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Clarification on details of the METV

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Hello all, 

 

Apologies if this is blindingly obvious to some on here, I'm just looking for information to make some good decisions in the near future. 

 

Me:
British, 30, METV with an ENTER BEFORE date of 25th Jan 2017.

Entered Thailand 7 Aug 2016, departure card has an ADMITTED UNTIL date of 5th Oct 2016.

Staying in Phuket.

As I'm doing PADI quals for later possible employment in Thailand - it's possible I will not need to squeeze all the time I could out of this METV, as I'll be transferring to a work permit and a different via, which I'm sure will be even more fun than the METV process(!).

 

As I understand, I can go to the local immigration office and extend the departure card date by another 30 days, but then after that I will need to officially leave the country and return to Thailand again, getting another departure card date for another 60 days. I can then repeat that process twice over and if the timing is right, achieve nearly 9 months using this visa.

 

Questions

- Is there a fee attached to the 30 day extension?

 

- Regarding the 'leaving the country' stage - can this be done using a land border such as Wang Pachan https://goo.gl/maps/kGakuhpcvVF2? I was thinking I could just ride down there on the motorbike and have it done in 1 day. I've also read that the Immigration Office in Satun can do all of this without requirement of physically crossing the border. This seems to be what the Visa Run companies are offering, I happen to have a bike here and wanted to save time and money cutting them out of the loop.

 

- If I can do the OUT/IN part of the METV in either Wang Pachan or Satun town, has anyone done this without the local fixers and is there risk of it taking longer/not at all when you just want to do it yourself? I can see why foreigners would want to use their services, I happen not to need them for transportation.

 

Many many thanks in advance,

 

Ben

 

 

 

The 30-day extension is 1900 Baht.  You could opt to just do the border-bounce every 60 days, instead of extending the entries - your choice. 

 

Note that an exit / re-entry just before the "use before" date gets you an additional 60-days permission-of-stay, which you could extend for 30 more - though perhaps you will have a B-Visa with work-permit by that time.

 

On the exit / re-entries - to follow the law, you must leave Thailand (as in, stamp-out of the country), enter a neighboring country  (stamp in and stamp back out), then you can return to Thailand.   There is no need for 'fixers', and if they were to get your stamps for you, without you actually leaving and re-entering, this would be illegal.  I would recommend not doing this (fake stamps happen).

 

I am not familiar with that particular border-crossing.  It may be ok (others can comment on this), but I always use Pedang Besar, which is known as 'friendly'.  

 

Note that you can be asked to show 20K Baht in Cash and/or Traveler's Checks upon entry, to prove you can afford your stay in Thailand.  This is often requested at Sadao, rarely elsewhere, but could theoretically be requested at any crossing.

 

  • Author

Good info thank you very much, 

 

I can see it's no more time/distance to head to Pedang, and so I may just head over in early October and do what you have described. 

 

Do you simply walk across the border? Would you mind describing the process, as though to a 5 year old? I'll be riding on a motorbike so would ideally like to ride across and ride back. Is this a OUT/IN thing a simple process without a guide? You presumable have to reach Thai immigration for your stamp out, and then Malaysian Immigration for a stamp IN/OUT and then back to the same Thai Immigration to get your fresh 60 days and possibly get checked for cash etc? 

 

Thanks 

Pass through Thai Immigration and get stamped out.

Pass through Malaysian Immigration and get stamped in.

Turn round and get stamped out.

Pass through Thai Immigration and get stamped in again.

 

At Pedang Besar there are motorbike taxis that will take you around the course for a small fee.

Use them. It is simple. They will even stop at the duty free shop if you want.

  • Author

Perfect information thanks, 

 

I'd hoped it would be as easy as that, but it's a long way to ride to find out your optimism is unjustified! 

 

I think I'll head out there in early October. 

 

Thanks again for the advice all, really appreciated. 

1 hour ago, benny86 said:

 

 

Do you simply walk across the border? Would you mind describing the process, as though to a 5 year old? I'll be riding on a motorbike so would ideally like to ride across and ride back. Is this a OUT/IN thing a simple process without a guide?

 

I could be incorrect about Pedang Besar, Sadao or any of the other crossings into Malaysia, but up north, crossings into Myanmar and Laos on a bike are a waste of time unless you plan on touring the area for a few days.  Just park the bike on the Thai side and cross over without it.  If you do decide to ride the bike across, here is a link with info on what you need.

 http://www.gt-rider.com/touring-information-overview/s-e-asian-border-crossings

 

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