Tourist Visa For Chinese Citizen

[sfrancc]

I'm hoping someone can give me a little personalized advice on the following trip in terms of Thai visas -- I think it could be a little difficult but I'm hoping someone here can help. Thanks in advance!!!

I am a Chinese national (PRC) and would like to do the following (or is this crazy to hope for?):

1) Fly from the U.S. (where I currently live) to Bangkok, then travel overland to Laos (spending less than 7 days in Thailand)

2) Work in Laos for three months (Lao visa already arranged)

3) Cross back to Thailand at Chaing Khong, and spend three weeks in Thailand as a tourist before returning to Laos again

4) Work in Laos for another 6 months (again, this is already arranged)

5) Back to Thailand at Chaing Khong and overland to Bangkok (a few days) - then flying back to the U.S.

So... this is three entries to Thailand. The Thai embassy's website claims I need all sorts of things to get a visa, and that maybe only 15 days is possible -- I have listed some of them and the associated problems here:

- Reference in Thailand: don't have

- Letter from U.S. employer: I am quitting my job here to take this trip, so no

- Round trip plane ticket: yes, but it will be about 10 months between arrival and departure, and furthermore I will cross by land for two of the entries

- Permanent resident card: I have advance parole from the U.S., but not a green card

I'll be watching the thread and happy to clarify anything -- thanks!

[thaiflyer1]

VISA ON ARRIVAL

- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements, passport holders from 20 countries may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days.

- The applicant must possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.

- The applicant must present full paid ticket which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry

- Visa on arrival is provided at 23 designated international checkpoints and applicants should submit the application form duly filled out and to which his/her recent photograph (2 ½ inches) is attached. The application fee is 1,000 Baht.

- Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau , Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. 02 287-3127 or 02 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5 or at website http://www.immigration.go.th

List of 20 countries is as follows :

2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Taiwan)

List of Thailand’s Immigration Checkpoints which provides facilities for issuance of visa on arrival are as follow :

8. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai

...........you will see from the above extract from the Ministy of Foreign Affairs website that you can apply for a 15 day visa upon arrival.

However you are going to have problems with you travelling overland.......i.e no onward plane ticket (unless you buy one and cash it in or fly to Laos).

Your second visit into Thailand would have to be for another 15 days (not 3 weeks) and have an onward ticket again within that period.

Final visit is no problem as you will be here less than 15 days and have your ticket back to the US to support your application.

Alternative to the above is try to obtain a 3 entry tourist visa before leaving the US..............but that sounds like it could be difficult.

Sorry cant be more helpful.

[sfrancc]

Thanks for that -- seems like the interior ministry and the US consulate sites differ a bit in the list of documents, but both mention the onward plane ticket. Hopefully the shorter list is enough!

About the plane ticket... do you know how strict they are about this?

Can I buy a fully refundable electronic ticket on a credit card, print out the e-ticket, and have it work? What if I simply make a reservation for an e-ticket (showing the flight numbers, price, etc.) but don't actually pay for it? Will they find this out somehow, and even if they do maybe a reservation by itself is enough?

Hmm, anyway -- thanks much for the reply and if somebody has more details on the plane ticket requirement please post - Thanks!

[lopburi3]

The plane ticket is normally checked closely by the airline rather than Immigration. And yes, they often do strictly enforce this rule. You need a confirmed ticket, be it physical or E-type. So yes, you should be able to purchase a refundable ticket/reservation and later cancel and get whatever money back the airlines allows.

[thaiflyer1]

The plane ticket is normally checked closely by the airline rather than Immigration.

As stated above it is normally the airline at check in who check for an onward ticket rather than Immigration at the Thai end..............however in your case with you considering a visa upon arrival my guess it is going to be checked closely both by the airline and when you land in Thailand by Immigration.