VISA CHANGES For people entering Thailand by land

When going from Mae Sai to Tachilek, (this probably applies at other border crossings too) if you've entered Thailand by air make sure you have your departure card as well as your passport. I'd left mine back at the hotel and the chap on the Thai side wouldn't let me cross without it. After a little chat, he said to get two photocopies of my passport which I did. He then stamped them, kept my passport, charged me 100 baht and let me through. No problems on the Burma side, coming back, immigration at Tachilek kept one copy, the Thai side the other.
We had another little chat and he did give me a nice "souvenir" stamp in the back of my passport.

Im sure this has already been covered so sorry to repeat, but I would like a clear Yes or No answer if possible .
Arrive in BKK on 30/4/11 a 30 day visa granted as a UK national, then head to Chang Mai then cross by land for a week to Laos, then return by land to Thailand , therefore only allowed 15 day Visa is that correct ?
Would not my original entry visa stamp issued for 30 days at BKK on 30/4/11 still be valid for 30 days as we plan to fly back to the UK on the 27/5/11 (total time in SE Asia =28 days) ?

I would appreciate any advise please Thanks

It is not a visa, it is a visa exemption. When you leave and come back by land you will get 15 days. The original 30 days 'visa' will not count as it was never a visa. Therefore you need to come back from Laos no earlier than 15 days before you fly out of BKK.
Or.. get a double-entry Tourist Visa from Thai Consul in UK before you leave. It is free at the moment. Thai Consul at Hull Website is very good. Download the form, apply for Double-Entry Tourist Visa, send with your passport and £8 postage. Passport is returned 24 hours later. Each entry will give you 60 days.

Thanks for that ...very useful have spoken with Hull Consulate and your right this would help me , but have to act quick to beat the 31 3 11 deadline as free up till then, Postage has increased to £10 now .

Much appreciated and cheaper than getting a flight out just to get 15 more days ......really helpful

visa or visa exemption - the time is still a maximum time (in Thailand, not SEA) not a total time . Its vaildity finished when you leaves the country.

crawmo - it should not be hard to juggle your travels to spend a week, or more, in Thailand before going to Laos and then finish it off when your return on the 15 day visa exemption.

BTW it is possible to extend a visa exemption by a week for 1,900 baht, at an immigration office.

Paul

Thanks for the advise on The double entry Visa via Hull Consulate in the UK , just to let you know i posted my pasport to them on thursday enc the £10 postage fee and two photos and had my Passport back on the saturday AM , excellent service.

Cheers

DM in Lewes UK

Not only do you only get 15 days if you are entering by land, in order to get a visa in advance you are required to fly in, and to show your air ticket.

Air tickets in and out of the region will probably suffice - It did for me a few years ago (I think I posted that on TT but there are too many posts on that subject to even contemplate searching).

Paul

I got my visa for Thailand in Vietnam, and was required to go and buy an air ticket to Thailand, and present a copy of it before they would issue the visa. Thailand has changed the visa requirements a lot in the last few year.

in order to get a visa in advance you are required to fly in, and to show your air ticket

True for some of the consulates but certainly not all of them. Check with your nearest one on their policy.