One year tourist visa help needed!

[jukebox]

Hi, we are planning to stay in South East Asia for at least a year, not working or on business just as tourists travelling around. We have one way flights booked to Thailand in June and would like to stay there for 3 months, then go travel around Cambodia and Vietnam for 2 months, returning to Thailand again for another 3 months before travelling through Indonesia for another 2 months and with another 3 month spell in Thailand.

My question is can someone explain to me in plain English how this can be done? What visas do we need to apply for? Or which are best to cover what we plan to do? I am 47 and from the UK and my friend is 51 and from Ireland. We have been in Thailand many times but only with visa on arrival and then having to do border runs, which we don't fancy doing every 30 days, if we get a 3 entry tourist visa how long will this actually give us in Thailand and how do we go about getting these extended? Will we still need to do a border run or can this be extended at a local immigration office? Sorry for the amount of questions but I've read and re read threads on this subject but I'm still not 100% sure of the answers. Any help is much appreciated, thanks ?

[ubonjoe]

A 3 entry tourist visa can give you a total stay of almost 9 months by getting a 30 day extension you apply for at an immigration office for each 60 day entry it allows..You just have to be sure you use the 3rd entry before the visas 6 month validity ends. The 6 months starts from the date the visa is issued so it is important to get the visa as near to date you will be leaving the UK.

You will only have to leave the country every 90 days to use the next entry.

After the max you can stay from the visa ends you could to a out for a single or 2 entry tourist visa in Laos.

[steve187]

A 2 entry tourist visa ( as long as it is valid for 6 months) obtained as close to your departure date as possible will give you a 60 day permission to stay stamp on arrival, this can then be extended in the last 14 days of your stay, by an additional 30 days at local immigration offices (1,900 baht), giving you 90 days in Thailand, any extension period is added to your permission to stay stamp

You could then leave Thailand to visit another country, returning to Thailand before the expiry date of the visa obtained in the UK, and repeat the process as your first 90 days.

You can now leave for another country before returning to Thailand you could do with a trip to Vientiane in Laos to obtain a single entry tourist visa and then on return to Thailand repeat first trip again 60 day entry and a 30 day extension.

Just remember do not plan 3 months in Thailand but make it 89 days, this will avoid any overstays.

Maybe do Indonesia first and then the second period do Cambodia and Vietnam and then Laos picking up the tourist visa while there. as its all in the same area

[wayned]

With your proposed itinerary, a triple entry visa will not work as it is only valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Get a double entry just before you leave, make sure that it is valid for 6 months, not 3 months.

On the initial entry you will get 60 days PTS (permission to stay), extend that for 30 days at immigration - cost 1900 baht (gives you 3 months in Thailand). Travel to Cambodia and Vietnam for 2 months and then come back to Thailand. Use the second entry (the visa is now used). You will get 60 days PTS, extend that for 30 days at immigration, cost 1900 baht (gives you 3 months in Thailand). Go to Indonesia for two months, while there apply for a single entry tourist visa - you might have to show tickets exiting Thailand. Enter Thailand and get another 60 + 30 days. Done deal!

[jukebox]

Thank you for the replies, I now understand a bit more ? one more question though for Steve, or anyone who can answer it, if I'm entering the country on a one way flight and with a 60 day visa I'm guessing I'll need to show proof of a booked flight to leave the country? Now if I'm planning to extend this by 30 days how do I get around this, do I still need to book a flight leaving on the 59th day or can I book a flight for the 89th day and tell them I will be applying for a 30 day extension? Thank you

[ubonjoe]

If you have a visa of any type a return or onward ticket is not required.