Can I leave Thailand on a volunteer visa and re-enter after applying for a tourist visa in Cambodia?

Mar 6, 2022
3 years ago
Jamie *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello does anyone have experience of leaving Thailand with volunteer visa and going to Cambodia to apply for tourist visa. Did you come back to Thailand without issues ?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Many users shared their experiences and concerns about leaving Thailand on a volunteer visa and re-entering after visiting Cambodia for a tourist visa. It was noted that genuine volunteer visas typically do not pose issues when leaving, while under-the-table or bogus volunteer visas could lead to severe problems at immigration. Some suggested avoiding leaving Thailand if one wishes to stay longer, and some argued that obtaining a new passport could mitigate potential entry issues.
Maxim ***********
If it's a volunteer visa from an agent, you cannot leave Thailand on your current volunteer visa. You will get denied entry while attempting to come back. If your visa was done without an agent, you can leave and come back without any problem.
Ben *******
@Maxim **********
sent you a PM
Jamie *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Maxim **********
are you talking from your own experience or it’s just something you heard/read on Facebook groups
Benjamin ******
@Jamie ********
he’s talking what Thai Visa Centre (probably) told him.
Maxim ***********
@Jamie ********
I would rather PM you about this.
Jamie *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Shayne **********
Ask
@Shea ******
about their trip to Cambodia.

If you want to stay in Thailand longer I wouldn't leave. Ask.
Shea *******
So there is something the OP can take away, i left and came back because I knew my visa was being switched from a tourist to a non B anyways...BUT, if you have been here and want to come back, I strongly suggest getting the STV. This is for people who want to stay long term and not work.

You must get the visa that matches your intention.

Because if you were here during covid, you have already been here a long time, so for you to return is basically saying you want to be here a long time....though...you could argue that during covid there was nothing to see, I mean even after two years and the school being locked down I have seen almost nothing of Thailand.

So some really great things came out of this like, I found out my GF wants to marry me. She was on the phone talking with them when the agent suggested to me marriage but said you probably don't want to, and I said yes but she does t want to, and then my GF said wait I want too. So I proposed on the phone at the airport, not the most romantic but we cried for 5 hours after.

I'm going back to Canada, something I have put off for 8 years. Not sure if there is anything still there for me. I really have been working in China all this time, I was on vacation from China when I came here, not Canada.

My GF will try to get over her fear of flying and get the shot so she can come visit me.

And most important when I come back, if I come back, I'm I allowed to come back? I'll legally be able to do business in Thailand once the BOI company finishes applying for my non-B.
Shayne **********
@Shea ******
the STV is almost impossible to get off without leaving Thailand.
Benjamin ******
I heard there are a LOT of issues with people who have under-the-table volunteer visas, leaving Thailand, and returning for a tourist visa. I've seen people get rejected on entry, or get grilled hard at passport control.

IF you want to be safe, I highly recommend leaving Thailand, getting a new passport, and returning on the new passport.
Salvatore *********
@Benjamin *****
New passport? Lol! Ever heard about computers and biometrics? Maybe you also need new face and new fingerprints.
Benjamin ******
@Salvatore ********
In Thailand, what is not seen is (usually) not known.
Terary **********
I had a volunteer visa that expired, I went to covid visa, left for the US for 5 weeks, came back no issues.

I did not try to leave on a volunteer visa with re-entry permit, I would be nervous. Going to get a new passport maybe extreme.
Sammy *******
@Terary *********
I have read that old and new passports would end up "linked" in their computer system and would not provide one with a "clean slate" as one might hope, but actually look suspicious. However, their ability to track multiple passports may be correct or not, but I wouldnt do it.
Jamie *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terary *********
hello thanks for reply . Did your volunteer visa expire while you was abroad
Terary **********
@Jamie ********
Nope, did not. It expired while I was in Thailand. After that I started doing Covid extensions.
Jamie *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terary *********
I understand, but i think in my case I cannot start any Covid extensions
Jamie *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
thanks for reply. I’ve search this group but was not able to find anyone posting their experiences of the same situation
Bobby ********
Genuine volunteer visa no problem. If it was a bogus agency volunteer visa it's highly unlikely. They've wised up to what's been going on.
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