@James *******

Do you know which Laos route would be easiest from Chaing Mai? Thank you

@James *******

oh man, nothing is easy anymore lol. thanks for heads up on this.

*Update* Thanks everyone for the input & advice - glad I checked with this group beforehand.

Anyways, I've decided to NOT apply for a 60-day tourist visa ahead of time.

The reason being is I'm based in Hoi An, Vietnam - and the two embassies in Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh city are quite far away and would require flights, hotel booking, waiting around a few days to process, etc. It's not worth the time & hassle.

So instead - will do the 45-day visa exemption on arrival - then do a 30-day extension while living in Chiang Mai. This will give me 75-days.

After that, will do a border run to Mai Sai, Burma to get another 45-days [has anyone done this recently?]

@James *******

@Ellie ******

Got it, thx for clarification gentlemen :)

@James *******

Hi James, thx for the info. I thought I could use the evisa website. it even said this on a pop up about new Sept.26th guidelines stating no longer needed to go physical embassy. Am I missing something? Thx.

I used Phuket immigration as my post stated.

No 15 day consideration stamp. Next day I got the full 60 day stamp.

Thank you

@Robert ******

, moderators & translators for all the information you guys provide for free - giving your precious time & energy helping the community. You guys just saved me a trip going to CM immigration today. I can now have peace of mind and board my flight to Phuket next week and apply there. Again-thank you sirs! :)

@James *******

Hey thank you for taking the time to answer me, appreciate it 🙂. I actually asked about the STV back in July Aug-ish while in NY, but got various answers from this group (some saying it was gonna expire & not be extended, not worth getting it, just do visa on arrival). Policies & information keep changing rapidly.

Anyways, I didn't dismiss the ED Visa, I mentioned "Elite Visa". I'll look it up thx.

thx for heads up on ext's being denied. Will think about what I want to do next.

I 'm on a 60-day visa I got from Penang - I was living in Koh Phangan prev. So I don't need a TM30 to get a 30-day extension? thx