Problem with my triple entry tourist visa

[bradpattaya]

Hello and happy new year!

I have a problem and I was looking for some advice. On the 6th October 2015 I was issued a triple entry tourist visa. I made my first entry into the country on the 10th November 2015 and today I flew back in after being out of the country for a few days with the idea of starting my second entry. However the airport immigration refused to activate my second entry as on the visa is written a "enter before" date of the 3rd January 2016 (yesterday).

1. Is it really possible that a triple entry tourist visa can have such a short 3 month expiry term? If so, it makes the whole triple entry completely pointless as I have only used the first entry successfully.I have got a triple before and I am sure it had 6 months on it as the "enter before" date.

2. What are my options now. I am a bit worried.

Thanks in advance to anybody who can kindly give me some advice on this matter and If you need any more info just let me know.

[elviajero]

Yes it's possible if you bought the visa several months early before entering Thailand.

• The visa would have been valid for 6 months from the issue date. Not the first entry.
• All three entries need to be made before the 'enter before' date.

You will have been given a 30 day visa exempt entry. That can be extended at immigration by 30 days for 1,900 baht. After that you can go to a neighbouring country and get a new single entry tourist visa which will give you 60 days plus another 30 with an extension of stay. You can repeat that again if needed.

[sunnyjim5]

If the visas "enter before date" has passed then nothing can be done. ( As a matter of interest where was the visa issued? )

Did you receive a "visa exempt" entry ? If so that can be extended by 30 days at an immigration office.

If you wish to stay longer you will need to get a tourist visa from a nearby country. ( Penang, Malaysia or Vientiane, Laos are good places) You will only be able to obtain a single entry tourist visa now.

[bradpattaya]

Thanks for the replies.

I first entered Thailand 1 month after the visa was issued. I didn't realise I had to use all three entries within this three month period as when I obtained the same triple entry visa from London it had 6 months on it. This time I obtained the visa from Sofia, Bulgaria and it seems they only give 3 months. If I had knew this I could have just got a single but never mind, you live and learn.

Yes today I was given the standard 30 day (I have a British passport). It is good to know that I can extend this by another 30 days at the immigration office in Jomtien. I wish to remain in Thailand until mid April so I'll need a 60 day single entry once the 30 day extension is up.

Thanks again.

[elviajero]

Thanks for the replies.

I first entered Thailand 1 month after the visa was issued. I didn't realise I had to use all three entries within this three month period as when I obtained the same triple entry visa from London it had 6 months on it. This time I obtained the visa from Sofia, Bulgaria and it seems they only give 3 months. If I had knew this I could have just got a single but never mind, you live and learn.

Yes today I was given the standard 30 day (I have a British passport). It is good to know that I can extend this by another 30 days at the immigration office in Jomtien. I wish to remain in Thailand until mid April so I'll need a 60 day single entry once the 30 day extension is up.

Thanks again.

I didn't realise some embassies issued triple entries with only 3 month validity!

As you're British you would also get another 30 day visa exempt stay with a simple border hop (Exit/re-enter by land). That's not available at every border, but its another option and would save you having to get a new visa if you only need an extra couple of months.

[whitemouse]

Very odd! I've had triple entry visa many years from Helsink embassy, visa always valid for 6 months from the day visa is issued. Looks like an error, they gave visa thats only valid for 3 months.

I don't think there is anything you can do about it.

[bradpattaya]

Yes its odd and rather annoying. Even if it's a mistake there isn't much I can do now.

I have emailed the Consulate in Sofia but no reply as yet.

So it looks like my plan of action now is to extend this 30 days by 30 days for 1900 baht. Then I will make a trip to Vietnam and upon re entry I'll get 30 days more and I'll fly back to the UK within that 30 days. Will this work out ok? Just a bit worried doing two 30 days back to back - well actually there will be say 5 days between them. This way saves getting another 60 day from Laos.

[elviajero]

Yes its odd and rather annoying. Even if it's a mistake there isn't much I can do now.

I have emailed the Consulate in Sofia but no reply as yet.

So it looks like my plan of action now is to extend this 30 days by 30 days for 1900 baht. Then I will make a trip to Vietnam and upon re entry I'll get 30 days more and I'll fly back to the UK within that 30 days. Will this work out ok? Just a bit worried doing two 30 days back to back - well actually there will be say 5 days between them. This way saves getting another 60 day from Laos.

Yes that should work.

As second visa exempt entry won't be a problem, especially if arriving by air. Make sure you have at least 10k baht in cash and, if possible, details of your booked onward flight to the UK.

[IMA_FARANG]

You really need to look more carefully as getting the same visa from Laos also would have been valid for 90 days only.

Not every consulate is always the same, you have to watch the dates carefully

For example I myself received a double entry visa from Vientianne , Laos on 12 October 2015 which expires on 11 January, 2016.

Both entries must be used by then, which is why I will be going to Singapore next week and returning 1 day later to activate my 2nd and final entry.