Tourist Visa Question

[bkkheat]

Hi,

I got a French friend coming to Thailand for a holiday, he is planing on coming to Thailand for 3 months.

I am no expert on Visas, but I understand he can only get a 30 day and 1 30 day extension. Can he after the 60 days do a border run and get another 30 day visas?

Thanks

[Lite Beer]

He needs a Visa before leaving.

This will give 60 days and can be extended at Immigration by another 30 days.

[bkkheat]

ok, so he will need to get a tourist visa from France first that will give him 60 days instead of on arrival which is only 30 days.... correct?

Then after the 60 days get a 30 day extension from the immigration office.

[Lite Beer]

Correct, but apply for the extension a few days before the 60 days expire.

He will not lose any days.

Without a Visa he runs the risk of not being allowed on the flight from France.

[CFC]

I would tell your friend to get a double entry visa if its possible to get a double entry visa in France, this will give him more options and will only cost another 1000/1500 Baht.

[smileplur]

I am not sure why CFC is recommending a double entry tourist visa for this particular situation. It might provide some more options if he was planning to travel outside of Thailand during the aforementioned three months. As it is written in the OP, the intention is to stay in Thailand for a period of 3 months. There is no mention of leaving Thailand. That makes a double entry tourist visa a more expensive proposition in many cases when you factor in travel and visa costs. Of course, one could only get an extension on the first entry, but that would mean a waste of money on the second entry of the original tourist visa obtained in France.

The terminology associated with these things always seems to confuse people, and it often gets mixed up as a consequence. The 30-day stamp that a French national would receive upon arrival is called a "tourist visa exemption". A tourist visa obtained from an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand which gives 60 days on entry is called a "tourist visa". They are two very different things. As of last year, the regulations state that a "visa exemption" or "tourist visa" can be extended for 30 days in Thailand at any immigration office for a fee of 1,900 Baht.

By obtaining the "tourist visa" in France prior to coming to Thailand, your friend will save himself the hassle of doing a dreaded visa run. For a period of stay up to 90 days, there is no need to leave the country. He simply needs to file for an extension of stay prior to the end of the original 60 days given by the tourist visa. As mentioned, there is no harm in doing it a few days early. In fact, I would recommend it just in case anything goes wrong. There is no penalty for extending it a few days early.

As Lite Beer correctly pointed out, having a tourist visa in his passport will eliminate any problems associated with the airlines and the policies they must follow concerning boarding the aircraft.

[CFC]

I am not sure why CFC is recommending a double entry tourist visa for this particular situation. It might provide some more options if he was planning to travel outside of Thailand during the aforementioned three months. As it is written in the OP, the intention is to stay in Thailand for a period of 3 months. There is no mention of leaving Thailand. That makes a double entry tourist visa a more expensive proposition in many cases when you factor in travel and visa costs. Of course, one could only get an extension on the first entry, but that would mean a waste of money on the second entry of the original tourist visa obtained in France.

The terminology associated with these things always seems to confuse people, and it often gets mixed up as a consequence. The 30-day stamp that a French national would receive upon arrival is called a "tourist visa exemption". A tourist visa obtained from an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand which gives 60 days on entry is called a "tourist visa". They are two very different things. As of last year, the regulations state that a "visa exemption" or "tourist visa" can be extended for 30 days in Thailand at any immigration office for a fee of 1,900 Baht.

By obtaining the "tourist visa" in France prior to coming to Thailand, your friend will save himself the hassle of doing a dreaded visa run. For a period of stay up to 90 days, there is no need to leave the country. He simply needs to file for an extension of stay prior to the end of the original 60 days given by the tourist visa. As mentioned, there is no harm in doing it a few days early. In fact, I would recommend it just in case anything goes wrong. There is no penalty for extending it a few days early.

As Lite Beer correctly pointed out, having a tourist visa in his passport will eliminate any problems associated with the airlines and the policies they must follow concerning boarding the aircraft.

I tell you why I recommended a double entry because its only 1000/1500 baht more and if the person travelling wants to stay longer without having major hassle and wants to travel to another country nearby there's no problem. Flexibility when travelling is the KEY. Most peoples plan change when travelling especially when spending 3 months away.

[Sophon]

I am not sure why CFC is recommending a double entry tourist visa for this particular situation. It might provide some more options if he was planning to travel outside of Thailand during the aforementioned three months. As it is written in the OP, the intention is to stay in Thailand for a period of 3 months. There is no mention of leaving Thailand. That makes a double entry tourist visa a more expensive proposition in many cases when you factor in travel and visa costs. Of course, one could only get an extension on the first entry, but that would mean a waste of money on the second entry of the original tourist visa obtained in France.

The terminology associated with these things always seems to confuse people, and it often gets mixed up as a consequence. The 30-day stamp that a French national would receive upon arrival is called a "tourist visa exemption". A tourist visa obtained from an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand which gives 60 days on entry is called a "tourist visa". They are two very different things. As of last year, the regulations state that a "visa exemption" or "tourist visa" can be extended for 30 days in Thailand at any immigration office for a fee of 1,900 Baht.

By obtaining the "tourist visa" in France prior to coming to Thailand, your friend will save himself the hassle of doing a dreaded visa run. For a period of stay up to 90 days, there is no need to leave the country. He simply needs to file for an extension of stay prior to the end of the original 60 days given by the tourist visa. As mentioned, there is no harm in doing it a few days early. In fact, I would recommend it just in case anything goes wrong. There is no penalty for extending it a few days early.

As Lite Beer correctly pointed out, having a tourist visa in his passport will eliminate any problems associated with the airlines and the policies they must follow concerning boarding the aircraft.

I tell you why I recommended a double entry because its only 1000/1500 baht more and if the person travelling wants to stay longer without having major hassle and wants to travel to another country nearby there's no problem. Flexibility when travelling is the KEY. Most peoples plan change when travelling especially when spending 3 months away.

Besides, depending on what exactly the OP means by three months, the 90 days a tourist visa plus extension gives might not be enough. An extra 7 day extension or overstay fine (always best avoided) could make a double entry visa with one border run the cheaper option.

And as CFC points out it would give more flexibility should the OP's friend decide to stay longer. How often have we seen a post here on ThaiVisa from someone who came to Thailand, and is now asking how he can stay longer than originally intended.

Sophon