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Can I enter Thailand again later this year after spending 70 days on visa exemption?

Apr 28, 2026
2 days ago
Stephen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello I am very confused with the immigration rules in Thailand because they keep changing I have been here twice this year it accounts to around 70 days can I still make another trip to Thailand later this year or do I have to apply for a Visa
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses confusion around Thailand's immigration rules, particularly regarding visa exemptions and the duration of stay. The author has stayed a total of 70 days in Thailand this year and is uncertain if they can return for another trip without obtaining a visa. Comments clarify that the rules have not changed significantly, with most agreeing that one can typically enter Thailand multiple times a year as long as the stay is properly justified. However, increased scrutiny by immigration officers suggests that longer stays may require applying for a regular tourist visa (like the METV) to avoid issues at re-entry.
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Nongnuch ********
There are no new visa rules and there is no new law.

There is no reset, and most of all, there is nothing such as a reset when a new calendar year begins.

There is no limit of two visa-exemptions within a 1-year period, and definitely not within a calendar year. This is simply not true.

What has changed, mandated from above, is the strict scrutinizing of your number of visa-exempt entries and the thorough check on "visa runners" (actually they meant to say "consecutive border runners"). The new approach taken by border officials is intended to ensure that the option to do a "visa run" is not misused.

Now as far as regarding extensions on visa-exempt entries, it does appear that the Immigration offices are indeed only issuing 7-day extensions if you already got a previous 30-day extension on a visa exempt entry. The count is 60 + 30 + 60 + 7 = 157 days maximum within a 1-year period, regardless of whether you arrive by air or land.

This is not standardized. The decision is made upon the discretion of the individual immigration officer, and your experience might vary from it.

There are some reports of touristic extensions on top of the 60-days being denied for those having arrived across a land border, while there have been some cases under the same circumstances where an extension was granted.

Fact is, it is subjective and up to the decision of the officer you are standing in front of when you wish to enter the country. They decide if you are a "real tourist" or if they think you are milking the visa-exempt entry program.

There is just no clear directive as far as what's what, there are no official rules, however after a few interviews with Immigration top officers, a few basic patterns have crystallized.

Some people with a 30-days extension already on a previous visa exempt entry reported getting another 30-days extension without any issue, however some only got a 7-days extension issued. Again, your experience might vary from that.

The 7-days extension is a REAL extension. It is not the same as the stamp "application to extension denied, you have seven days to leave the Kingdom". I have already seen the stamp of a 7-days extension, it takes up half of a passport page.

Visa-exempt entries are not limited to two entries per year. This is a misconception, and some agents and lawyers spread this information to make profit from panicked people.

Honest agents and Immigration Volunteers are warning you should not believe those alleged news telling you that visa-exempt entries are limited to two per year. It simply is not true.

In the past, visa-exempt entries were limited to two across a land border, this rule was discontinued on July 15, 2024.

On the paper, visa-exempt entries by air or across land and sea were “unlimited” after this date.

Attention: the wording “unlimited” is not a fixed rule of Immigration – THEY decide on an individual decision when your “personal limit” is up.

On conditions, multiple visa-exempt entries are possible - like four, five or even more times, if it is apparent that you do not circumvent the system.

The entry history in your passport and your profile on Immigration’s Central Computer must prove that your stays were short-term holidays - like only 2-4 weeks.

Some Immigration officers will tell you that the total number of visa-exempt days should not exceed 150 days, some will tell you the limit is 157 days. It remains unclear – because there is no official rule, there is no official limit. There are only guidelines on how to treat repeated entries.

The best proof that you are not milking the visa-exemption system is when you can show that you returned to your home country between each stay, or stayed abroad for a long time. And when you can show an onward travel proof.

The new approach was to prohibit "visa runs," where you only entered a neighboring country briefly and then immediately re-entered.

You must be able to prove your short holiday - for example, with proof of onward travel or a return ticket. A border official would rather consider you being a "genuine" tourist based on short holiday trips within a year. They expect that you never maximized any of these visa-exempt holidays.

What is crystal-clear: Some people still say it means “calendar year”, yet this does not make much sense. The count is based on a one-yea period. A new calendar year does not reset anything.

Those who want to play safe should obtain a single-entry tourist visa in advance for stays of up to 60 days, with the option to extend for 30 more days.

ATTENTION: obtaining a tourist visa after you have accumulated a few visa exempt stays, does not clean the stamp history slate.

Touristic entries on a tourist visa will also be frowned upon when you start to maximize them. To use a tourist visa directly after you have used visa-exempt stays, does not free you from the obligations. The Immigration officer won’t be fooled.
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Gigy *************
At the moment, the rules haven’t changed, but the consideration for allowing entry into the country has become stricter. If you’re concerned, it’s recommended to apply for a tourist visa in advance.
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Stephen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Gigy Jeerathiwat how long does a tourist visa get you
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Roy *******
Stephen Evans I have just got the multi entry visa,lasts 6 months,cost £150 on the Thai website.
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Roy *******
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Mark ******
Get a tourist visa, and you will be safe
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Shashank *********
They will stop you at immigration..will ask you a million questions, what are you doing in Thailand. Why are you in Thailand.

If you are staying for less than 30 days. It would be okay. More than that be ready to face grilling at immigration
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Calvin *******
If you like hearsay, you’ve come to the right place.
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Christian *******
Equiv of 3 months in any 6month period...simples!!
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Anthony *************
It’s not 150 consecutive before the 60 day u could enter 4 times a year, let’s talk visa, now they want to tax ur income with visa cause u have to prove what make only show the minimum
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Lee **********
most tourists do not go to asia for a week or two !! takes me around 30 hours total from the uk to pattaya !! l go every other month for 30 days does that mean l live there ?
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Gerald ********
ou need a visa as you are quite clearly not a tourist
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Gethin *******
If you didn’t get extensions then you won’t have a problem.

Oil workers and miners come 8 or 9 times a year when they are on leave.
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Matthew *******
At the moment as it stands it's
*****
being allowed to enter .the new rules coming in will be easier if they revert to the 30 days stay then u will be ok but rules at the moment I think it's 2 visits a year .I would wake till next year now if I was u .
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Simon **********
May be worth applying for a tourist visa..in your home country...prior to travelling....in case your denied entry on the exemption
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Patrick ********
I just got stopped and grilled. 10 minute interview....
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Mike *******
It would be so much better if immigration said nothing at least tourist would not be confused it’s seems

Like every week some brain cell half charged opens his month and confusion comes out

No good to encourage tourists to come to Thailand
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John ****************
Det lyder godt nok underligt 🤔
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Clayton ***********
Thais don't even understand what they are doing. I lived there 15 years and constantly changed even though the king makes 1 law but they constantly change it. They aren't logically smart as a whole of a people.
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Henning ***********
I use to stay 2 month in Thailand on exemption and 2 month out for work , before returning…it did work for years but seems I can’t do this anymore, I been taking out for interview couple of week ago after been on a family trip to Vietnam and been told I have to many travel in and out, my problem is now I don’t dare to leave Thailand before I go back to work….so have to drop a Japan trip with my wife ….
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Lynnette *******
Henning Jørgensen so you're living in Thailand, and going elsewhere to work? That's not really tourism. So get a visa that gives you 60 days stay. Maybe metv.
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Lynnette *******
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MNathalie *********
Only the officer will decide. Not Facebook people
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Carey *********
I think we are in the last yrs of living in Thailand without a proper Visa and doing border jumps . I think if one truly wants to live in Thailand or any other countries I would recommend doing it the proper way. With all the new technology/AI they are not messing around. Honestly I can't blame them.
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Grant ********
The rules have not changed.
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James **********
The rules don't keep changing, some tourisrts piss around and cause trouble in the media, so Immigration say they are going to be more stringent with existing rules. People listen to chinese whispers and misinformation instead of what immigration actually said, then post here asking nonsense questions based on the crap they've heard
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Win *****
Unfortunately there is no issue at all unless we have no money or only little money.

Pay for the Visa and that's fine. I prefer to visit more country to enjoy and discover more things.

Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam are more welcome foreigners for long stay holidays
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Fox *******
Win Win Well what country in their right mind would want tourists with no money or little money?
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Win *****
Fox James This world is money talk, so no money no talk for sure.

unfortunately there are also people who only have enough money to spend just nice for they holiday to keep away from they super cold winner and this is the reason why they choose Aisa.

They are not super rich but still have the rights to enjoy the great summer
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Win *****
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Jason *************
There clamping down on visa exemt. I would get a online tourist visa as it will look better on your history of travel.
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Gethin *******
Jason Bracegirdle

They are only clamping down on those that get extensions to visa exempt.
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Jason *************
Gethin Evans all depends on your past history especially how long you stay . 1 extension per year
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Jason *************
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Colin **********
if your a genuine tourist, there is no limit, but practise no one does 12 visits a year.

If you extend your trips with extension and border runs your quite quickly get the attention of immigration.

In there eyes someone who has a return ticket to their home country, accommodation booked and 20kthb is what their looking for. But ultimately, the immigration officer will decide.
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Siggi *******
Colin Chaffers i know people who do 30 to 40 visits a year. When you have a valid reason you do not have a problem
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Colin **********
Siggi Tirak thats a little unbelievable, however, there will be people doing more 12 visit a year, these are exceptions not a general rule, like people working offshore and using Thailand as a home base. It remains to be seen how immigration handle these cases.
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Colin **********
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Shawn ********
(Under rules for a US citizen) I believe the METV is the best visa under your circumstances. It allows a total of 180 in Thailand per calendar year, is easy to obtain, and only requires you to extend for periods longer than 60 continuous days. You do have to make exits of a reasonable time period between visits (subjective) - but I have found it to be the least amount of hassle. Must be obtained from outside of Thailand.
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Ron ******
Shawn Sheely METV is valid for six months from the date of issue, not a year.
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Shawn ********
I stand corrected.
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Shawn ********
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John *********
Nothing has changed, it might revert from 60 days to 30 days, best monitor going forward. When are you planning to visit again and for how long, ensure you have an onward flight, preferably a return flight to your home country. A lot depends whether you have visited regularly over the last couple of years ie. History.
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Nongnuch ********
There are no new visa rules and there is no new law.

There is no reset, and most of all, there is nothing such as a reset when a new calendar year begins.

There is no limit of two visa-exemptions within a 1-year period, and definitely not within a calendar year. This is simply not true.

What has changed, mandated from above, is the strict scrutinizing of your number of visa-exempt entries and the thorough check on "visa runners" (actually they meant to say "consecutive border runners"). The new approach taken by border officials is intended to ensure that the option to do a "visa run" is not misused.

Now as far as regarding extensions on visa-exempt entries, it does appear that the Immigration offices are indeed only issuing 7-day extensions if you already got a previous 30-day extension on a visa exempt entry. The count is 60 + 30 + 60 + 7 = 157 days maximum within a 1-year period, regardless of whether you arrive by air or land.

This is not standardized. The decision is made upon the discretion of the individual immigration officer, and your experience might vary from it.

There are some reports of touristic extensions on top of the 60-days being denied for those having arrived across a land border, while there have been some cases under the same circumstances where an extension was granted.

Fact is, it is subjective and up to the decision of the officer you are standing in front of when you wish to enter the country. They decide if you are a "real tourist" or if they think you are milking the visa-exempt entry program.

There is just no clear directive as far as what's what, there are no official rules, however after a few interviews with Immigration top officers, a few basic patterns have crystallized.

Some people with a 30-days extension already on a previous visa exempt entry reported getting another 30-days extension without any issue, however some only got a 7-days extension issued. Again, your experience might vary from that.

The 7-days extension is a REAL extension. It is not the same as the stamp "application to extension denied, you have seven days to leave the Kingdom". I have already seen the stamp of a 7-days extension, it takes up half of a passport page.

Visa-exempt entries are not limited to two entries per year. This is a misconception, and some agents and lawyers spread this information to make profit from panicked people.

Honest agents and Immigration Volunteers are warning you should not believe those alleged news telling you that visa-exempt entries are limited to two per year. It simply is not true.

In the past, visa-exempt entries were limited to two across a land border, this rule was discontinued on July 15, 2024.

On the paper, visa-exempt entries by air or across land and sea were “unlimited” after this date.

Attention: the wording “unlimited” is not a fixed rule of Immigration – THEY decide on an individual decision when your “personal limit” is up.

On conditions, multiple visa-exempt entries are possible - like four, five or even more times, if it is apparent that you do not circumvent the system.

The entry history in your passport and your profile on Immigration’s Central Computer must prove that your stays were short-term holidays - like only 2-4 weeks.

Some Immigration officers will tell you that the total number of visa-exempt days should not exceed 150 days, some will tell you the limit is 157 days. It remains unclear – because there is no official rule, there is no official limit. There are only guidelines on how to treat repeated entries.

The best proof that you are not milking the visa-exemption system is when you can show that you returned to your home country between each stay, or stayed abroad for a long time. And when you can show an onward travel proof.

The new approach was to prohibit "visa runs," where you only entered a neighboring country briefly and then immediately re-entered.

You must be able to prove your short holiday - for example, with proof of onward travel or a return ticket. A border official would rather consider you being a "genuine" tourist based on short holiday trips within a year. They expect that you never maximized any of these visa-exempt holidays.

What is crystal-clear: Some people still say it means “calendar year”, yet this does not make much sense. The count is based on a one-yea period. A new calendar year does not reset anything.

Those who want to play safe should obtain a single-entry tourist visa in advance for stays of up to 60 days, with the option to extend for 30 more days.

ATTENTION: obtaining a tourist visa after you have accumulated a few visa exempt stays, does not clean the stamp history slate.

Touristic entries on a tourist visa will also be frowned upon when you start to maximize them. To use a tourist visa directly after you have used visa-exempt stays, does not free you from the obligations. The Immigration officer won’t be fooled.

For people who like to spend half a year in South East Asia and who like to make Thailand a base for other travels, the 6-months multi-entry Tourist Visa is the perfect choice.
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Dan **********
Just apply for a regular visa if you are going to be in Thailand for more than a couple of months. It’s not expensive.

The tourist visa exemption is for people who visit temporarily for tourist activities, travel and hotel stays. It’s enforced unevenly, but it’s not intended for long stays in one place.
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Frances ********
Apply for a tourist visa from home country. That will tell you the answer to your question.
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Ralph *******
Frances Hewitt No guarantee at all.
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Ralph *******
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Simon ********
If you're trying to effectively live in Thailand on visa exemptions, extensions and doing border runs, then expect that to end. Doing a couple of trips a year should be fine.
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Ant ***********
Nothing has changed

It will be up to the immigration officer that stands in front of you
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Stephen ********
Ant W Tailor Most of the immigration officers at the airport are sitting
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Stephen ********
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oxley******
Immigration laws have not changed but policies on how to apply the law changes more times than I change my underwear (daily LOL).
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Stephen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
oxleystreet yes that's what I'm saying it's so confusing
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Lynnette *******
Stephen Evans what's confusing you?
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oxley******
Lynnette 2025 you could do 2 land crossings, 2026 you can only do 2 crossings per calendar year. Policies change all the time, not the law but how it is interpreted
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Jørgen ********
oxleystreet when people misuse the rules, they have to start to close the loop holes.

The problem is that when the imi. start to give a finger, too many take the hole hand..
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Jørgen ********
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Michael ********
According to Phuket immigration chief in a statement it is 150 days a year on visa exempt but its all a guideline and depends on officer on the day. Rather silly and not good to encourage tourism.
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Anthony *************
Exactly I’m married to a Thai, I can do a year in Thailand by bouncing but not anymore, I was flat out told get a marriage visa or no entry next time, I have been warned, if you don’t abuse it don’t worry but have $1000 cash on you they can turn u away for anything they want it’s Thailand not ur country ur lucky they let u visit there
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Christopher ********
Michael Dawson Staying more than 150 days a year does not sound like tourism. Most tourists come for a week or two. More than 5 months out of a year is abusing the visa exemption for tourism.
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Michael ********
Christopher Leslie Phuket Immigration spells out ‘visa-free’ crackdown
**************************************
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Michael ********
Christopher Leslie just repeating what immigration chief said couple of months
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Michael ********
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John **********
No. They don't keep changing there have been no recent changes. You've already spent 70 days this year but what about last year? Immigration will look back over your history and all entries from last year will probably also be taken into account
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Einar *****************
@John *********
so I can stay 60 days Thailand go back Norway 6 weeks and come back for 60 days several times?
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John **********
@Einar ****************
certainly twice wouldn't be a problem but more than that might be
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John **********
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Lee **********
@John *********
l travel in every !! other month, twice asked 2 questions and then stamped as always leave way before 60 day exemption and if have return flights should be 0 issues been going here 26 years no problem
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Terry ********
John Stanners but I thought they wanted more tourists by them keep changing the rules and reducing the 60 days to 30 days isn't going to help bring in more tourists as far as I'm concerned.Ive booked a holiday to go there for 60 days but now I might have to fly out to a neighbouring country like Vietnam before my 30 days are up then come back into Thailand and then get my flat back to the u.k that leaves Bangkok.By them keep changing there visa rules disrupts people plans.
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Graham ******
Terry Lockey No you will not have to leave at 30 days you either get a 30 day extension or get a 60 day tourist visa before you travel
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Alan **********
Terry Lockey Please define "keep changing the rules"

The last change was almost 2 years ago, increasing visa-free ("visa-exempt") entry from 30 days to 60 days for foreigners from 93 countries.

That's it. That's the change.

They are considering going back to the 30 days.
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Alan **********
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Stephen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
yes I was here last year in October for 30 days
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John **********
@Stephen ******
I'd get a proper visa. Another entry pushes you over 180 days and into questionable territory
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Jim *********
Stephen Evans you should probably buy a visa. 100 days in six months is what they will be looking at. You'd be pushing it on another visa exempt in my opinion.
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Alan **********
Jim McGowan 100 days in 6 months ? Now THERE is one I haven't heard yet. 🤣🤣🤣
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Alan **********
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Lynnette *******
They haven't changed. Not recently. It's 60 days without a visa. Same as it's been for a while. They have tightened up on entries by people trying to live here without visas. People who come in with no visa and get extensions then bounce in and out.
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Lynnette *******
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