Any Advice As To What Visa I Should Apply For?

[onlystreetlights]

Firstly, this is my first post so Hello

I read that I need to tell you that I'm British and I'm 19, and I'm confused to as what sort of visa I should be applying for.

On 27th December I'm heading out to Thailand to meet up with a friend and I'm hoping to stay for 4 months because he's my ex and I want as much time together as possible to see if we can give it another shot when he heads back to England in August, I miss him terribly. The fact I want to travel and explore is the other reason for heading over obviously.

I know the visa regulations have changed recently and I'm a worrier, I want to make sure I apply for the right visa before I go out.

I've read that I could get a 30 day extension to a 90 day tourist visa? I know the educational visas give you upto a year, and I am planning on doing a cookery course but that's one week.. and I doubt that would justify me being granted a possible one year stay lol. Is there another option? Can I extend a 90 day visa twice? And when do I need to apply for it (since my flight out is 27th December)?

Any help is really appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Edited October 15, 2006 by onlystreetlights

[ovenman]

I've read that I could get a 30 day extension to a 90 day tourist visa? I know the educational visas give you upto a year, and I am planning on doing a cookery course but that's one week.. and I doubt that would justify me being granted a possible one year stay. Is there another option? Can I extend a 90 day visa twice? And when do I need to apply for it (since my flight out is 27th December)?

Try to get a double-entry tourist visa in the UK. Each entry from that visa gives an initial 60-day entry stamp which can be extended a further 30 days at an immigrations office. This would effectively yield six months.

When you apply may be dictated by where you apply. You need to allow a little more time if doing so by mail. I'm guessing that late-November, early-December would suffice in any event.

PS - I'm pretty sure the education visa is a non-starter for a cooking class.

[lopburi3]

As said above, a two entry tourist visa is what you need. A tourist visa is no 90 days but only allows entry for 60 days (although can normally be extended 30 days for a total of 90 days). For four months you could just use the two entries without extensions (which cost another 1,900 baht each). You would have to leave Thailand one time.

[ovenman]

I know the visa regulations have changed recently and I'm a worrier, I want to make sure I apply for the right visa before I go out.

Forgot to mention, by using tourist visas, none of the new changes would apply to you. The new visa regulations would only apply if you entered Thailand without any visa at all.

[onlystreetlights]

Thanks to both of you for your help, really appreciate it!

One last question, does the visa start from the date you apply for it, or does it start from the date you arrive in Thailand?

I've heard mixed answers from people about this.

[sbk]

Thanks to both of you for your help, really appreciate it!

One last question, does the visa start from the date you apply for it, or does it start from the date you arrive in Thailand?

I've heard mixed answers from people about this.

The use of the visa has a deadline (ie use by Dec 30) but the actual visa starts on the day you arrive. So, you arrive on 27 Dec, the tourist visa would expire 2 months from that day.

One thing to consider about extending (or leaving the country for the second 2 months) is cost. A 30 day extension to a 2 month tourist visa costs 1900 baht. Now, if you are nowhere near a border and it would cost you more than 1900 baht to do the border run then it might be better to do the extension. But, if you are close to a border then I would recommend the border run (ie you would cross the border into the other country, then come back and get the second part of your double entry tourist visa stamped into your passport).

[aussiestyle1983]

A double entry tourist visa would be perfect for you, but get it from your local thai embassy before you come here. Your visa starts from the day you enter thailand, not the day its issued, so even if you enter thailand 1 day before it expires, you will still be give the full ammount of time your visa entitles you to.

[lopburi3]

The visa validity date starts from date of issue - you have that amount of time to use or lose. The permitted to stay in Thailand (60 days for tourist) starts on your day of entry (during the validity period of a visa). The visa is the welcome mat - the permitted to stay stamp in what allows you into the country.