Hello everyone,

How are you all doing? I'm in need your precious help and knowledge.

I'm a 48 years old French woman and I've been coming to Thailand for twelve years now, staying between 4 to 9 months a year on tourist visas and/or medical extensions. I have never worked in Thailand and don't intend to as I have a kidney disease and get a monthly disability pension from French government which is plenty enough to live on.
Yesterday I went to Paris Thai Embassy to apply for a double entry tourist visa like I do every year and was told they no longer deliver them and that 30 days extension in Krabi were no longer available either.

My plan being to stay 6 months in Koh Lanta this year (going out every two months and applying for one single entry tourist visa from Penang in April 2015), I don't know what to do... My plane ticket is booked and I'm leaving Paris on Monday. I was going to pay my 6 months of rent up front upon arrival in Lanta in order to get a better monthly rate, like I do every year (I've been renting from same landlord for three years now).

What are my options now? Where could I go in the hope of getting another double entry tourist visa at the end January? Is it true that 30 extensions to tourist visas are no longer given? Or is it only for French citizens? I have been out of Thailand since June 30th 2015 and have no 30-day border run stamps in my passport (was on tourist visa, then medical extension, then another tourist visa last year).

Thank you all. Your help and advice will be much appreciated.

It has been reported before that Paris will only do a single entry visa.

There are still 30 day extensions for tourist visa entries. And there are even 30 day extensions possible now for visa exempt entries. What they told you about the extension is rubbish in other words.

You can get 2 entry tourist visas in Laos without a problem.

i know its a hassle for you to travel to London but you can get triple entry tourists there, might be an option. You apply one day and can pick up the passport the next day.

Good idea but as I'm leaving on Monday morning and Paris Thai Embassy has my passport, not an option. Thanks for the tip in any case CFC

Really UbonJoe? That is great news. Liars....

Sorry, I read posts on this forum regularly but must have missed the one on Paris only doing single entry visa. Any place in particular in Laos? Would Vientiane work? Thank you so much.

Vientiane and Savannakhet both do them.

Savannakhet is doing visas on the same day you apply.

Okay, Savannakhet then. Just have to figure out how to get my butt over there, hehehe.

Is there a Thai border town one can fly to from Bangkok and then cross over by land? Domestic flights are cheaper than international, right?

Thanks ever so much UbonJoe, you just gave me back my peace of mind and that is priceless!

Check Nok Air or Air Asia for flights to Mukdahan that are a fly/ride service via Nakhon Phanom.

Look here in the forum for Savannakhet topics. There are several about getting non-o visas there that have good info on getting there.

Thank you very much for everything UbonJoe. Have a nice warm evening (it's freezin' over here in Paris!).

I have to wonder why the Paris Embassy are doing this, it really goes against the grain.

It has been reported before that Paris will only do a single entry visa.

There are still 30 day extensions for tourist visa entries. And there are even 30 day extensions possible now for visa exempt entries. What they told you about the extension is rubbish in other words.

You can get 2 entry tourist visas in Laos without a problem.

I assure you I'm not trolling but how the hell do Embassies of First World Countries manage to have different rules.

If I can get a double entry visa from London (I have) then every citizen applying within Paris must surely get the same

Its farcical....

Maybe some French person misbehaved in Thailand (they misbehave in France so it's highly possible, hehehe)?

Also, UK and Thailand are both kingdoms, maybe that makes a difference?

In any case, I totally agree with you "ukrules" and "Chivas", it's unfair and makes no sense. But such is life so I've decided to take it with a smile and go on a Savannakhet adventure in January.

Do a good read up on Savvanakhet thread & go prepared with forms for lao visa & forms for your thai consulate visa application & everything is quite simple & not a bad round trip.

I recently went as never been before & not a bad all round experience, I used tour bus from BKK mainly as the arrival & departure times of the tour bus fit perfectly for entering Savvanakhet early am & returning same day, also as it direct to Mukkadan bus station it makes things super easy with reduced chance of problems.

Thank you for the tip BuckBee. Where would I get the Lao visa form from?

Once single entry tourist Visa from Paris embassy in my pocket this morning, I asked the lady why no more double-entry tourists visas for French nationals. I was told the reason is that "too many French misbehave in Thailand". When I looked surprised she whispered to me "Not real French, North African French". Well, that left me speechless so I just left. What the hell?!?!?

You get a Lao visa on arrival when you enter the country. It will cost $30 US or 1500 baht. Best to pay in dollars.

Okay, great, thank you. I'll make sure to have the cash ready (as well as 2000b for tourist double-entry visa for Thailand).

Thank you for the tip BuckBee. Where would I get the Lao visa form from?

Once single entry tourist Visa from Paris embassy in my pocket this morning, I asked the lady why no more double-entry tourists visas for French nationals. I was told the reason is that "too many French misbehave in Thailand". When I looked surprised she whispered to me "Not real French, North African French". Well, that left me speechless so I just left. What the hell?!?!?

Links for forms below:

Lao visa form >

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7Ub2apq5-pfSXpfMzB4aGltdDQ/view?usp=sharing

Thai Consulate application form >

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7Ub2apq5-pfUVgxYjVET3RsUTg/view?usp=sharing

Do have a few passport style photos at hand, I print out an a4 sheet of them & cut them up & keep with my travel docs as always handy & saves a job here.

Link to Savvanakhet thread >

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697299-worry-free-non-o-visa-savannakhet/page-10

My remarks start at post #243

Most of the earlier posts relate to the old consulate location, the new consulate is 10 minutes walk from the Savvanakhet bus station.

Edited November 21, 201411 yr by BuckBee

Wow, thank you again BuckBee, having the forms is going to make it a whole lot easier. Have a nice evening.

Thank you all for your replies and your help.

Edited November 21, 201411 yr by Jabuka Manzana