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What should an American on a Special Tourist Visa do for a visa run in Thailand?

SPECIAL TOURIST VISASTVVISA RUNSTOURIST VISANON-O VISARETIREMENT VISAED VISAIMMIGRATION IN THAILANDVISA APPLICATIONEXPAT HELP
Aug 12, 2022
2 years ago
Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
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!
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TLDR : 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.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks everyone for your helpful replies. Much appreciated!
2 years ago
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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
2 years ago
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Renaud ***********
How old are you ?
2 years ago
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Renaud ***********
STV visa expires on September 30 2022

Where are you in Thailand ?
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Renaud **********
 Bangkok
2 years ago
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Renaud ***********
@Bennett *******
 let me know if I can help
2 years ago
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Renaud ***********
@Bennett *******
 in this case why don't you apply for a retirement visa ?
2 years ago
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Renaud ***********
@Bennett *******
 I saw your profile , with all due respect I am guessing you over 50 years old
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Renaud **********
 Hi. Yes, I'm over 50 - If we stay in Thailand longer than the 1-year contract, I'll apply for retirement visa.
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
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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
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@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.
2 years ago
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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 push
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@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?
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@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 time
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
 Hmm. Will consider, thanks!
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
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Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks 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.
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Bennett *******
 ur not living in Thailand on a tourist visa…
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@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.
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Bennett *******
 true, that's a definite challenge here
2 years ago
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Todd *********
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Bennett ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 of course. But I meant I’m not here on vacation, & I do not have a residence anywhere else at this time.
2 years ago
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Bennett ********
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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 States
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
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Jeremy ********
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...
2 years ago
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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
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
 you can also be a Resident of a country and use that country to get your STV....
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Jeremy *******
 Yes. Some would call that their home country too. I didn’t say country of birth but that’s semantics.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
 well some people are permanent residents of some countries but its not their "Home" Country...words matter
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Jeremy *******
 words do matter, but not these ones. Makes no difference.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@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 comment
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@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 this
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@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 world
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Jeremy *******
 likely for your friends… everything needs to be Barnified
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@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 are
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Jeremy *******
 I wouldn’t be surprised one bit. But I live in the real world
2 years ago
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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....
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Jeremy *******
 pretty irrelevant in the OPs situation.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
 unless he holds a residency in another country
2 years ago
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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.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
 you can't just automatically assume things about people now can you????
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Jeremy *******
 I can’t guess their life stories either
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Stuart ********
 you can use the correct verbiage when answering questions about visas...I mean you have a Group expert badge showing
2 years ago
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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.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Andy *******
STV program ends 30 Sept. I hear the Visa run services are legit.
2 years ago
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Andy *******
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