Guest MonkeySee Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 According to the ThaiVisa forum, in order to limit the amount of foreigners using "back-to-back" border runs, Thai Immigration has issued a new regulation regarding the 30 days tourist exemption. Effective immediately, travellers without visa will get only 15 days of stay if they are arriving via a land border checkpoint from a neighboring country. Passengers arriving via an international airport will obtain a 30 days stay, and for them there is no change. Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 I've pinned this topic because it seems quite important. Would you please post the URL for what you spotted on Thaivisa? I think people will want to read this for themselves and also responses. If anyone happens to go to Immigration any time soon, I think it will be greatly appreciated if you into this while you're there and let us know what they tell you. Quote
Guest Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 This sucks for me because sometimes I just want to fly the day before a trip and not plan in advance to get a Visa and just get a ticket and go. Now, I have to get organized. That really sucks! Quote
Guest shockdevil Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 This is extremely disturbing. For the past few years I have been doing the visa-run thing when necessary because even though Pattaya was my APR home-base, I also travelled to Indonesia, Singapore or HK for side trips and felt that getting a regular 60-day visa would be a waste. For my upcoming trip (3-weeks and counting) I plan to stay in Thailand for 3 consecutive months and figured I would do a couple of visa-runs if necessary. However, I was convinced to apply for a regular 60-day visa and try to extend it when the time came or do a visa-run. If this news is true, that means more visa runs than initially planned and budgeted. This sucks big time. Does anyone know if this is true and currently in effect? Is there an official Thai web-site that backs up this claim? Quote
Guest Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 I recently got a 60 day Visa in Singapore. I'll extend it for 30 days. Then, when I want to fly to Brazil for 2 weeks, I'll do a hold at the airport for 1900 baht which allows me to return on the same visa. I had a friend that did this recently and he said the only thing is to make sure that you pay at exit and that they stamp it right on return as often they do not. Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 Most of the time, if you arrive in Thailand without a visa and wish to stay beyond the 30 days, you can buy an extension at the Immigration office. Usually they give you ten days. After that, you can do a visa run and get that 15 days MonkeySee posted about, assuming the information is correct. That's 55 days. For those who wish to stay that long, it seems to me getting the 60-day tourist visa in the first place is the easiest and least expensive way to do it. If you want to stay even longer, and are not eligible for the retirement visa, try to get the Type O-A visa. That one is good for a year. I believe the only obligation is to do the 90-day address reports during your stay. For what it's worth, in the USA the Miami Thai Consulate is very easy to work with, but they might not help you if you don't have an address in Florida or at least somewhere in the southeast of the USA. If you know someone in Florida who doesn't mind you using his address, then you'll probably be able to get that O-A visa. Quote
Guest shockdevil Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 Here is a silly question. How much do they charge if I need to extend a visa for about 6-10 days? Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 Here is a silly question. How much do they charge if I need to extend a visa for about 6-10 days? The extension is ten days. They don't have a per-day charge. I don't remember what they charge because I've never had a need to do it, but if I remember correctly, it's somewhere between 1000 and 2000 baht. Maybe someone who has done it can post the actual fee. Quote
Guest Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 Maybe someone who has done it can post the actual fee. I have done it and if I remember correctly, it is 1900 baht. Quote
2lz2p Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 If you want to stay even longer, and are not eligible for the retirement visa, try to get the Type O-A visa. That one is good for a year. I believe the only obligation is to do the 90-day address reports during your stay. It is my understanding the O-A visa is a retirement visa with the same eligibility requirements. It is obtained in your home country (not all, but it is available at Thai Consulates in US and UK - not sure it can be issued by all the Honorary Thai Consuls - but, I know of some who did receive it from the Honorary Consul in Hawaii). Also, when obtained in your home country, in addition to the documents required here in Thailand, they also want a police report. Also, I believe they still require the medical certificate and your bank/income supporting documents need to be notarized. Personally, I think it is easier to come to Thailand and apply for the retirement visa here (a 30 day stamp or tourist visa can be converted to a non-immigrant "O" visa and then getting that visa extended for one-year - commonly referred to as the "retirement" visa). If you can get it, a type "O" multiple entry visa is good if you don't qualify for the one-year stay (retirement, married to Thai, etc.). I obtained one from the Honorary Consul in Dallas, Texas (no documentation required - but that was 6 years ago). I know of a others who have had success with the Honorary Thai Consul in Houston, Texas, in getting the multiple entry "O" visa. They do require border runs every 90 days - each re-entry up to one year from issuance gets you a 90 day stay (so, if you leave and come back a few days before your one-year is up, you can get another 3 months - thus getting a stay of about 15 months. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 I do think those concerned about this should also check with www.thaivisa.com which has up-to-date information and many threads on various visa types and issues. I have seen several moans and groans about this on various sites. But if a visitor does want to spend more than 30 days and be free to come in and out at will, as GB suggests get a Type O-A (not retirement) multiple entry visa prior to departure. During that year, each time you return to Thailand you automatically get another 12 months stamped in your passport - so effectively this is a 2 year visa. I got one from the Thai Consulate in Hong Kong 3 years ago at a cost of approx. US$125. Yes, it has to be taken out in your home country and you do need things like a police report, but the initial hassle is worth it if you want a long stay here and maximum entry/exit flexibility. Quote
KhorTose Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 I've got a question that I have not seen an answer to on any board. I land in Thailand and get a 30 day visa and then go to Chiang Rai and cross the border into Burma. When I return I only get a 15 day visa? Hardly seems right, but that is how it reads to me. Quote
Guest MonkeySee Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 Would you please post the URL for what you spotted on Thaivisa? Here it is: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/30-days-Bord...l=overland+visa Quote
Guest MonkeySee Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 I've got a question that I have not seen an answer to on any board. I land in Thailand and get a 30 day visa and then go to Chiang Rai and cross the border into Burma. When I return I only get a 15 day visa? Hardly seems right, but that is how it reads to me. From the way I read it, the answer is yes, if you travel to Thailand overland you will receive only a 15 day "permission to stay" visa. Quote
KhorTose Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 From the way I read it, the answer is yes, if you travel to Thailand overland you will receive only a 15 day "permission to stay" visa. Thanks Monkey see. That is the way I read it also, but it sounded to stupid to be believed. Only in Thailand has a new name. Dumb and dumber. Quote
Guest MonkeySee Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 Thanks Monkey see. That is the way I read it also, but it sounded to stupid to be believed. Only in Thailand has a new name. Dumb and dumber. Your welcome. I too, can not believe why they would do something so stupid, especially now when tourism is down so much. You would think that they would want every last tourist dollar possible. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 I too, can not believe why they would do something so stupid Welcome to the Land of Smiles where government departments do not speak to each other and there is no one at the top to knock heads together! Quote
Guest MonkeySee Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 Welcome to the Land of Smiles where government departments do not speak to each other and there is no one at the top to knock heads together! That might describe many government agencies and departments throughout the world. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Agreed - but it seems particularly true in Thailand. Quote
2lz2p Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Gaybutton: If you want to stay even longer, and are not eligible for the retirement visa, try to get the Type O-A visa. That one is good for a year. I believe the only obligation is to do the 90-day address reports during your stay. Fountainhall: I have seen several moans and groans about this on various sites. But if a visitor does want to spend more than 30 days and be free to come in and out at will, as GB suggests get a Type O-A (not retirement) multiple entry visa prior to departure. During that year, each time you return to Thailand you automatically get another 12 months stamped in your passport - so effectively this is a 2 year visa. As mentioned in my previous post, it is my understanding that the O-A visa has the same eligibility requirements as the retirement visa (the so called "retirement visa" is a non-immigrant "O" visa giving a 90 day permitted stay upon entry, but can be extended in Thailand for a one-year stay provided you meet the "long stay" criteria - be over 50 years of age and have the required financial resources (800k Baht in bank or monthly income of 65k Baht or a combination of income/bank deposit equal or greater than 800k Baht). The Thai Embassy in Washington DC and Thai Consulates in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York show that to obtain an O-A visa, the age and financial resource requirements are the same. However, in addition, you are also required to provide a medical certificate that you do not have certain communicable diseases and a police report showing you have no criminal convictions. Embassy in Washington DC refers to an O A Visa as a "Long Stay" visa Thai Embassy O A Visa Requirements The Los Angeles Thai Consulate refers to the O A visa as a "retirement visa" Los Angeles Thai Consulate General O A Visa Requirements The Chicago Thai Consulate refers to the O-A visa as a "retirement visa" Chicago Thai Consulate O A Visa requirements The New York Thai Consulate also calls the O A visa a "Long Stay: visa New York Thai Consulate O A Visa Reguirements Quote
