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Is it better to do a visa run to Laos or to apply for a tourist visa extension in Thailand?
Dec 5, 2023
2 years ago
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTERIm finishing up 2mo stay in TH is it better to do visa run to Laos or stay and apply for tourist visa extension?
Appreciate tips
Appreciate tips
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around whether it's more beneficial to proceed with a visa run to Laos or to apply for a tourist visa extension while in Thailand. Many commenters suggest that applying for an extension at the immigration office is usually easier and cheaper than traveling to Laos to obtain a new visa. However, it is pointed out that one can only get a single extension on a tourist visa. Users from Chiang Mai express different experiences, highlighting convenience and costs associated with each option, and the general consensus leans towards applying for an extension before considering a visa run.
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Sean ********
I'm on a 60 day visa want to stay here till mid April. I know I can extend 30 days and two border runs. I was thinking is it better to get a retirement visa I have all the means for dueing it. On my way back to my home get my re entry visa and come back in October less hassle.
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTERAbove is not my post
Henrik *****
Make your own thead, and get more answers than piggybacking on another persons thread.
Sean ********
@Henrik ****
is that english 😳Reply to
Sean ********
Reply
Nongnuch ********
you pay 1900.- for the 30 days touristy extension. Doing a border bounce to Laos would need you buy a Laos VOA for 40.- US Dollars plus the expense for the travel. Doing the extension first, will give you leeway for still doing a visa-exempt border bounce plus another extension, bringing your theoretical stay permit to 60+30+30+30 = 150 days
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nongnuch *******
thanks ... just clarifying i already got 1 tourist visa extensin in Chiang Mai.......im hearing immigration does nmt give 2 tourist visas walking in ?Nongnuch ********
@Bruce ***
you can only get a 30-days tourist extension ONCE. Before the stay permit expires, you must exit Thailand. However you can apply on a Thai embassy or consulate for a 60 days Tourist visa in a neighbouring countryReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTEROn youtube vlogs there is no clear distinction visa run vs visa bounce
Thank you for clarifying
Thank you for clarifying
Nongnuch ********
@Bruce ***
you cannot "visa bounce". you either do a visa run (visit a Thai embassy in another country and apply for a visa) OR you do a border bounce, means you exit Thailand, enter another country, turn around and enter Thailand againReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTERYes i didnt realize there was a difference,
I wasnt sure if i can get a 2nd tourist visas ext at immigration or do i need to do visa bounce exit th and buy laos visa then re enter th the same day with a 30 visa
I wasnt sure if i can get a 2nd tourist visas ext at immigration or do i need to do visa bounce exit th and buy laos visa then re enter th the same day with a 30 visa
Graham ******
@Bruce ***
You get one tourisn extension of 30 days per entry stamp.Nongnuch ********
@Bruce ***
that's a "border bounce" or "border run". . . .there is nothing such as a "visa bounce". There only is a "visa run" which means you are visiting a Thai embassy to apply for a visaReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nongnuch *******
i went to immigration for one 30 tourist ext ,,,, this will be my 2,nd I havent been offered a 60day tourist visas
Yes going to immig is cheaper and faster more convenient
Nongnuch ********
@Bruce ***
well it's not all clear what you intend to do. You mention doing a "visa run" - which means you are visiting a Thai embassy or consulate in a neighbor country to apply for a tourist visa. Or did you mean just wanting to do a "border run" i.e. border bounce? Do you confuse these two ?Reply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Andy **********
@David ********
exactly, everyone just comments saying it's easier to do an extension, it's not if his nearest immigration office is a two hour drive away and he lives around the corner from the border into lao, he doesn't say anything about his location.Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTERNew question .....can i enter Laos then the same day re enter Thailand with NEW 30 day tourist visa ..... or is there a. 24 hour waiting period i must remain in Laos ?
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andy *********
good point im in chiang mai the immigration is 10 minutes awayNigel **************
@Bruce ***
if you have already got a 30 day extension on your 30 day visa exempt entry then u have to border bounce. Come back in u get another 30Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nigel *************
sounds like lm going to laos for the day thanks allNigel **************
@Bruce ***
yep u have no option I'm afraidReply to
Nigel **************
Reply
Henrik *****
When you are on a 60 days touristvisa, the best and easiest is to do a 30 day extension at immigration.
Stay longer than that you need to leave Thailand.
Stay longer than that you need to leave Thailand.
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Henrik ****
i got a 30 day tourist visa on arrival at bangkok airport then 1 tourist visa ext for 30 days at cm immigrationIm not familiar with 60 tourist visa ?
Henrik *****
You are confusing the different options.
Touristvisa has to be applyed for outside of Thailand, is up to 60 days, and can be extended 30 days at immigration.
Visa-on-arrival is limited to few countrys, is 14 days and cost a fee.
You probably arrived on visa excempt 30 days without fee.
Can be extended 30 days for 1900 Baht.
After that you need to leave Thailand.
Touristvisa has to be applyed for outside of Thailand, is up to 60 days, and can be extended 30 days at immigration.
Visa-on-arrival is limited to few countrys, is 14 days and cost a fee.
You probably arrived on visa excempt 30 days without fee.
Can be extended 30 days for 1900 Baht.
After that you need to leave Thailand.
Reply to
Henrik *****
Reply
Paul ********
Border run 23?? Extension 24,Border run,Extension ,Border run Extension that's your lot for 2024
David *********
That’s really depends on where you are in Thailand
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@David ********
im in chiang mai just 10 minutes frm immig office . I wasnt sure how many or often i could get a 30 day tourist visa ext going to immigration office (i have gotten 1 already)David *********
@Bruce ***
you only get one extension on the tourist visa, so border run or change visa.Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTERCan i go to immig 1 or 2 days early before this visa expires and if they tell me no then i do a visa bounce ??
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@David ********
oh others in this group are saying to go to immigration ...... now im more confused than before hahaDavid *********
@Bruce ***
others are saying you can go to immigration for an extension because they didn’t know you have already extended once.Reply to
David *********
Reply
Michael ********
Extension is easier
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Michael *******
thanks alot yes hands down cheaper & easier but didnt know thai cut off for the number of tourist visa extensionsAndy **********
@Bruce ***
can extend once each time you stamp into Thailand.Reply to
Andy **********
Reply
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Michael *******
thanks alotReply to
Bruce ****
Reply
Graham ******
The extension will work out cheaper than travelling and buying a Laos Visa.
Steve ********
Get extension at immigration
Bruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
thanks alot so much easierBruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
thanks alotBruce ****
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks alot
Reply to
Bruce ****
Reply
Is it cheaper to do a border run for another 60 days or a 30-day tourist visa extension in Thailand?
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