How many border runs can I safely do before I face immigration issues in Thailand?

It depends on the Immigration Officer in front of you everytime you enter Thailand.

If the officer assesses you as a genuine tourist, you will be let in.

Surprised nobody suggested it but you can just get a DTV for your wife, you only need to show 500k baht on a bank account (can be foreign) at the moment you're making the visa, else no requirement to keep them on a Thai bank account for some period of time, and she'd be good for 5 years.

It would work for you too, actually, it's much better than a non-o

If offered from your country get a METV, multiple entry tourist visa. That will do exactly what you asked if available.

Following

Doubt that will fly in the current situation. I had been gone for more than 3 months and they pulled me out at BKK and yak yak at me about time being spent in Thailand.

The woman said 180 days, I asked where it says that. Can't show it because they make it up as they go. Eventually they stamped me in, immigration at Jontiem said nothing when I got a 30 day extension.

If you do land border runs with a visa run company or drive yourself to the borders they use and pay the border fee then you can live in Thailand non stop. You will have no issues. But if you fly in and out there is a high chance of having troubles.

I lived in Thailand for the past 3 years by doing land border runs and never had any troubles

If you want to just keep it easy and stick to border runs, use a border bounce agent. 4000-5000 baht. Leave very very early AM and be back before dinner. They make sure you get out and back in without any issues as part of the service.

I did 1 year and 8 days from Jan 1st 2024 . Went home for 5 months . Returned for 30 days but was denied entry and sent back home . It is not pleasant you are treated like a criminal . I would advise getting the right visa . You may get a long stay with border runs but it stays on your record .

3rd entry is pushing it, especially after maxing out the previous 2.

Well i stayed two months first trip but met someone online here so left hotel after the first week. I travelled up north to her home town. A few nights in a hotel then the rest at her home. Flew out to Vietnam for five days, then back to Bangkok my girlfriend was waiting for me at the airport. I got stopped by imigration so had to phone her to confirm that I was staying at her place. I went to imigration yesterday to do a one month extension we got fined 800 baht for not filling out the tm30 form. Even though the airport were informed with the address. So if you take the risk make sure you grab a paper trail. Who ever speaks to you just get paperwork from them. On that note good luck.

Got a grilling on arrival in March at Bangkok....due previous long stay, /60...away 5 months and on return got stopped for thirty minutes,agreed to let me in but I was expecting the worse after such a grilling,did 30 day extension and just returned from Laos with non o (90 day).

On the way out.of Thailand at nong khai the immigration officer said to me;

Don't come back unless you have the correct visa as you will not be allowed back again with visa exemption !!!! Definitely getting tougher

I dit it, it depends which border and how you do it. Can be risky but if the company who sells the visa run says it's ok, it is ok. 3rd extension might be difficult though

I would advise against it.

Why don’t you get a Non O for yourself and a multi entry visa for your wife?

Nobody can tell you what is safe or not safe. It’s up to the immigration officer 👮 on the day. They are getting more and more strict.

I would advise you to get the appropriate visas.

I hope this helps. 😃

I traveled to Thailand on my New Zealand passport and stayed for 58 days. After leaving the country for just 7 days, I returned and was questioned by immigration officers about my travel history and my intention of staying in Thailand.