Hello everyone. I'm looking for a little advice regarding my next visa run. I've been living in Bangkok since this past November. I've done this on 3 SETV's and i've gone to Vientiane for the past 2 (the first was applied for back in the states). I'm wondering what is the safest alternative as far as guaranteeing re-entry back into Thailand. I'll have to decide within the next couple weeks and was thinking of going to Cambodia for a 30 day stamp. Thoughts? Appreciate any suggestions you guys could give me. Thanks.

Getting another visa would be the safest option. You might get another in Laos, but should have no problem at Embassy/Consulates in other countries. Penang, Malaysia is recommended.

You would probably get a visa exempt entry at the Laos or Cambodian borders, but you do face the possibility of questioning about your time in Thailand and, although unlikely, could be denied entry.

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If you qualify for None-O Visa you can get in BKK at Immigration, they will give 6 months and at the end of that a yearly extension of Stay.

Just a comment: I recently went to Philippines for a wedding - but also for a 2 month tourist visa/1 month extension. I dredged through the smog and transit systems and heat to get to the Thai consulate on time and on an open day, only to be informed that THIS consulate required extensive documentation for said visa, i.e. house paper/chanote or residency, return airline ticket, sufficient funds, and a formal invitation. Unaware of this, I was unprepared and I had next to nothing (no, I'm not a deadbeat, I've lived in Tland for 15 years quite legally. I do have financial resource, but am not rich, - and a house with a chanote - and a lease on my land, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

Perhaps I was naive or blind, but I saw nothing about these "extra" requirements on the Thai embassy internet.

Indeed, I mentioned that the Thai consulate next to Muktafan in Laos required nothing except my passport and 3,000 baht. Of course, all I got was a "mai bphen rai" reply. Of course I didn't let it ignite the dynamite sticks in my pocket, knowing not to blow my cool with Thai's, especially consulate personnel. I did let her know this cost me 10,000 baht + due to their lack of communication of non uniform policy. Except for the wedding and a few mai tai's on the beach in the sun, it was a wasted trip. So much for uniform standards. It's enough to turn a legal, polite, Thai taxpaying "resident" into a pissed off, half drunk beach bum. I've resorted to changing my attitude about this visa crap... If the Thai government wants me to "waste" money travelling to get a visa every 3 months instead of staying home and volunteer teaching to poor children and spending my money in impoverished areas, so be it: if I have to go lie on a beach and drink mai tai's and take a vacation every 3 months so be it. I fail to see the Thai economic logic in this. Man bpehn rai nakhrap. Cheers!

Edited July 22, 20169 yr by TerrylSky

Just a comment: I recently went to Philippines for a wedding - but also for a 2 month tourist visa/1 month extension....

Thanks for the new report on what I assume was Manilla (smog, etc). What uniform standards? At Thai consulates? I never heard about those.

The Manila consulate has been reported as friendly on and off - mostly "off" - as you experienced. Most consulates do require you to show an air-ticket and 20K baht (bankbook at the consulate - not cash - but then only cash or travelers checks required at the Thai border - go figure). A hotel-booking would probably have worked for the 'residency' bit, which other consulates have been reported to require.

I've never heard of the 'formal invitation' part - perhaps that is the consulate's own new 'invention'. I have heard of a wonderful time in history where an invitation / friend qualified one to obtain a 1-year non-O from a USA consulate (~10 years ago) - but for a Tourist Visa?