My trip to Thailand will be 31 days, flying in to BKK. I am from the USA, visa exempt IF under 30 day stay, so may need tourist visa to assure boarding plane in USA. Plan to cross by land to Vientiane, Laos at Nong Khai and back to Thailand within 14 days of flight out of Thailand for home. Should i get a single entry visa and then be able to use my Visa exempt status for the additional 15 days to re-enter Thailand at Laos border? Will that work?

OR should i just get a double entry tourist visa at the start even though it costs more?

For one day you will not be fined when leaving.

You can extend a visa exempt entry for 30 days at immigration, fee Bt. 1,900.

As an American, you receive 30 days at the border, not 15.

About boarding to Thailand, see the following:

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

Are there any rules against starting off with a one entry Tourist Visa and then trying to get a visa exempt entry?

What i think i want to do is start off with a one entry tourist visa good for 60 days, then exit Thailand after 19 days, re-enter at a land border crossing and get a 15 (or 30, whatever it is, either works) day visa exempt entry, as US citizen.

It is cheaper to go ahead and get the visa than buy throw away tickets, as far as i have seen.

A single entry tourist visa would cost $40 at the embassy or one of the consulates.

If you are only staying 31 days the 60 day entry from a tourist visa would fit your travel plans

Are there any rules against starting off with a one entry Tourist Visa and then trying to get a visa exempt entry?

What i think i want to do is start off with a one entry tourist visa good for 60 days, then exit Thailand after 19 days, re-enter at a land border crossing and get a 15 (or 30, whatever it is, either works) day visa exempt entry, as US citizen.

It is cheaper to go ahead and get the visa than buy throw away tickets, as far as i have seen.

There is no rule against that. You have no gain from a tourist visa because all you stays are less than 30 days.

If you read in the post link above, methods are not throw-away tickets.

Edited November 2, 201411 yr by paz

There is no rule against that. You have no gain from a tourist visa because all you stays are less than 30 days.

If you read in the post link above, methods are not throw-away tickets.

Yeah, it would all work out if the airlines lets me on the plane leaving USA and i just went with the visa exemption. Still considering all possibilities, trying to figure out what i am most comfortable with to deal with possible denial of boarding. You are right, only one suggestion was a throw away ticket.

A single entry tourist visa would cost $40 at the embassy or one of the consulates.

If you are only staying 31 days the 60 day entry from a tourist visa would fit your travel plans

Yes, but we DO have a plan to exit Thailand to visit Laos as a tourism stop in Laos , so that exit is for tourism as well as to gain the extra day or two to cover our departure but i don't need 60 days. I want to make sure if we go into Laos that we will be able to get back into Thailand for our flight home, preferably without buying a 2 entry visa for $80. The tourist visa is to comply with airline rules, mostly, on needing a visa if your flight out is more than 30 days after arrival. It is my understanding that for a single entry visa, once you leave the country, it expires, no matter how many days were left of your 60.

Edited November 3, 201411 yr by looniest

You will have no problem re-entering Thailand and getting a visa exempt entry after the tourist visa entry.