No more Double Entry tourist visas?

[VIPinthailand]

I didn't have any residence for these last 10 years and still managed to get a thai tourist visa.

why you want a residence anyway if you don't work or have no kid at school and not married?

it s not the business of embassies to maintain residence with your country. you can be a permanent travel and travel all around the world.

Edited October 19, 2015 by VIPinthailand

[paz]

I didn't have any residence for these last 10 years and still managed to get a thai tourist visa.

why you want a residence anyway if you don't work or have no kid at school and not married?

it s not the business of embassies to maintain residence with your country. you can be a permanent travel and travel all around the world.

That is no surprise, as it depends where you got it. E.g Laos does not impose limitations (except that citizens of many countries can get no visa period), but you would not get a visa in e.g. China, or Italy.

The rest of what you wrote are just your considerations, that can be absolutely right, unfortunately the Thai government doesn't care.

[gk10002000]

It seems that for me, somebody that starts their travel on short notice, stays one month, occasionally a second month, I will just do the standard Visa exempt on arrival. Then at the end of those 30 days I will take a trip to Cambodia or Laos which I want to do anyway, stay a few days then come back in to Thailand and I would expect to get another 30 day visa exempt either by land or by air re-entry (I am USA citizen). I travel once a year so I can't believe I would be considered abusing the Visa Exempt process. Or, as others have posted, I can simply extend the 30 day visa exempt for 1900 baht (maybe), and that will be that. This tried and true method should be OK for anything I have planned at the moment

If for some reason I have longer stays or my plans change, well, I will see what shakes out in the next month or so. In the past, sometimes my next contract job didn't start as soon as I would have thought but I went home anyway. Now with finances and income all set for retirement, I have as much time as I want between contract jobs and I can see me wanting to hang out in Thailand a bit longer on some of my upcoming trips. I am over 50 and could go the retirement routes also, but I am less clear on what I have to do, and what happens if I am out of Thailand for much of the year. Not sure what expires, what timelines are involved etc.

[paz]

I am over 50 and could go the retirement routes also, but I am less clear on what I have to do, and what happens if I am out of Thailand for much of the year. Not sure what expires, what timelines are involved etc.

Nothing expires. You can leave (having paid a re-entry permit) on the same day in which you got the extension, and return one year after to get it again. If you don't return in time the only inconvenience is that you must the conversion to non-O again, 2,000 Baht.

[elviajero]

i'm thinking you can still get the double entry visa in places like hanoi, laos, and triple in bali..... however, instead of 1000 baht per entry, the visa will now be 5000b

If you read the announcement it says that the METV is in addition to the existing 60 day tourist visa. Not visas. That would suggest to me the existing single entry tourist visa!

Don't read too much into this; they says that all nationalities could apply anywhere "in all embassies" which is not true (not in Cambodia, not in Singapore,etc)

It doesn't say you can apply anywhere. It simply says that it will be available to all nationalities and available at all embassies an consulates.

[jmd8800]

As of today: Oct 20 the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles website shows the METV "is an addition to the already existing sixty (60) days tourist visa"

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=78

The 60 tourist visa will have 2 and 3 entries as well.

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=33

[elviajero]

As of today: Oct 20 the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles website shows the METV "is an addition to the already existing sixty (60) days tourist visa"

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=78

The 60 tourist visa will have 2 and 3 entries as well.

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=33

I doubt it. It's just the announcement. They haven't updated the site with the new METV yet.

[IMA_FARANG]

A lot of speculation and rumors, but so far not many facts in all these posts.

Those of us in Thailand now may not know the real facts until after 13 November.

But I am sure if anything is officially announced it will be posted here by our able moderators.

Until then we all will have to wait.

[Kitsune]

As of today: Oct 20 the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles website shows the METV "is an addition to the already existing sixty (60) days tourist visa"

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=78

The 60 tourist visa will have 2 and 3 entries as well.

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=33

So LA is keeping the regular 2 entries TR visa... interesting !

[elviajero]

As of today: Oct 20 the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles website shows the METV "is an addition to the already existing sixty (60) days tourist visa"

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=78

The 60 tourist visa will have 2 and 3 entries as well.

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=33

So LA is keeping the regular 2 entries TR visa... interesting !

No. We can't know that yet. All they have done is announce the new METV. The details of the METV are not yet on the website.

[IMA_FARANG]

I'm not talking about age. I'm talking about people who abuse the system.

----------------------------

When is following the rules legally abuse of the system?

There are many people on this forum, for whatever reason(such as a drop in their countries exchange rates against the Baht), that can't come up with the funds to stay in Thailand right now.

Many of them are under 50 and trying to do what is legally required to stay in Thailand as long as possible by legal means.

Any new possibility to stay in Thailand and comply with the rules is closely investigated.

Nothing wrong with that.

Don't presume they are seeking to break the law, just investigating their possible opportunities.

[overherebc]

but, Surely all the Consulates and Embassies are following TV before they decide what to keep and what to drop in the way of visas.

Why can't people just wait and see what transpires or is that too much too ask.

[Lampang2]

As of today: Oct 20 the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles website shows the METV "is an addition to the already existing sixty (60) days tourist visa"

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=78

The 60 tourist visa will have 2 and 3 entries as well.

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=33

So LA is keeping the regular 2 entries TR visa... interesting !

No. We can't know that yet. All they have done is announce the new METV. The details of the METV are not yet on the website.

Says in addition to.

METV details where on the page.

METV is just another option to stay long in Thailand for people who apply for Visa in the country where they are citizens.

Options vary between embassies / consulates / nationalities as before.

Not very dramatic.

Adding the METV is non controversial.

Limiting Laos / Cambodia etc visa applications for non citizens of those countries would be.

[Lampang2]

but, Surely all the Consulates and Embassies are following TV before they decide what to keep and what to drop in the way of visas.

Why can't people just wait and see what transpires or is that too much too ask.

Wait for what?

METV is on various embassy home pages.

Maybe you are waiting for a bulletin on the 9 o'clock news of your preference.

Who knows.

Edited October 20, 2015 by Lampang2

[jacksam]

Not directly related but along with METV make it possible to obtain these anywhere outside los. With an added rule that you can only obtain subsequent ones after exiting los for say 15 days. That would make it very difficult for working illegally.

[elviajero]

As of today: Oct 20 the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles website shows the METV "is an addition to the already existing sixty (60) days tourist visa"

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=78

The 60 tourist visa will have 2 and 3 entries as well.

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=33

So LA is keeping the regular 2 entries TR visa... interesting !

No. We can't know that yet. All they have done is announce the new METV. The details of the METV are not yet on the website.

Says in addition to.

METV details where on the page.

The only details are in the press release. The website has not been edited with the full criteria for applying for an METV. The existing TR will, I assume, be available until the 13th November, therefore, the 2 and 3 entries will at least remain on the website until then.

Edited October 20, 2015 by elviajero

[Big River]

Just to add to the discussion - On 21. September I was issued a double entry TV at the Thai Consulate in Vancouver (my home country). Second entry must be no later than 20. December. maybe they are still issuing these until the new one comes into effect?

[elviajero]

The only way the METV seems to make any sense is if the double-entry and triple-entry tourist visas are abolished at the same time.

I would disagree.

In first announcement the METV was hailed as the saviour of the struggling Tourism industry, now we start to see a trend that this visa is used to further restrict the freedom of travelers. If I see the requirements of some Embassies that people can only apply in their home country and have to proof xxx amount of money in bank and even need a job you will understand how far away this visa is from "promoting" tourism.

IMHO the Double Entry Tourist is a useful Visa and was easily available for most nationalities, hence it was a success.

• What struggling tourist industry? It was launched to "boost" tourism.
• How does a multi entry visa restrict freedom for travellers? Surely it's the opposite!
• Genuine tourists will be unaffected and most will continue entering with single TR's, visa exempt and visa on arrival.
• If double/triple TR's are stopped locally the only people affected are those that live here and aren't tourists.

[freedomnow]

I'm sure somewhere will have triples after the official changes and a bright member will post a full A-Z trip photo journal new post on this sub-forum of how they got it, and that discrete avenue will be dead as a dodo soon after... just sayin'

[JackThompson]

Pure speculation with no evidence based on fact.

AKA Rumourmongering

Which part? No way to discount my personal interactions with dozens of expats I've talked to in Cambodia. As to my analysis of who has influence in Thai policy, and their stake in all this:

I did say, that I don't see the age going up without a fight from the developers - though they could get overruled by other forces. If Thailand wants "quality tourists" they would also want "quality retirees" - right? Who, with influence, could and would resist changing the policy? They raised the financial-requirements before, and could easily do it again.

[CharlieH]

Troll stye post removed

[oncearugge]

Pure speculation with no evidence based on fact.

AKA Rumourmongering

Which part? No way to discount my personal interactions with dozens of expats I've talked to in Cambodia. As to my analysis of who has influence in Thai policy, and their stake in all this:

I did say, that I don't see the age going up without a fight from the developers - though they could get overruled by other forces. If Thailand wants "quality tourists" they would also want "quality retirees" - right? Who, with influence, could and would resist changing the policy? They raised the financial-requirements before, and could easily do it again.

If you care to research the history you will discover that those on retirement extensions were "Grandfathered" and were NOT required to meet "new" financial criteria to renew their extensions of stay.

[phuketrichard]

Pure speculation with no evidence based on fact.

AKA Rumourmongering

Which part? No way to discount my personal interactions with dozens of expats I've talked to in Cambodia. As to my analysis of who has influence in Thai policy, and their stake in all this:

I did say, that I don't see the age going up without a fight from the developers - though they could get overruled by other forces. If Thailand wants "quality tourists" they would also want "quality retirees" - right? Who, with influence, could and would resist changing the policy? They raised the financial-requirements before, and could easily do it again.

I lived in Cambodia, am a frequent visitor and a frequent poster on the two most popular forums,

i would say less than 20% have moved from Thailand to Cambodia because of the visa situation.

[ubonjoe]

A off topic troll post and the expected replies to it have been removed.

No further notice will be made when posts are removed. If your post disappears you can assume it was off topic and etc.

[elviajero]

I returned to the UK in mid June, this year, to enjoy the summer there for three months. In mid September, I applied in person at the RTE in London for another triple entry visa (my 4th). The Thai lady at the counter, who received and accepted my completed application form, started talking to me in broken English. She seemed to be saying that Immigration in Thailand would only allow me to stay 6 months; that I could extend the first entry of 60 days by a further 30 days as usual; and I could activate the second entry and extend it by another 30 days. However, Immigration would not allow me to activate the third entry on my visa; 6 months would be all I would be allowed. She made no mention of the METV.

I did not argue the point with her, as I was having trouble understanding what she was saying. I smiled and nodded, handed over the application form, the photos and cash of £75 for a triple entry (£25 per entry)

I returned the next morning. I was half expecting them, on the basis of what she had told me, to be granted only a double entry visa, and that they would hand back the £25 for the third entry which they had not granted. But no, there it was in my passport, a brand new sticker for a triple entry visa.

Whoever you were talking to at the London Embassy was talking nonsense. Or maybe something was lost in translation. If you have a triple entry visa it will be valid for 6 months ('enter before') from the date of issue, and as long as your 3rd entry is on or before the 'enter before' date they will grant you a 60 day stay on entry.

There is no reason why immigration would not honour visas that are still valid after the METV is launched.

[MAZ3]

Just got a reply from the Thai Consulate in Hull and no information from the Thai Embassy in London,Hull stated they will continue to issue single,double and triple Tourist visas until advised otherwise by London.

I and some of my friends use these to have 2/3 months in the LOS and have the same time back in the UK and then use the 2nd one before it expires.

Very handy and we don't work or live here,the METV would be twice the price and overkill.

Just hope they keep them available after Nov the 13th.

Edited October 20, 2015 by MAZ3

[oncearugge]

Just got a reply from the Thai Consulate in Hull and no information from the Thai Embassy in London,Hull stated they will continue to issue single,double and triple Tourist visas until advised otherwise by London.

I and some of my friends use these to have 2/3 months in the LOS and have the same time back in the UK and then use the 2nd one before it expires.

Very handy and we don't work or live here,the METV would be twice the price and overkill.

Just hope they keep them available after Nov the 13th.

You can be assured that current Tourist Visa options will be available up to and including 12/11/2015

After that the situation remains unclear but some European Thai Embassy's have stated that 2-3 entry visas will not be available after 12/11/2015

[MAZ3]

Just got a reply from the Thai Consulate in Hull and no information from the Thai Embassy in London,Hull stated they will continue to issue single,double and triple Tourist visas until advised otherwise by London.

I and some of my friends use these to have 2/3 months in the LOS and have the same time back in the UK and then use the 2nd one before it expires.

Very handy and we don't work or live here,the METV would be twice the price and overkill.

Just hope they keep them available after Nov the 13th.

You can be assured that current Tourist Visa options will be available up to and including 12/11/2015

After that the situation remains unclear but some European Thai Embassy's have stated that 2-3 entry visas will not be available after 12/11/2015

That's why I emailed Hull,but their in the dark as much as us.

We all know how requirements can vary from Region to region,I might have to pop back home and get another double TV just in case and worry about next year later.

[oncearugge]

Just got a reply from the Thai Consulate in Hull and no information from the Thai Embassy in London,Hull stated they will continue to issue single,double and triple Tourist visas until advised otherwise by London.

I and some of my friends use these to have 2/3 months in the LOS and have the same time back in the UK and then use the 2nd one before it expires.

Very handy and we don't work or live here,the METV would be twice the price and overkill.

Just hope they keep them available after Nov the 13th.

You can be assured that current Tourist Visa options will be available up to and including 12/11/2015

After that the situation remains unclear but some European Thai Embassy's have stated that 2-3 entry visas will not be available after 12/11/2015

That's why I emailed Hull,but their in the dark as much as us.

We all know how requirements can vary from Region to region,I might have to pop back home and get another double TV just in case and worry about next year later.

Hull, once known as a "friendly" Consulate, is not the best of places to seek reliable information.

Double entry TV's are still available from Vientiane.

[MAZ3]

Just got a reply from the Thai Consulate in Hull and no information from the Thai Embassy in London,Hull stated they will continue to issue single,double and triple Tourist visas until advised otherwise by London.

I and some of my friends use these to have 2/3 months in the LOS and have the same time back in the UK and then use the 2nd one before it expires.

Very handy and we don't work or live here,the METV would be twice the price and overkill.

Just hope they keep them available after Nov the 13th.

You can be assured that current Tourist Visa options will be available up to and including 12/11/2015

After that the situation remains unclear but some European Thai Embassy's have stated that 2-3 entry visas will not be available after 12/11/2015

That's why I emailed Hull,but their in the dark as much as us.

We all know how requirements can vary from Region to region,I might have to pop back home and get another double TV just in case and worry about next year later.

Hull, once known as a "friendly" Consulate, is not the best of places to seek reliable information.

Double entry TV's are still available from Vientiane.

Yes,but unfortunately not valid for 6 month's with a long trip and expense to get.

If they did remove the double and triple,I could get singles,but a lot of pages used. It just suits me fine as is,but things do and will change.

Edited October 20, 2015 by MAZ3