Should I be concerned about re-entering Thailand on a visa exemption after an extended stay?

Nov 5, 2019
5 years ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@[Diane Bradbury]([members only])

Posted in an unrelated thread

I am currently in Thailand on a SETV, which I will extend. I plan to spend a week in Viet Nam and return to Chiang Mai on a visa exemption for a total stay in Thailand of about 4.5 months. Should I be concerned about anything?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Diane Bradbury seeks advice on concerns related to her travel plans after a stay in Thailand on a SETV, planning to return after a visit to Vietnam. Users advise that with proper proof of funds, onward travel, and accommodation, she should be able to re-enter Thailand on a visa exemption without issues, provided she hasn’t been living in Thailand on back-to-back tourist entries.
Robert *******
i guess as Diane Bradbury keeps on posting this, she would like to add this to the comments: Robert Lagas. For the record, I did not try to fool anyone about anything. I disclosed everything relevant and I am certainly not trying to do anything illegal. So sorry if I didn't do it all in one post.

I would never lie to an immigration officer. I asked about the rules so I can comply with them.
James ********
Take good care Diane. You know the ropes...please have a Plan B prepared. Good Luck

Commenting closed.

Sorry Diane, I deleted your new post.

We have recently seen many denied entries of persons with history similar to yours...and with new SETV and METV visas issued in their passport from home country and from Vietnam.

All we can do is caution you...

Again commenting is closed on this subject.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Believe me, no one on the group cares in the least degree if you're living here on visa exempt or tourist visa and extensions. All I do is offer out visa/extension advice.. I don't care why you're here or how long you're here.

It's the immigration officer you're gonna face stamping back IN to the country whose gonna care.
Diane **********
Oh, I know. I'm just wondering what the odds are of having trouble. I'm a resident of Canada who spends a few months in Thailand in the winters. I just hope immigration sees it that way.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
and you see, this is why it is hard to give accurate answers. A tourist visa is 60 days add a 30 day extension and we're at 90 BUT the O/P is now stating that they will have an in country history of "less than 6 months"

I mean thats almost a whole NEW 60 day tourist visa and a 30 day extension on top of that :O

My advice, be prepared with the 3 proof ofz, and hope for the best. There's not a person on this group that can tell you whether you'll skate right in, get pulled aside and questioned or get denied entry and shipped back.

It's just beyond the scope of the group. It comes down to the mood of the officer you're standing in front of to stamp in.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
It's all gonna come down to your previous entry history, not this tourist visa you're on, not the 30 day extension you're getting off it and NOT the new 30 day visa exempt entry you intend to come in on.

IF the immigration office thinks you're living here on tourist visas or visa exempt entries you could have a problem. That's why I said have the 3 proof ofs (funds, onward travel, lodging) and hope for the best.
Diane **********
I was accused of not being a tourist last time, but they let me go when they counted the days and it only came to 158. I have a lot of stamps in my passport, so that must have triggered them.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Now on the chance you're actually here on your FIRST tourist visa and gonna get a 30 day extension off that then re-enter on a visa exempt entry you're fine because that's actually what tourists (who DON'T live here) do.. ;)
James ********
Diane may I ask how many months you have lived in Thailand in 2019?
James ********
@Diane *********
thank you. And please have a Plan B in place if questioned upon entry. Times are changing.
Diane **********
It will add up to less than six.
Robert *******
Dear Diane, as you are now in Thailand and got the 60 days on entry with the tourist visa, you can extend this once with another 30 days at Immigration. If you leave after these 90 days and come back into Thailand without a visa you can get 30 days Visa Exempt Entry and these can be extended again with 30 days, this should be enough to be the 4,5 months in Thailand. You could be asked on the airport for proof of funds, 20.000 Thb or equivalent currency in cash, proof of onward travel and proof of accommodation.
Robert *******
Thanks for liking my advice, but reading that you did try to fool yourself by hiding your complete entry history and even forget to mention that you are already warned by Immigration Officers on your last entry, I really want to make clear, all above can be done but it is not a 100% guarantee, Good luck and be aware if you like to fool the immigration office the same, just tell him your first time in Thailand, his computer will tell otherwise.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Unless you have a history of living here on back-2-back visa exempt or tourist visa entries
@Diane *********
you should no problem comin' back to thailand on a 30 day visa exempt entry after you had a 60 day tourist visa entry with a 30 day extension.

in case you're asked be prepared with proof of funds (20K baht or the equivalent in CASH), proof of onward travel and proof of lodging and you should be fine.
Diane **********
Thanks. Will do. I got hassled last year, so I'm a little concerned. I've got stuff here. Next time I will get the METV and stay less than six months.
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