I'll be heading (flying) out to Bangkok in a few days with the bike. Currently in Nepal. I would like to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days. I'm not sure this is possible without making a "border run" to Cambodia and back. As well, since I'll have the bike, I understand I cannot leave the country, even for a week, to clear the 30 day visa status? I'd like to fly to Hanoi when I am in BKK as well. Is there anyway that:

A) I can get a visa for more than 30 days? (even multiple entry if needed)
B) Leave the country for short time sans bike and come back (return plane tickets suffice?)


Thanks for any info.
Kevin

__________________
http://www.nohorizons.net

As far as I know there is no problem with a "visa run" as long as you don't stay longer then 3 months for every 6 month's.

This is the text of the offical law:
- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements dated 1 October B.E. 2545 (2002), 20 December B.E. 2545 (2002), 18 October B.E. 2547 (2004) and 6 May B.E. 2548 (2005), passport holders from 40 countries and 1 special administrative region – Hong Kong SAR – are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30 days on each visit. Foreigners who enter the Kingdom under the Tourist Visa Exemption category may re-enter and stay in Thailand for a cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within any 6-month period from the date of first entry.

You can get a tourist-visa which cost 20 euro "per entry". It is valid for 3 months, but you can only stay 60 day's. In my opinion it is a waste of money. A further minus-point of this visa is the fact that the bike can NOT stay 60 day's... Only 30 day's, then it has to leave the country and re-enter.

So: As long as you don't want to stay longer then 90 day's (in a 6 month's periode) you just enter without visa and leave the country after 30 day's (with the bike).
5 minutes later you re-enter and you can stay an other 30 day's, after which you do the same again.

Don't "believe" the idea that your bike can stay as long as your visa is valid. Yes, this is the official law, but as with so many things in Thailand, there is "the law" and there is "the policy" of the enforcing agency. In this case it's "the cusom-office policy" to alow only 30 day's for a bike-permit. Take it of leave it.

PROBLEM: You leave Thailand after 30 day's at "mae sai" or "mai sot" for your re-entry.... but you are not alowed to take the bike with you into Burma (unless you pay, pay, pay).... And so, you are legal but the bike's permit has expired.
In this case you can do three things:

1- Go to the south. Cross the border at "Hat yai". You can drive your bike out to the malaysian border, walk back to the thai border and get your exit-stamp. Then walk back to the malaysian border and enter there with bike. (and if you want re-enter Thailand again with bike).

2- Go to any borer-crossing and be honest. Tell them you did not know about this and are willing to pay the fine which is a maximum of 2000 bath (40 euro)
If you are a good talker they will not even give you a fine.

3- Go to the mekong-river and smuggel your bike out by canoe to laos.
Leave yourself by official crossing and pick up the bike. (Laos usually uses a carnet, but not allways so you should be able to leave without any problem.)

The stamp in your pasport (about entering by bike) is not important. It is not canceled if you leave, therefor it is no proof that you stil have a bike. If it is on a seperate piece of paper (often the case), take it out to avoid any questions.

Good luck and enjoy the elephants.

Maarten

__________________
maartensworld.com
beyond-anywhere.com

Hi Maarten
Just wondering if the 30 day rule for the bike applies if you bring it into Thailand under a carnet. I've done that twice so far (currently in Laos) and probably will do it again when I reenter Thailand in a week or so. Nothing in my passport mentions the bike and there is no time limit stamp in the carnet. I was thinking about staying in Thailand longer than 30 days this time too (doing a visa run, without the bike) but think the 90 days in 6 months would stop that for me. I'll be crossing back at Pakse / Chong Mek so will see if anyone can telll me there (doubtful).

__________________
Gone for a ride