Answered4 years ago
What should an American on a Special Tourist Visa do for a visa run in Thailand?
Hi all. Visa run questions: I’m an American in Thailand on a STV (special tourist visa) good for 9 months - 90 days + two 90-day renewals. In September, I’ll need to leave Thailand & return. Two questions:
1 - Will embassies in Laos, Vietnam or Malaysia handle STV? If not, what type of visa would I ask for?
2 - Has anyone used one of those services that organizes visa runs, booking embassy appointment & transport? If so, recommendations appreciated.
Thanks!
1 - Will embassies in Laos, Vietnam or Malaysia handle STV? If not, what type of visa would I ask for?
2 - Has anyone used one of those services that organizes visa runs, booking embassy appointment & transport? If so, recommendations appreciated.
Thanks!
Answer summary
An American expat on a Special Tourist Visa (STV) in Thailand seeks advice on visa runs as their visa expires soon. They inquire about applying for a visa at embassies in Laos, Vietnam, or Malaysia, and whether any reliable visa run services are available. The community discusses the limitations of the STV, particularly that it cannot be renewed outside of the home country, and suggests applying for a tourist visa or a Non-O visa (available for individuals over 50) instead. They also mention options like the ED visa for studying Thai and the retirement visa for long-term stays.
42 repliesnewest first
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Bennett ********
OPThanks everyone for your helpful replies. Much appreciated!
Jeremy ********
you can always apply for an Ed visa in Laos...Thai language classes are a gateway for that visa just visit a school to figure out the requirements and length of stay that you will want to attend...or if you have the money pay for the Elite visa and get up to 20 years of hassle free stay in Thailand
Renaud ***********
How old are you ?
Renaud ***********
STV visa expires on September 30 2022
Where are you in Thailand ?
Where are you in Thailand ?
Bennett ********
OP@Renaud **********
BangkokRenaud ***********
@Bennett *******
let me know if I can helpRenaud ***********
@Bennett *******
in this case why don't you apply for a retirement visa ?Renaud ***********
@Bennett *******
I saw your profile , with all due respect I am guessing you over 50 years oldBennett ********
OP@Renaud **********
Hi. Yes, I'm over 50 - If we stay in Thailand longer than the 1-year contract, I'll apply for retirement visa.
Bobby ********
With the greatest of respect you do look like you might be on the shady side of 50 (apologies if you're not). Why not just get a proper visa to suit instead of all this crapping around with border bounces and visa runs? It's easy enough to apply at immigration
Bennett ********
OP@Bobby *******
Hi. Yes, I'm over 50. I'm in Bangkok because my husband has a 1-year contract with a university here & since Thailand does not recognize same-sex marriage, they issued me a STV. At this time, it is not clear whether we'll stay past the 1 year, but if we do stay longer, I'll apply for retirement visa.Bobby ********
@Bennett *******
The STV is really done. If you're looking at 12 months the Non-O (over 50) is the easy option although it means whacking 800k into a Thai bank account. Otherwise you're going to be on a procession of tourist visas or visa exempts, which after already having had nine months of being a tourist, you run a slight risk of being denied entry. There's always the ED visa if you fancy learning Thai language. That can get you 15 months at a pushBobby ********
@Bennett *******
The funds have to "season" for two months. In the meantime you can (up to August 24) apply for the so-called "covid" extension which will give you the two months required. So if you get the funds transferred now, you've got enough timeBennett ********
OP@Bobby *******
But, I mean, I can't apply for retirement visa this quickly, can I? I have to renew in September, need to send the funds over to my Thai account. Doesn't it take a couple of months to organize?Bennett ********
OP@Bobby *******
Hmm. Will consider, thanks!Bennett ********
OPThanks all. It seems I will have to apply for tourist visa. The STV was issued in the country I previously resided in. Now I'm living in Thailand, so can't go that route.
Todd *********
@Bennett *******
ur not living in Thailand on a tourist visa…Bennett ********
OP@Todd ********
oh - also, I’m here because my husband is working here, so we moved here for his job. They’ll only issue tourist visas to same sex spouses.Todd *********
@Bennett *******
true, that's a definite challenge hereBennett ********
OP@Todd ********
of course. But I meant I’m not here on vacation, & I do not have a residence anywhere else at this time.Jeremy ********
@Bennett *******
the closest place to apply for it would be Guam in case you don't want to go all the way back to the StatesJeremy ********
from what I can gather you can only get it in a country you are a resident in or you have a passport from, just like the 6 Month METV Visa...good luck there might be a consulate/Embassy that doesn't go by the rules though so look for that...
Stuart *********
STV is only available from your home country. You’d be applying for either a single or multiple entry tourist visa from those places.
Sorry no clue of visa run services. Used to be aplenty prior to Covid. I guess a few are back up and running
Sorry no clue of visa run services. Used to be aplenty prior to Covid. I guess a few are back up and running
Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
you can also be a Resident of a country and use that country to get your STV....Stuart *********
@Jeremy *******
Yes. Some would call that their home country too. I didn’t say country of birth but that’s semantics.Jeremy ********
@Todd ********
obviously you don't if I had to inform you of how you need to dumb down everything to everyone for them to understand....Todd *********
@Jeremy *******
I wouldn’t be surprised one bit. But I live in the real worldJeremy ********
@Todd ********
you will be surprised how many people you need to BARNIFY anything to....especially the higher in management they are the more aloof they areTodd *********
@Jeremy *******
likely for your friends… everything needs to be BarnifiedJeremy ********
@Todd ********
you and him assume a lot people me I believe that you have to BARNIFY everything for people so there is no misunderstanding...but then again I live in the real worldTodd *********
@Jeremy *******
Stuart identified the issue. Most people whom are residents in or citizens of another country are quite easily able to discern their own situation in thisJeremy ********
@Todd ********
to someone that has a residency in a country other than their passport country it matters and if they read this comment then they would be bummed out...so yes words do matter especially when it comes to visa issues....these groups get looked at by a Wide breadth of individuals some of whom don't commentTodd *********
@Jeremy *******
words do matter, but not these ones. Makes no difference.Stuart *********
@Jeremy *******
and you can nit pick all night. I correctly told him he couldn’t get an STV in the consulates he mentioned. The fact that he could get one from the consulate in Timbuktu because he holds legal residence there I omitted.Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
you can use the correct verbiage when answering questions about visas...I mean you have a Group expert badge showingStuart *********
@Jeremy *******
I can’t guess their life stories eitherJeremy ********
@Stuart ********
you can't just automatically assume things about people now can you????Stuart *********
@Jeremy *******
he didn’t say he has residency in another country, nor did he tell us his mothers maiden name either. I tend to answer on what they say rather than guess all scenarios.Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
unless he holds a residency in another countryStuart *********
@Jeremy *******
pretty irrelevant in the OPs situation.Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
well some people are permanent residents of some countries but its not their "Home" Country...words matter
Andy *******
STV program ends 30 Sept. I hear the Visa run services are legit.
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