G'day

I have been enrolled as a gap year student (I study psychology in Melbourne but deferred from my course for 12 months) at a school one of my parents just started working at in ChiangMai, as of October 1st. She helped organise the document I have in my lap that requests a "multiple entry or a single entry non-immigrant visa ''ED'' for SparraBird LastName".

My flight is booked for the 15th (couldn't leave earlier due to personal issues) and I am landing in Bangkok, staying for a few days and then catching the train overnight to arrive on the 20th.

My question is this:

I am not actually studying at this school (other than a two week language course that can be completed at any time) but I was given this visa recommendation by the school itself. If I were to apply for a single entry visa, does that mean I cannot travel to neighbouring countries (my sole purpose of this trip other than seeing my mother) even with the correct visas?

Do I need a multiple entry visa to backpack around SEA or can I enter and exit Thailand at my own free will?

I am sorry if that makes little sense, I will be on the net for a few hours so I can provide more details if need be (also if I am not straining my luck, ask a few more related questions.)

Many thanks

SparraBird

EDIT: 21 years old

Edited September 4, 201312 yr by sparrabird

You can obtain a re-entry permit for 1,000 baht from immigration office in Thailand for each travel and return with the same permitted to stay date you had when re-entry permit issued. You can also get unlimited (multi) re-entry permit for 3,800 baht if many trips are planned in the short 90 day period allowed by your non immigrant visa entry.

If you obtain a multi entry visa prior to arrival you would not need these as each entry on that would provide a new 90 day stay for the one year it is valid from date of issue.

You can travel around and get visa exempt entries every time you enter Thailand. You get 30 days by air or 15 days by land.

A multiple entry visa will cost 5000 baht that would give you 90 days for each entry. A single entry 2000 baht.

There is a honorary Thai consulate in Melbourne but it has been reported they only give 2 entry visas instead of multiple like every everywhere else does.