Hoping for some clarification on the use of Tourist Visa's and Visa on Arrival.

I just secured a Triple Entry Tourist Visa at the Thai Consulate in New Orleans (very friendly, helpful people there!). I intend to fly to Thailand on January 23rd and stay as long as possible.

I am a cabaret performer on cruise ships and often I am flown by the cruise lines at short notice all over the world to ships for a week or two at a time. My goal is to eventually retire in Thailand (I'm 52) but in the meantime, spend as much of my "off time" there as possible.

Here's my question(s).

1.) Even though I have a Tourist Visa in my passport, Do I have to always use it? I'd hate to burn a 60 day entry if I know ahead of time I would be leaving the Kingdom in less than 30 days. Can you opt for a VOA stamp at that point?

2.) Can you receive a 30 day extension on all three 60 day entries ... or only the last one?

3.) Once you've used up your 60 day triple entry tourist visa (plus extensions), can you then immediately do 30+30+30 VOA's?

Thanks in advance for input. I'm a regular lurker here and have always appreciated the friendly, information postings

1. You can leave visa number blank and ask; but it will be up to the officer.

2. Any 60 day entry can be extended.

3. As far as we know now you can.

As you are over 50, why did you not get a mult entry Non-Imm "O" visa (not O-A) ? This would have let you stay 90 days each entry with unlimited entries. I don't think there are any requirments other than being over 50.

TH

As New Orleans is very friendly why not apply for a yearly ,multiple entry Visa Type O with them.

I sort of like taking these visa runs myself... Gives me a chance to get around and see what else is out there in this wild world of ours. Get up to Laos boys... Cambodia's a real good time too! With all you fellers on here constantly blabberin about how you can stay here endlessly without having to leave for a couple days here and there it's no wonder they wanna make it harder to do just that! Some of you spend the whole day on here, day after day, just talkin about staying here... Some have THOUSANDS of posts to their name! What are you, bedridden?? step outside and SEE Thailand. It's a lovely place and there IS more to it than VISA RUNS!!