VOA Help Please

[ChristianTroy]

Hi,

even when I believe to know the answer, my cousin drives me absolutely nuts and want me to ask you guys!

 

His entry and exit dates on a VOA

 

Sept 2nd to Oct 1st (30 days)

Nov 3rd to Dec 4th (30 + 2 days)

 

I told him that he has now 60 days left within the 180 days period

 

He claims he has only 28 days left since his first exit was on the day the law became active!

 

I told him that the entry stamp is important and he only has 1 entry since the new law became active!

 

I also believe that the 2 days overstay won't be added since he payed extra for them (might be wrong)

 

How many days he has left?

 

28? 60? or 62?

 

thanx in advance!

[Mekong]

I would say 58 Days.

 

VOA 1 was issued before 1 OCT 06 so is irrelevent.

 

VOA 2 is to all intents and purposes VOA 1 in a 180 day period, 32 days used, 90 - 32 = 58.

 

Again, all this is all subject to each persons interpretation of the law.

 

Sorry to confuse the issue more.

[Julian2]

Sounds like he's got a couple more renewals to me CT, but no one will be really sure until he turns up for a new VOA. It looks like it will be down to the discretion of the immigration officer he comes up against. If he's planning on staying for a long period you want to encourage him to get off his arse and organise a proper visa any way.

[ChristianTroy]

58 not 62 of course

 

Maybe it will affect anyone of you too.

 

The answer is 60 days according to Thai Airways (can't get a hold on the embassy on the weekend)

 

The 2 extra days has been payed with 1000 baht, they are not a part of the VOA, it is considered a different visa which alledgedly won't be added to your legal VOA time (according to TG)

 

According to Khun Kamlan (TG),

one who is entering the country on a fast track counter with a valid first class return ticket within 30 days, doesn't have to worry anyways if he already spent 90 days. (funny)

 

wasn't there a post about quality tourists??

[ThaiHome]

Just to be a little pedantic, but your cousin is entering on a visa exempt, not Visa on Arrival.

TH

[ChristianTroy]

same thing, same rules, same process and VOA is way better to understand for the most people here :grin:

 

thanx anyways for the lesson

[elef]

The major difference is that all visas cost money, the visa on arrival 1,000 baht and it's valid for 15 days.

 

Visa exempt - I've seen that the immigration now use stamp on arrival SOA.

 

Here's the official information re visas and visa exempts

Link

 

Foreigners who enter the Kingdom under the Tourist Visa Exemption category may re-enter and stay in Thailand for a cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within any 6-month period from the date of first entry.

 

 

[elef]

According to Khun Kamlan (TG),

one who is entering the country on a fast track counter with a valid first class return ticket within 30 days, doesn't have to worry anyways if he already spent 90 days. (funny)

 

CT, still it's illegal and may result in fines, jail and persona non grata - IRL a big bribe of course. I've also heard that police will concentrate on visa runs over land borders, maybe also on flights from the region, both biz and 1st passengers will not be checked too much.

 

I've already suggested that the best method is to have 2 passports.

[ChristianTroy]

Elef, thanks for clearing up my obvious mistake above about the VOA

 

Is it Illegal if the immigration officer let you in? They give you an official stamp that also shows the lates day of your departure in your official password.

 

This stamp qualifies me to stay there. I am no lawyer but I am 99% sure that if I have a stamp that says I can stay for 30 days that I do nothing illegal!

 

Maybe the officer does but not me!

 

right?

[elef]

If you bribed him to get the stamp it's illegal - so the police will assume that you not got in a legal way by mistake. Maybe it's not a crime but sure as hell they will use it for press money.