What are the options for extending a Tourist visa in Thailand for six months while visiting family?

Question

Hi everyone! Is it possible to arrive on a Tourist visa, extend it for 30 days at immigration and pay for the extension as I did on my last visit on a Tourist visa.. Fly to Laos, reenter Thailand and ask for another 30 days... Then fly to Myanmar or Vietnam, then reenter Thailand asking for another 30 days.. 
I would like to come for 6 months.. And I know it's up to immigration what they decide to give you for an extension..
I have a son in a Thai university I tell them (which is true), and I ask them for 30 days each time as I'd like to spend some more time with him, and that my return ticket is for 6 months, and I wanted to see more of SEA, but am leaving out of BKK.. 
While I'm in CM I will look at schools to possibly apply for an Education visa while there..
Honestly, what is the best way for me to go if I'd like to stay 6 months? The METV visa seems restrictive, and hard to obtain?
I admit.. I'm a bit confused..
Any help at all would be so welcome.. 😊

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user seeks advice on how to extend their stay in Thailand for six months using a Tourist visa while visiting their son at a Thai university. They inquire about the possibility of extending their Tourist visa upon entering Thailand, and how many times they can re-enter after short trips to nearby countries like Laos and Myanmar. Community responses suggest various strategies for extensions, including options for border runs and exploring the Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) as an alternative.

Tod ********* · Answer

And at this point I think [mention redacted] has more than enough options on how to further her stay here.

Good Luck, thanx one and all for the suggestions (y)

Dianne ***** · Answer

I guess you could come on a single entry tourist visa from your own country as you did last time, enter for 60 days and extend for 30. Then you could do a border run to Mae Sai / Tachileik get another 30 days entry which you can extend at immigration for a further 30 days giving you five months in total, and then if you required one or two months more you could do the border run via Mae Sai again. You are permitted two such land border crossings per calendar  year

Steven *********** · Answer

You should be able to extend a visa exempt entry or a tourist visa by 60 days for the purpose of visiting family, rather than 30 days for purpose of of tourism. Same price1,900 Baht.

I have done this several times before I was married to the mother of my half Thai children.

I believe I just had to show birth certificates along with my extension application. I'm unsure if your child is of Thai nationality but it may also be possible to do it if they're in Thailand studying on a visa and you can prove this with the correct documents.

Liam ***** · Answer

METVs aren't that difficult to obtain if you're in your home country, and aren't at all restrictive - you can come and go as much as you please by land or air up to the 'enter before' date and you can get almost 9 months use out of a 6 month visa.

I don't know the rules of the consulates in the US (they're online though), but meet 'em and get the METV and you're good to go!

I don't know the rules of the consulates in the US (they're online though), but meet 'em and get the METV and you're good to go!

Tod ********* · Answer

[mention redacted] you could get a single entry tourist visa from the thai consulate in vientiane.

BUT know this about them, they are VALID for 90 days from the date they're issued <- that means you have 90 days to ENTER thailand when you'll be stamped in for 60 days <- the amount of time ALL tourist visas get people stamped in for.

IF you go the route to get a tourist visa from the thai consulate in Vientiane I'd say enter by LAND at the Nong Khai border crossing <- hands down the easiest border to enter the country at..

You can extend that by 30 more days at the immigration office for 1900baht.

What are the options for extending a Tourist visa in Thailand for six months while visiting family?

Activity

Related

Resources