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Can I enter Thailand on a 60-day exemption while waiting for my Non-O visa approval?

Visa Types Non-Immigrant O Visa Visa Exemption Visa Inquiry Thailand Immigration

Apr 19, 2025

5 days ago

Colin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I've applied for a "non immigrant - O",  3 month e-visa, but still have not heard any response. I have a flight booked back to Thailand with my Thai family on Thursday 24th. Do I have to wait behind in UK for the visa, or can I come in on a 60 day exemption and get an extension on that? Thanks in advance.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user has applied for a Non-Immigrant O visa but hasn't received a response and has an impending flight back to Thailand. They seek guidance on whether to wait in the UK or use a 60-day visa exemption, and community members share experiences and advice on addressing the situation.

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Will ************

My Non-o came through on a Sunday.

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David ********

Better contact the embassy people only guessing here. You need information confirmed.

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Colin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Easier said than done, sir.

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Tod *********

@Colin ********

use that email that shows in the image I posted and in the link I posted in another of your comments

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Tod *********

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Anne-Marie **********

That happened to me when I applied for mine, even though I did it weeks in advance. I sent an email to the address on the site explaining my flight details and the next day it was approved, you could try that.

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Colin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Anne-Marie *********

Thanks. I don't see an email address on the visa site - just a phone number, but they don't answer (Songkhran). Can you pass on the email address you used, please?

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Tod *********

@Colin ********

go to the EMBASSY website, that image grab I posted was from the thai embassy in london

***************************************************************

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Tod *********

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Tod *********

When did you apply for the visa? They have a posted 10 business day processing time and with the songkran/chakri day holidays plus weekends that can stretch that time out.

𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝟲𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

You can come in visa exempt and if the Non-O visa is approved you can exit/re-enter the country to activate it.

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Colin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you, sir. I applied 10 days ago, but that's including weekend and Songkhran days, so I guess I didn't have enough time to get a visa, then!

I've heard recently of guys getting refused entry on visa-exemption (from UK). I've already used 1 visa-exempt entry this year... is it 2 per calendar year? or 2 within the last 12 months?

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David *******

@Colin ********

I applied for mine about 12 days ago, but I received mine I think on the eighth day. I believe you’re going to get it any moment now. Thank positive it’s going to happen.

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Tod *********

Sadly

@Colin ********

this appears to be a self inflicted problem (meaning you applied too close to when you were coming here)🙁

The visa itself is valid for three months <- meaning you have that long to ENTER thailand on it and when you do you will get stamped in for 90 days (even if you entered the last day that visa was valid for), you could have applied months ago for the visa.

EMAIL them at this email and see what's what

******************

Sorry that sounded harsher than I meant it, I did not mean any disrespect in my comment 🙁

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Colin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

You're right, sir. I applied too late (forgot about Songkhran). But I was in Thailand already (on a 60 day v/e) so could not apply for non-O until I got to UK 4 weeks ago. Part of the evisa requirements is to prove you are outside of Thailand.

Thanks for your advice and help, sir.

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John **********

@Colin ********

it's perfectly possible to apply for a 90 day Non-O visa inside Thailand from a visa exempt entry but you must do so directly at your local immigration office inside Thailand rather than through the evisa system

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Colin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

I wasn't aware of that, sir. Thanks for the info.

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David *******

@Colin ********

you’re getting it tomorrow

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Tod *********

@Colin ********

, worst case if you don't get it before your flight here;

you enter 60 day free stamp, they approve the 90 day Non-O visa and you bounce out/back to activate

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Tod *********

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Tod *********

there's no rule about any amount of visa exempt entries by air or land, you just run the risk comin' in if you have an extensive entry/stay history <- as in if they THINK you're living here on free stamp entries.

If you're coming before that visa gets approved make sure you have proof you're flying back out because that's what they'll ask you for first if they're going to hassle you at passport control stamping in

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Colin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Is it possible to get a 12 month extension (based on marriage) on a 60 day visa exemption? (or do I have to wait for the non-immigrant O?

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Tod *********

@Colin ********

nope,

you need a non-O 90 day visa to apply for a year extension inside the country

Along with the 400K baht banked in a thai bank account in your name for 2 months before you apply and the rest of the required documentation.

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Colin *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks Tod. If it's not issued in 5 days, I'll try another visa exempt entry, as I'm accompanying my Thai wife and child. But I'm quite wary of this, having had 2 colleagues turned back recently because of too many visa-free entries (2).

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Colin *********

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