ED-VISA(extension) cut unexpectedly from 15 to 12 months / How to legally come back short time?

[2046]

Entering Thailand by begin of Dec 2013 with (temporary) 3-month ED VISA I'm now on my 3rd (3-month) extension which expires by end of Nov 2014.

The language school promised (before new VISA regulation came into force) that the initial temporary ED VISA can be extended 4 times, resulting in a total time of 15 months.

Now this was cut down to one year, meaning that we have to leave the country by end of Nov 2014.

The annoying thing is that out apartment contract is running until the end of the previously planned 15 months, same with the returm flight to home country which date was also fixed upon the expected 15 months of first year's ED VISA. Not beeing able to stay as initially planned AND booked will result in significant financial loss.

Question:

What to do to legally re-enter Thailand after leaving by end of Nov 2014? Is it possible to get a (single or better double entry) tourist VISA in Laos after the 3rd extension of the ED VISA has expired, or will the Thai Embassy/Consulate refuse a Tourist VISA upon recognizing that the previous stay was based on a ED VISA?

Thanks in advance to help!

[paz]

You can get a double entry tourist visa in Laos, Vientane or Savannkhet.

[ukrules]

Just get a tourist visa and you will have no problems.

I used to fly to Phnom Penh for my visas but that's just me I guess, there's a reliable 24 hour visa guy down there on the riverside and the foods ok for a couple of days break.

[ubonjoe]

You could ask to the school to get the paper work for another non-ed visa. And then leave just before your extension ends to get it. That would give you the original 15 months you planned on.

Or go out for a tourist visa.

A single entry tourist would give you the same 90 days as the ED visa but would cost 900 baht more than the ED visa (no 30 day extension needed).

[2046]

paz, ukrules, and ubonjoe!

...thanks very much for your advice!

Appreciate very much your valuable (unpaid) work!

(hopefully I can give back something in the future)

Edited September 16, 2014 by 2046

[jamiesilver]

why no more 15 month extensions? what has changed exactly?

[paz]

why no more 15 month extensions? what has changed exactly?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/749918-thai-immigration-issues-new-police-order-3272557-effective-august-29-2014/

[2046]

...still trying to figure out a visa "run" that is not ending in some roadside ditch (starting from Jomtien/ or Bangkok).

A single entry tourist VISA would serve my wife and me; any recent experiences by somebody who was flying to Penang?

Are ther even better places to spend about one week abroad on a moderate budget to get this single entry Thai visa stamped into the passport?

Tks!

[paz]

...still trying to figure out a visa "run" that is not ending in some roadside ditch (starting from Jomtien/ or Bangkok).

A single entry tourist VISA would serve my wife and me; any recent experiences by somebody who was flying to Penang?

Penang issues single entry tourist visa without a problem. You can read latest report pinned on the top of this forum.

Are ther even better places to spend about one week abroad on a moderate budget to get this single entry Thai visa stamped into the passport?

That is really a matter of preference, each place has is own attractions and advantages however not many people will want to spend an entire week.

[2046]

That was quick; thanks paz!

[2046]

Just to complete this post:

We finally made a successful and flawless (double entry tourist) VISA trip to Vientiane/Laos.

Starting in Pattaya with the comfortable airport bus (134 Baht) to BKK, the trip was not the cheapest one - since we took an 8200 Baht (return ticket) flight to VTE - but very comfortable and probably much safer than by minibus. Our flight was on Wednesday; to have some spare days (due to weekend and a holiday Tuesday in Laos) we planned/extended the stay to one full week which provided ample time to explore the temples, taste delicious foods, and hang out beside Mekong River with Beerlao.

We stayed the first two nights in the basic "Douang Pra Seuth" Hotel which is located conveniently just accross the street from the Thai Consular. Thursday is very busy with VISA minibus tours, the first showed up at 6:45am; we rushed to join the queue at 6:50 am and got tickets Nr 31/32 which was very satisfactory (Already shortly after 7:00 pm much more minibuses drove in so make sure that you are early enough, a guy we met next day said he had ticket Nr 444!)

The VISA application was submitted with 2 portrait fotos (size 3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background) and with copies of the passport: picture page plus page of Laos "entry stamp" * (* for short stay up to 15 days Laos immigration doesn't request a VISA, check in your case). The Thai VISA fee of 1000 Baht per entry (total 2000 Baht) was collected upon submitting the documents at the Thai consular. No further documents were required, no questions asked.

Next day - after checking out of Douang Pra Seuth Hotel - we picked up of the passports (10 Baht bank fee); we got to the waiting line at about 12:55 pm and got queue ticket Nr 41/42, so also here it makes sense to be there early.

Waiting time was about 40 minutes.

For the rest of our stay in Vientiane we moved to the very recommendable "Auberge Sala Inpeng" which has only about 9 cozy bungalow rooms, so make reservation early.

Very friendly staff here, good breakfast served on the porch of your room and conveniently located within 2 minutes from the panorama Beer(lao) bar "Bor Pen Nyang" overlooking the Mekong for a relaxed sun downer. The very delicious "Chinese Liaoning Dumpling Restaurant" is also just beside and the night market just in front, so perfect location!

On the last day we took a Tuktuk (200 Thaibaht, negotiable) to the Airport (VTE), followed by the 1 hour flight to BKK, then with airport bus (Bus Gate Nr. 8, ground floor) back home to Pattaya.

So a very smooth, relaxed and rewarding VISA trip came to an end.