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What are the best visa run options from Thailand to change a work visa to a tourist visa?

Visa Runs Thailand Immigration Tourist Visa Work Visa Cambodia Visa Laos Visa Singapore Visa Visa Process Visa Regulations COVID-19 Visa Extensions

Apr 11, 2022

3 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Asking for a friend: Does anyone have any recommendations for visa runs? Cambodia or Laos and how the process went returning to Thailand? She has to leave in order to change a work visa to a tourist visa. She is on B2 currently, it expires April 30th so she needs to leave and enter for 30 day tourist visa (then another 30 days extension in Thailand) for her new school to process the new work visa at the end of June.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user is inquiring for a friend about recommendations for visa runs to Cambodia or Laos, as she needs to leave Thailand in order to switch from a B2 work visa to a tourist visa. The discussion reveals that Laos is currently not an option, and Cambodia, Singapore, or Malaysia are preferred destinations. Participants share insights about the visa application process, required documents, and potential costs involved in returning to Thailand, which includes the purchase of a new entry visa. Suggestions include seeking extensions if possible, as well as considerations for vaccination status and accommodations.

John *********

If no vaccine then Vietnam is probably the best choice.

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Jamie *******

Cant she go on to covid extension 60 days and then change it to a non b? I know many teachers who have done that. I guess it depends on the school and the immigration office she uses.

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Jordan *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

If covid extension is possible I'll look into it. We are in Nakhon Sawan, very tiny so they've likely never experienced a situation like this. She went today and they told her she would have to leave. I wonder if anyone has done this personally from non-B to covid extension then back to non-b

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Jamie *******

it can be done. I know several teachers who have done it. Mainly in bkk though. I have one friend who was travelling around thailand who got several covid extensions from different immigration offices . He successfully changed over to a non b without leaving a few months back. Of course if she is cancelling her Visa nakon sawan they would have to approve the covid extension. As that was her place of work and where she resides. Even if they give her a covid and then won't let her change it over to a non b it still gives the school 2 months to get the b Visa paperwork so that when she does leave hopefully by then no test and go and she could get a non b at a consulate outside.

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Jamie *******

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Martin ********

if possible avoid bkk as a port of entry...

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Ryan ********

Some of the single entry TR visa requirements seem a bit strict, like needing to prebook your accommodation while in Thailand. Do they not enforce that one or something?

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Estleen ***********

I booked on Agoda for "book now pay later and free cancellation before ____" and just cancelled after I got my visa done

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Estleen ***********

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Tod *********

There is no 30 day tourist visa either 😕

IF she doesn't buy a visa from a thai consulate BEFORE she comes back she'll get stamped in on what's known as a 30 day visa exempt entry, she can extend that ONCE by 30 days at the immigration office for 1900baht

As she's just comin' back visa exempt have her fly to Singapore and back (down in the morning, back to thailand in the afternoon) that's the easiest country to get in to right now

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Jordan *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks so much!

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Jordan *******

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Chelsea ********

My friend just went to Singapore

Fairly cheap and easy, no quarantine for vaccinated visitors

Getting back into Thailand is the more expensive and inconvenient part , however if she has the insurance coverage and her Thai pass figured out it's much less stressful

Currently with even just 1 night in an SHA+ with the PCR test and necessary transportation from the airport etc... the return into Thailand is between 5-10,000 baht incl. flight in.

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Jim *****

@Chelsea *******

hi there ! I’m actually flying to Singapore for non-B working visa. Just wondering how long did it took your friend to obtain the visa from applying online first ,and get approved before submitting documents at the embassy ? Thank you in advance 🙏

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Chelsea ********

hm sorry my friend didn't require any visas

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Jim *****

@Chelsea *******

I meant applying a Thai non-b visa at Singapore’s Thai royal embassy 😅

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Chelsea ********

and I'm sorry I don't know about that process 😅

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Chelsea ********

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Chelsea ********

haha! Yes! Random! 🤣

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Chelsea ********

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Jordan *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

It is a shame you can't just change from work permit to a type of in-between visa and then back to a new work permit without leaving the country.

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Thaddée ************

following

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Tod *********

Laos is closed so they're not going there. Cambodia, Singapore or Malaysia are the places people have been going

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Sam ******

Interesting and sincere interaction.

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Jordan *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

True, does anyone have any recent experience doing any of these? Any easier/cheaper than others?

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Tod *********

cambodia (BUT check the website of the thai conuslate in Phnom Penh before you go there. SOME countries take 30 days to get their thai visa processed there.

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Jordan *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Is it necessary to apply beforehand? She is from the US so it is visa exempt, so surely you can enter as a tourist visa-free and get stamped at BKK?

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Tod *********

Hang about

. You said she wanted to ENTER on a 60 day tourist visa 😕

I only pointed out can't do that without buying one at the thai consulate in another country 😉 .

She could certainly enter on a 30 day visa exempt by flying out, and then back in <- (meeting the entry requirements in the country she's going to AND the entry requirements to get back into thailand too)

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Jordan *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

yes, you're right sorry! I edited it. So confusing trying to help her out with all this stuff.

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Keven ****

Problem with visa exemption is that you said your friend needs to convert the visa to a work visa in June.

You need 15 days (21 days in Chiang Mai and a few provinces) left on your visa to change visa inside the country. Depending on what day in June, when you factor in the

*****

days left needed, visa exemption might not make it since it's only 60 days total. She should take out a calendar and compare dates to see if everything would work out with a VE.

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Keven ****

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Tod *********

there is no leave/re-enter get a 60 day tourist visa 😕 She'd need to cancel the extension she's on now at the immigration office, then leave the countr & go to another country, BUY a single entry tourist visa from the thai conuslate in the country she's in, THEN come back to thailand to get stamped in for 60 days

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Jordan *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

As long as she has the Thai pass all sorted? She has insurance through our school until the end of May so she is good on the insurance.

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Tod *********

yep, thai pass, test&go and covid insurance

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Tod *********

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Jordan *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Is it possible for her to leave to Cambodia, come in as a tourist for the 30 day stamp on arrival and then extend another 30 days while in Thailand?

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Jordan *******

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