Robtaff wrote:

BobHelm wrote:Heads up on trying to extend a tourist visa in Nong Khai.

Today (tomorrow maybe different ) you can only get a 30 day extension to a single entry tourist visa in Nong Khai immigration if you show them your return air ticket back to home (or somewhere else I guess ???). Otherwise they will only grant you a 7 day extension (for 1900 baht). 'New Law' I was told......

Hi Bob,
Is this new law for all nationality's? Looks like my year in Thailand is gonna be 6 with the other 6 in Laos.

I got told by a poster on a different forum that coming in through Malaysia will get you a free 1 month extension? Think the person was travelling quite sometime ago though.

Anyway these 6 months that it looks like will be spare I will have to start topics on Laos, Cambodia etc

Get a non imm o visa in the uk first and then you will not have to worry so much.As you seem to want to stay for a whole year here in LOS why try it by messing around revolving 30 dayers and tourist visas!

Rob, I agree 100% with what Pompui says. Multiple entry non imm O is the way to go for you. (reason on application "Visiting family & friends"). That way you can do the 6 months in Thailand & 6 months in surrounding countries anyway you like with the least amount of hassle regarding visas.

Thanks pompui and Bob,

Took your advise and been reading up on the Hull Consulate site and your both right the non immigration 'O' -multiple stay is the one that is best for me.

Read through the rules and also the actual application form - all looks straight forward. Just hope they don't change the rules by the time I apply.

One last question- with regards applying should you apply a few months in advance or close to the date of departure?

When you apply and are successful then the visa starts at that date not on the date you travel so maybe leave it say a month before.As fellow posters have mentioned the added advantage of this visa means that if you go to Laos just before the expiry date,and reenter you should be able to get a further 3 months so 15 mths in total.

Rob, Hull are lightening quick in giving you the visa (Send application & forms by registered post 1 day & I got my stamped passport back 2 days later), but if you want it less than a few weeks before you are travelling then you have to give them a reason why. Agree that about a month before should be fine for your requirements. In the 4 years that I have applied through Hull their requirements have got slightly easier rather than harder, so I shouldn't worry too much on that front.