drive up from pambula early, stop somewhere near sutherland, take the train to martins place. a short walk from there to the thai consulate.

have your application, photo, proof of address and residence in oz and all their copies ready (see checklist on application form), the correct amount of money in cash (they do not give change), observe the opening and closing times, the elevator won't even stop at their floor outside those hours.

and last not least take a prepaid, pre - addressed yellow express envelope with you. the consulate will send your passport back to you no extra charge, you will have it within a week from lodgement.

done it many times, i lived on the nsw south coast, too.

I dont have any proof of address mate. I dont drive either. so its out of the question.

One option has not been mentioned. It makes all your visa issues go away, but I think it will be outside your price range.

There is a program called Thailand Elite. See http://www.thailandelite.com/tpc_news_view.php?id=6. This gives you 5-6 years of trouble free stay in Thailand (traveling in and out at will). However, the sticker price is 500,000 baht (about A$18,500).

The alternative is a combination visa runs (for single entry tourist visas, 60 days), border hops (for visa exempt entries, 30 days) and extensions (30 days within Thailand for 1,900 baht). The visa runs from Chiang Mai are not ideal as flights to convenient consulates to apply mostly go through Bangkok. Only applying for visas for Vientiane (which you should be able to do 3-4 times) is convenient.

so youre saying Laos and Cambodia, and Vietnam is not an option to get a single entry tourist visa then? I have to go to bangkok each time?

so youre saying Laos and Cambodia, and Vietnam is not an option to get a single entry tourist visa then? I have to go to bangkok each time?

SETV's are available from Laos and Cambodia, and Vietnam !

What is being said is that you may have to travel via Bangkok if you wish to fly to any of these destinations.

Visa are not obtainable in Bangkok or anywhere else in Thailand.

why do i need to go to bangkok first if i want to go to Laos? makes no sense, bangkok is out of the way. and if they are not obtainable in bangkok, then why even go there first? makes no sense

How are you going to fly to Laos without going to Bangkok?

You can go to Laos from CM by bus or car etc.

well from the sites ive seen to check when flights are available, its a direct flight.

well from the sites ive seen to check when flights are available, its a direct flight.

OK ! So you have solved your problem

so youre saying Laos and Cambodia, and Vietnam is not an option to get a single entry tourist visa then? I have to go to bangkok each time?

I would suggest that you fly to Penang, no problem being one way and you will not need a visa.

You can get a single entry tourist visa from the Thai consulate there and then travel to Thailand, either fly or by train.

you ask so many confused questions.. making my head spin.

1. you should have a ticket out of Thailand as an emergency exit if necessary. a cheap one will do, but better if it's back

to your home country. get one that you can use within a year and that gives you plenty of flexibility.

2. you have two choices.. either enter the country and get 30 days visa exemption on arrival, then sort out a single entry visa at

a nearby embassy or consulate OUTSIDE of Thailand.. Laos has two, Vientiane and Savannakhet. Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Vietnam has

one but the visa to get into Vietnam is expensive mate, or Penang is also a good option for a single entry 60 days visa which you can

extend for 30 days at an immigration office INSIDE of Thailand. There are no double entry visas available at the nearby to Thailand

consulates/embassies.

3. The METV (multiple entry tourist visa) from Oz will give you the longest stay upon arrival.. whether the hassle of getting it sorted

is worth it to you is up to you mate.

4. Tourist Visas are no longer easily had.. it's best to come prepared.

5. if you choose to stay longer term on an Education visa.. it is better to check schools and find out the parameters long before your

visa expires.. you must have at least 30 days to process your application. These visas are also harder to get and you must actually
attend classes.. officials are testing people to check if they are actually learning rather than just using an EV to stay.

lots of folks on this forum have been here a long time, many are very knowledgeable but conflicting advice is always possible.

6. I suspect the consulate you contacted about going in/out 30 days at a time is referring to a practice that is no longer possible,

folks used to be able to go out/back in in one day.. this is really frowned upon, some borders crossings are closed to this unless

you have a valid multiple entry visa you cannot cross out/in on the same day. you MUST have some form of visa, either single

or multiple entry in order to stay for a while, even though you can arrive and get a visa exemption of 30 days on arrival with your

UK passport. You have to sort out something else for when that 30 days is up..