Sawadee cop.

I've been doing the 6 & 6 thing for a couple years. 6 months in Chiang Mai and 6 months back in Canada.

I use the 60 day Tourist Visa with 2 extensions.

I was thinking about how I could stay for an extra month.

I know I can go to Immigration and apply for a 30 day extension when my Tourist Visa expires (1900 baht fee)

but does anyone know if I could come into the country (off the plane) and get the standard 30 day Tourist Visa and then when it is about to expire, cross into Myanmar, and re-enter to start my 60 day Tourist Visa?

Thanks for any help.

Robert

That 30 days is a visa exempt entry (not tourist visa) and often they will not want to provide if you have a valid visa in your passport so they may or may not allow such. Why not ask for a three entry tourist visa and only use one extension? That should cover the 7 months you plan to stay. If you are over age 50 and can meet the 800k/65k financials in Canada you might want to get a non immigrant O-A each year - there is no requirement to spend the full year allowed in Thailand and then you would not have any visa runs required (just an address report or two to immigration).

Or if 50 or over apply for a multiple entry non immigrant O visa from one of the honorary Thai consulates in Canada.Toronto is one that is mentioned as being helpfull.

Thanks for the replies.

The Thai Consulate in Vancouver, BC is where I get my visa.

The Tourist Visa is 180 days max.

I'm over 50 and will check into the non-immigrant O visa although I'm not quite to the point of retirement.

Tks again guys.

If you get a triple entry tourist visa, it's validity is 6 months, or 180 days. However if you make your last entry on the "must enter by" date on the visa, the expiration date, you will get 60 days permission to stay which can be extended for another 30 days in Thailand even though the visa has expired. The visa is only a "ticket" that allows you to enter Thailand and all entries must be used before the "must enter by" date. It does not determine how long you can stay and if you enter on the last day you get 60 days permission to stay that can be extended for another 30 days even though the visa has expired.

Vancouver will not issue the non-o visa because they are an official Thai consulate and will only issue the OA visa.

You do not have to be retired to get the visa. The multiple entry visa would give you as many 90 day entries as you want for a year and you could also make an entry just before visa expires and get another entry. Considering the cost of CAD 80 for a two entry visa and two extensions of stay at 3800 baht the CAD 180 you would pay for a multiple entry visa is less costly.

The consulates listed here other than Vancouver are honorary consulates and will issue the visa.

http://www.thaiembassy.ca/en/visiting-thailand/visas/obtaining-visa-canada

Edited July 9, 201312 yr by ubonjoe

Tks for the info.

With the non-o visa, do I have to leave the country every 90 days or just report to immigration?

I noticed that this type of visa is not for tourists and is listed as for "other" purposes.

I wonder if visiting and staying with my girlfriend in Chiang Mai qualifies as "other" or perhaps I could say that I'm on a golfing sabbatical ????? hahahaha

You have to leave every 90 days.

Being over 50 is enough to get visa. Just put on application it is for investigating retirement options.

I get a type o visa 180 day from Vancouver Consulate every year.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Forgot to mention I am married to a Thai

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I get a type o visa 180 day from Vancouver Consulate every year.

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Upon what basis? Not for being over 50 years old.

It is standard worldwide that they do not issue non-o visas for retirement at Thai embassies and official consulates. They only do non-oa visas.

Edit: You answered my question while I was posting.

Edited July 9, 201312 yr by ubonjoe

If you are married to a Thai and you use the visa properly, with a triple enrty visa you can get almost 330 days with two border runs and 4 extensions. The last normal 30 day extension can be again extended for 60 days because you are "visiting your Thai wife". Extensions cost 1900 baht each and the cost of the border runs depends on where/how you exit Thailand.

If you are married to a Thai and you use the visa properly, with a triple enrty visa you can get almost 330 days with two border runs and 4 extensions. The last normal 30 day extension can be again extended for 60 days because you are "visiting your Thai wife". Extensions cost 1900 baht each and the cost of the border runs depends on where/how you exit Thailand.

But why get a tourist visa if you can get a multiple entry O visa.

For the cost of a two entry visa and two extensions you save 900 baht and no need for 2 visits to immigration.

An additional 2900 baht is needed for a 3 entry.

And of course it can give you almost 15 months of total stay without needing a new visa.