Right, I see. I checked again and consulate in Australia doesn't require a letter from your employer, but does require the date of your second entry on your METV

Wow the Thai consulate in Australia requires neither a letter from your employer or evidence of a flight out

I have never been asked for proof of onward flight and have only booked one way tickets on both 30 day visa exempt entries and SETVs. My son also arrived last month on a 30 day visa exempt entry and did not have an onward flight booked and was not asked about this. For the SETVs I had to provide a letter to the consulate stating that I was aware of the purpose and terms of the SETV and planned to leave the Kingdom by the end of my visa. I have heard that immigration are OK about people coming in on a 60 day SETV with a fight out booked in 90 days time. And with people coming in on a 30 day visa exempt entry with a flight booked for 60 days time as it is common practise to extend both of these types of stay by 30 days at an immigration office

Which you can extend at an immigration office for an additional 30 days at a cost of 1900 baht

Oh, and get a photocopy of your Laos visa and arrival stamp the day/evening before you go to the consulate rather than using the photocopiers at the consulate and risking getting stuck behind an agent wanting photocopies of 20 plus passports

I was really pushed for time getting back to Udon Thani to catch the 6.30pm flight. It was very stressful. The journey from the consulate to the border was fine. Crossing out of Laos was quick. It was going back through Thai immigration that was the nightmare. 1 and hours of queuing meant that I missed the shuttle bus that would have gotten me to Udon Thani in comfortable time. Instead I took a hairy taxi ride at an exhorbitant cost with a taxi driver who was probably legally blind. Got caught in rush hour Udon Thani traffic. Arrived at the aiport, literally ran to the departure gate which was already locked. Escorted to the tarmac and then a long brisk walk to the plane. Boarded 10 minutes before take off. If I was to do it again I would stay an extra night in Vientianne or Nong Khai or get to the consulate ealier than 8.00am as even at that time the queue was enormous. I would also avoid applying for a visa on a Monday

@Jessica *******

it is actually less than 500 baht to cross the border at Mae Sai if you pay in American dollars ie 10 US dollars. I have heard that they will only accept a crisp clean note though

Jeremy I guess for some people, doing a border run is a cheaper option, depending on their proximity to a border and distance from an Immigration office

@Jeremy *******

I have to agree with

@Michael *******

and

@Steve ******

that the information you have posted does not confirm your assertion that people can only get one 1900 baht extension at immigration in a calendar year. In fact I have had 3 such 1900 baht extensions this calendar year and may apply for a 4th at the end of this month as opposed to crossing a border just after new year as I had planned. Please stop posting misinformation about this.

@Tod ********

could you please comment on this issue re the number of 30 day extensions at immigration permitted in a calendar year

@Jessica *******

many people in Chiang Mai choose to extend at immigration as they don't have the time to spare to go up to Mae Sai ie 3 or 4 hours at immigration in Chiang Mai versus 12 hours, 8 of it on a bus there and back to Mae Sai. I gather when you take into account the cost of the bus fares or the fuel and possibly vehicle hire if you choose to drive and don't have your own vehicle, all adds to the 500 baht and for some people the saving just isn't worth it