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

Tourist Visa Visa Extension Thailand Immigration Education Visa Family Visit Visa Rules Long-Term Stay Visa Types

Feb 18, 2019

6 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

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.. 😊

648

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

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 *********

And at this point I think

@Car***

has more than enough options on how to further her stay here.

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

6 years ago

Dianne *****

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

6 years ago

Steven ***********

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.

6 years ago

Steven ***********

Bummer. Sorry for the inaccurate info. I couldn't remember if it was specified on the document that the family had to be of Thai nationality.

6 years ago

Tod *********

IF their child is half thai they could. However if it's a 100% foreign born child that "visit family" extension isn't available

6 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Liam *****

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!

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Carrie *********

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.

6 years ago

Carrie **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

, by land- like by bus or van from Vientiane to Nong Khai border crossing.. That sounds like a good plan.. Thank you so much, Tod! And I suppose I can call in on different schools in CM to possibly apply for an Education visa for my next visit a few months later.. No?

I don't see a route for me for long term staying/living now, unfortunately..

I could however study languages for a few years, then hop to Laos next time after that amount of time then Vietnam perhaps.. One can never see that far ahead really.. I'm an english teacher so I know i can pick up work along the way and teach online..

By the time I'm finished with all that I could head back to South America.. Retirement visa for Peru is much easier and lower financial requirements.. Ugh..

I'm exhausted... And truly crestfallen about the retirement requirements.. :(

But I'll work with the plans I got.. I'll create something good with what I've got to work with.. :)

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Carrie *********

the answer about your question for a 90 day tourist visa is here

6 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Join the Group

Thai Visa Advice