Monday, April 28th, 2008
[Chumpon, Thailand] That was my Thai expletive for my current Thai visa issues… which has highlighted my annoying tendancy towards administrative failures. I realized my visa expires 10-May. I badly want to participate in a 10 day meditation course in Chaiya starting 01-May. This won’t work.
There are some fuzzy rules about a 90 day maximum stay within a six month period *and/or/or not* maximum of three 30-day on-arrival tourist visas. I already have the latter due to one day spent in transit to Cambodia (a visa stamp rip off in my opinion). Anyway, finding answers as impossible as you’d expect it to be. Course registration is in 2 days. I’m in Chumpon, I figure I have 3 options…
1) Take a risk and go to Ranong on a hopeful “visa run”. Leave the country, hop across to Burma and hope to get another 30-day on-arrival tourist visa upon my return… if they let me return. Meaning second part of supposed regulation is not true or absolute (information sways both ways here).
2) Go to course, leave immediately after and play stupid at the border. Usually this results in a 500 baht per day penalty for overstaying a visa but could potentially result in a very very stupid move that lands you in a deportation center when caught in the country illegally. Not a lparticulary pleasant or safe option. Rather stupid actually.
3) Start bee-lining it south out of Thailand! - missing my course I was so excited about, missing leisurely days on southern islands and beaches, missing much loved rest days and satisfaction of a well-executed planned course! (Really I should’ve known better…)
Frustrated. Annoyed. Trying to remember the lessons I learned on flexibility which are severely being put to the test!
All I can say is… &#@*% stupid #&%$@ annoying *&@%#*&% Thailand visa issues! Would love to take that sentiment to the silent meditation course and sit on it…
May 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Hey girl!!! Glad you posted some updates. Well you have probably already made your decision considering its now the 4 May. Did you go for option 1? I don’t like the thought of option 2 considering how strict Thailand I think are… Don’t really follow their rule considering you haven’t been that long in Thailand?! Or did I miss something. Sounds like it’s all an adventure though!!! I wish I could be travelling with you. Let me know what you think of catching up end of May? Big hugs and look forward to hear from you soon! Miss P
May 18th, 2008 at 5:17 am
I ended up suceeding with option 1! There is no longer a 3 30-day tourist visa maximum. You can enter and leave the country 90 times for one day a piece with in 6 months now if you wish. An interesting fact if anyone asks you. And you can answer with authority, something few people feel capable of doing in this country!