Should I apply for a 90-day visa before heading to Bangkok or request an extension while there?

How many sites are you going to ask this question?

Get a evisa online. That way your ass is covered

6000 bath for 90 day

Out of interest, how long are you coming for and what for?

Get as much done in US as possible.

Sam Fareed . . in case you meant the 60 days Tourist Visa, that can be extended for 30 more days, and called this a "90 days visa", you may ignore what I wrote about the only REAL "90-days visa"

Sam Fareed You can apply for a single entry 90 days Non-Imm-O retirement visa in your home country before you wing your way here.

You gonna enter Thailand on this visa and will get stamped in for a 90-days stay permit.

You must open a Thai bank account immediately after your entry. If you want to prevent “bank hunting”, use an agent to help you with opening a bank account in your sole name.

Once the account is set up, transfer a minimum of 800.000.- THB onto it.

From up to days before the 90-days stay permit expires, you can apply for the “1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement”.

Thai Immigration calls this process “visa extension”, however this is just bad English – they are extending a stay permit. The “visa” cannot get extended.

On the day of your application to the 1-year extension, a minimum of 800.000.- THB must have seasoned in your Thai bank account for two months, and you need the “bank letter of guarantee” (in Thai: rab roong thanakan) to prove it.

After being issued the “1-year Extension of Stay based on retirement”, a minimum of 800.000.- THB must remain in your account for at least three months.

After this, you could theoretically take out some of the deposited money, but it cannot go under 400.000 THB in the remainder of the year.

Two months before your next application to a new 1-year Extension of Stay Permit, a minimum of 800.000.- THB must be back in your account

Every year, you will need to apply for the next “1-year Extension of Stay”

NOTE:

When Immigration issues your extension, always buy a single re-entry permit for 1000.- THB on top of it. Bring at least two passport pictures for the application to the re-entry permit.

A re-entry permit keeps your stay permit alive, should you exit and re-enter Thailand during the validity of your stay permit.

Should you plan to exit Thailand more often than three times, buy a multi re-entry permit for 3800.- THB. It allows you unlimited re-entries into Thailand during the stay permit validity.

For the application to the “1-year extension of stay permit”, the following is required:

*** your passport

*** a copy of the passport detail page and a copy of the entry stamp

*** a copy of the previous extension of stay stamp

*** you need to sign all copies in blue ink

*** a few passport-size pictures

*** the “bank letter of guarantee”

*** an ATM receipt of a same-day withdrawal of a small amount of Thai Baht

*** your updated bankbook

*** 1900.- THB fee for the application to the extension

*** you will need a screenshot or printout of your up-to-date TM30 accommodation registration

*** forms to fill out are available at the Immigration office

This list of required documents might not be complete for your specific Immigration.

It is strongly advised to visit Immigration early, and ask them for the handout list of requirements regarding the “retirement visa extension”

If you leave Thailand before the 90-days expire, your stay permit will become void. You could re-enter on a “visa-exempt entry” that would get you stamped in for 30 days.

Some people avoid applying for the 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa in their home country and enter Thailand on a visa-exempt entry or on a 60-days tourist visa.

They can, as long as a minimum of 15 days is left on their entry stamp, apply for the so called “change of visa type” from a touristic entry to a 90 days Non-Imm-O retirement visa on Immigration, if they fulfill – among other - the financial requirements

And from this 90-days Non-Imm-O visa, they can switch to the “1-year Extension of Stay based on retirement”

When going to Thailand for 31 - 60 ( 90 )days, the 60 days touristvisa is the best option.

It is cheaper than visa excempt + 30 days extension.

No need of a onward ticket ( 90 days 1 onward ), if returnticket within 60 days.

It is easier to apply from the comfort of your home.

thaievisa.go.th

If visiting the nearest Thai Embassy website, you may find informations, that make it much easier to apply online.

Not wasting holiday time to find, go to and waiting at a immigration office ( 90 you would need that ).

Then no need to leave Thailand in up to 90 days.

I heard you can just walk across the southern border... no wait, that's not Thailand..

Better you are are out side Thailand

If you only go for vacation, it is a questions of comfort.

You're probably talking about the 60 day tourist visa, which is valid to be used once within 90 days but only allows a 60 day stay. You can go to immigration offices in country to extend it one time for 30 more days, giving you the 90 days. Either that, or enter via visa exempt entry (no visa) which grants 30 days, and extend for 30 more days, then leave and come back to get another 30 day visa exempt entry.

90 day visas are long term visas. They apply to a specific purpose and are intended to be extended yearly. You can't compare that with entering visa exempt and extending your stay, nor with going abroad and getting a new 30 days visa exemption.

Yes, apply for a visa first. Tourist is easiest.

Just a heads up: you will need to show proof of accomodation (where you'll stay in BKK, even if it's just for the first few nights), and proof of onward travel (your transportation date and mode out of Thailand).

Apply before hand evisa

Shoot for a 90 day Non O visa from the USA if you qualify for it. If not, get a 60 day tourist visa and then a 30 day extension at the highly capricious zoos called immigration offices. Or get a 6 month METV (multiple entry tourist visa). My suggestions anyway, but I am no expert.

If you are referring to the tourist visa it is not 90 days. The visa itself is valid for 90 day, which means you have 90 days to enter the country. When you enter you will be granted 60 days to stay, and that can be extended another 30 days by going to immigration. When people leave the country and re-enter they are not getting the extension. They are getting a new visa exempt entry, which is good for 30 days. This also can be extended by 30 days at immigration.

What's best for you really depends on your plans. If you plan on spending less than 30 days before leaving, whether to visit neighboring countries or return to the the US, then I'd just enter on the 30 day visa exempt. If you plan on staying more than 30 days I'd go for the tourist visa so I wouldn't have to hassle going to immigration for the extension.

Do as much as you can before leaving your Country. Going to immigration is like the DMV…most of the day..

Yes 'apply before