Should I extend my Thai visa locally or make a border run to Laos?

Visa Extension Thailand Immigration Border Run Tourist Visa Thai Immigration Office Visa Rules Chiang Rai US Nationals

Nov 25, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello,

My husband and I are US nationals and are here in Chiang Rai on a 60 day visa issued in the US. We want to extend our stay as long as possible (up to 6 months, we are flying to Vietnam February 2024). Is it better to pay the 30 day extension fee of 1900 baht each at the local immigration office or make the border run at Chiang Khong to Laos and hope for a 60 day extension? At some point I know we will have to do the 30 day extension and/or do another "border run." 

thank-you kindly,

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A US couple on a 60-day Thai tourist visa is considering whether to extend their stay by paying for a 30-day extension at a local immigration office or to make a border run to Laos, hoping for a longer extension. It's clarified that they can only obtain one 30-day extension for 1900 baht and that a 60-day extension is not available. Visitors can perform two border runs per year, each allowing a 30-day extension, but they are advised to consider obtaining a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) for longer stays in the future.

James ********

In CHIANG MAI , here is the common found requirements for the 30 days extension of stay at your local Thai Immigration . Be sure you have a TM30 address registration on file with Thai Immigration.

a year ago

James ********

You won't get a 60 day extension of stay anywhere.

a year ago

James ********

Reality is that you should have obtained the METV multiple entry tourist visa before you came to Thailand. It would have given you the options for staying in Thailand Up to 9 months.

Now....as you entered Thailand with a Thai Tourist Visa and was STAMPED in for 60 days...

You can get one 30 day extension at Thai immigration for 1900 Thai baht.

Then you can do a maximum of 2 LAND BORDER BOUNCE entries into Thailand EACH CALENDAR YEAR. Plus Each entry allows you to get a 30 day extension of stay at the Thai immigration office for 1900 Thai baht.

a year ago

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James ********

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What are the options for extending a 60-day visa in Thailand or doing a visa run?

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