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What should I do if my 6-month METV visa expires before my flight from Thailand?
6-month METVThai visa rulesvisa extensionborder bounceimmigration proceduresUS citizen in Thailandtravel tipsvisa expiration
Apr 1, 2018
8 years ago
Cheryl *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI'm a US citizen applying for the 6 mo METV. My 6 month METV visa will expire before my flight is scheduled to depart. Will I be required to leave Thailand and apply for another visa in December? What are my options based on the timeline below?
apply for visa June 6 in Chicago
flight arrives in bkk on July 12
flight departs cnx on Jan 16, 2019
Thanks in advance..
apply for visa June 6 in Chicago
flight arrives in bkk on July 12
flight departs cnx on Jan 16, 2019
Thanks in advance..
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is concerned about the expiration of their 6-month METV visa before their scheduled departure from Thailand. Answers indicate that the METV allows for 60 days of stay per entry, with the possibility to extend for 30 days at immigration. Users suggest border bouncing—leaving the country and re-entering—to maximize the time allowed by the visa. It's advised to bounce just before the visa's 'enter before' date to obtain another 60-day stamp, and that it would be beneficial to apply for the visa closer to the departure date to minimize border bounces.
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Jason ******
When the first 90 days are up and you get to the airport, how do you get stamped out if you don't have a departure ticket? So is it only limited to going to border via Lao for example, you arrive and stamp out and then what do you do from there, just turn back around and show your passport to stamp back in? Do you need to actually go to Lao and stamp into the country or not?
Jason ******
In that case, dont you agree that the METV only benefits those who are traveling in/out of Thailand often compared to those who just stay put in Thailand for the entire 90 days? Because after the 90 days are up, you still need to buy a flight somewhere or go to Lao and stamp in... since your already there and paid for the Visa to enter the country, it seems kind of a waste of time to just turn around and go back after you already traveled there so you can spend a day or two in another country and while already there its not much of a hassle to go to the thai embassy to drop your off application for a new Visa before you return to Thailand.
I originally thought of getting the METV, but now after learning that I still need to buy a ticket somewhere and stamp into another country, the SETV might be a better option
I originally thought of getting the METV, but now after learning that I still need to buy a ticket somewhere and stamp into another country, the SETV might be a better option
Tod *********
If you're border-bouncing by air you BUY a r/t ticket fly out and right back in.
If you border bounce by land, yes you need to stamp in & out of another country to stamp back into thailand and get another 60 days.
If you border bounce by land, yes you need to stamp in & out of another country to stamp back into thailand and get another 60 days.
Reply to
Tod *********
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Tod *********
The consulates that sell the 6 month METV in the US are Chicago, Los Angeles, New York & Washington DC.
No matter how you do it you can't wring more than about 9 months in country out of that visa. It doesn't make a difference if you come in get 60 days, get a 30 day extension and then border bounce, or just border bounce after 60 days. The critical thing is you bounce one last time just before the "enter before" date on the visa itself, that gets you the final 60 day stamp you can get and then extend that by 30 days. That gets you the most you can out of that visa.
No matter how you do it you can't wring more than about 9 months in country out of that visa. It doesn't make a difference if you come in get 60 days, get a 30 day extension and then border bounce, or just border bounce after 60 days. The critical thing is you bounce one last time just before the "enter before" date on the visa itself, that gets you the final 60 day stamp you can get and then extend that by 30 days. That gets you the most you can out of that visa.
Jeremy ********
I believe the only Thai embassy/consulates in the USA that sell this visa are in LA, DC, NYC...if it was me I would buy the visa as close to my departure date as possible, give yourself 2 days while applying minus USA holidays, weekends and Thai holidays when applying
David **********
@Cheryl ******
did you know you can get your visa by mail?Jeremy ********
It’s simple...get the metv, fly to Thailand ASAP, do 2 border bounces plus 2, 30 day extensions..or 3 border bounces, (or more it is a METV) then go on 1 last border bounce before the last date to get 60 more days out of the visa then extend that at immigration...
Lance *******
@Cheryl ******
when @Tod ********
comes online he has more than a few good tips on how and when is best to obtain a metv and get the most out of it.Lance *******
@Cheryl ******
or do it onlineCheryl *******
ORIGINAL POSTERthanks.. I will reconsider the day I obtain my visa and fly to LA or NYC
Lance *******
@Jeremy *******
it says to alow up to 5 working days better to be safeJeremy ********
@Lance ******
I received mine the next day in NYCLance *******
That's the one then you should be fine with bouncing once and extending twice. It's 5 working day's for metv.
Reply to
Lance *******
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Lance *******
You can get 9 months out of that visa
Lance *******
@Cheryl ******
but like Jeremy said better to book closer to your departure date. Less border bouncing.Cheryl *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lance ******
this is AWESOMENESS... thanks so much.Lance *******
You will need to border bounce twice. Your visa has an enter before date normally 6 months from the date it is issued. So when you enter you don't have six months you have lost one month already. Enter then extend 30 days then boarder bounce for another 60 day's then bounce again right before your enter before date. That should see you thru until your flight.
Cheryl *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lance ******
.... thank you... I can extend the visa at immigration or will I need to leave Thailand and reenter by land or air????Reply to
Cheryl *******
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Stephen *******
Do you know you are only stamped in for 60 days on each entry. The visa lasts 6 months. You are not stamped in for 6 months!
Joe ***********
To get maximum time in Thailand from the METV. Time getting the METV issued as close to your flight date as possible.
Jeremy ********
@Cheryl ******
there are many LowCost airlines that fly internationally out of Thailand...destinations are cheap and usually under 3 hours of flight time...so doing a border bounce for a lunch date in Singapore is very doableJeremy ********
@Cheryl ******
every time you extend at immigration it costs you ฿1,900 per time it’s not free...Cheryl *******
ORIGINAL POSTERthanks shipmate
@David ***********
... I'm 46 ... I don't think I'm eligible for the retirement visa... I'm loving Thailand .. I will do some research on my options until thenDavid ************
@Cheryl ******
if you ever decide to retire here let me know shipmate. I did it and can give you a bunch of tips as I’m also a retired Navy guy.Stephen *******
Others have given good answers. Enjoy Thailand.
Cheryl *******
ORIGINAL POSTERthanks a million
@James ******
James *********
which means you just need to take a quick trip somewhre in the middle once and it'll cover you for the whole time, so works out quite well for you
James *********
every 90 days, you can extend at immigration once each time before leaving the country
Cheryl *******
ORIGINAL POSTERthanks Stephen Woods... does that mean I'm required to leave Thailand every 60 days???
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Cheryl *******
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