Visa question

The owner of my hotel tells me I can go to the tourist police here in Patong and pay 1,800 bt for a 30 day extension (I am here on a 30 day tourist visa). I thought that extension was only for a 90 day visa. Any knowledge from anyone here, as I can't seem to dechiper it at thaivisa?

What happens if I go two days late? Can I pay the overstay fine and still get the extension?

Thanks for any info anyone can give.

Pete

No, there is no way to get a 30 day extension on a 30 day stamp which isn't even a visa to begin with. Real tourist visas are for 60 days. If you want to stay longer, cross a border for another 30 day stamp, or go to Penang to get a single or double entry tourist visa. A 60 day tourist visa can easily be extended in Thailand for an additional 30 days.
I have heard of some people getting very short extensions on a 30 day stamp, but never another 30 days, so if you just need a few extra days to avoid overstay, ask at the immigration office.

[wowpow]

A Tourist Visa is valid for 90 days with 60 days permitted on entry and 30 days additional usually being permitted at an Immigration Police office for a fee of Bt1900. You can do a 'Visa run' which is to exit Thaialnd and then re-enter and get another 30 days permission.

The 30 days permission to visit Thailand for Tourist reasons is not technically a visa. It can be extended by 10 days for a fee of Bt1900 though occasionally some Immigration Police Offices give 15 days.

Overstaying is strongly not recommended. You can go to jail if the regular Police contact you and find out. Read horror stories about overstay on www.thaivisa.com (http://www.thaivisa.com)

I don't know what the Immigration Police would do if you overstay and then apply for an extension. Technically you are breaking the law. You could phone them and ask. If you are in Patong but why would you. They are easy to visit at : Immigration Office directly across from The Andaman Plaza along the Patong beachfront road.


Phuket Royal Thai Immigration Police (http://www.phuketimmigration.com/imm/eng/information.html)

Just as I thought. I did not think the hotel owner had the right info for a thirty day visa.

They have a number of visa run options here in Patong, so I will avail myself of one of them.

Thanks.

Pete

[Jetsam]

At the airport at passport controll there was a sign, that says 1 day overstay free of charge 2 days 1000 baht, and 500 baht for each day longer. So 30 days will cost you 15000 baht. :geek:

[Smiles]

" ... At the airport at passport controll there was a sign, that says 1 day overstay free of charge ... "
I tested this last year quite inadvertantly and it does seem to be the case . . . they didn't even blink at the one day over.
Never gone past that however, and don't intend to.

Cheers ....

Yes, Jetsam. But if you happen to be caught by immigration or police with an expired visa BEFORE you get to the airport to leave, you are in BIG TROUBLE.

... in Phuket/Patong, I did talk with one Farang who had done and was doing a land and sea visa run. I cannot recal where he was going but he said he ended up at the shit end of nowhere, but had no problems with a visa.

I have always found it easier just to hop on a Air Asia flight from Bangkok to Penang and take a taxi to the Thai Consulate there. First time I went I was not aware that I could get more than a single entry tourist visa (Bt2000) and it took two days (day one submit appplication/day two collect passport and visa). The last time I went I got a double entry tourist visa, allowing two 60 day visits to Thailand, plus you can get each of these visits extended a further 30 days from within Thailand at the immigration offices. You can also get triple entry Tourist Visa's.

As far as I am aware (someone please back me up on this!), the most days you are allowed entry by just doing a run to (say) the Cambodian border, is 30 days, unless you already have a visa (i.e. Tourist Visa) in your passport. You need to visit a Thai Consulate or Embassy to get a visa.

[wowpow]

Most people coming for holidays get either a тАЬ30 Days Tourist Visa ExemptionтАЭ on arrival at Immigration or тАЬA Tourist VisaтАЭ from a Thai Embassy or Consulate outside Thailand.
THAILAND, 30 DAYS TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION
FOR 30 COUNTRIES

PASSPORT HOLDERS FROM THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES ARE ELIGIBLE
COUNTRIES
1 Australia 2 Austria 3 Belgium 4 Brazil 5 Bahrain 6 Brunei 7 Canada 8 Denmark 9 Finland
10 France 11 Germany 12 Greece 13 Hong Kong 14 Indonesia 15 Ireland 16 Israel 17 Italy
18 Japan 19 South Korea 20 Kuwait 21 Luxembourg 22 Malaysia 23 Netherlands 24 New Zealand 25 Norway 26 Peru 27 Philippines 28 Portugal 29 Qatar 30 Singapore 31 Spain
32 South Africa 33 Sweden 34 Switzerland 35 Turkey 36 United Arab Emirates 37 U.K.
38 U.S.A 39 Vietnam Plus recent additions of Macao, Laos, Oman and Peru.

Technically this is not a VIsa. A Visa on Arrival is a different permission.

This permission is granted at the desk of an immigration checkpoint when entering Thailand.
It is granted for 30 days maximum and that includes the day of arrival and departure.
Extension of 10 days, sometimes 15 can be applied for at an Immigration office. Fee 1900 baht and it is usually required to apply during the last week that the permission is valid.

CONDITIONS;

a) The visit must be for tourist reasons only.
This permission cannot be changed to a Visa. Any work including voluntary requires a work permit and full Visa.
T
b) A Passport or valid travel documents (not I.D. card) must be current and valid for 6 months from the date of entry.
The 6 months requirement seems to be applied erratically. Recently a woman was detain overnight and then repatriated at her own expence.

c) An instrument of means of living expenses of B10,000 per person and B20,000 per family.
This seems to be invariably ignored by oficials. A U.K. Consul said тАЬIf asked show a credit cardтАЭ.

d) Must arrive through an Immigration checkpoint. Can arrive by air, land or sea.

e) Must have confirmed AIR ticket to leave Thailand within the 30 days
Immigration Police invariably ignore this rule. However airlines may not and you may be refused boarding the plane - note below.

f) Applicants of scruffy hippy unkempt appearance may be refused.

g) Yellow Fever. An International Health Certificate showing that you have been vaccinated is required if you have been to a declared Yellow Fever infected area.

h) All permissions are at the discretion of the Immigration Officer.

For further information, please contact your local Embassy or Consulate or
The Office of Immigration Bureau
Soi Suan Plu, Off Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. phone 02 873 3101
.


AIR TICKETS TO LEAVE THAILAND
This is a requirement but Immigration are not known to enforce it. There is a problem in that airlines are required by most countries to ensure that their passengers comply with any requirements to enter their destination country. Some require that you have a ticket out of Thailand during the 30 days or they will not let you board the plane.

Check with your airline and if they will not allow you to travel you should get a Tourist Visa from a Thai Embassy, get a ticket to depart Thailand within the 30 days - possibly a return which can have itтАЩs date altered or a budget airline e-ticket.

MULTIPLE USE
You can leave Thailand and then re-enter and get another 30 days any number of times as long as you comply with the conditions. Several travel agencies have Visa run coaches to convenient borders and back the same day. The cost is generally about Bt2000.

OVERSTAY
If you stay longer than you have permission you may get into big trouble if stopped by the local Police. It is usual for them to jail you and bring you before a magistrate. See www.thaivisa.com (http://www.thaivisa.com) for horror stories.

If you make it to the airport things are pretty simple. For one day there is no problem. Over one day you will be fined B500 a day, including the first day and your overstay is often stamped in your passport.

LINKS:
http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/th_visa.htm
http://www.thaivisa.com/313.0.html
http://www.thailand-uk.com/thaiemb.html
http://www.imm.police.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php
http://www.thaiembdc.org/
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php#Tourist

[jimnbkk]

...It is granted for 30 days maximum and that includes the day of arrival and departure...


This is important: Don't count 30 days without counting the day of arrival as day one, even if you arrive at 11:59 p.m. I ended up overstaying one day (no fine, but noted in passport by immigration officer at departure).