I have a short 4 hour layover in BKK en route to VTE.

I plan to travel overland back into Thailand in 5 days after i land in VTE. I'd rather just pick up my Thai visa while killing time at BKK airport, instead of picking it up somewhere in Laos.

Would there be any issue with picking up a Thai visa in BKK airport and then immediately leaving for VTE (not exiting BKK airport)? Any multilple entry/exit issue, or cost issue? I'd rather not have to cross security again in BKK airport...so is the place you get the thai visa airside, so i won't have to cross security once again?

I have been to BKK before but i can't remember the process/options. Thank you.

AFAIK you cannot obtain a tourist visa in the airport. An 'arrival visa': yes; a 'visa exemption stamp': yes.

If you need a 'tourist visa' I would get one in VTE as the embassy probably is the most active for Thailand visas and it will be processed in <36 hours under most circumstances.

If you're carrying a passport from one of the many countries given the visa exemption stamp then you can simply use this to enter Thailand. One caveat is that a land crossing will only come with a 15 day stay allowance.

The main question is this: Do you really need a 60 day tourist visa?

Can you share any details?

What country issued your passport?

How long do you plan to stay in Thailand, when returning "overland"?

Where are you now? When do you arrive?

There are many variables to consider, and without more detailed information it is challenging to make specific recommendations.

Of course. Sorry about that.

US passport. I plan to stay in Laos for approximately 4-5 days. I plan to cross overland from Luang Prabang into Chiang Rai or Mai and stay in Thailand for another 7-8 days (departing flight home from BKK on Nov 26).

I'm in US now (LIT, far from an embassy). I arrive in BKK with a 4 hour layover (as a connection to VTE) on Nov 14, 2012.

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I'll be connecting in BKK en route to VTE. Then overland through northern Laos to nothern thailand, then depart home from BKK. A circle. I'd simply rather pick up my thai visa (or exemption stamp) during the connection in BKK, then waste time doing it in Laos. I just want to make sure there aren't any unforeseen problems i might encounter.

Your impression of what's needed for a visa is causing you problems.

After your trip to VTE is over simply saunter to the border, get stamped into Thailand with a Visa Exemption Stamp, good for 15 days, and enjoy.

Don't waste your time getting a visa nor worrying about your situation. Further, don't make this more difficult than it needs to be.

Thanks.

I guess when i cross the northern thai border from Luang Prabang by bus/boat(haven't research the overland transportation options yet), the immigration folks will stop us at the border and give us the visa waiver stamp? ...so no need to get one prior somewhere in Laos.

Is it still a free visa waiver stamp?, any common scams from border touts in regard to the visa waiver?

Since you are entering Thailand overland you will be stamped in for 15 days as you have a U.S. passport, and there will not be any fee. This is commonly called a "Visa Exemption". You may be required to show proof of onward travel within 15 days.

You do not need top do anything special, other than present your passport and possibly show proof of onward travel, when entering northern Thailand from Laos.

At Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport (BKK) you will remain in the international transit area during your connection to VTE. You will not pass through Thai Immigration.

It is a stamp available when entering the Kingdom of Thailand from any land/air border by myriad nationalities. You cannot obtain it ahead of time nor should bother attempting to do so.

It has been a few years since I've crossed at Vientiane or Huay Xai but I'm not aware of any scams coming back into Thailand.

Easiest option. Cross the border without a visa, as noted above. But..

If you are going to be in Vientienne anyway, you MAY choose to get a tourist visa (about $30, a pickup and drop off trip) at the Thai Embassy in Laos. This will get you 60 days that can be extended for 30 days.

The only reason I mention the visa option is because of the number of people I meet that have visa problems when plans change. Sometimes people decide to stay longer. Sometimes there are medical emergencies that people did not plan. But, in every case, having gotten a tourist visa would have all but solved these issues.

Since the cost is almost negligent, and you will already be in Vientienne, it's really not a bad option. The 15 day entry stamp, that cannot be extended, has limitations.

Just a suggestion.

In two dozen entries through BKK and one crossing from Laos, I've never been asked for proof of onward travel when entering Thailand. OTOH, I believe that the rules for entry provide that you must have such travel arranged, thus you may be asked.

The only time I've been asked for proof of onward travel is by UA when checking in for a flight US-BKK. In better than 100 entries immigration has never requested anything.

Same here, dsquared37. I've never been asked at all. A friend, however, was asked for proof of onward/return travel from Thailand in May when checking in at BOS with AA for BOS-JFK-HKG-BKK. She hadn't yet arranged a return, and wasn't allowed to checkin. She called me from Logan (for those who don't know, BOS is actually the General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport) and I quickly booked an award return with miles. Once she gave the PNR code to the checkin agent and the agent verified it, she was allowed to checkin. On her arrival in BKK, I simply cancelled the award rezzy.

Note that if your friend had a tourist visa they would not have been denied boarding, even without proof of onward travel.

Joe Milano, owner of the Union Oyster House in Faneuil Hall, is the Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Thailand in Boston.

UA, AA and DL seem to be fairly strict re: onward travel.

UA always checks my visa status when I check in at BOS. (I cannot get electronic boarding passes when I check in on-line.)

I have never been asked for proof of onward travel at BKK arriving Immigration, in ~ 15 years, but then I have always had a valid business visa (Non-Imm B). I have never done a land entry.

I only mention the potential requirement for proof of onward travel as a safe-guard.

Yep, been up to his office twice, now, getting visas. My friend didn't need or get one. To any other FTers in Boston who may be seeking one, you need an advance appointment when you go to the Consulate. Just call and schedule it. 617-720-8424.

What galls me is the lack of OLCI ability even when my exit flight is on a UA booking (granted in a diff itin).