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How Long Should I Stay Outside Thailand Before Returning on a Tourist Visa?

ED Visa Tourist Visa Immigration

Nov 17, 2019

5 years ago

Alex *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hey guys , question about my situation:

I arrived last time to Thailand on ED visa on December 2018, in the airport I had to stand for about 30 min with the immigration officer while he is asking me questions ( this was my second ED visa and before that I had 1 METV that I used fully.

After waiting there for 30 min they finally let me in but they told me that next time I need to spend more time in my country and outside of Thailand. ( something along the lines “ you spend too much time in Thailand”)

I left Thailand 3 months ago and I’m planning to come back soon with single entry tourist visa. 

How long you think I should stay outside the kingdom ? Should I be worry about coming back too soon?

Thanks in advance

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is concerned about returning to Thailand on a single-entry tourist visa after being previously advised by immigration to spend more time outside the country. Community comments suggest that the length of stay outside may not significantly affect immigration decisions as travel history is stored electronically, and it is emphasized that presenting oneself as a tourist is essential.

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Alex *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks everybody for giving out tips and your opinions!

5 years ago

Dustin *********

I stayed “ lived” in Bangkok 7 months 2017, Chiang Rai 7 months 2018, Chiang Rai 7 months 2019 Jan-August. All tourist visas from USA, extensions, and land border runs. I flew back into Thailand Nov 6th visa exempt with zero questions from immigration. I was in USA about 10 weeks and a 2 week vacation in Tokyo.

5 years ago

James ********

@Dustin ********

you are one lucky fella😉

5 years ago

Dustin *********

I left Thailand for 3 months and Alex Baron did also. Maybe he can see the relevance to my post. I agree that nobody can guarantee him the same outcome, but many people continue to come here asking for it.

5 years ago

Michael ********

@Dustin ********

That is good for you, but what happens to you has absolutely zero reference to what may happen to someone else with a history of stays in Thailand.

5 years ago

Reply to

Michael ********

There is no amount of time out of the country that will make any difference, as your history is on the computer. Anyone who tells you otherwise is delusional.

5 years ago

Tom *********

Might want to think Twice about proclaiming you live

in Samui and want people to believe you are a tourist

5 years ago

John ********

@Dayumay *********

do I need an Enigma machine to understand what your talking about? But your abusive language speaks volumes about you, thank for your reply.

5 years ago

John ********

@Tom ********

agreed, but what is worse, he comes over like he's an innocent lol and feeding off the group when his profile says "lives in koh samui"

5 years ago

Reply to

John ********

Benjamin ******

They'll let you back into Thailand as a tourist whenever immigration believes you are acting like a tourist. A tourist, to Thailand's understanding, generally is someone who has a job back home, and wants to be in Thailand for no more than a 9 months. If you want to stay longer or come back...

1. Get an ED Visa from a University to study a degree program.

2. Get married.

3. Get an elite visa

4. Get an investment visa

5. Get a SETV and enter by land (ideally via Laos).

5 years ago

Ricky *********

I'm retired and am a tourist. Why do I need a job "back home?"

5 years ago

Reply to

Ricky *********

John ********

My mate came back after 4 months and was refused.

5 years ago

Robert *******

When you use the Tourist visa, ED visa and/or Visa Exempt entries, which are all employment prohibited and not designed to live on Koh Samui, Immigration Officers will ask questions, about how do you support yourself for that long time without income from work. Take proof of how you get sponsored or if you do not like to get questions at all, get a visa that fits the purpose to live inside Thailand.

5 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

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Will returning to Thailand after a long stay on a tourist visa cause problems at immigration?

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