What should I do if my 6-month METV visa expires before my flight from Thailand?

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

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.

@Cheryl ******

did you know you can get your visa by mail?

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...

@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.

@Cheryl ******

or do it online

@Jeremy *******

it says to alow up to 5 working days better to be safe

@Lance ******

I received mine the next day in NYC

That's the one then you should be fine with bouncing once and extending twice. It's 5 working day's for metv.

@Cheryl ******

but like Jeremy said better to book closer to your departure date. Less border bouncing.

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.

To get maximum time in Thailand from the METV. Time getting the METV issued as close to your flight date as possible.

@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 doable

@Cheryl ******

every time you extend at immigration it costs you ฿1,900 per time it’s not free...

@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.

Others have given good answers. Enjoy Thailand.

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

every 90 days, you can extend at immigration once each time before leaving the country