Best way to get another 30-days from Chiang Mai

[someonelovesyou]

Hi,

I came here on a 30-day Visa exception on arrival (NZ passport) intending to see a school and get a 6-month ED Visa. Because the school was closed over Christmas, by the time I worked out which school I wanted I only had 14 days left on my visa on arrival.

The school told me this wasn't enough time to process the application so I would need to leave, re-enter (presumably with another 30 days) then they could send off my application (with my passport showing I had enough time left). Then they would approve the paperwork for me to be able to then go to Laos to get my 6-month ED Visa.

Anyway, whats the best way to get another 30 days so I can get this school to send off the papers. Best place to fly to from Chiang Mai. Do I need to stay for 2+ days? Which country? etc

Thanks

[Mario2008]

You can get a 30 day extension from immigration for 1,900 baht.

Note that once you have the paperwork you will need to apply in a neighbouring country for an ED-visa. They will not convert it at imigration as the school seems to think.

[someonelovesyou]

Oh really, I can get another 30-days without leaving on just a on-arrival visa exception?

Yeah, understand I need to apply and spend 2+ days in Laos.

[ubonjoe]

Since August 29th of last year you can get a 30 day extension for a visa exempt entry.

[Suradit69]

Oh really, I can get another 30-days without leaving on just a on-arrival visa exception?

Yeah, understand I need to apply and spend 2+ days in Laos.

" on-arrival visa exception?"

Just to clarify, it is not a "visa on arrival" or a "visa exception," it is a visa-exempt-entry, i.e. you were granted permission to enter & to stay for 30 days without a visa.

You can apply for the extension of your permission to stay a week or so before it expires without losing anything from the 30 + 30 days. It is definitely not recommended that you wait until the last day, especially in Chiang Mai where the immigrations office has queues forming by sunrise from what we hear.

[someonelovesyou]

Thanks for the tip. Glad I asked here. And yeah "visa exemption" was what I meant. Thanks for clearing up the terminology though.