I'm currently in bangkok on a 60 day tourist visa which I intended to extend another 30 days.

Visa expires on the 31 August, and I have a return flight back to the uk on september 29.

Problem. ..I have just returned from an 8 day trip to Cambodia and my 30 day extension was refused due to me being out of Thailand for the 8 days.

I had no idea that my trip to Cambodia would make me exempt for the 30 day extension.

It was only at the end of my visit to the immigration today that they suggested leaving and re entering Thailand twice by land (2 x 15 days) or 1 trip by air for another 30 days.

So, my visa passport now states I left Thailand on the 11 August and returned on the 19 August. I am now allowed to stay until the 02 september. I'm guessing that's my first 15 day "extension".

So, what's my best option so I can stay in thailand until 29 september?

I would prefer just 1 trip out so that would mean flying depending on the cost.

Would leaving by land and returning by air give me another 30 days?

Hopefully I can just do a border run to extend my stay and I was given the correct information at the immigration. They dont explain things well.

Thanks

Leaving by land and returning by air would indeed give a 30 day visa exempt entry !

Enjoy

You departed Thailand so your 60 day tourist entry ended so no extension available and you returned for a 15 day visa exempt entry which you have now. You can depart by land and return by air to get a 30 day visa exempt entry. Or you can do border runs for 15 days each.

yes - take a bus to Cambodia or Laos and fly to Bkk and you'll get 30 days permission to stay .

Thanks.

Well, at least I can stay for my intended time period then.

Luckily I never travelled to Cambodia at the very start of my visa or I would have made it even more difficult.

One question:

Can I leave just before the 02 Sept (when I have to leave Thailand by) and return anytime after that date and still get the 30 days?

If I have to leave I would rather have 4 or 5 days to at least see the place.

Thanks again.

Basically yes - get stamped out on 2nd Sept if that is what your most recent arrival card says, stay out as long as you like (depending on the visa you get in Laos or Cambodia - usually 30 days) and you will get 30 days when you arrive back in Thailand.

I would rather depart a few days before the 02 Sept if I can?

Not a problem if it has to be on the 02nd.

Thanks.

I would rather depart a few days before the 02 Sept if I can?

Not a problem if it has to be on the 02nd.

Thanks.

Any date before or on 2nd is ok.

"They dont explain things well."

It sounds like they explained it just right.

yes you can get a 30 day visa exempt entry by flying into Thailand arriving by air. That arrival will get you the 30 days you need.

As for your original tourist visa that was a single entry visa.

Therefore when you left Thailand for your trip to Cambodia, that ended your visa. The first time you entered was your single entry ... therefore you used up your original visa when you left Thailand (single entry, only one exit with that entry).

Now I believe you could have purchased a exit re-entry permit at your local immigration for 1000 Baht which would have kept your original visa alive and it would not have canceled your original visa on exit.