Visiting Thailand for 4 Months...

[transat99]

Hi -- I've been checking out this forum and just want to make sure I understand the latest Visa rules clearly before I book my airfare.  It has been about a decade since I last visited Thailand.

 

I was scheduling a flight from the USA to Thailand ... with a return four months later.  So, if I understand correctly, it appears that I can:

 

-  obtain a Tourist Visa (good for the first 60-days)

-  get a 30-day extension at Chaengwattana

-  after 90-days, I plan to travel to Vietnam/Malaysia/Laos for a "border run" (spend 2-4 nights)

-  return to Thailand and (hopefully) receive another 30-days (before flying home)

 

A grand total of about 120 days in Thailand.

 

Also -- will there be a problem getting the 30-day extension when my flight actually leaves about 60-days later?  Will they even ask to see my return flight ticket?

 

Thanks in advance for any info... 

[elviajero]

• Your plan looks fine and you shouldn't have any problem getting an extension as they don't, as a rule, ask to see flight tickets.
• Note that day 1 of your permission to stay starts the day you arrive so take that in to account when planning your flight home.

[steve187]

sounds like a plan, nice to see someone asking before the s++t hits the fan, have a good trip

[BritTim]

All good. Enjoy your visit.

[Jdietz]

With a valid visa on entry no outgoing plane ticket is needed. So no issues there as well. You're good to go.

 

[Elkski]

It says a 60 day tourist visa is valid for 90 days.  Does that mean by you have to arrive in Thailand within 90 days from getting it?  Or 30 days?

"***A visa becomes effective from the date of issuance. Do not apply for the visa too early. If you apply too early the visa may expire before your trip and you will have to re-apply. The fee is not refundable***".  

Takes 15 business days to process by mail.  

Fee is 40$US.   I guess this is cheaper than 1900 baht for 30 day extension.      Are visa runs still good for 30 dsys if you flew in?  

How do you make a flight reservation to send in a with your entry and exit dates?   Buy a ticket or just make reservation?   I see why Visa stuff is confusing and a pita

[steve187]

a tourist visa is valid for 3 months, so it has to be used before the expiry date, once used it is then forgotten and the permission to stay stamp that if important.

 

visa exempt entries are still good for 30 days at the airport and for some nationalities at the land border, but an air ticket out within 30 days is required by the airline prior to boarding.

[SaintLouisBlues]

5 minutes ago, steve187 said:

... but an air ticket out within 30 days is required by the airline prior to boarding.

Sometimes. I've never been asked at check-in at an Asian airport for travel to Bangkok to show any evidence of a ticket out of Thailand before they'll let me board. I have in the US and other First World countries

[IMA_FARANG]

A single entry tourist visa will get you a stamp on arrival in Thailand of "permission to stay" for 60 days which will be stamped in your passport on arrival.

In the last week or so of that stamp, go to your local immigration office, fill out the extension form and request a 30 day extension.

The extension will add 30 days to your 60 day "permission to stay" you got on your entry to Thailand.

That will give you a total of 90 days.

Now if you leave Thailand on that 90th day for a neighboring country and return a couple days later, as a U.S. national you will get a visa exempt free entry for 30 days.

Doing that will give you about 120 days. total.

Since you are planning to return to the U.S. and have a return ticket, everything will work out fine.

As long as your money holds out.

But I assume you are smart enough to realise that.

Enjoy Thailand.

Don't forget that if you go to Laos, Cambodia, or some such country that country will also want you to get a visa to enter there which will cost you also a fee for their entry visa.

 

[Elkski]

So the 60th  day in Thailand on a USA tourist visa has to be within 90 days of issue of a tourist visa?    What the return flight rule?   If going to Thailand you need a return flight within 30 days?  But I spent 35 days in country this July on a 30 day entry visa and no one cared.   I did find out about the 500 baht/ day overstay fine the hard way.  

[SaintLouisBlues]

3 minutes ago, Elkski said:

So the 60th  day in Thailand on a USA tourist visa has to be within 90 days of issue of a tourist visa?    What the return flight rule?   If going to Thailand you need a return flight within 30 days?  But I spent 35 days in country this July on a 30 day entry visa and no one cared.   I did find out about the 500 baht/ day overstay fine the hard way.  

No, the first day in Thailand has to be within 90 days of issue of a tourist visa

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, Elkski said:

So the 60th  day in Thailand on a USA tourist visa has to be within 90 days of issue of a tourist visa?    What the return flight rule?   If going to Thailand you need a return flight within 30 days?  But I spent 35 days in country this July on a 30 day entry visa and no one cared.   I did find out about the 500 baht/ day overstay fine the hard way.  

You have 3 months to use the visa for entry to the country to get a 60 day entry. You could do that entry on the date the visa expires which is shown as the enter before date on the visa and get the 60 days.

Once you are in the country the visas expiration date means nothing.

 

[Elkski]

1 hour ago, steve187 said:

a tourist visa is valid for 3 months, so it has to be used before the expiry date, once used it is then forgotten and the permission to stay stamp that if important.

 

visa exempt entries are still good for 30 days at the airport and for some nationalities at the land border, but an air ticket out within 30 days is required by the airline prior to boarding.

So sometimes when boarding a plane in USA without a tourist visa the US airline will require you to have a return flight in 30 days?   If so and you plan to to get extension do you make sure you book more expensive changeable flights?    

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, Elkski said:

So sometimes when boarding a plane in USA without a tourist visa the US airline will require you to have a return flight in 30 days?   If so and you plan to to get extension do you make sure you book more expensive changeable flights?    

You do not have to have a return flight within 30 days. All you need is a ticket out of the country within 30 days. A one way ticket to a nearby country would be accepted.  You can find flights on a low cost carrier that can be purchased for as little as 1000 baht.

[Elkski]

But just this past July I was not questioned about my RT on major US carrier with 35 days in Thailand on the dates??  But your saying its best to  buy a one way from USA to Thailand and then just a nokair type cheap flight out at 30 day mark?   Or 60 day mark if have a tourist Visa.  Hmm.  

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, Elkski said:

But just this past July I was not questioned about my RT on major US carrier with 35 days in Thailand on the dates??  But your saying its best to  buy a one way from USA to Thailand and then just a nokair type cheap flight out at 30 day mark?   Or 60 day mark if have a tourist Visa.  Hmm.  

You buy your return ticket for the date you expect to return to the states.

The one way ticket to a nearby country is just a way to show a onward ticket if asked for or for good insurance to avoid a problem.

If you have a tourist visa you do not need a return or onward ticket unless the embassy or consulate ask for one to get it. If they did you could show a one way ticket out.

[Elkski]

4. A copy of flight confirmation/reservation , showing going from US to Thailand and leaving from Thailand (The name of the applicant must indicated clearly). 

I get this from http://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/tourist-visas/category-tr/

This is required for applying for a USA to Thailand tourist visa.    

So can the booking  dates for a RT be longer than 60  days  apart?  A confirmation means you have to buy expensive flights so you can cancel or change dates.   Maybe I need to go read visa threads for a few days?

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, Elkski said:

4. A copy of flight confirmation/reservation , showing going from US to Thailand and leaving from Thailand (The name of the applicant must indicated clearly). 

I get this from http://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/tourist-visas/category-tr/

This is required for applying for a USA to Thailand tourist visa.    

So can the booking  dates for a RT be longer than 60  days  apart?  A confirmation means you have to buy expensive flights so you can cancel or change dates.   Maybe I need to go read visa threads for a few days?

Show them your ticket to here with a return in the future and a one way to ticket to anywhere from Thailand within 60 days.