4 Month Stay--Thailand and Region--Visa Questions

[JROSSMUSIC]

Hello

Planning 4-month stay (possibly longer) in Thailand and region (coming from USA). Will be in Thailand most of the time, but will spend 30 - 35 days outside country--Cambodia, Laos, and, if time and money permit, Indonesia. Wondering which way to go for Thailand visa.

I am probably eligible for the Non immigrant visa-O-A (this allows a 1-year stay w/ multiple exits/entries, yes?), but want to check other possibilities, as the application process is a little complex/expensive and may be more than I need.

If I get a 60-day Tourist visa, and leave the country for a month--what is the best way to get back into Thailand? Apply for new Tourist visa in neighboring country? Would that be another 60 days or 30 days? Could I come back into the country on the Tourist Visa Exemption? (That sounds a bit risky.)

Any advice on best visa stategy would be most appreciated. If this question is out of place here, apologies to all. Let me know and I'll take it down.

Thanks

James

[steve187]

you could get a 2 or 3 entry tourist visa, which would give you a 60 day permission to stay stamp on each entry, each permission to stay stamp could be extended by 30 days at local immigration offices in Thailand ( 1,900 baht ) if required.

[JROSSMUSIC]

Hi steve187

Thank you for responding. This is a new experience for me.

So with a 2 entry Tourist visa, I could stay in Thailand 60 days, leave the country, and on returning I would get another 60 days? That would be ideal. Is it really that simple?

Again, thanks for your answer.

j

[elviajero]

"If I get a 60-day Tourist visa, and leave the country for a month--what is the best way to get back into Thailand? Apply for new Tourist visa in neighboring country? Would that be another 60 days or 30 days? Could I come back into the country on the Tourist Visa Exemption? (That sounds a bit risky.)"

​Getting an O-A visa is more hassle but solves all your problems and will allow you to come and go as often as you want. It can give up to 2 years if you re-enter a day or so before it expires and use a re-entry permit during the second year.

You should be able to get a double or maybe a triple entry tourist visa in your country. Each entry gives you a 60 day stay that can be extended for 30 days, within Thailand, if required. So a double entry can give you around 6 months with one exit and two extensions, and a triple gives you around 9 months with two exits and three extensions.

Getting another tourist visa from a neighbouring country is no problem. Double entry tourist visas are available.

Tourist visa exemption is also no problem and as you come from the US you'll be given a 30 day stay that can also be extended by 30 days.

[steve187]

visa exempt entries are no good for long stayers, as you could be refused boarding by the airline, as you would not have a ticket out of the country within 30 days or a visa.

In my opinion all travelers should get the correct visa before traveling to Thailand, instead of winging it later.

[wayned]

I would pay the $120 for a triple entry visa ($40/entry). It will be valid for 6 months. Each entry can be extended at immigration for 30 days, cost 1900 baht. That will give you maximum flexibility with no hassle.

[JROSSMUSIC]

Thanks, everyone for the responses..

wayned: The triple entry visa sounds like a great idea. Oddly, it is not mentioned at the Thai Consulate New York website (that's where I am). All I see there are 1- and 2-entry visas.

So I checked the Thai Consulate D.C. site. There is a 3-entry Tourist visa offered there. However, there is language that I find very confusing (see red text):

(From Thai Consulate D.C. website:)

Visa Processing Fee: (maximum to 3 enries)
single entry ; 40 USD
2 entries ; 80 USD
3 entries ; 120 USD
Payable in money order (only) made payable to “Royal Thai Embassy”.
NO CASH, PERSONAL and BUSINESS CHECKS ACCEPTED

Period of stay:
single entry ; not exceeding 60 days
2 and 3 entries ; not exceeding 90 days

Validity of a visa: The Validity of a visa is 3 months.

So do the 2- and 3-entry visas give you 90 days each entry? Do you have only 3 months to do all 3 entries, or do you get another 3 months of validity upon your second entry? I might be missing something obvious, but it all seems a bit unclear. I'll give them a call tomorrow (I have no idea how easy it is to get through). I'll report what I find.

It occurred to me that there might be a problem when I first get into Thailand: My return flight is scheduled 4 months after my arrival. Will there be a problem if Immigration sees that my Tourist visa doesn't completely cover my entire stay? (At least, unless I leave the country and re-enter.) Sorry for so much confusion.

Thanks again for your time and your help.

[wayned]

Normally double and triple entry visas are valid for 6 months. There was a report in the past from Paz where DC issued a double or triple with only three month validity.

I know it's on the other side of the country but Fed Ex doesn't care. I would contact Mary, by phone, not email, at the honorary consulate in Portland. The consulate has been very friendly in the past but do not know if they are able to process mail in applications. Here's the link: Visa application porcedures, Portland Oregon.doc

[JROSSMUSIC]

Thanks very much wayned for your response. I'll definitely check out the link.

best

jr