Triple Entry Visa problem

[ScottA]

Hello all. Want to put a pic of my visa on here, but I'm on the mobile version and don't see that option.

Having a big issue with my Triple Entry Visa. it was issed in the USA, at the Waahington D.C. office. Went to an Immigration Office up in the NE recently, and this is the problem.

The "Enter before" date is "Oct 15 2013". I arrived in Thailand on July 23rd 2013. Went to Imm inquiring about the 30 day extension. They told me that I have to go to Lao on Sept 19th to activate my 2nd entry. that will take me to Nov 19th. go to Imm office on Sept 19th, theyll give me an ext until Dec 19th. if I come to Imm Office on Sept 20th, they will give me a 30 extension, but since mine expires on Oct 15 2013, I won't be able to use this Visa again. That's only 1 entry on a triple entry visa. They said that they've only seen a triple entry visa expire this soon a couple time in MANY years.

They said that since it's a 3 entry, I HAVE to use all 3 entries, or one before Oct 15th 2013. That's when it will expire, no matter what. That's the same thing the D.C. Embassy told me.

Since it has 3 entries and "enter before Oct 15 2013", thats the big issue.

Thoughts...?

Frustrating..

[lopburi3]

The information you were provided is correct about all entries being made by Oct date - the visa becomes invalid for new entry after the enter before date. Such visas are not intended for long term stay but to allow easy travel for tourists travelling around the region and spending more than visa exempt entry allows.

You can extend 30 days and then make exit for a new entry on Oct 14/15 however to get stay for 60 days and another 30 day extension on that. Or you can leave on the 19th and return and do again on Oct 14/15 (but that would involve two visas for Laos so likely cost more.

[ScottA]

Ok, thank you for the info. Lesson learned the hard, expensive way.

[mahjongguy]

Too bad the OP didn't mention the issue date.

[ScottA]

Issue date - 16 July 2013. Entered Thai on 23 July 2013.

[mahjongguy]

Thx. That confirms that Triple Entry Tourist Visas, while obtainable in many places outside the region, are often (?) issued with only a three month validity, thus making it difficult to use the third entry if you are trying to maximize your time in Thailand.

[sotsira]

I've had a triple entry TR Visa before issued from a consulate in the UK and carried

six months validity.

Maybe it's the ones issued from the Embassies that only have 3 months validity?

[Nana Cowboy]

Yes so what good is that short validity triple entry unless you're leaving the country a few times during. Better to get double. waste of cash. I guess OP asked for triple and boy did he get it

[ScottA]

Yep, I got what I asked for, that's for sure. However, I was told by a lot of people that if I can get a triple, to get it because it would give me a total of 9 months here with the 3 extensions. Oh well, $&%# happens.

[Skeeter Skinwalker]

Hello there, fellow triple entry victims.

My partner and I just had this same problem in Mae Sai. We both got triple entry visas in Portland, OR, USA on March 25 with an expiration of June 24. We used our first two entries on April 8 and June 2. We went for our third entry on August 1 and were given a 15-day land-entry stamp. When we tried to explain that we had a third visa, the border officials said it got lost. When we asked for clarification (the stamp was clearly still in the passport and not at all "lost"), they pointed to the expiration date. When we explained that the expiration date was simply that you had to enter the country by that date, they said that all of the entries expire on the expiration date. (So for the sake of explanation, even if we had a magical 1000 entry visa, we would still lose any visas not used within 90 days of it being issued.)

This was obviously surprising to both of us. I lived in China last year on a one-year multiple-entry visa with 90-day stays and a 90-day expiration. For that visa, I simply had to enter China once before the expiration date, then I could come and go as many times and as often as I wanted within one year of my initial entry as long as I left at least once every three months. Since the explanation given to me by the Thai consulate about how the Thai visa works was exactly the way I had experienced my Chinese visa working, I didn't even think twice about there being a possible issue with it. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

It should be noted that a couple friends of ours had this same problem with a double entry visa they got in Vientiane. They spent some time in Burma and Laos between their first and second entry which pushed them one day past the 90-day expiration, so their second entry was also "lost."

I don't understand why the visas are done this way. I'm quite surprised more people don't have this problem - are triple entries pretty rare? I happened to live close to a consulate that grants them so I figured they were standard, but maybe they're kind of an anomaly?

[jrtmedic]

The "trick " is to inform oneself.

Many people use double/triple tourist visas without any problem!

Most people would realise the problem of securing 3x60 day entries from a visa with a 3 month validity!

[wayned]

Most triple entry visas have a 6 month validity.

[IMA_FARANG]

Most triple entry visas have a 6 month validity.

Actually it is 180 days.

It starts from the date of issue .... so time before you leave your home country is also on the countdown clock.

Laos (Savannaket) is one place known for issuing 90 day triple entry visas in S.E. Asia.

To maximize one, (known as "milking the visa dry") no matter how long it's expiration date is from issue, you make a border run on the 179th day (or 89th day, if that us the case) and get a 60 day "permitted to stay: stamp on entry.

Even though your visa expires the next day that "permitted to stay" entry stamp is still valid.

You can then still extend that stay for another 30 days at your local immigration in Thailand for a 1900 baht fee.

That's how you "milk the visa dry". Just be aware of the date it expires, whatever that date us.

The actual purpose for a triple entry tourist visa is officially for a tourist that intends to use Thailand ad a temporary base and intends to travel around various countries in S.E. Asia as a tourist.

But many people do use it as a way to stay in Thailand .... just make sure all three exit and re-entries are made before that expiration date.

A triple entry visa can also be called the "backpackers special" because f you are actually traveling around S.E. Asia, and you use your visa wisely, you can enter by overland border crossings and get 60 day "permitted to stay" stamps on each border crossing.

[lopburi3]

All entries must be made before the expiration date. And yes three entry is a bit unusual and policy seems to be to only issue with the normal three month validity rather than the longer period of six months.

Sent from my i-mobile i-note WIFI3 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ubonjoe]

There have been many reports in the past of 180 day validity for 2 and 3 entry visas other than the nearby locations.

It might of been a mistake made by the embassy and consulate.

LA consulate says 180 days for a 2 entry. http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=25