Us Citizen - Thai Visa On Arrival?

[jb510]

I have searched to no avail and spent too much time on hold to Thai Consulate. I hate asking what seems like a simple question, but I really have been unable to find a clear answer.

As a US citizen flying to Thailand on Nov. 13th can I get a Tourist Visa on arrival? and is that any different than getting a Visa before hand from the Thai Consulte in the US?

If I understand correctly the answer is yes, however is is very unclear if and how a visa on arrival may differ from getting a visa ahead of time? It sounds like a visa on arrival is only a 30 day visa, whereas based on the "new" regulations at the consulate I'd get a 60 day with one 30 day extension possible within a 180 day period. But this is the problem I have seraching, so much information right now appears out of date and conflicting.

Is the visa on arrival still available? is it any different than one acquired ahead of time? How many entries can I get with either/both?

Secondly, and less importantly if anyone could advise me on my travel plans that would be appriciated to because based on on the 60+30 within 180 day requirement I may need to change my fortunately flexible plans.

I was planning on 15 days in Thailand, 60 days between Cambodia/Vietnam/Laos, then another 45 days in Thailand before heading to India. Is there a way to do this with the new 60+30 in 180 regulation?

I have a 1 year rountrip ticket on Thai Airways in/out of BKK with a freely changeable return date. After SEA I planned on India to Nepal to Tibet to China. I was planning on flying from "some where" in China back to BKK and then home in about 9 months. In 9 months I assume I can get a second visa, but if I needed to come home earlier (under 180 days) would I have a problem connecting through BKK since my first tourist visa was expired? What if I wanted to spend a few days in BKK? Is this what a transit visa is for and can I get one after having had a tourist visa?

Thank you ahead of time!

-Jon

[Noel]

I have searched to no avail and spent too much time on hold to Thai Consulate. I hate asking what seems like a simple question, but I really have been unable to find a clear answer.

As a US citizen flying to Thailand on Nov. 13th can I get a Tourist Visa on arrival? and is that any different than getting a Visa before hand from the Thai Consulte in the US?

If I understand correctly the answer is yes, however is is very unclear if and how a visa on arrival may differ from getting a visa ahead of time? It sounds like a visa on arrival is only a 30 day visa, whereas based on the "new" regulations at the consulate I'd get a 60 day with one 30 day extension possible within a 180 day period. But this is the problem I have seraching, so much information right now appears out of date and conflicting.

Is the visa on arrival still available? is it any different than one acquired ahead of time? How many entries can I get with either/both?

You are referring to a Tourist Visa Exemption, not a ‘visa on arrival’; by definition this is not a visa. As a US citizen, you will be entitled to stay in the Kingdom for up to 30 days when arriving without a visa.

A real Tourist Visa obtained from a Thai Embassy or Consulate overseas will afford you a stay of 60 days which you can then extend for a further 30 days without leaving the country.

Both of the above only allow you to enter the Kingdom once, unless you obtain a multiple entry Tourist Visa before your trip.

[lopburi3]

You do not require a visa to enter Thailand for 30 day tourist stay. There is no visa on arrival available for Americans. A "visa" from a Consulate allows a 60 day stay. A visa may be required by airline if you do not have booked flight out without the 30 days allowed by a visa free entry. The visa free entry is restricted to 90 days total in any six month period. There is no restriction on visa entry but come Consulates do restrict providing them if they feel travel is not tourist related.

There should not be any problem with your plans but you might have to exit after 30 of the 45 day stay to obtain a new entry. Alternative, and advised if air flights not booked out, would be obtain either a one or two entry tourist visa from Consulate. If only one entry you will have to smile and ask immigration not to use on your first entry as you will only be here 2 week and want to use on return prior to onward travel. If they agree good. If not you at least did not have airline problems getting on board. A two entry would be best and solve all problems.

[jb510]

Thank you both! You've shed a lot of light on this.

I understand I can arrive in Thailand without a Visa as a US citizen, the only hang up might be that my return ticket shows a 9 month return date. I think I can work around that. Last resort I can "change my ticket to a 30 day return and then change it back to 9 months.

It sounds like I am better off getting "Tourist Visa Exemptions" as I go rather than start with a 60 day clock on a Tourist Visa. I don't mind leaving the country every 30 days (in fact I probably will be anyway). My concern is re-entry now.

I'm unclear what happens if I enter on an Tourist Visa Exemption and leave Thailand by land (go to Angkor Wat for example$ or into Malaysia for a week) and then want to re-enter Thailand?

Thanks again!

//link removed//

Edited October 19, 2006 by lopburi3

[lopburi3]

You will receive a 30 day permitted to stay on each arrival to Thailand up to a total of 90 days in any 180 day period.

[johnnyk]

If you look respectable, in control of your faculties and have bathed recently they will not ask to see your return ticket.

They don't care if you are American, you are just a falang.

Pretty well everybody gets the 30-day stay on arrival.

[Crossy]

If you look respectable, in control of your faculties and have bathed recently they will not ask to see your return ticket.

They don't care if you are American, you are just a falang.

Pretty well everybody gets the 30-day stay on arrival.

john, please be VERY careful with advice like this.

Immigration pretty well NEVER look for onward travel, it is the AIRLINES that do. A great number will not let you board without onward air travel within 30 days

[jb510]

FWIW, I ended up getting a Visa before arrival. No problem getting a 3 entry visa. First visit is 60 days, then I think the 2nd and 3rd are 30 days. This works perfectly for me. I'll also mention there is now a Thai Consulate office in Boston. I scheduled an appointment and got my Visa across the desk in under 30 minutes.

[Lite Beer]

FWIW, I ended up getting a Visa before arrival. No problem getting a 3 entry visa. First visit is 60 days, then I think the 2nd and 3rd are 30 days. This works perfectly for me. I'll also mention there is now a Thai Consulate office in Boston. I scheduled an appointment and got my Visa across the desk in under 30 minutes.

If you have a triple entry visa they should all be for 60 days and can all be extended for 30 days each making a total of 9 months.

[ksplitt]

YOU ANSWERED...."A real Tourist Visa obtained from a Thai Embassy or Consulate overseas will afford you a stay of 60 days which you can then extend for a further 30 days without leaving the country."

MY QUESTION...if living in patong, can i go to phuket town or immigration in patong to extend further? is multiple entry the better way to go vs. 60 or 90 day visa gotten in USA?

[Lite Beer]

YOU ANSWERED...."A real Tourist Visa obtained from a Thai Embassy or Consulate overseas will afford you a stay of 60 days which you can then extend for a further 30 days without leaving the country."

MY QUESTION...if living in patong, can i go to phuket town or immigration in patong to extend further? is multiple entry the better way to go vs. 60 or 90 day visa gotten in USA?

Yes you can extend for a further 30 days at Phuket immigration. Take 1,900 Baht and a couple of photos.

Go multy entry

[ksplitt]

"....if living in patong, can i go to phuket town or immigration in patong to extend further? is multiple entry the better way to go vs. 60 or 90 day visa gotten in USA?"

Yes you can extend for a further 30 days at Phuket immigration. Take 1,900 Baht and a couple of photos.

Go multy entry.

thanks!, ANOTHER....how exactly does the "Multiple-entry Non Immigrant visa" which is valid for 12 mos., work? is that what you're referring to? will be gotten in the USA, although i do NOT see it listed on any of the visa services sites i've bookmarked...something i call and ask them about? thanks very much!

[Axel]

The Multiple-entry Non Immigrant visa, if you get one, is valid for 12 months from date of issue.

During that period you can return to Thailand as often as you wish and each entry gets you a permission to stay for 90 days. At the end of each 90 days, latest, you leave and return.

Just before the VISA expires, you return for a last time and get another 90 days permit to stay, so in fact your total stay will be nearly 15 months.

Have a look here, as well:

http://www.thaivisa.com/422.0.html