Answered8 years ago

How many visa runs to Vientiane can I do before risking denial for a Thai tourist visa?

Thai visa Visa runs Tourist visa Vientiane Consulate Visa application

asked Aug 31, 2018

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Hello, happy Friday everyone. 🙏 I wanted to ask the group what they thought about... Thai visa runs to Vientiane... How many in a row have you guys done sucessfully? I have gotten two 60 day tourist visa's this year in Vientiane with 30 day extensions in between. Am I pushing my luck if I go for a third in a row?  *Where is another good place to get a 60 day tourist visa?* Somewhere with a high probability of success... I just spoke to my friend Stephan Wolf Fowler and he seemed to think Malaysia is cracking down right now... Thank you

Answer summary

A user inquires about making repeated visa runs to Vientiane for Thai tourist visas, asking if it's risky to apply for a third 60-day tourist visa in a row. Responses suggest that as long as there are no warning stamps in the passport, one can continue applying, but it's advisable to vary consulates visited to avoid problems. Recommendations are made for other consulates in Southeast Asia, and the importance of appearing as a tourist rather than an overstayer is highlighted.

13 repliesnewest first

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Tod *********

for the life of me I cannot figure out why it is foreigners seem to use the same thai consulate over and over for their tourist visas :/ Doing that is a SURE way to get the warning stamp from that consulate (which MAY affect you getting a tourist visa from another consulate too). :O

My advice is BOUNCE AROUND from consulate to consulate DO NOT hit the same one over and over. There are plenty of thai consulates scattered around the neighboring countries USE THEM.

Yangon, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bharu, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Vientiane, Savannakhet, Phnom Penh, Bali, Jakarta are all not that far away..

Good Luck (y)

8 years ago

Maxim ***********

People use Vientiane a lot because it's now the only consulate that ask absolutely nothing.

8 years ago

Robert *******

@Tom *********

Here you find all the information and the link to the application page

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8 years ago

Tom **********

@Tod ********

Thanks, Tod. I'll check out the online application of the embassy in Singapore. Maybe I'll get lucky. Just wondering how it works, though. Does one have to send copies of all passport pages, so that they can see your visa history that way, or is the last word spoken once you turn up there, and they count your previous visas then?

8 years ago

Robert *******

Using a mix of Visa Exempt Entry and Tourist Visa to live in Thailand for longer time can raise questions of the Immigration Officer at check in. After all, people do need some money to afford to live in Thailand and according the Visa Exempt and Tourist Visa rules you do not work inside Thailand. Always bring the proof of funds 20.000 Thb in cash, proof of onward travel and proof of accommodation. I even advice proof of money coming in from abroad to avoid any suspicion of working inside Thailand. But it does not take away the chance of getting questioned by the Immigration, but if you have the proofs they want to see, you have more chance to get inside Thailand.

8 years ago

Nitzan *****

@Tod ********

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit, but if I have a long history of visa exempt entries in my passport - would that affect chances to get a SETV? and more important - would having a SETV absolve me of my, uh, "sin" of having "too many" exempt entries when I actually enter the country? I'm going to try for a METV in my home country next month, but if I can't get it will settle for SETVs if it means I don't get grilled by the IO again...

8 years ago

Tod *********

Actually

@T**

, since the thai consulate in Singapore went to the online application process it's not a bad consulate to use. Granted it's a no-nonsense consulate so if you don't meet the criteria you're not gonna get a visa BUT it's good insofar as you turn in all your documentation online and then they tell you when you can go get your visa

8 years ago

Tom **********

Stephan Wolf Fowler Absolutely true. Besides, some Thai embassies, e.g. in Singapore, are known to be 'difficult' if you're not a resident there. Others won't give you a visa if you already have a few in your passport. And then there are some, where it's very hard to get reliable info about online (Jakarta, Bali).

8 years ago

Tod *********

Stephan Wolf Fowler getting tourist visas back-2-back from the same consulate is far more likely to get you the warning stamp of too many tourist visas from a particular consulate than bouncing around from consulate to consulate.

The warning stamp is consulate specific meaning you used THAT consulate too many times for a tourist visa and now can't use it anymore.

8 years ago

Frank **********

Probably not a problem, but it is good to mix it up just because there are interesting places around that are worth a visit. Try Bali or Vietnam. If you have the means, hang out and be a tourist for a little bit. I try to spend a few months out of the year outside of Thailand. Pretty easy to get a 30-360 day visa to some of these other SE Asian countries. It also demonstrates that you are more like a tourist than you are an illegal alien using the tourism system to work without the proper permissions.

8 years ago

Frank **********

Where are you in Bali? If Kuta, then yeah, that place is pretty lame. Try Sanur or somewhere on the north side of the island.

8 years ago

Thomas ********************

I'm in Bali at the moment doing just that. I find it pretty underwhelming. I'd say go Vietnam :)

8 years ago

Robert *******

As long as you do not have the warning stamp/sticker in your passport that next application could be denied you're okay to go, but the final decision is made by the Consulate/Embassy. If you meet all the requirements you can visit any Thai Consulate or Embassy.

8 years ago