Double Entry Tourist Visa

[Krub]

Hi,

1. Is the double entry tourist visa valid for 180 days from date of issue ?

2. Each entry is good for 60 days + one 30 days extension at immigration for a total of nearly 6 months (one visa run necessary after the first 60 days + 30 days extension).

3. A triple entry tourist visa would give the same with 2 visa runs and no extensions

I have heard that a 30 days extension is only given once per visa.

Is this true or is it per entry ?

Thanks for your help

Edited March 23, 2006 by Krub

[The Coder]

1. Is the double entry tourist visa valid for 180 days from date of issue ?

Not necessarily, you need to check it and it depends on the consulate. I got burned once because one I received was valid for just 90 days. As luck would have it I came back to Thailand on the 91st day, just missing the cutoff and couldn't use the second entry.

2. Each entry is good for 60 days + one 30 days extension at immigration for a total of nearly 6 months (one visa run necessary after the first 60 days + 30 days extension).

exactly

3. A triple entry tourist visa would give the same with 2 visa runs and no extensions

yes. but of course you can squeeze 9 months out of a triple given it has a 6 month validity.

I have heard that a 30 days extension is only given once per visa.

Is this true or is it per entry ?

it is per entry. double can be extend twice, triple 3 times.

[Krub]

1. Is the double entry tourist visa valid for 180 days from date of issue ?

Not necessarily, you need to check it and it depends on the consulate. I got burned once because one I received was valid for just 90 days. As luck would have it I came back to Thailand on the 91st day, just missing the cutoff and couldn't use the second entry.

2. Each entry is good for 60 days + one 30 days extension at immigration for a total of nearly 6 months (one visa run necessary after the first 60 days + 30 days extension).

exactly

3. A triple entry tourist visa would give the same with 2 visa runs and no extensions

yes. but of course you can squeeze 9 months out of a triple given it has a 6 month validity.

I have heard that a 30 days extension is only given once per visa.

Is this true or is it per entry ?

it is per entry. double can be extend twice, triple 3 times.

Do you mean that the triple entry is always valid 180 days but that the double entry is either 90 or 180 ?

[The Coder]

No, there are no guarantees on the validity of either a double or triple. The validity length is up to the consulate and even varies day to day at the same consulate. At the counter, ask how many entries and how long the validity is and choose which makes the most sense. Note most consulates only give you single entry anyway and flat don't offer multiple entry tourist visas at all. On top of this some have restrictions in place to keep you from doing it over and over. Tourist visas are not intended for long stays. This practice is discouraged because most likely you qualify for a different type of visa that you should be using instead (marriage, work, retirement, etc).

To summarize, if your intent is to get the max length of stay out a multi entry tourist visa, the basic rule is this: you need minimum 90 day validity to max out a double (6 month stay) and minimum 180 day validity to max out a triple (9 month stay).

[aaaaaa]

I have heard that a 30 days extension is only given once per visa.

Is this true or is it per entry ?

and then you can extent it once more - but only for 15 days, sort of emergency. it is not made a secret by immigration office - they thaught me this themselves, and I've done it, and know few people who did same.

but it is not widely publisised so to say - not everybody knows that apperently.

BUT they'll charge you same 1900B as for regular extention