Hi I have been told that when I apply for my double entry visa from Thai Embassy London by post, the visa will start when I first enter Thailand, but talking to someone else they have said my visa will start when the embassy issue it, could someone clear this up for me please? Also I would like to extend my visa by 30 days when I get to Thailand so can I go to the immigration office in Bangkok to do this? And I would like to extend my second stay by another 30 days I will have to do this in Laos or can I only extend it by 15 days if I am entering by land?

Many thanks for any help.

All visas are valid from the time they are issued.

The "enter before date" is clearly marked on the visa sticker and, in the case of a double entry visa, both entries must be made prior to or on that date

A tourist visa can be extended by 30 days at any immigration office for a fee of 1900 Bht.

When activating the second of your two entries you will be given a 60 day permission to stay which can be extended by 30 days .

Extensions are only available from Thai immigration offices.

The visa will be valid for 6 months from the issue date. It will have an 'enter before' date printed on the visa and you need to use both entries before that date.

When you enter you'll be given a 60 day stay and a few days before the end of that stay you can go to immigration in Bangkok and extend for 30 days (1,900 baht). At the end of the 30 days you need to exit and enter another country. You can turn around and re-enter Thailand and will get another 60 day stay. That stay can also be extended by 30 days at Bangkok immigration (1,900 baht).

The visa will be valid for 6 months from the issue date. It will have an 'enter before' date printed on the visa and you need to use both entries before that date.

When you enter you'll be given a 60 day stay and a few days before the end of that stay you can go to immigration in Bangkok and extend for 30 days (1,900 baht). At the end of the 30 days you need to exit and enter another country. You can turn around and re-enter Thailand and will get another 60 day stay. That stay can also be extended by 30 days at Bangkok immigration (1,900 baht).

Ok so I can't extend the first visa by 30 days when I first enter Thailand? I have to wait until I'm nearing the end of that first visa before I can extend by 30 days?

All visas are valid from the time they are issued.

The "enter before date" is clearly marked on the visa sticker and, in the case of a double entry visa, both entries must be made prior to or on that date

A tourist visa can be extended by 30 days at any immigration office for a fee of 1900 Bht.

When activating the second of your two entries you will be given a 60 day permission to stay which can be extended by 30 days .

Extensions are only available from Thai immigration offices.

Ok many thanks, so I can't extend my first visa by 30 days until I'm nearing the end of that first visa? Or can I extend first 60 days when I arrive in Thailand?

The visa will be valid for 6 months from the issue date. It will have an 'enter before' date printed on the visa and you need to use both entries before that date.

When you enter you'll be given a 60 day stay and a few days before the end of that stay you can go to immigration in Bangkok and extend for 30 days (1,900 baht). At the end of the 30 days you need to exit and enter another country. You can turn around and re-enter Thailand and will get another 60 day stay. That stay can also be extended by 30 days at Bangkok immigration (1,900 baht).

Ok so I can't extend the first visa by 30 days when I first enter Thailand? I have to wait until I'm nearing the end of that first visa before I can extend by 30 days?

Yes you will need to wait until nearing the end. They'll usually accept extensions within the last 7 days.

Please note that you cannot extend the six-month validity period of the visa. However, after entering Thailand and having received permission to stay for 60 days, you can get a 30-day extension of your permission to stay. It is important to understand the difference between the validity period of the visa and the validity period of the permission to stay.

The visa will be valid for 6 months from the issue date. It will have an 'enter before' date printed on the visa and you need to use both entries before that date.

When you enter you'll be given a 60 day stay and a few days before the end of that stay you can go to immigration in Bangkok and extend for 30 days (1,900 baht). At the end of the 30 days you need to exit and enter another country. You can turn around and re-enter Thailand and will get another 60 day stay. That stay can also be extended by 30 days at Bangkok immigration (1,900 baht).

Ok so I can't extend the first visa by 30 days when I first enter Thailand? I have to wait until I'm nearing the end of that first visa before I can extend by 30 days?

Yes you will need to wait until nearing the end. They'll usually accept extensions within the last 7 days.

Ok many thanks for your help

Please note that you cannot extend the six-month validity period of the visa. However, after entering Thailand and having received permission to stay for 60 days, you can get a 30-day extension of your permission to stay. It is important to understand the difference between the validity period of the visa and the validity period of the permission to stay.

Ah ok I think I get it now lol, this is the first time I have traveled to Thailand on a double entry visa. I am going to be traveling around quite a bit staying at meditation retreats and monasteries. I did think I could get a 30 day extension once I have received my 60 day permission to stay. I have booked myself into a hotel in BKK so I could go to immigration to get my 30 day extension. So once I have got my 60 day permission to stay at airport I can then go to immigration in BKK to get my 30 day extension then that will give me 90 days before I have to re-enter Thailand for my second visit?

Please note that you cannot extend the six-month validity period of the visa. However, after entering Thailand and having received permission to stay for 60 days, you can get a 30-day extension of your permission to stay. It is important to understand the difference between the validity period of the visa and the validity period of the permission to stay.

Ah ok I think I get it now lol, this is the first time I have traveled to Thailand on a double entry visa. I am going to be traveling around quite a bit staying at meditation retreats and monasteries. I did think I could get a 30 day extension once I have received my 60 day permission to stay. I have booked myself into a hotel in BKK so I could go to immigration to get my 30 day extension. So once I have got my 60 day permission to stay at airport I can then go to immigration in BKK to get my 30 day extension then that will give me 90 days before I have to re-enter Thailand for my second visit?

Also would you know, if I am staying in Ubon Ratchathani can I go to immigration there to get my second 60 days permission plus 30 day extension? Or would I have to go to Savannakhet in Laos?

Also would you know, if I am staying in Ubon Ratchathani can I go to immigration there to get my second 60 days permission plus 30 day extension? Or would I have to go to Savannakhet in Laos?

You can only get the second 60 day stay by leaving and re-entering the country. You can go to Savannakhet to do that.

You can only get 30 day extensions at immigration offices in the country. You can get that at the Ubon office.

To activate your second entry on a land border, you leave Thailand (Thai departure stamp), enter the neighbouring country, getting a visa if applicable for your nationality (arrival stamp), turn around and pass through the departure channel of the neighbouring country (departure stamp), and finally enter Thailand (arrival stamp).

Immigration offices generally expect you to apply during the last three weeks of your 60-day permission to stay. Go to the immigration office in the are you happen to be at the moment and put on the application form (http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/pdf/tm7.pdf) the name and address of the hotel or other places you are staying for that night.

Also would you know, if I am staying in Ubon Ratchathani can I go to immigration there to get my second 60 days permission plus 30 day extension? Or would I have to go to Savannakhet in Laos?

You can only get the second 60 day stay by leaving and re-entering the country. You can go to Savannakhet to do that.

You can only get 30 day extensions at immigration offices in the country. You can get that at the Ubon office.

Ok thank you, I don't know if I explained it right before, when I first get to Thailand and get my 60 day permission to stay I can then go to immigration in Bangkok to get my 30 day extension, so that then gives me 90 days? As I have booked myself into a hotel for the night so I can go to immigration the next day to get my 30 day extension.

Also would you know, if I am staying in Ubon Ratchathani can I go to immigration there to get my second 60 days permission plus 30 day extension? Or would I have to go to Savannakhet in Laos?

You can only get the second 60 day stay by leaving and re-entering the country. You can go to Savannakhet to do that.

You can only get 30 day extensions at immigration offices in the country. You can get that at the Ubon office.

Ok thank you, I don't know if I explained it right before, when I first get to Thailand and get my 60 day permission to stay I can then go to immigration in Bangkok to get my 30 day extension, so that then gives me 90 days? As I have booked myself into a hotel for the night so I can go to immigration the next day to get my 30 day extension.

No you can't. You cannot apply for the 30 day extension until nearing the end of the 60 days. That extension can be applied for at any immigration office in the country.

Also would you know, if I am staying in Ubon Ratchathani can I go to immigration there to get my second 60 days permission plus 30 day extension? Or would I have to go to Savannakhet in Laos?

You can only get the second 60 day stay by leaving and re-entering the country. You can go to Savannakhet to do that.

You can only get 30 day extensions at immigration offices in the country. You can get that at the Ubon office.

Ok thank you, I don't know if I explained it right before, when I first get to Thailand and get my 60 day permission to stay I can then go to immigration in Bangkok to get my 30 day extension, so that then gives me 90 days? As I have booked myself into a hotel for the night so I can go to immigration the next day to get my 30 day extension.

No you can't. You cannot apply for the 30 day extension until nearing the end of the 60 days. That extension can be applied for at any immigration office in the country.

Ok thank you that's what I needed to know, I will be in Chiang Mai when I'm nearing the end of my first my first 60 days so I can go to immigration there to get my 30 day extension.

Please note that you cannot extend the six-month validity period of the visa. However, after entering Thailand and having received permission to stay for 60 days, you can get a 30-day extension of your permission to stay. It is important to understand the difference between the validity period of the visa and the validity period of the permission to stay.

Ah ok I think I get it now lol, this is the first time I have traveled to Thailand on a double entry visa. I am going to be traveling around quite a bit staying at meditation retreats and monasteries. I did think I could get a 30 day extension once I have received my 60 day permission to stay. I have booked myself into a hotel in BKK so I could go to immigration to get my 30 day extension. So once I have got my 60 day permission to stay at airport I can then go to immigration in BKK to get my 30 day extension then that will give me 90 days before I have to re-enter Thailand for my second visit?

Also would you know, if I am staying in Ubon Ratchathani can I go to immigration there to get my second 60 days permission plus 30 day extension? Or would I have to go to Savannakhet in Laos?

You can do the 30 day extension at the Ubon immigration office in Phibun.

To use the 2nd entry you would have to cross into Laos at Chong Mek and return. Chong Mek is about 95 km from Ubon city.