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What are the implications of long-term stays on tourist visas in Thailand?

tourist visalong-term stayMETVSETVvisa regulationsThai immigrationexit and re-entryfinancial requirementswork in ThailandSection 12 point 2
Sep 28, 2018
6 years ago
Tobias ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Not a question here, just an update for people also staying long term on tourist visa.

After 3 years of staying in Thailand consecutively using METV, SETV and 30 day exempts, got pulled over at DMK immigration. Upon booking a flight to my home country within 30 days on the spot I was allowed entry one last time on tourist visa (60 day entry stamp)

I was told it’s possible to come back with any other visa. Did not need to show 10/20k THB. Had a valid METV but that didn’t help. It seemed like it didn’t really matter if I worked here or not because I appeared to be working here based on the length of my stay.

Details of my outward flight ticket were noted on the arrival card and one of the 2 officers seemed to be typing up a file on her laptop about the case.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shares their experience of being allowed entry into Thailand on a tourist visa after three consecutive years of extended stays using METV, SETV, and 30-day exemptions. Despite being told that they appeared to be working due to the length of their stay, they were permitted entry one last time with a 60-day stamp after booking a flight exit. The discussion also highlights increasing scrutiny from immigration, implications for those staying long-term on tourist visas, and the possibility of switching to different types of visas for future entries.
Mookie ****
Looks like the abuse of tourist visa for extended stay in Thailand is being strongly discouraged.
6 years ago
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Ron *******
I suspect they are using, like many places in the world, including the work place in cases of dismissal, in what is now known as the Law of Probabilities.

He's probably......fill the rest in yourself.
6 years ago
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Robert ********
So what visa will you try next time, Tobias?
6 years ago
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Ron *******
It's not tipped anymore...he takes command Monday 😎
6 years ago
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Ian ***************
Beware the next re-shuffle, "Big Joke" might make things more difficult.

****************************************************************************************
*****
90/big-joke-tipped-to-be-immigration-chief
6 years ago
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Ryan ********
Oh sheeet
6 years ago
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Ryan ********
6 years ago
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Ryan ********
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Robert *******
There is no law about using back to back tourist visa, no limits so they can not use that for deny entry. Most of time they will deny entry based on Section 12 point 2, no means of living or sometimes using point 3 working inside thailand without.....
6 years ago
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Robert *******
Yeah, you just got warned, be careful next time.
6 years ago
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Tobias ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I guess the supervisor never intended to deny entry, otherwise I would've been asked for the
*****
k THB cash (which I had, so then they'd need to find another reason...)
6 years ago
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Robert *******
Nope, Section 12 point 2 is the most used reason of denial. this from reading many reports of people getting denied.
6 years ago
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Tobias ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
In theory. This is Thailand though ;)
6 years ago
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Tobias ******
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James **********
Did they specify any law you were violating?
6 years ago
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Chris ******
@James *********
 they just make them up on the fly
6 years ago
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James **********
Didn't think so.
6 years ago
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Tobias ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
No
6 years ago
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Tobias ******
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Robert *******
Appeared to be working, stayed for 3 years using Tourist visa and got away with it by booking a flight back to home country. Please do NOT buy a lotery ticket, you used all your luck for a while. Take care.
6 years ago
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Ivan ************
Sounds like it may be time to consider an Education visa, the Elite visa, etc, depending on what would suit. As they did seem to explicitly say this- OK to come back on another visa. Or alternately, start limiting your time in Thailand, go visit somewhere else for half the year. If you do that, even if you are coming back after a 6 month absence, I would not try to enter through DMK again.
6 years ago
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Glen *********
How did you explain you were supporting yourself for the years you have been here, and what reason did you give for being a tourist for several years?
6 years ago
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Tobias ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Questions seemed to be asked out of formality only. No follow up questions and I didn’t give many details (literally “I like Thailand because it’s a nice country. Food, weather and people are good here. It’s winter again soon in Germany”).

Also no follow up questions regarding financials, just reminder that working on a tourist visa is illegal. No direct accusation, just “it looks like you’re working here”
6 years ago
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Tobias ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Glen ********
 Living off savings/investments and “I like Thailand” (food, nature, people, etc)
6 years ago
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Tobias ******
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Ron *******
They are on the ball this week.

It's all coming to an end staying here on tourist visas, slowly but surely.
6 years ago
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Ivan ************
I would consider using a land border next time. This seems to happen at airports, and particularly at DMK.
6 years ago
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Ivan ************
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