Visa Runs For Dummies

[mil_dos]

There's an awful lot of info on visa runs and visas.

Specifically, my family plan to stay in HH for 10 weeks but only have 30 day visas. Presumably they will have to do a run or two.

As someone who doesn't speak fluent Visa Run, can someone explain what is actually involved in the process and what they will need to take and get?


Thanks

[lomuamart]

First off, assuming your family are not here yet, have the time and are only staying 10 weeks, then the easiest thing to do is get a single entry tourist visa from a Thai Embassy/consulate wherever they are. This will entitle them to 60 days on arrival, which can then be extended for another 30 days at any immigration office here - price 1,900 Baht. Hence, no need to leave the country at all. Easy.
I don't understand why they would come here on a 30 day transit "visa" if they are staying so long. However, that being the case, they will have to exit Thailand every 30 days - ie twice - during their stay. All they have to do is get to the nearest border crossing, get their exit stamp plus entry and exit form the neighbouring country and return to Thailand to get another 30 days. Again, easy but time consuming when it can be avoided. They need to go in person, with their passports. Nothing else - ie completed forms, photos etc.
Note, that if they're arriving on a 30 day stamp at the airport, they must have proof of a return or onward journey out of Thailand. Whilst it's almost unknown for immigration to check, the airline is under a duty to return you to your country if you're refused entry. So, the airline may not allow you to board.
Also, don't be tempted by overstaying. Plenty of people, myself included, have done it, but if you're asked to produce your passport by the authorities and are on overstay, you'll be arrested, imprisoned and deported. If you get to the airport or land border on overstay, you pay 200 Baht per day fine and it's forgotten. The authorities view you as making the effort to exit in this instance. If you're caught in HH, they won't be so accomodating.
Hope that helps. Get tourist visas!!

[Kid Creole]

HI Mil

I have done many visa runs myself, although I live in Bangkok I can tell you what you will need to take. You will need to take 1 photo of each family member plus the cost of the visa. As I live in Bangkok I do my 3 month visa runs to Poi Pet which is Cambodia, this may not be convenient for you from hh. I'm not sure where people do visa runs from there.

From bkk there is a company that takes you to Poi Pet and handles all the paperwork for you, you also avoid having to join the long queue. A friend of mine went there last Sunday and there was a problem with the 'avoiding the queue system' that the company has going with the officials.

All you have to do is cross the border and turn around and come right back if you want to, no problem at all and you then have another 30 days. The company charges Bht 2000 for each person, which includes all costs and lunch. However having said that depending on the age of the children they may not have to pay the visa cost of Cambodia, I'm not 100% sure on that one, maybe someone else knows more on that than I do.

I hope this helps. If you want anymore advice feel free to pm me.

[mil_dos]

Thanks for that clear advice.
lomuamart, you would understand why we would arrive on tourist visas if you lived in Spain where not bothering has been raised to an art form.
The Thai Consulate advice from Madrid was that Brits (we are) don't need Thai visas ! Admittedly, it sounded like a Spaniard rather than a Thai giving us this duff advice.

Looks like the family need to get on one of these runs to Ranong in a week or so.

Thanks again.

[Bamboo Grove]

Just back from my first Ranong trip in a year. I thought going there one day and returning the next might make it easier. It didn't, it was gruelling. 7 1/2 hours one way in a bus. I left yesterday at about 8.30 and arrived at Ranong at about 16.00. Booked a hotel room for 600 baht a night, not a good value, and slept for two hours. Went to internet, ate and back to the hotel. Woke up this morning 7.00 went to the immigration and hired a boat to take to the Burmese side and back. My bus left Ranong at 10.30 and I arrived at Hua Hin at 18.00. Never again this way, if that can be avoided.

[gaijin]

I once had a check-in clerk for a Thai flight raise the concern that I had no return or onward journey booked. The supervisor let me check in, but I think that the decision was helped by the fact that I am a very frequent flyer with them and was flying business class. It would be interesting to know what the supervisor's decision would have been if I had been holding an economy ticket as a first time flyer with Thai.

I suspect that this is the reason why airlines don't like to sell one way tickets, and hence sell them at a premium to return tickets.

If you have an "O" visa obtained out of Thailand, do you still have to have proof of a return or onward journey out of Thailand?

[Kid Creole]

If you have an "O" visa obtained out of Thailand, do you still have to have proof of a return or onward journey out of Thailand?[/quote]

As far as I know, no you don't, but I'm not an expert.

I myself have a non immigrant 'B' visa good for 12 months. This is my second 12 month visa and I have never been asked for on onward ticket either at Don Muang, Poi Pet, Cham Yeam or Non Khai, and a non imm 'o' is a little higher in rank than a 'B'

If you really want to be sure try looking at the site thaivisa.com

Hope this helps

[lomuamart]

A couple of points here :
mil_dos Unfortunately you were given bad advice from the consulate in Spain. The tourist visa would have solved all the run problems. UK residents are among many nationalities who don't need a visa to enter Thailand, but your stay is limited to 30 days (29 actually if you look at the entry stamp). Perhaps the consulate didn't know your family were coming for 10 weeks?
BG Yeah, the bus is a pain, but that was a long trip down. I've always got there in 6 hours, which allows you time to get over to Burma and back before Thai imm close. Then decide whether you want to come straight back or not. An alternative is to take the train to Chumpon - you'll need to check times - stay the night and early the next morning get a shared minibus to Ranong. Takes about 2.5 hours. IMO, Chumpon's a better place to stay than Ranong if you are going to stay overnight.
Gaijin You only have to have proof of a return, or onward, journey if you're entering without a visa. If you've got a tourist, or any form of non immigrant, visa then it's not necessary as Kid Creole says.

[buksida]

and a non imm 'o' is a little higher in rank than a 'B'

I'm not sure this is correct since the amount of paperwork to get a B visa is far greater than an O. The O stands for Other which is usually marriage or retirement. The B visa is business so you need a work permit also which would probably put it above an O in "ranking" or importance.

I have an M visa so christ knows where that stands. Whatever it is the longer the better and yes most of this stuff can be found on the thaivisa website.

[philip]

Congrats on your 500th posting, Buksida !

[Kid Creole]

I'm not sure this is correct since the amount of paperwork to get a B visa is far greater than an O. The O stands for Other which is usually marriage or retirement. The B visa is business so you need a work permit also which would probably put it above an O in "ranking" or importance.

Actually that's what I mean. With a non imm b it doesn't mean you can stay for good. If a company cancels your work permit then at the end of the non imm b visa your back to a tourist visa or home!!

With an 'o' as you rightly said it is generally for family or retirement, Which means you can stay for good as long as you have the baht400,000 for family or baht800,000 for the retirement in a Thai bank (at least once a year for renewal)

I guess for me being able to stay for good is of more importance than a work permit, I guess it depends on your sitution as to which has the higher rank.

I hope I didn't confuse anyone

[buksida]

Nothing is "for good" in Thailand, however that is an interesting way of looking at it. I'd say it is no more likely to lose ones job here than it is for the government to change the regulations again or your Thai wife to run away with the house.

I guess I was looking at it from the point of dealing with Thai officials whereby a B visa would probably hold more esteem than an O. However for security purposes, yes an O is a more "stable" visa to have (providing you have the bucks in the bank).

Cheers Phil, guess I should really go and do some work