Significance of original 'Enter Before' date after gaining a 30 day extension

[The manic]

Hi. I would be most grateful if someone could advise me on the following:

• I have a six month tourist visa, old style, not the new METV It was issued in London on 23rd Sept
• I arrived in BKK 17th October and my first ' to leave by stamp' in my PP is 15 December
• Today I extended my visa at Jomtien IO and my new exit date is 14th January
• "Enter before 22 March 2016" is the date on my 6 month visa.
• So if I leave and re-enter on the 12th Jan and return a week later with my next 60 day allocation it will take me to aprox 20th March so I presumably have to leave Thailand and re-enter before 22 march with another 60 days.
• Where does this leave me?
• I thought there was a way of getting an extra 90 days from a 6 month visa but the Enter before date of 22 march mean it is my final entry on this visa?
• I presume I may be able to get a further 30 day extension which would be 30 days after my second re-entry around 22nd may taking me to 22 June?
• The final 'enter before date' seems to mitigate against any more than two 30 day extensions.

Can anybody advise? Ta

[elviajero]

• The visa is valid for 6 months from the issue date and not the first entry in to Thailand. If it's 'enter before' date is Mar 22nd the visa was issued on Sep 23rd. As you didn't enter until Oct 17th you've lost out on nearly one month.

Yes you will need to make the third entry on or before Mar 22nd and you'll be given a 60 day permit to stay which can be extended by 30 days. Taking you to Mid June.

Because you've lost one month it's not worth your while extending the second entry.

[expatbrit]

You seem to have a Triple Entry Tourist visa which allows only 3 separate entries into Thailand

All 3 entries Have to be made on or prior to the "enter before date"

Each entry provides a 60 day stay.

It may not be possible to enjoy a full 30 day extension on the second entry.

You "lost" time by obtaining the visa early . Visas are valid from the day they are issued.

[The manic]

Thanks all for cogent replies and information contained therein. Very useful.

[ubonjoe]

You lost almost a month of total stay because you got your visa that long before you started your trip. The visas validity starts from the date of issue. Best to get the visa as close as possible to your planned departure date.

[Suradit69]

• I presume I may be able to get a further 30 day extension which would be 30 days after my second re-entry around 22nd may taking me to 22 June?

  Wording is a little confusing Do you mean your 3rd re-entry before 22nd March?

You need to do your last re-entry before the visa "use by" date printed on the visa. That will allow you a new 60 day entry that can be extended an additional 30 days, getting you to about 22 June.

The extensions you get from immigrations extend your permission to remain in Thailand, they do NOT extend the life of the visa.