Job Discussion Forums

[Gold Rush]

Aside from the obvious border run what are my options in BKK

I'm on a 30day standard tourist visa. This expires in a couple weeks. I would like to renew it.

Aside from the obvious border run (which costs 2000B and a day), what are my options at the BKK immigration office? Can i do anything there? If so, how much does it cost and how many extra days do you get?

Is it true 60-day or 90-day visas are only obtained at neighbouring capitals (and not borders)? Meaning, do I have to goto Vientienne (for example) to get a longer Thai tourist visa that I would get at the Cambodian border?

Last question, in order to get longer visas (do you need letters of invitation) or is it possible to get a standard 90-day tourist visa (for the official purpose of extended travel)

thx

[cameron.mayo]

do a search on this site and you'll find the answers to all your quessies.
Last year I secured a 2 monther in Vientene. Drop off morning and pick-up following day if I remember. You can extend this for a further month and then another 2 weeks at the immigration office.

[tirelesstravelerasia]

You should be able to get a 10-day extension at the immigration office in Bangkok. You'll need 1900 baht and a couple of photos.

You can only get 30 days when you simply hop across a border and back in again -- cost is very similar to the 10-day extension, and obviously if you've got the spare day, a better deal.

Anything more than 30days, you're gonna need to hit a Thai embassy or consulate in a neighbouring country -- or find a visa service provider.

[kenkannif]

Penang does triple entry tourist Visas....this would be your best bet in the long run (unless you're married to a Thai? Over 50???).

Also bear in mind only some border runs costs 2K.....depending on where you are and where you go you can do it a fair bit cheaper in a country that doesn't require you to have a Visa.

Visa service providers (if you mean the ones that used to send them out?) can't do a lot nowadays....and it's a bit risky to be honest.

[Pauleddy]

When my current 30 day extension is finished, I still have to use up the second 60 days of the double entry.

Can I "start" the 60 any day before my use-by date expires, or is there a complex calendar maths whereby I have to time the second 60 to end on the final expiry date?

What are the options for activating the 60? presumably I can go to a border and come back in straight away?

I guess I would rather fly out and in rather than spend all day in a minibus. Which is the cheapest and quickest fly option? Fly to Ventiane, go through and then take the next plane back???? Will immigration at the airport (DM) worry that have an exit stamp from earlier in the day?

2nd question.....

If I need a triple, or quadruple, the next time around (after the current double), I know that I have to get this from an embassy or consulate outside. Does anyone know the best/nicest/cheapest/most advantageous place? KL? Penang? Laos? Hanoi? I don't mind a couple of days in a mid price hotel, but I don't want to go somewhere where you get hassle or have to beg for even a single 60. It seems that different posters have different ideas, maybe because the goalposts keep moving?

[kenkannif]

[Pauleddy]

Thanks again Ken

peddy

[desultude]

What are the options if you are over fifty? Someone said something about over fifty being different, and I have heard that with some money in the bank, you can get a full year visa. Does anyone have the details?

[Pauleddy]

Over 50s can get a retirement visa (although strictly speaking, u can't work if u have)

You need to transfer (I think) about 20,000 usd into a Thai bank, from outside (ie not a cheque).

U also need medical declaration (easy to do in LOS) and police declaration of no criminal record from your own country. I am told that the US embassy can do this if u are US citizen. I am a Brit so I am not sure what happens with mine.

I met a Brit who has got his R Visa and did it in a morning. I had thought that it was difficult!

I believe that, even with one, u have to report to Immig from time to time.

I am sure that Ken, and others, can correct me if I have made any mistakes in the above, which is all I know.

P Ed

[kenkannif]