !

Nothing to stop you doing what you describe, but it's not getting 22 months out of the O visa as you are getting a 2 entry Tourist Visa to replace it. Nothing to stop you getting another 2 entry TV once your first TV finishes.

If you have a multi entry Non-OA (retirement) visa you can get almost 2 years out of it as it allows a 12 month stay on each entry. Just do a border run immediately before the visa expires and get a second 12 month stay (will need a re-entry permit if you want to leave Thailand during the second year).

EDIT No, users cannot edit topic titles once they've been submitted.

Ah - thanks for the info about titles. On the Cat 'O' - yep, got it - i was thinking about a Non-Immigrant 'O' for my own situation using the category 'UK Pensioner', with no other financial requirements and i should have said so. My fault.

Actually if you qualify you can apply for a One year Multiple Entry Non Immigrant Category 'OA' Visa where you are stamped into Thailand for 12 months from entry (90 Day Reporting is then required at your local Thai Immigration Dept).

The validity period for such a visa is normally one year, so you can leave and re-enter Thailand the day before expiry of you visa and you will a further One Year Stamp in your passport - giving you almost two full years from one visa issue.

Only proviso is that you would need a Re-Entry Permit each time you leave and come back to Thailand after one year, to preserve your last entry stamp date from the issue visa it has expired (i.e. past 'Use Before Date').

You would need to apply for such a visa at the Consular Section of the Thai Embassy in your home country.

Edited March 2, 201313 yr by digitalchromakey

On the Consulate application form, if one put '3' in the Tourist Visa 'How many entries' space - are 3 x 60 days ever given ?

No Thai consulate in the region gives a tourist visa valid for three entries into Thailand. Not all consulates in the region give a double-entry tourist visa and those that do make it valid for travel to Thailand for only 90 days or three months from the date of issue.

Out of interest would someone do a table of dates for a 2 x 60 days tourist visa starting on the 1st january until end of stay.

Reason I'm asking is I have never actually had or seen one but if it's 2 x 60 days and starts on say 1st Jan then if it has an expiry date 120 days later. I see it being 60 for the first entry, extend 30 days at Imm', then in-out for another 60 days then extend for 30 again. total 180 days.

Just average each month as thirty days so it would last until end of June. Is that how it works ?

Cheers

There are two variables that affect the calculation you seek:

1. For what period after the visa issue date is the visa valid for travel to Thailand? Not all consulates use the same period for the double-entry tourist visa, and some consulates do not use the same period all the time.
2. How many days after the visas issue date do you make your first entry into Thailand?

Out of interest would someone do a table of dates for a 2 x 60 days tourist visa starting on the 1st january until end of stay.

Reason I'm asking is I have never actually had or seen one but if it's 2 x 60 days and starts on say 1st Jan then if it has an expiry date 120 days later. I see it being 60 for the first entry, extend 30 days at Imm', then in-out for another 60 days then extend for 30 again. total 180 days.

Just average each month as thirty days so it would last until end of June. Is that how it works ?

Cheers

There are two variables that affect the calculation you seek:

1. For what period after the visa issue date is the visa valid for travel to Thailand? Not all consulates use the same period for the double-entry tourist visa, and some consulates do not use the same period all the time.
2. How many days after the visas issue date do you make your first entry into Thailand?

Take it as being that the entry date to Thailand would be the day after I was issued the visa.

The period for which the visa is valid for entry into Thailand is an important variable for the the calculation. Depending on the consular official it can for example be any of the following for a double-entry tourist visa:
89 days
90 days
3 months less 1 day
3 months
179 days
180 days
6 months less 1 day
6 months

In the calculation below I have used 3 months less 1 day, as I have seen in a visa issued in Vientiane in 2009.



The dates in the three yellow fields are variable and if you wish you can play around with them in this spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgNib_gx9zYEdGgwSW1DTzhnbk41Q0ZEdUQyVG55THc&usp=sharing
All other cells are protected and you cannot change the data in them.

I was listening to a group conversation between ex-pats in a resort

Sounds more like a bunch of tourists. Expats don't need to do this nonsense.

Yes they do.

The period for which the visa is valid for entry into Thailand is an important variable for the the calculation. Depending on the consular official it can for example be any of the following for a double-entry tourist visa:

89 days

90 days

3 months less 1 day

3 months

179 days

180 days

6 months less 1 day

6 months

In the calculation below I have used 3 months less 1 day, as I have seen in a visa issued in Vientiane in 2009.

double-entry TR.gif

The dates in the three yellow fields are variable and if you wish you can play around with them in this spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgNib_gx9zYEdGgwSW1DTzhnbk41Q0ZEdUQyVG55THc&usp=sharing

All other cells are protected and you cannot change the data in them.

I have to admit that I'm not thinking about getting a tourist visa, happy to continue on what I have, but to be honest the table that you posted, obviously real, is so confusing, for me as one, and I'll bet for a lot of other people, who really have have the want and the means to stay here for an extended holiday.

I suppose that having been here since BC and lucky that I don't have the problems understanding the obviously complicated visa/extension system for others who who just want to spend a few months in Thailand doing the beach/sunshine/culture appreciation thing it must be quite confusing.

From your answer it seems that it really depends on where the tourist applies for the visa, ie what country, and the in-house rules of that consulate at the time.

The original post was to to try and help some Swedish people my wife and I met in a restaurant and being the nice guy I am, I said I will try to find out for you. I suppose I now have to explain ti them that if they want to come back for a 4 or 5 month holiday their only way to find out about the visa requirements is to ask in their own countries consolate, but the goal posts may be moved tomorrow.

If a person can qualify for a multiple entry non immigrant O visa they should be able to get an extension of stay for year unless they are getting them to visit family (not Thai).

If a person can qualify for a multiple entry non immigrant O visa they should be able to get an extension of stay for year unless they are getting them to visit family (not Thai).

Mmm - i don't think i can get an extension - qualified for the Non-Imm 'O' multiple-entry purely by being old enough to be a UK State pensioner. (i.e. 65+ and no financial hoops to jump through.)

Edited March 4, 201313 yr by lookingeast

You are qualified to get and extension based upon retirement due to your age. But if you cannot meet the financial requirements that is a different problem.