Is my Vietnamese passport holder wife eligible for a 30-day extension on a 45-day visa exempt stay in Thailand?

Oct 25, 2022
2 years ago
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Wife is from Vietnam, we live in the USA. She is a USA permanent resident, green card, Vietnamese passport. If she's in Thailand on the 45 day visa exempt, is she eligible for a 30 day extension? Not thought about it before. Thanks!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A Vietnamese passport holder, such as the user's wife, is not eligible for a 30-day extension on a 45-day visa-exempt entry into Thailand due to a bilateral visa waiver agreement. Potential options for longer stays include applying for a tourist visa before entering Thailand, which provides a 60-day stay that is extendable for an additional 30 days, or considering a multiple-entry tourist visa.
John *******
Don't forget the visa exempt is 45days now but will end 30th march 2023 and return to 30 days as per normal smart people are using this to their own advantage at moment by enter thailand for 45days visa exempt than visit a border country short time than re enter thailand stamp in for another 45 days visa exempt and you can extend once for another 30 day 1900baht which will get a total of 120 days in thailand plus your time in a border country like Vietnam or Cambodia maybe laos like thai girls say up to you
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
Thanks for the info. We'll just go back to Vietnam for a couple days. We didn't realize she was not eligible for the 30 day extension. I'm letting my OA visa expire, Her O expired earlier this year. Going forward we'll not be spending extended time here, sadly... lol
Stuart *********
You can look at the options to apply for a tourist visa before you get here (would give her 60 days - extendable once for 30 days). Or the multiple entry tourist visa that is valid for 6 months from issue and on each entry she’d get 60 days. Timing things write you can get nearly 9 months off that visa type.
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
Yes, we'll have to figure out that for next year. This year, could she do a 'border run' to Vietnam, and get another 45 days coming back in to Thailand?
Stuart *********
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Pui *****
It doesn't matter that she came from the USA or have legal residency there. Visas and extensions are based on passport nationality. She won't qualify for extensions since she entered on a Vietnam passport.
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pui ****
Thank you much for the reply! This is something we've not actually thought about before.
Stuart *********
No. Vietnam passport holders enter under a bilateral agreement called a visa waiver. The difference from a “normal” visa exempt is they cannot get extensions off it.
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
Thank you much for the fast reply! This is something we've not actually thought about before.
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