Visa Extension - Visa on Arrival category

[losgoodman]

Hi,

First post here. Need advice / suggestions regarding visa extension here.

I am from one of the countries that are allowed in 15 days visa on arrival category. I arrived on Dec 15, with a return travel itinerary for Dec 29. Got the visa on arrival all fine and later changed the flight return date to Jan 09.

I have never stayed longer than 15 days and had this (inaccurate?) assumption I can get another 15/30 day visa extension. I didn't notice the visa rules have had new changes.

I am due for a visa extension tomorrow. If I go to local immigration office, will I get a 7 day / 15 day / 30 day extension?

Or other option, if I exit and reenter at a border, will I be allowed in again at all, and if I am, will I get a 7 day / 15 day / 30 day extension?

I have never done a back to back / border run. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Mario2008]

If you have a visa on arrival (for which you paid 1,000 baht upon arrival at the airport), the most you can get is an extra 7 days to leave the country.

The 30 day extension is only for persons who fall under the visa exempt entry category.

Leaving and re-entering will give you another 15 days, but be careful which border you use. Which border you can use does depend on your nationality.

[losgoodman]

Thanks Mario2008. This clarifies. I am currently in Chon Buri and so the nearest border that I can use is Paoy-Paet border for Cambodia. Cambodia visa on arrival is allowed and free of charge for my country. How do I verify if I can use this border, or which ones can I use.?

[TerryLH]

"...for my country. How do I verify if I can use this border, or which ones can I use.?"

Perhaps is you said what country you are from someone could answer the question.

[paz]

"...for my country. How do I verify if I can use this border, or which ones can I use.?"

Perhaps is you said what country you are from someone could answer the question.

No need to know the country because with visa on arrival one can only receive a 7 days extension.

So after that, the OP can return with another VoA, or tourist visa.

[wayned]

Thanks Mario2008. This clarifies. I am currently in Chon Buri and so the nearest border that I can use is Paoy-Paet border for Cambodia. Cambodia visa on arrival is allowed and free of charge for my country. How do I verify if I can use this border, or which ones can I use.?

If you posted which country that you are from it would help. There's a difference between "visa exempt" entries, all of which are free and "visa on arrival" entries which cost 1000 baht. I don't see where any country is exempt from paying this fee. Here's a link to the website that explains VOA and the checkpoints that can process it. If you are actually here on a visa exempt entry you can get 30 days at immigration, cost 1900 baht.

what country are you from?

[ubonjoe]

There are no visa on arrival entry points for Thailand on the Cambodian border.

Laos, and Malaysia border crossings have them plus the crossing at Mae Sai to Myanmar.

See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15393-Visa-on-Arrival.html

Additional crossings from Laos and Malaysia were recently added that are not shown on webpage that made all crossing from those countries possible.

[Mario2008]

"...for my country. How do I verify if I can use this border, or which ones can I use.?"

Perhaps is you said what country you are from someone could answer the question.

No need to know the country because with visa on arrival one can only receive a 7 days extension.

So after that, the OP can return with another VoA, or tourist visa.

Only at designated borders can one get a visa on arrival. not at every border. In addition, one needs to enter another coutnry after leaving Thailand so the entry requirements for that country are also an issue and depend on ones nationality.

[paz]

No need to know the country because with visa on arrival one can only receive a 7 days extension.

So after that, the OP can return with another VoA, or tourist visa.

Only at designated borders can one get a visa on arrival. not at every border. In addition, one needs to enter another coutnry after leaving Thailand so the entry requirements for that country are also an issue and depend on ones nationality.

Correct and in fact I never suggested that the OP should just go to any border.

[losgoodman]

folks, I am from Indi a. I believe paz is correct. One immigration officer I got to talk to later yesterday, mentioned the same. This 7 day extension is the only easy option available at the moment.

I also double checked Cambodia voa fee. It is 37 usd and no exemption here either. So, I guess I will reschedule my return flight to Jan 5 and just go with the flow.

[ubonjoe]

As I wrote entering Cambodia at a border would not be good because you could not re-enter Thailand.

You could do it by entering Laos but would pay $40 for a VOA there to enter.

You would need to get a visa in advance for Malaysia unless you fly in from here and it costs $100.

[losgoodman]

Thanks ubonjoe and everyone. I went ahead and got the extension at local immigration office today. I got a 7 day extension. For any overstay, it will be a 500 thb per day cost.

Happy New Year!

[thaibreaker]

Off topic, but I am surprised that India is one of the 19 countries with visa on arrival as option when entering Thailand.

There are about 465.000 persons of Indian origin settled in Thailand, in addition to a huge amount of tourists coming to Thailand every year.

Maybe that is the reason, there are so many, that these Thai immigration rules have to be there to limit the number of visitors and their length of stay. China is also on that list by the way.