EMERGENCY UPDATE! Hello, It's Maxim Thibodeau I'm posting from my wife FB because we only have her phone with us. We went to Udon Thani to get my 60 days extension based on marriage (visit spouse) and got told by the officer that this extension has been discontinued for people that entered on the new 60 days visa exempt entry.
I was trying to get the 60 days after the 30 days last month. I always do 30+30+60, but now with the new 60 days visa exempt entry, only 60+30 is possible. Can't do 60+30+60 nor 60+60. I asked. The 60 days extension is completely discontinued unless you are coming from the 90 days Non-O.
If it affect Udon Thani, it probably affect other immigration, so please call before going. So for me instead of bouncing every 120 days, it's now every 90 days. Well, the 90 days Non O at Savannakhet might not be a bad deal anymore given that can extend 30+60 days from it which total 180 days. The 60 days today would have given me 150 days.
And because it was a holiday yesterday, I'm gonna have to bounce from 1 day overstay because the border never close for holiday while immigration does and you don't get the overstay stamp nor 500thb fee when that happen. So if I'm able to bounce, it would be further proof that Nong Khai is still a piece of cake. My wife is with me, and we do have marriage certificate, etc. I guess this probably help vs going solo without being married. If I'm somehow denied or get told that it's the last time, I'll either use border run company next time or go wirh the DTV.
I will update via a comment below after I cross back into Thailand. If you don't hear from me within a few hours, it mean that I'm stuck in Laos. Everything should be fine. I think a warning would be worse case scenario in that border. Haven't had a single warning in 12 years, but things are changing.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
This post discusses a recent change in Thai immigration rules regarding the 60-day extension based on marriage for foreigners entering on the new 60-day visa exempt entry. The author, Maxim Thibodeau, was informed by immigration officials in Udon Thani that this extension is no longer available except for those on a 90-day Non-O visa. As a result, frequent border runs and extensions will be affected, reducing the duration of legal stay from 150 days to potentially 90 days. Community responses share personal experiences, concerns about stricter immigration checks, and suggestions for obtaining appropriate visas.
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Last time I arrived I came on setv 60 days that I extended 30 then 60 days extension based on marriage and this was after the 60 visa extempt came into play in Khon Kaen. They didn't ask anything.
(only person that give me little grief was the IO officer in Bangkok when I landed, asked why the fudge I gotten a TR when visa extempt is 60 days now)
But if you married why not get the non o based on Thai spouse / visit family give you 90 days on entry that you can extend 60 days or 1 year if you have all the papers ready
I'm in trouble. Might not be allowed back in today. Countrywide crackdown on visa runners, even in Nong Khai. I will have to negotiate in the immigration screening room.
Update: They want USD on the Laos side, not THB. They use to complain about USD not being in pristine condition but they don't care anymore. They have a new pink money exchanger booth on the Thai side by the photocopy booth. If you pay in THB you will overpay by 300-350 THB as always. So bring your USD, or exchange on the Thai side. No more issue with USD at that border.
Yeah - they seem to be cracking down on appropriate visa types. I have been using METV for while now, but my last entry (2 weeks ago) they pulled me a side and told me to get the correct visa. They've done that in the past but this time, there are more visa options so I think they were kinda serious.
Good luck, hope it works out OK for you. Something odd seems to be happening at Udon Thani immigration specifically currently so it would be interesting to hear if this is nationwide or just Udon. I have found them to be friendly, helpful and effecient but it seems they are under some sort of outside measures at the moment.
I don't think anything has changed with the staff at all, but something has definitely changed 'above' them, meaning they have to do extra work and checking to regular on some issues. I have no idea why or how long it will last.
Yes, I'm almost at the border. But it would have been a lot more convenient to do 60 days extension right now at immigration. It was my first 60 days but I have a long history.
If you mean at UT immigration, no, Udon Thani is independent of Nong Khai border. Well have to see about the border, I will cross back in about 1h. I had no problem at Nong Khai border for the last 12 years.
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