My wife and I are coming to Thailand soon, and were hoping to stay for 60-90 days. I'm a little confused about what would be our best options for visas since a lot has changed recently. We're both 29 years old, and currently traveling outside of the US, so I'm not sure if we can still apply for (and recieve) a 60 day tourist visa.

What are our current options? Are border runs still working? Can we stay past 30 days?

Thanks!

There have been no changes, You should get a single entry tourist visa. No border runs are needed.

you should get a double entry tourist visa, or possibly a triple entry, in the USA before arriving here, so you can easily stay here for much longer. A single entry would be two months + a third after an extension, but then you are required to leave and go to another embassy if you wish to stay longer. If it is somewhat possible you may want to stay longer than 60 days, you should get multiple entries.

Plan your trip, then plan your visas. With your plan, the tourist visa is definitely called for.

The problem is we're not going back to the states before heading for Thailand? Can I get one in Europe?

The problem is we're not going back to the states before heading for Thailand? Can I get one in Europe?

Yes. Few consulates raise issues, but you can check in advance checking websites or calling.

The single-entry tourist visa is valid for travel to Thailand within three months from its date of issue. Plan accordingly where and when you apply for it.

Go to Burma and Laos instead.

Go to Burma and Laos instead.

That would add cost and inconvenience to getting a visa in a European city.

Check this list of honorary consulate in Europe to see if one is close to where you are now. http://www.guidetothailand.com/thailand-travel-information/honcon-europe.php

Or here for an embassy in Europe. http://www.thaiembassy.org/main/

If you cannot get a visa you can enter on a 30 day visa exempt entry but you may be asked to show a ticket out of the country within 30 days of arrival in order to board you flight.

You can now extend visa exempt entries for 30 days at immigration. Cost is 1900 baht.

A tourist visa (60 days + can be extended in-country for another 30 days) in advance of arriving in Thailand would be ideal. That said, if you get a 30 day 'visa on arrival' you have a couple options after that. You can do "visa runs" (step in and out of the country for a few minutes) or perhaps go to Vientiane Lao as part of your travels and get a Tourist visa if you see yourselves staying on another 60 days after your first 30. If you do not have a lot of Thai Tourism visa stamps in your passports you should be fine. However, play it safe. When crossing out of the country for any reason (visa or just to see what's on the opther side of the border) bring your tickets (or e-ticket print out) to show you are travelers and carry 20-30k in baht to prove you have funds to travel on. You may never be asked for it, but it you are asked, better to be able to show you are true tourist than to have to change all you plans because immigration does not get what they want to see. It is not all as complicated as it sounds, just play it smart, laugh at the little stuff and have a great adventure.

Another cheaper option for you as a USA passport holder you can enter (no visa required) on a 30 day stamp and then get the new 30 day extention

Then you will be sorted for 60 days...

Sorry did not see the post above about this option daaaaa....

Edited September 12, 201411 yr by glassdude007

Another cheaper option for you as a USA passport holder you can enter (no visa required) on a 30 day stamp and then get the new 30 day extention

Then you will be sorted for 60 days...

Sorry did not see the post above about this option daaaaa....

It's not cheaper. Single entry tourist visa cost about Bt 1,300, 30 days extension Bt 1,900.

Thanks for the responses everybody...

if you get a 30 day 'visa on arrival' you have a couple options after that. You can do "visa runs" (step in and out of the country for a few minutes) or perhaps go to Vientiane Lao as part of your travels and get a Tourist visa if you see yourselves staying on another 60 days after your first 30. If you do not have a lot of Thai Tourism visa stamps in your passports you should be fine.

I think the 30 day visa on arrival might be best, because I don't know if we'll make it to an embassy to get a 60 day tourist visa.

Do the visa runs still work? I was reading somewhere that the government stopped those recently.

I've been to thailand twice before - 2011 and 2013. Think I should be ok?

I think the 30 day visa on arrival might be best, because I don't know if we'll make it to an embassy to get a 60 day tourist visa.

Do the visa runs still work? I was reading somewhere that the government stopped those recently.

I've been to thailand twice before - 2011 and 2013. Think I should be ok?

If no visa, first you get the 30 days extension as mentioned above, then toward the end of stay you decide depending on circumstances at the time.

Read below about boarding flight and no visa

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/754481-boarding-to-thailand-without-return-ticket/