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By Jose Darrel Bella
Foreigners holding a 1 year multiple entry non-immigrant "B" visa obtained from their home country or outside of Thailand are normally required to do visa run every 90 days. A visa run is done when the 90-day allowable stay of a "1 year multiple entry visa" expires. The visa holder will need to exit the Kingdom and get another 90-day stamp from any immigration offices in the borders or international airports of Thailand.
The Practical Way to Do It
I have done visa run myself multiple times by going to the Philippines and Malaysia. But it is not the practical way of doing it - go to Cambodia instead.
My first visa run to Cambodia was with an agency that a friend referred to me. I paid 1,000 baht to the agency inclusive of lunch of our choice (with a menu) and the two-way bus fare. The agency people (ladies) also took care of our passports, departure/arrival cards and guided us up to the immigration office.
The bus leaves at 9 a.m. from Ekkamai and arrives at the border at 1 p.m. After an hour on the road, they provided us a menu for lunch and took our order. There was one bus stop where they allowed us to go to the toilet or have a smoke or just have a break. At 12 noon while still on the bus, our lunch was served.
Upon arrival, the agency ladies instructed us to fall in line at the Thai Immigration Office and started distributing the passport that they collected to each one. They only allowed us to stay inside Cambodia for 15 minutes.
Just enough time to go to the toilet inside the Casino which is about 3 to 5 minutes walk. Right after fixing ourselves in the toilet, we went back right away to the Immigration Office where the agency ladies are waiting for us. They gave our passports back with the arrival card and guided us to the Immigration Officer where we got our visa stamped. We departed from the border at 2 p.m. and arrived in Bangkok at 6 p.m.
It was indeed a 1-day dreary trip. But as a foreigner, you must abide by Thailand Immigration law if you don't want to suffer the penalties for violating the law. If it is your first visa to Thailand, be sensible and acquaint yourself on the benefits and conditions associated in the visa.
By Jose Darrel Bella
Foreigners holding a 1 year multiple entry non-immigrant "B" visa obtained from their home country or outside of Thailand are normally required to do visa run every 90 days. A visa run is done when the 90-day allowable stay of a "1 year multiple entry visa" expires. The visa holder will need to exit the Kingdom and get another 90-day stamp from any immigration offices in the borders or international airports of Thailand.
The Practical Way to Do It
I have done visa run myself multiple times by going to the Philippines and Malaysia. But it is not the practical way of doing it - go to Cambodia instead.
My first visa run to Cambodia was with an agency that a friend referred to me. I paid 1,000 baht to the agency inclusive of lunch of our choice (with a menu) and the two-way bus fare. The agency people (ladies) also took care of our passports, departure/arrival cards and guided us up to the immigration office.
The bus leaves at 9 a.m. from Ekkamai and arrives at the border at 1 p.m. After an hour on the road, they provided us a menu for lunch and took our order. There was one bus stop where they allowed us to go to the toilet or have a smoke or just have a break. At 12 noon while still on the bus, our lunch was served.
Upon arrival, the agency ladies instructed us to fall in line at the Thai Immigration Office and started distributing the passport that they collected to each one. They only allowed us to stay inside Cambodia for 15 minutes.
Just enough time to go to the toilet inside the Casino which is about 3 to 5 minutes walk. Right after fixing ourselves in the toilet, we went back right away to the Immigration Office where the agency ladies are waiting for us. They gave our passports back with the arrival card and guided us to the Immigration Officer where we got our visa stamped. We departed from the border at 2 p.m. and arrived in Bangkok at 6 p.m.
It was indeed a 1-day dreary trip. But as a foreigner, you must abide by Thailand Immigration law if you don't want to suffer the penalties for violating the law. If it is your first visa to Thailand, be sensible and acquaint yourself on the benefits and conditions associated in the visa.
Jose Darrel Bella works as a Consultant for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, London, Los Angeles, Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin. Contact Siam Legal at +66 (0) 253 8100 or visit http://www.siam-legal.com to learn more about obtaining a 1 Year Thailand Visa.
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