Visa re-entries for long stayers

Posted by Mr Tuk Tuk on November 25th, 2011 filed in Living here

An unfortunate fact of life for most long-term visitors in Thailand is the necessity of extending or renewing their permits to stay. Those requiring new visas can get one in Thailand’s neighbouring countries. Thai embassies or consulates at Rangoon in Myanmar, Vientiane or Savannakhet in Laos, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Georgetown or Khota Bharu in Malaysia issue new visas upon receipt of the correct supporting documentation and fees.

People wishing to extend a tourist or non-immigrant visa endorsed with double or multiple entries, or just wanting to extend a stay by an additional 15 days, can travel to any Thai border crossing open to foreigners, enter the adjacent country and come back with a new permit to stay. Possible crossing options are Mae Sai in the north; Nong Khai, Aranyaprathet or Ban Leam in the east, and Padang Besar or Sungai Golok in the south.

It is possible to get on public transport to the border, go across and come back. A much more convenient option is to use one of the visa-run companies that specifically deal with re-entries. In Bangkok for around 2,000 Baht, Jack Golf or Thaivisarun will pick up visa-runners from pre-arranged points, transport them to the crossing, escort them over the border and back again to the Thai capital. All people need to do is pay the fee, take two photographs and their passports, and all the pain of a visa run is taken care of.