Help re. Visa.
 

Hi folks,
I was told by the a Thai Embassy in LA that I need. 90 day visa before I get to Thailand.
So, now I have to fly to lax, from Az then back to San Diego. Plus the hotel involved. We r talking a real pain and lots of extra money .Remember in staying in and out 90 days. They told me they r cracking down on visa runners?

Any ideas?I'm afraid they will not let me stay for the 90 days even if I do the visa runs!
Help! Please anyone there in Thailand that can really answer me?

Thanks, Ellen

I believe the new rules require that you do not return to the country for a substantial period, thus making the visa runs a thing of the past..

read the rules on line for sure

Can't you get the visa by mail?

No, I can't I'm in Mexico. Very hard here. Have to get to phx, fly to la then fly to San Diego the on to Bkk. But, I will have my luggage . Big problem!

It does sound like quite a hassle. So sorry.

Shall I take a chance?

Anyone else out there going for more then the 30 days?

Kathie,
What do u think I should do. Fly to LA.

Suggest you look at Thaivisa forum for all your Thai Visa questions.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/

With the new rules, as I understand them, I'd get the visa in advance. You can't get a 90 day visa once you are in Thailand.

if you don't want to go to the trouble of getting a visa in advance you will either have to risk doing visa runs (i wouldn't ) or maybe exit Thailand after 30 days and get a cheap AA flight to say Kuala Lumpur and get your visa from the Thai Embassy there. even if it takes a few days I think it would be less hassle and cheaper than the option you describe of getting one in the US.

i checked on the thaivisa site mentioned above for my own situation and could really find any definitive info there and it all seemed to ne heresay rather than fact (maybe i just missed it?). I checked with the Thai embassy which is a little different in that we will be in Thailand for around 10 days, fly to Cambodia for around 4 days and then return to Thailand for another week and it seems that this is ok but i think you would be pushing your luck to do two visa runs.

I think I might just take the haul to L.A. Calf. Ugh! So expensive.

Ok got I just 3 responses from The royal Thai embassy in Denver, Chicago, and DC.
All answers were the same, same not different ha.
As long as I leave before the 30 days,are up and, have my tickets in hand to my next destination
there will be no problems. Have my ticket home . No problems.


Things changed back.to where they were before.Not looking to hassle real tourists just
People living illegally in Thailand.
Ahhhhhhhh good news!

you're US citizen right?
on a 30 day visa-less entry, you can now get a 230 day extension at any immigration in Thailand - cost 1900 baht.

in theory you could do one visa-run and then extend the second visa.

the "clampdown" it seems is looking for people who stay long term using these visas....it looks like there weren't nearly as many as expected.

so long as the immigration officer in front of you is convinced you are tourists, you shouldn't have any problems. You can also get a tourist visa in Laos or other neighbouring countries.
e.g - 30 days in Thailand, 2 days in Vientiane and back into Thailand with a tourist visa?

i have to say I've never done any of this - so it needs to be confirmed by those who actually do it......you might try putting a query in the appropriate forum on Thaivisa.

If ou get a tourist visa, for 60 days you can get 2 or extend.
If you have a non-immigrant "O" you get 90 days.

Thank you to all.

The gal on Thai Embassy in Denver is very nice just in case anyone needs. Info.

So did you get your visa issue resolved with her?

Erratum - 30 day extension - not 230 day!!!!!!

Yes, Kath I did. She said no worries. Clamp down is over. Too much tourism was lost!
Thank god I kept asking!

Thank to all.
I'd love to meet and fellow Fodorites if u will be in BKK in last part of a Nov.!Im at the Aldelphi!