Visiting Thailand - Visa type required ?

[musungu]

I have a friend who is married to a Thai and he has an Iceland passport. He generally visits for 3 months and with the change in Visa requirements last month I was wondering if his circumstances will change, because if he enters as a Tourist he would now get 1 month on entry and could apply for a further month's extension, as I read it, am I correct? Or is there another visa which will allow him to stay for 3 months eg an "O".
Advice very much appreciated

[Bristolian]

Check with a Thai Embassy. The detail is here http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/45

[musungu]

Check with a Thai Embassy. The detail is here http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/45

Reading from the London Embassy info it would appear that his visit will be limited to 60 days unless he can get an extension by applying to Immigation Bangkok, but frankly this is quite vague in so far as , when does one apply for the extension, because return airfares are involved, and I cannot see this being possible before departure etc.

Does anybody know the answer?

[Big Boy]

I guess the lack of response is due to him being on an Icelandic passport. If on a British Passport, he could obtain a Tourist visa that would give him 60 days, and he could extend that for a further month at Hua Hin Immigration for 1900 Baht. I would guess the rule would be similar for somebody from Iceland, but don't know.

Friends have done the extension in the last week of their initial 60 days.

[lomuamart]

I don't see any reason why someone from Iceland can't get a tourist visa.

[musungu]

Sorry I thought the whole issue was that Tourist Visas were now for 30 days and limited to a 30 day extension. From what you say it seems nothing has changed. Yes an Iceland passport is Ok for a tourist visa so he will arrive as before , get stamped at the airport, and then go to immigration after 60 days and get a 30 day extension - yes?

[Big Boy]

I think the information being given out is where the confusion lies. This is why our resident visa guru is usually quite pedantic when differentiating between 30 day visa exemption and tourist visas. AFAIK the tourist visa hasn't changed.

[Jimbob]

I have been assisting a friend with a Thai wife. He is not computer savvy , able to research visas and have him steered to a
Non-Immigrant Visa (O)_
(for purpose of business, study, conference, seminar, film production, journalism, job volunteer, for person accompanying Thai spouse, More work before he leaves and more satisfaction once there.

[lomuamart]

Sorry I thought the whole issue was that Tourist Visas were now for 30 days and limited to a 30 day extension. From what you say it seems nothing has changed. Yes an Iceland passport is Ok for a tourist visa so he will arrive as before , get stamped at the airport, and then go to immigration after 60 days and get a 30 day extension - yes?

Yes that's correct for the tourist visa.
The 30 day entry is not a visa - actually called a visa exempt entry/stamp. I've looked (hopefully this info is up to date) and Iceland nationals get 30 days on entry which can now be extended for a further 30 (price 1,900 THB ). Some nationalities get 90 days without a visa. Iceland is not one of them http://www.thaiembbeij.org/2_List-count ... 20visa.pdf
If your friend gets a tourist visa, he can stay for 90 days in total with one 30 day extension. If he arrives on visa exempt, he'll only get 60 days total.

[Little Jon]

Hi, I'm new to the forum so cut me some slack ok?

I've searched Visa info and found myself here. I'm reading this topic with interest as I'm heading to Thailand soon for 3 months and plan to get a 60 day Visa in UK before travel.

The original plan was to take a trip out of Thailand to get the extra 30 day Visa. Now with so much online I don't know whether a land border entry gives 30 days or 15. Does anyone know for sure?

This topic talks about getting a 30 day extension (to the 60 day Visa) in Hua Hin. This would be really good, could you tell me if the info here is still current and what would I have to do to get the extension? is it a major hassle for example, is it same day or longer?

Thanks for any and all help, and yeah, I'm Googling everything and just getting more and more confused by the minute!

[lomuamart]

Your best bet for a 90 day stay would be to get a tourist visa before you arrive. That will give you 60 days on arrival in Thailand and your stay can be extended for a further 30 days at Immigration in HH or any other provincial office if you're traveling.
It's a simple and painless task. Fill in form TM 7 (available at the Imm office), supply copies of the details page of your passport, the visa, your entry stamp and departure card. One passport photo. Cost 1,900 THB. You'll get the extension there and then.
When you get your visa, it'll have an expiry/use by date so you must enter Thailand before that. Once here, the permitted to stay date (60 days from entry) is the important stamp and you're legal as long as that is still current - even if your visa might expire in the meantime.
You must do the extension before your permitted to stay expires. Don't worry about doing it early (you can extend up to 30 days early) as your 30 day extension will start from when your permitted to stay date expires not from the date of application. You won't lose any time by applying early.
For a 90 day stay, there's no need to exit the country to get another 30 days.

[Little Jon]

Oh wow! Thanks soooo much for your help :-)) I can rest easy now knowing it's that simple. That's def the route I'll take.

Dare I ask one "simple" question further....? Getting copies of passport, Visa stamp etc and a passport photo - can I get these in HH near Immigration Office maybe? Yes, I do carry copies but on one trip they got soaked and were useless so I just want to be totally prepared and able to get the extension hassle-free.

Mega thanks, great introduction to this forum!

[lomuamart]

You can do photocopying and get a photo at Imm but most people will get that side of things done at a copy place in town beforehand. There's a Kodak shop on Petchkasem Road just north of Chomsin that can take care of everything for you.
Plenty of other places as well.

[pdm3547]

It might also be worth noting the process for getting the tourist visa in the first place. You need to visit the Thai embassy in London (near the Royal Albert Hall), fill in the one page form, hand over your passport and fee and collect it back with visa applied the next day. The process took 4 minutes from entering the door to leaving.

My wife and I took a two-entry tourist visa, which can each be extended by 30 days as Iomuamart outlined above. That gives us 6 months in the Kingdom, although we have to leave and re-enter to activate the second visa. Not really a problem as we intend to take a trip to Cambodia or the Philippines over new year.

I made sure the immigration officer at Suvarnabhumi saw the visa (as I didn't want him giving me a 30-day exemption!). He probably took a few more seconds making sure I hadn't done any visa runs in the past before stamping his approval.

Despite the clampdown, I've found it all to be very trouble-free, and I'm extremely comfortable knowing that I'm here legally.

[Pleng]

It might also be worth noting the process for getting the tourist visa in the first place. You need to visit the Thai embassy in London (near the Royal Albert Hall), fill in the one page form, hand over your passport and fee and collect it back with visa applied the next day. The process took 4 minutes from entering the door to leaving.

Can one not apply by post to one of the consulates any more??