Answered4 years ago
Can I do a visa run to enter Thailand on an approved ED visa, and what should I expect at the border?
Hi all,
I've just arrived back in Chiang Mai. Despite having applied for an ED visa (Muay Thai), it didn't arrive in time, so I entered on a 30-day visa exemption (at BKK). My ED visa was just approved (by the Thai embassy in Ottawa, Canada). It seems like the best thing to do at this point would be to do a visa run. I was hoping to ask a few questions before committing to this:
1) Is it possible to enter by land with an ED visa, or should I spring for a flight somewhere? Any suggestions? Should I plan to stay out of the country for a number or days, or can I turn right around?
2) I was previously here for over two years during the pandemic, partly on an ED visa (Thai language), and partly on COVID extensions. The border officer in Bangkok didn't like this. I was honest about my situation of my ED visa not being approved, and all was fine in the end. But it was stressful as she was demanding that I speak in Thai, etc. Should I be ready for anything similar crossing back in on the ED visa, or do we think this was because I was trying to enter on an visa exemption?
Thank you very much.
I've just arrived back in Chiang Mai. Despite having applied for an ED visa (Muay Thai), it didn't arrive in time, so I entered on a 30-day visa exemption (at BKK). My ED visa was just approved (by the Thai embassy in Ottawa, Canada). It seems like the best thing to do at this point would be to do a visa run. I was hoping to ask a few questions before committing to this:
1) Is it possible to enter by land with an ED visa, or should I spring for a flight somewhere? Any suggestions? Should I plan to stay out of the country for a number or days, or can I turn right around?
2) I was previously here for over two years during the pandemic, partly on an ED visa (Thai language), and partly on COVID extensions. The border officer in Bangkok didn't like this. I was honest about my situation of my ED visa not being approved, and all was fine in the end. But it was stressful as she was demanding that I speak in Thai, etc. Should I be ready for anything similar crossing back in on the ED visa, or do we think this was because I was trying to enter on an visa exemption?
Thank you very much.
Answer summary
The user discusses their recent entry into Thailand on a 30-day visa exemption due to delays in receiving their approved ED visa (Muay Thai). They inquire about the viability of doing a visa run by land versus air, the required duration outside Thailand, and potential challenges they may face when re-entering, especially given their previous pandemic-related visa history. A commenter suggests that entering on an actual ED visa should lead to fewer issues compared to attempting entry on a visa exemption, although uncertainties may still exist, particularly at land border crossings.
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Stuart *********
With an actual visa you should have less issues, but they certainly don’t like multiple Covid extension holders trying to get back in again, so can’t guarantee you won’t have issues, but generally land borders are less strict than airports - especially the Bangkok ones.
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