Best Places for Double Entry Visa's that are NOT Laos

[JeffreyO]

Hello,

I was thinking of heading out a little early to get a new tourist visa due to certain events that impact timing in my personal life. For the statistics...

American passport holder.

Only time in Thailand are the times mentioned in my visa list below.

I have one (used) single entry Thai visa issued from New York.

I have one (used) double entry Thai visa issued from Vientaine, I'm on my second entry, entered after going to Hong Kong.

I am literally a month in but am considering leaving again for a trip soon, rather than doing a re-entry permit I was thinking about taking this opportunity to get a new double entry tourist visa as I have extended time where I can be out of country.

I have heard horror stories of just about everywhere but Laos. I heard it was difficult to get a double entry in Vietnam, in Cambodia, in Malaysia, in Singapore.... does anyone have any recommendations other than Vientaine or Savannakhet? If not, I'll likely make the journey to Savannakhet but airline tickets seem unacceptably high there.

Thank you all.

[nzexpat]

Nearest for a double entry if Laos is not an option would be Bali

[JeffreyO]

Laos is an option, just not an option I prefer. Bali? That might be fine, I read that they need two tickets out of the country? I was going to fly to Vietnam in April so I could purchase that ahead of time...

The question is, do they have any way of confirming those are tickets that I will use to renew the visa rather than simply using a re-entry permit? I travel roughly every 1-2 months so leaving the country isn't a problem.

[Mario2008]

Only Bali, but will require a ticket out of Thailand for each entry you apply for.

For Laos best to take an internal flight in Thailand and then take a bus to the border.

[JeffreyO]

Only Bali, but will require a ticket out of Thailand for each entry you apply for.

For Laos best to take an internal flight in Thailand and then take a bus to the border.

I haven't been to Savannakhet but was recently reading about Nok Air's service. I'm just a bit confused... the service goes to a city in Thailand or goes directly to the border? Their website sounds like it takes you to the center of a city in Thailand but... the reports I read here sound more like they take you directly to the bridge.

[ubonjoe]

Vientiane and Savannakhet are the only locations that will do a 2 entry visa without showing tickets out of the country for each entry.

Check for flights to Mukdahan that is across the river from Savannakhet on Air Asia or Nok Air that is a fly ride service via Nakhon Panom.

Hanoi will do them with tickets.

Bali will do a 2 or 3 entry visa with tickets out up to 90 days apart.

[scavenger]

I obtained a doule-entry tourist visa in Hong Kong last August, and it went very smoothly. To get a double-entry, you will need two tickets into Thailand though. You can find more by looking up my report in that section.

[JeffreyO]

Thank you for your replies. I am looking into these options. It seems Savannakhet would be the 'easiest'. I don't mind booking the tickets early and Hong Kong is a great place to visit but I also enjoy traveling with others and it may be hard to plan so far ahead for them...

Totally random but... what about Tokyo? Do they issue double entries (With/without tickets)?

[Mario2008]

Not seen many reports about Tokyo, but they are not considerd one of the easier Thai embassies and can be very difficult to deal with.

[ubonjoe]

Tokyo will not issue any visa unless you are a resident of Japan.

If you plan on traveling frequently you can get a single re-entry permit for 1000 baht to avoid using another entry from your visa. You can get one for the 60 day entry and/or the 30 day extension.

[JeffreyO]

That's too bad to hear about Japan since I speak Japanese.

I think it sounds like Savannakhet or Hong Kong will be what I'm looking at... I appreciate all of your assistance. Thank you again.

[JeffreyO]

I'm leaving for Hong Kong today for a 4 day trip and will be applying for a double entry visa on Monday.

I have a flight for Vietnam in April and another flight to Tokyo in July, this should meet their requirements of having tickets out of the country and I am bringing both itineraries.

Wish me luck, I'll report back with my experience.

[lordblackader]

Your other alt if you don't mind a bit further travel is Australia. You'll get a double entry at any of the consulates.

[paz]

There is a closer alternative, Hanoi.

All this info is in the pinned thread at the top of the forum.

[yogavnture]

There is a closer alternative, Hanoi.

All this info is in the pinned thread at the top of the forum.

Saigon?

[JeffreyO]

It isn't so much about what is closer. If my flight to Japan isn't evidence enough I'm not lacking finances or, on occasion, time. Rather I'm just looking for fun or interesting alternatives. We will see how it goes tomorrow

[ubonjoe]

There is a closer alternative, Hanoi.

All this info is in the pinned thread at the top of the forum.

Saigon?

The consulate in Saigon only does a single entry and you need a ticket out of the country.

Hanoi will do a 2 entry but you need to show tickets out of the country for each entry.

[JeffreyO]

Alright ladies and gents, a little update and my report from the Royal Thai Consulate in Hong Kong.

I arrived on Monday at roughly 9:30 (opening time for the Thai consulate) with roughly 10 people in line before me and maybe 20 people total in the consulate at the time. The others were filling out their forms. I was given ticket "B 11". There were two windows servicing people. There was roughly a ten minute wait before my name was called, which is stunningly quick compared to some other places I've been but not quite as quick as my experience in New York. When I went up I had copies of everything they required with the exception of my Hong Kong visa. HK provides a printed slip of paper rather than visa stamps and the consulate requests a copy of this visa as well.

It took some time to find but across the skywalk there is the "Lippo Center" building, easily identified by the big words "LIPPO CENTER" on the ground floor and visible from the skywalk. On the ground floor you are able to make a copy for I believe... $2 HKD? It may have been $3. I returned to the consulate, immediately handed the lady my copy and proceeded to the cashier. With the exception of the copy of the HK Visa the entire process was roughly 15 minutes.

There were no questions about my past two visas (Single entry from NYC and double entry issued from Vientaine). I paid, I left.

I arrived the next day at 9:30 again, My number was A10. After roughly 5 minutes my number was called and I walked to the collection window. The woman handed me my passport without question with a double entry visa inside.

This was a no-hassle and simple process. It's possible this consulate has been told to lighten up, it's possible the TAT is requesting consulates to be less strict due to issues with tourism, it's also possible that as I only had a couple visa's, and my last entry was less than 30 days, and my flights to Vietnam and Japan don't look like visa runs, that they saw no reason to deny me. I can't be certain but it was easier and faster than my experience in Laos.

Specifics

Passport Nation: USA

Request: Double Entry Tourist Visa

Fee: $300 HKD per entry, total $600 HKD.

Wait time: 5-15 minutes each day.

Questions/harassment: None.

Mandatory documents: 2x tickets leaving Thailand within the visa periods, 1x copy of your passport ID page, your passport, 1x copy of your HK Visa slip.

Outcome: Success.

It was a good trip and for anyone looking to do something a little different, give it a shot! Have a good time all and more importantly, stay safe.