I up country and have 5 days left on my visa exempt entry. If I understand correctly will I only get 15 days extension is I go to Mai Sei and cross the border? What is my best option to extend for another 30 days? Also at the end of that 30 days am I able to extend for a further 30 days? I'm thinking of going to Vietnam end of March for a week so this could be timed to fit in with second extension

You entered on visa exemption and got 30 days.

Easiest: probably just go to the nearest immigration office and apply for a 30 day extension.

Possible since quite a while.

Some proof of residence might be required.

Edited February 19, 201610 yr by KhunBENQ

Have you extended your initial 30 day entry already? If not then you can go to an immigration office and apply for a 30 day extension of stay for 1,900 baht.

• You won't get a new visa exempt entry at Mai Sai. The best option would be Chiang Khong.
• If you are from a G7 country you will get 30 days otherwise it will be 15.
• You might get questioned about your long stay here as this would be a back to back visa exempt entry. Make sure you have at least 10k in cash as that is a requirement for entry.
• You can extend any 15/30 day visa exempt entry by 30 days, once per entry, at any immigration office using a local address.

You can get a 30 day extension of your visa visa exempt entry at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 baht.

If you went to Mae Sai you would not get anything since they do not allow out/in visa exempt entries. The nearest crossing that will do them is Chiang Khong.

If you are from a G7 country you would get a 30 day entry at a border crossing stead of 15 days.

immigration local offices closed monday 22nd

I have not renewed my visa exempt on this visit. Is my closest office to get the extension going to be Chiang Rai? A 15 day extension crossing the border is little use, I'm here until 26th April so need maximum extension I can get. I have money in my Thai bank account so proving evidence of funds is not an issue. Also what is my best option when this 30 days extension I'm after expires. Am I only able to extend once? Can I apply for a visitor visa instead of an extension when I go to the immigration office? Am I better at the end of the extension travelling to a neighbouring country and re-entering by air or will they not issue another visa exempt entry in such a short time?

You cannot apply for a visitor visa at an immigration office inside Thailand.

You mentioned visiting Vietnam. If you have evidence of exiting Thailand by air within 60 days of entry, getting a tourist visa in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi is a pretty good option. Also, if you extend your current visa exempt, then exit and re-enter by air, you should be able to get through April without a visa if you prefer.

Visa exempt entries can ony be extended once.

Thai immigration do not issue visas. Visas can only be obtained from a Thai Embassy/Consulate such as the one in Vientian, Laos.

I have not renewed my visa exempt on this visit. Is my closest office to get the extension going to be Chiang Rai? A 15 day extension crossing the border is little use, I'm here until 26th April so need maximum extension I can get. I have money in my Thai bank account so proving evidence of funds is not an issue. Also what is my best option when this 30 days extension I'm after expires. Am I only able to extend once? Can I apply for a visitor visa instead of an extension when I go to the immigration office? Am I better at the end of the extension travelling to a neighbouring country and re-entering by air or will they not issue another visa exempt entry in such a short time?

Depends on where you are. Up country doesn't really help.

I see two choices

1. Apply for a 30 day extension of stay (1,900 baht) now. Then, in February, do a border hop to get a new 15 or 30 day entry which you can also extend by 30 days and will see you beyond April 26th.
2. Go to Vientiane, Laos and get a single entry tourist visa (SETV, 1,000 baht). That will give you 60 days on re-entry which can be extended by 30 days at immigration if necessary.

You cannot apply for a visitor visa at an immigration office inside Thailand.

You mentioned visiting Vietnam. If you have evidence of exiting Thailand by air within 60 days of entry, getting a tourist visa in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi is a pretty good option. Also, if you extend your current visa exempt, then exit and re-enter by air, you should be able to get through April without a visa if you prefer.

Cool thanks Tim for giving me a couple of options

I have not renewed my visa exempt on this visit. Is my closest office to get the extension going to be Chiang Rai? A 15 day extension crossing the border is little use, I'm here until 26th April so need maximum extension I can get. I have money in my Thai bank account so proving evidence of funds is not an issue. Also what is my best option when this 30 days extension I'm after expires. Am I only able to extend once? Can I apply for a visitor visa instead of an extension when I go to the immigration office? Am I better at the end of the extension travelling to a neighbouring country and re-entering by air or will they not issue another visa exempt entry in such a short time?

Depends on where you are. Up country doesn't really help.

I see two choices

• Apply for a 30 day extension of stay (1,900 baht) now. Then, in February, do a border hop to get a new 15 or 30 day entry which you can also extend by 30 days and will see you beyond April 26th.
• Go to Vientiane, Laos and get a single entry tourist visa (SETV, 1,000 baht). That will give you 60 days on re-entry which can be extended by 30 days at immigration if necessary.

I have not renewed my visa exempt on this visit. Is my closest office to get the extension going to be Chiang Rai? A 15 day extension crossing the border is little use, I'm here until 26th April so need maximum extension I can get. I have money in my Thai bank account so proving evidence of funds is not an issue. Also what is my best option when this 30 days extension I'm after expires. Am I only able to extend once? Can I apply for a visitor visa instead of an extension when I go to the immigration office? Am I better at the end of the extension travelling to a neighbouring country and re-entering by air or will they not issue another visa exempt entry in such a short time?

Depends on where you are. Up country doesn't really help.

I see two choices

• Apply for a 30 day extension of stay (1,900 baht) now. Then, in February, do a border hop to get a new 15 or 30 day entry which you can also extend by 30 days and will see you beyond April 26th.
• Go to Vientiane, Laos and get a single entry tourist visa (SETV, 1,000 baht). That will give you 60 days on re-entry which can be extended by 30 days at immigration if necessary.

I have not renewed my visa exempt on this visit. Is my closest office to get the extension going to be Chiang Rai? A 15 day extension crossing the border is little use, I'm here until 26th April so need maximum extension I can get. I have money in my Thai bank account so proving evidence of funds is not an issue. Also what is my best option when this 30 days extension I'm after expires. Am I only able to extend once? Can I apply for a visitor visa instead of an extension when I go to the immigration office? Am I better at the end of the extension travelling to a neighbouring country and re-entering by air or will they not issue another visa exempt entry in such a short time?

You can do the extension at the Mae Sai immigration office. There is also an office in Chiang Rai city.

You are still confusing extensions and crossing a border for a new visa exempt entry,

You can only get one 30 day extension per entry, You could do a crossing to get a 15 day entry and then extend it for 30 days.

I have not renewed my visa exempt on this visit. Is my closest office to get the extension going to be Chiang Rai? A 15 day extension crossing the border is little use, I'm here until 26th April so need maximum extension I can get. I have money in my Thai bank account so proving evidence of funds is not an issue. Also what is my best option when this 30 days extension I'm after expires. Am I only able to extend once? Can I apply for a visitor visa instead of an extension when I go to the immigration office? Am I better at the end of the extension travelling to a neighbouring country and re-entering by air or will they not issue another visa exempt entry in such a short time?

Depends on where you are. Up country doesn't really help.

I see two choices

• Apply for a 30 day extension of stay (1,900 baht) now. Then, in February, do a border hop to get a new 15 or 30 day entry which you can also extend by 30 days and will see you beyond April 26th.
• Go to Vientiane, Laos and get a single entry tourist visa (SETV, 1,000 baht). That will give you 60 days on re-entry which can be extended by 30 days at immigration if necessary.

I think he is located in Mae Fa Luang district in Chiang Rai. Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Fa_Luang_District

Last time I tried to enter Myanmar from Chiang Rai they would not let me unless I had a visa for either Thailand or Myanmar. They told me no more boarder runs. I had not been across that boarder in years so it was not like I was abusing the system. I just needed 5 days but had to go to immigration and get the 30 days. My wife then needed to go to the immigration in the city to pay a fine for not registering me at her house.

So if you are not registered in CR they will not help you. There were a lot of unhappy people there that day. This was about 6 months ago.

The fine for my wife was 800 Baht.

I have not renewed my visa exempt on this visit. Is my closest office to get the extension going to be Chiang Rai? A 15 day extension crossing the border is little use, I'm here until 26th April so need maximum extension I can get. I have money in my Thai bank account so proving evidence of funds is not an issue. Also what is my best option when this 30 days extension I'm after expires. Am I only able to extend once? Can I apply for a visitor visa instead of an extension when I go to the immigration office? Am I better at the end of the extension travelling to a neighbouring country and re-entering by air or will they not issue another visa exempt entry in such a short time?

Depends on where you are. Up country doesn't really help.

I see two choices

1. Apply for a 30 day extension of stay (1,900 baht) now. Then, in February, do a border hop to get a new 15 or 30 day entry which you can also extend by 30 days and will see you beyond April 26th.
2. Go to Vientiane, Laos and get a single entry tourist visa (SETV, 1,000 baht). That will give you 60 days on re-entry which can be extended by 30 days at immigration if necessary.

Hi thanks for your helpful reply along with all the other replies. I appologize for any eplies that didn't come through earlier as was trying to reply by phone but had issues getting it right. Your reply is very helpful

I have not renewed my visa exempt on this visit. Is my closest office to get the extension going to be Chiang Rai? A 15 day extension crossing the border is little use, I'm here until 26th April so need maximum extension I can get. I have money in my Thai bank account so proving evidence of funds is not an issue. Also what is my best option when this 30 days extension I'm after expires. Am I only able to extend once? Can I apply for a visitor visa instead of an extension when I go to the immigration office? Am I better at the end of the extension travelling to a neighbouring country and re-entering by air or will they not issue another visa exempt entry in such a short time?

You can do the extension at the Mae Sai immigration office. There is also an office in Chiang Rai city.

You are still confusing extensions and crossing a border for a new visa exempt entry,

You can only get one 30 day extension per entry, You could do a crossing to get a 15 day entry and then extend it for 30 days.

Thanks for the reply, wasn't so much confusing visa with visa exempt entry just wasn't sure if I could extend it crossing the border. appreciate your reply

Thanks everyon for the replies. I appologozr for some of the blank quoted replies, I was trying to reply from phone and as you see posted quotes without content from me. Appreciate all the advice from you all.