What are the experiences of expats crossing into Thailand through land borders compared to airports?

Thai visa immigration border crossing land border airport issues expat experiences retirement visa tourist visa

Nov 7, 2019

5 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Popped up to Laos border today, ate lunch and came back. Got stamped in no questions asked, despite being in LOS over 10 months this year, and having been harassed and almost kicked out when arriving to Don Muang airport few months ago. So the kind 2 gentlemen from this group were spot on... seems land border never cares, the airports are where all the corruption, hassling, etc happens. Border police did seem to look at my stamps a bit today to make sure I wasn't over 2x land crossings (I assume) and maybe I got a nice guy but he didn't even hesitate. I'm hoping new routes from Udon and CM airports prove to be less hassling than Bangkok airports soon...

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post shares an individual's experience with crossing the border into Thailand from Laos, highlighting a smoother process at the land border compared to what they faced at airports. Despite having stayed over 10 months in Thailand this year and prior harassment at Don Muang airport, the individual reported no issues with the border police during the land crossing. Comments from others suggest that airport immigration is more stringent, with multiple anecdotes of challenges faced at various checkpoints and advice on obtaining tourist and retirement visas.

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Soy **********

Not "never care" but certainly more relaxed.

5 years ago

Spain ******

We did 3 months in Chiang Mai, 10 days in Samui then 4 months in Vietnam (didnt like it) so came to Krabi. You would have thought we had been in and out of thailand 20 times the way they went through our passport and plans. We will only come back to Thailand for a month at the most in future. Will spend next year in Malaysia Cambodia and maybe Laos. They want our money! It's a shame as we want to travel all over Thailand but they dont want to let us.

5 years ago

James ********

Thank you Noel for sharing your experience.

5 years ago

James ********

James Siegel thank you for sharing your feelings. Its sad that you feel as you do. I wish you well. Take care 😉

5 years ago

Reply to

James ********

Noel *****************

Funny that, they seem not to want us here anymore, i flew into bkk after being away for 7 month's, she ( immigration) said you have been living here for 8 years on a retirement visa. And next time i come back to get a retirement visa. I told her i have cancer now, i bought the wife a house in chiang mai, after her father died and she working in CM and to far to travel home to see her mother so i buy house and mother came live with us, and i will see my girlfriend for 60 days and go to Laos meet farangs and motorcycle ride laos Cambodia maybe Vietnam, come back thailand and go home, lady immigration told me not to flight back into bkk, but if you want to stay longer with your family to get a 60 visa Laos and boarder over land . She said she will grant me a 30 tourist visa i can extend 30 days more at immigration,

Angain she told me if you fly back into bkk to have a retirement visa from your country.

Yesi understand, i do speak a little Thai, never asked me about

*****

B or even a flight out of the country.

The young guy immigration i met first didn't know what to do and called tge lady over, i guess i was lucky it seemed. Other old man seemed to be shacking his head, but got in.

The hospital also said maybe i should go Laos get my 60 days visa, then they will give me letter for immigration to help me stay longer,

I told the truth,

Anyway sorry the long story just thought i would tell my side of the story.

5 years ago

Noel *****************

Steven Wayne Simpson , I was going home to work. Retirement visa was due. I didn't know then. got sick 1 month before I was to leave. I saw doctor here who told me I had this cancer. When home to confirm. And maybe get a pension. 3 hours they knew in McCormick private hospital Chiang Mai. 3 months to confirm it in Australia. 5 months to get on a pension.

Anyway lose of money 5 month in Australia is not like 5 months in Thailand . Had to pay taxi's back and forth to doctors, hospitals, cancer specialists. Ect. When I bought the house I thought it would be easy to get a loan on the house so money in bank. Very hard here to get loan on a house.

5 years ago

Steven ****************

@Noel ****************

so why did you not extend your retirement visa? Did they not extend it because you had cancer?

5 years ago

Reply to

Steven ****************

Spain ******

Krabi are really hard now days so avoid that one!

5 years ago

Spain ******

James Siegel we got grilled by 6 of the immigration police and they all asked for everything! We had only done 2 months before in Krabi so was the first run and had been in KL for 10 days. We are leaving Thailand for as long as poss as it's really intimidating. Trying Malaysia for most of next year. Good luck!

5 years ago

Jesse *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Daisy *******

Phuket bad too this group says.... seems maybe Hatyai is our only hope lol

5 years ago

Reply to

Jesse *********

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