contract won't be ready before my Non-Immigrant visa expires

[krdowney]

I have an expiring Non-Immigrant F work visa, and my institution will not have all my contract and work paper issues resolved in time for me to renew it the proper way at Cheng Wattana by June 30th. What is the best way to handle this? I messed it up last year.

Thanks

[krdowney]

My first question is, where can I go to get a Tourist visa when I have a non-Immigrant visa that is not expired?

[ubonjoe]

I assume you mean a extension of stay not a visa that is expiring. If you cannot get the extension done your only choice will be to out for a new non-f visa and then apply for the extension during the last 30 day of the 90 day entry from it.

[ubonjoe]

My first question is, where can I go to get a Tourist visa when I have a non-Immigrant visa that is not expired?

I think your visa probably expired long ago if you are on an extension of stay now.

[krdowney]

Yes UbonJoe. That is what I should have said.

So. When you say "go out for a new visa", is that visa a new non-immigrant visa or tourist visa? (I will have one or two more follow-up questions on your response. I apologize and thank you.)

[ubonjoe]

You should get a new non-f visa from a nearby embassy or consulate.

[krdowney]

Okay UbonJoe, it is my extension of stay that expires on June 30.

As far as going out to get the new visa, the documentation I need to get the new non-Immigrant F visa will not be ready before my extension of stay expires. Do I have to go into overstay, or is there another option for me to be in the country legally so I can get the paperwork done?

[krdowney]

You should get a new non-f visa from a nearby embassy or consulate.

I think the end goal is to go to Vientiane. That is what I did last year.

[krdowney]

Someone please tell me how I can remain in Thailand legally until my visa paperwork is finished. The paperwork will not be completed until after my extension of stay expires

[ubonjoe]

If you qualify for a visa exempt entry you could do a out and back to get a 30 day entry if you do it by air or 15 days overland unless from a G7 country which would allow a 30 day entry.

[johnatong]

Someone please tell me how I can remain in Thailand legally until my visa paperwork is finished. The paperwork will not be completed until after my extension of stay expires

You will have to leave the country and return using a visa exempt entry or a tourist visa which can easily be obtained from Vientiane or Penang.

[krdowney]

So on a US passport, I would be able to go overland to Laos and receive a 30 day tourist visa, yes? That should be enough, I hope.

My plan would be go to Vientiane, get a 30 day Tourist visa. Get my paperwork completed. Return to Viantiane with 15 days remaining on the tourist visa, and then obtain a non-Immigrant F visa. Does this sound correct, or am I missing something, because I will be cutting things close.

[krdowney]

Also, would I be allowed to extend that Tourist visa for another 30 days at Cheng Wattana?

[ubonjoe]

So on a US passport, I would be able to go overland to Laos and receive a 30 day tourist visa, yes? That should be enough, I hope.

My plan would be go to Vientiane, get a 30 day Tourist visa. Get my paperwork completed. Return to Viantiane with 15 days remaining on the tourist visa, and then obtain a non-Immigrant F visa. Does this sound correct, or am I missing something, because I will be cutting things close.

You would get a 30 day visa exempt entry (not a tourist visa) at a border crossing. Just cross, turn around and come back to the country. Vientiane is not the only place you can do it,

You could leave on the last day of the 30 day entry and apply for the non-f visa if you needed to.

[johnatong]

So on a US passport, I would be able to go overland to Laos and receive a 30 day tourist visa, yes? That should be enough, I hope.

My plan would be go to Vientiane, get a 30 day Tourist visa. Get my paperwork completed. Return to Viantiane with 15 days remaining on the tourist visa, and then obtain a non-Immigrant F visa. Does this sound correct, or am I missing something, because I will be cutting things close.

There are no 30 day tourist visas !

You can get a 30 day visa exempt entry (It is NOT a "visa" ) which can be extended by 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 Bht

Not sure why you would want to return to Vientiane with 15 days of the 30 day entry remaining ------------there is no requirement for that and the 15 days would be "lost" as soon as you exit the country --------

[krdowney]

Ubon, you are a genius. I get it now. I'll head to Cambodia for the 30 day exempt stamp, and make sure i'm in Vientiane within 30 days for my non-Immigrant F. Thank you very much!

[krdowney]

Hi Johnatong. The 15 day thing may be my faulty memory. I thought I remembered having to do that four years ago. A lot has changed here. Thanks for the info about Cheng Wattana. Now I have to get my workplace to pull their weight