I've read this FAQ and other posts and articles here and elsewhere, but am still not entirely clear about this. If there's a FAQ I missed, please point me to it.

I have a 30 day tourist visa expiring March 3rd. I'd like to stay in Thailand until March 17th. Do I need to do a border run, or can I renew at the immigration office? I'm a U.S. citizen in Chiang Mai. My 30 day visa is stamped in my passport; on this trip I came to Thailand from Malaysia. I was also in Thailand in October/November, with a 60 day tourist visa I got in Chicago.

Edited February 20, 201412 yr by fellig

You came in/(and have) a 30 day exemption.

Immigration - can get (1) 7 day extension for 1900B

Border run - get 30 days

Best for you to do a border run.

You came in/(and have) a 30 day exemption.

Immigration - can get (1) 7 day extension for 1900B

Border run - get 30 days

Best for you to do a border run.

Thanks for the reply. I'm confused because I've seen posts here that say you can get 30 day renewals at the immigration office...but maybe that's renewing a different visa than I have?

Edited February 20, 201412 yr by fellig

You came in/(and have) a 30 day exemption.

Immigration - can get (1) 7 day extension for 1900B

Border run - get 30 days

Best for you to do a border run.

Thanks for the reply. I'm confused because I've seen posts here that say you can get 30 day renewals at the immigration office...but maybe that's renewing a different visa than I have?

30 Day extensions (at Immigration offices) are only for Tourist Visas (which you can get at a Thai Consulate or Embassy), and as you are on a 30 Day Exempt , you only will get 7 days at Immigration

Ps: Removed Incorrect Info

Edited February 20, 201412 yr by MJCM

If your country of citizenship is a member of the G7 then you get 30 days at land crossing

You came in/(and have) a 30 day exemption.

Immigration - can get (1) 7 day extension for 1900B

Border run - get 30 days

Best for you to do a border run.

Thanks for the reply. I'm confused because I've seen posts here that say you can get 30 day renewals at the immigration office...but maybe that's renewing a different visa than I have?

30 Day extensions (at Immigration offices) are only for Tourist Visas (which you can get at a Thai Consulate or Embassy), and as you are on a 30 Day Exempt , you only will get 7 days at Immigration or 15 days at a Border or 30 Days when you fly out (to a neighboring country) and come back.

OK, that makes sense, thanks.

So Mae Sai is the closest border run destination, right?

Moved to the Visa forum where the visa gurus hang out as it is not really CM specific. Link kept in CM forum though.

So Mae Sai is the closest border run destination, right?

Mai Sai is the closes border crossing to Chiang Mai.

You came in/(and have) a 30 day exemption.

Immigration - can get (1) 7 day extension for 1900B

Border run - get 30 days

Best for you to do a border run.

Thanks for the reply. I'm confused because I've seen posts here that say you can get 30 day renewals at the immigration office...but maybe that's renewing a different visa than I have?

30 Day extensions (at Immigration offices) are only for Tourist Visas (which you can get at a Thai Consulate or Embassy), and as you are on a 30 Day Exempt , you only will get 7 days at Immigration

Ps: Removed Incorrect Info

"Tourist Visas (which you can get at a Thai Consulate or Embassy)..." Meaning only outside of Thailand, right?

You came in/(and have) a 30 day exemption.

Immigration - can get (1) 7 day extension for 1900B

Border run - get 30 days

Best for you to do a border run.

Thanks for the reply. I'm confused because I've seen posts here that say you can get 30 day renewals at the immigration office...but maybe that's renewing a different visa than I have?

30 Day extensions (at Immigration offices) are only for Tourist Visas (which you can get at a Thai Consulate or Embassy), and as you are on a 30 Day Exempt , you only will get 7 days at Immigration

Ps: Removed Incorrect Info

"Tourist Visas (which you can get at a Thai Consulate or Embassy)..." Meaning only outside of Thailand, right?

Yes, outside Thailand, like the one you got in Chicago. That 60 day stay could have been extended another 30 days for 1900 Baht.

You came in/(and have) a 30 day exemption.

Immigration - can get (1) 7 day extension for 1900B

Border run - get 30 days

Best for you to do a border run.

Thanks for the reply. I'm confused because I've seen posts here that say you can get 30 day renewals at the immigration office...but maybe that's renewing a different visa than I have?

30 Day extensions (at Immigration offices) are only for Tourist Visas (which you can get at a Thai Consulate or Embassy), and as you are on a 30 Day Exempt , you only will get 7 days at Immigration

Ps: Removed Incorrect Info

"Tourist Visas (which you can get at a Thai Consulate or Embassy)..." Meaning only outside of Thailand, right?

Correct.

"Yes, outside Thailand, like the one you got in Chicago. That 60 day stay could have been extended another 30 days for 1900 Baht."

Well I left Thailand a bit before my tourist visa expired, and spent a couple months in other countries. Came back here a few weeks ago and wasn't sure how long I wanted to stay, until now.

Your only choice is to make a border run to Mai Sai and get a new 30 day visa exempt entry. Cost for entry to Myanmar is 500 baht or $10.

Thanks folks. One more question: are there better or worse days of the week to take a bus to Mai Sai? Less crowded, smaller lines on a weekday for example?

I don't know Mai Sai first hand but I would say a week day would always be better than the weekend. A lot of people work so they only have the weekends to go.