Hello. First I wanted to thank everyone in this forum for sharing their knowledge. I have poured over the posts and learned a lot.

I am trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together and still have a few questions that would help me finalize details.

I am planning to visit Thailand on a tourist visa from the U.S. I am planning to stay for 6 months.

I know I need to get a double-entry permit from the U.S. before I leave. It also looks like I need to get a 30-day extension in Thailand at 60 days, and then leave the country at the 3 month mark and then come back. (If this is incorrect, let me know.)

Question 1:

Do I need a roundtrip ticket to/from Thailand with a departure date before the six months are up (for example, leaving in 60 days?) or can I have a six month roundtrip ticket AND a ticket for a brief trip out of the country within 60 days?

OR should I get a one-way ticket into Thailand and also get a l departure ticket out of the country dated for travel within the 60 days? I am also going to assume I need a one-way ticket out of the country or do they accept a round-trip back into Thailand?

Question 2:

My children are coming to visit me there. They would be staying for the last 6 weeks of my trip and then we would leave the country at the same time. I learned that tourists from the U.S. can stay 30 days without a visa, but I thought I read in a thread that that length of stay can be extended (I think for up to another 30 days) while in Thailand without having to get a visa. Is that correct?

Again, thank you for all your answers. I am trying to get a clearer picture of the best way to proceed so I do not have any surprises.

You will get a 30 day extension for each 60 day entry. Then leave the country to use the 2nd entry when the first 90 days ends.

After you get the visa you need to check the enter before date on it and be sure you use the 2nd entry on or before that date

1. You can get a round trip ticket for your entire trip. Then if needed for the embassy or consulate you can get a one way out of the country for the 1st entry.

2. Your children will get a 30 day visa exempt entry that can be extended for 30 days at an immigration office. But they may be asked to show a ticket out of the the country within 30 day of arrival by the airline in order to board their flight to here.

If would be best if they could get single entry tourist visas before traveling.

Thank you for your response. You have answered my questions and brought up a good point about the kids. Thanks again.