What are the visa options for Americans traveling to Thailand between May and June, and how can I avoid overstaying?

okay, enough with beating the drum about the overstay penalties :O She didn't say she was intending to overstay :/

I imagine the O/P understands her options

fly in on a 30 day visa exempt entry

get a single entry tourist visa from a thai consulate before she flies in

Either of those options could get a 30 day extension at the immigration office for baht.

I think we're done with this topic ;)

Get a 60 day Tourist visa from Thai Embassy in America before coming to Thailand.

Flora, its actually pretty simple, you get 30 days when you arrive and if you want to stay longer just go to the nearest immigration office before the 30 days are up and request and extension and you will have no problems. Do not try to overstay without a proper visa or you could find yourself in very serious trouble if they catch you and the police are always stopping foreigners walking on the streets and checking their visa so your chances of getting caught are high.

Flora -- I am pretty sure you have 30 days+30 day extension for visa on arrival.. You should not need to worry about overstay if you trip is less than 60 days. If you plan to stay longer than 60 days you will need to consider other visa options. If you are near LA or DC ( I think ) you can get Visa from US Thai consulate. You can also do that by mail. Another options is always come, stay, and go over the border for new visa when your current visa expires. If you plan to stay over 90 days you will want to get an METV (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa), which can be acquire only in your home country (I have heard rumours about some consulates doing it for some people, but I do not recommend relying on those rumours).

I am an American (it matters in some circumstances), I have been here a couple years already. I love it here. I hope you have a good trip and please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

You're better off driving to the Thai Consulate in Miami and just getting a 60 day visa. It's quick, easy and cheap ($45ish?). You can even pick it up the same-day if you drop it off before 12pm. The paperwork is minimal as well, just need to fill out a piece of paper, and give them a copy of your flight itinerary and proof of funds in your bank account ($700 or greater via a bank statement). As well as 2 passport photos, and a copy of your passport and your actual passport of course.

I think this saying goes well here, "Play stupid games, Win stupid prizes". Better playing by the laws of the land, than risk any repercussions..

Get a 30 day "visa exempt" stamp on arrival, then buy a 30 day extension at any Immigration office inside Thailand (1,900 baht) and you are covered for 60 days

Very simple. Buy a tourist visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate ,and get yourself travel insurance and a ticket,and you're off.

The 30 day visa waiver for Americans can also be extended for 30 days at immigration. But best to just get the 60 day tourist visa from consulate.

Do not overstay, they dont accept any excuse and the very least of the punishments is a hefty fine.

Go to the Thai embassy get a 60 day visa before you leave .

you can purchase a 60-day SETV or a 6 Month METV in America before you come over....or you can do a land border bounce for an additional 30 days, or go to an Immigration office and pay 1,900THB for a 30-day stamp, or you can fly Out/In.....so many choices

I would be scared to overstay. I'm an American and do not mess with their system because I like to travel in and out of Thailand. If you are about to overstay and feel nervous about this, you could take a ferry to Langkawi, Malaysia and come back into Thailand and get another 30 days just in case. It's cheap by land.

What ever you do dont overstay