Dual entry "O" non-immigrant visa

by **bluejets** » December 10, 2011, 11:07 pm

I will be returning in a couple of months time to Thailand and before then, I will be applying for a dual entry "O" non-immigrant visa. Previous visit I had a single entry and I left the country on the last day (90 days)

I understand that I will have to do a border run to Nong Kai as this is the nearest point to where we will be living.
Further to this I found that the charge is something like $30 US ( and best to have US dollars)

So I arrive in Nong Kai and cross over the bridge and then turn around and come straight back again..???

Now a few other questions I'm hoping someone can answer for me.

When do I have to do this ...??? On the day my 90 days stay runs out or before..??

Also, when I come back again, this will give me a further 90 days...???

So should I book my return flight ( back to Australia) before the 180 days just to be on the safe side or can I stay for the full 180 days..??

Looked for info about this but it can take a lot of searching and sometimes the discussion gets way off track.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

by **BobHelm** » December 11, 2011, 7:50 am

Being from the UK I can only really comment on what visas are available there.
My understanding is that visa availability varies considerably between different Countries & even between different Consulates & Embassies with any single country.
In order for you to discover EXACTLY what visas are available to you in Australia it is essential that you check with the web site (or by phone) of the consulate that you are applying to.

I say the above because I have never heard of a double entry Non Imm 'o' visa & I do not believe that such a thing is available in the UK.
A multiple entry Non Imm 'o' visa is available however. That permits individual stays of no more than 90 days but as many of those stays as you like for the life of the visa.
The visa will last for 1 year from date of issue (not date of first entry).
I have also been given double entry Tourist visas from the Thai Embassy in Vientiane. That permits 2 stays of 60 days within the life of the visa - which has a 3 month lifetime from date of issue.

So you need to contact your visa provider or their web site to see what is available to you.

Once in possession of a multiple entry visa though they all work the same as far as enacting the next piece of it.

& so, to answer your questions..

So I arrive in Nong Kai and cross over the bridge and then turn around and come straight back again..???

Yes, there is no minimum requirement to stay in Laos.
However, personally, as I would have paid the 30 USD (+ in my case as I am a Brit) for a month long Laos visa I would at least make the effort to go to Vientiane & have a look around, if not for a couple of days. You can get a taxi into the capital for 200 baht, or the bus for less, & it is well worth at least 1 look.

When do I have to do this ...??? On the day my 90 days stay runs out or before..??

The 90th. day maximizes your stay, yes. But you can go out any day up to that date without issues.

Also, when I come back again, this will give me a further 90 days...???

Yes. Remember to put your existing visa number on the arrival form & check before you proceed though...

So should I book my return flight ( back to Australia) before the 180 days just to be on the safe side or can I stay for the full 180 days

Completely your choice. Although return airfares tend to be far, far cheaper than two one way flights &, as a Brit, London BKK return is hugely cheaper than booking anything BKK to London.

There is also a possibility to actually extend a Non Imm 'o' visa for an extra number of days without leaving Thailand, through the Thai Immigration Service Offices. I am not sure what the maximum extension supplied is, but for a Tourist visa it is an extra 30 days...

by **bluejets** » December 11, 2011, 8:56 am

Ok...thankyou.....this is a great help.

Dual entry "o" non-immigrant visa is available in Australia.

So it is either single, for $90, dual for $180 and multiple for $225.

by **coxo** » December 11, 2011, 9:01 am

If I was in your situation I would get my 30 day tourist visa on arrival, on day 28 I would go to Vientiane to the Thai embassy and get a dual entry tourist visa, takes two days or pay the touts and get it in one day, 60 days + 60 days, if you leave Thailand a week or two before the final 60 days are up you will get another 60 days on entry, that way you will get just under 7 months in total.
Vientiane is a good place to spend a bit of time. I have done this on an Australian passport before. Goodluck.

by **BobHelm** » December 11, 2011, 9:16 am

coxo wrote: if you leave Thailand a week or two before the final 60 days are up you will get another 60 days on entry

I do not believe that is true Coxo.
The double entry Tourist Visa from Vientiane is just that, double entry, not multiple entry. The Visa is clearly marked under 'No. of Entries' as 2. After you enter a second time using it it is stamped 'USED'.

by **coxo** » December 11, 2011, 9:38 am

I have done it before on two occasions with two visa's Bob, make sure your final stamp out is two weeks before the visa expires and you will get it.

by **BobHelm** » December 11, 2011, 10:48 am

What even after the Visa has been clearly stamped 'Used' as below...
Must admit that I cannot say that it cannot be done, as I have never tried it.
It would amaze me that it would happen...
but TIT...

by **747man** » December 11, 2011, 5:17 pm

far cheaper than two one way flights &, as a Brit, London BKK return is hugely cheaper than booking anything BKK to London.

Not True Bob, I Have booked a o/w BKK-LHR on Sri Lankan Airlines in February cost 15,159 Baht = 315.00 gbp approx...
Because NOT Sure of my return date .......But o/w LHR-BKK Again on Sri Lankan is 398.60 gbp = 19,130 Baht approx, BOTH @ 48 THB to 1 GBP........So 83.00 GBP More Expensive......

by **BobHelm** » December 11, 2011, 5:36 pm

I don't want this to go off line from what the OP asked 747...however..
You have not read my post carefully...
I said it was
1. Cheap to buy RETURNS than two singles..
2. Cheaper to buy Returns LHR BKK than the other way round
I still stand by that...
In your example to get to & from would cost 315 x 2 = £630
I have just looked at Opodo (not the cheapest available, but easy) & can buy a February return today for £496.13.
First site I looked, no effort a saving of over £130....

by **rick** » December 12, 2011, 1:01 am

to add to the question of whether to get a double entry 90 day visa or double 60 day tourist, it depends how easy to get to Nong Khai and if you do want to go to Vientianne. The double entry 90 day visa would require only one trip. Coxo's suggestion requires 3 trips so probably no cheaper, even if it works (which in theory it shouldn't, may only get 15 days on the last entry).

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