I thought i would post this and be as brief as possible. i am not new to thailand. i have been traveling here for 16yrs and lived here for 2yrs 2015-2017. probably 10 times over this time frame.
in august 2024 i obtained a 60-day tourist visa via the thai embassy online in the US (a week later they changed the regulation tha this is not needed). i entered thailand and extended my 60day visa for 30days.
exited, on time-on november 1st and spend about 20 days in cambodia via flight. upon arrival, 2 days ago at DMK ariport a very young (25yoa if that) immigration officer read me the riot act, of sort about "i cannot do this" and "i must get a O visa" ect.
i told her i was here for medical care and had both emails and paper copy;'s of such for bangkok hospital. she did not ask to see them, though.
she initially asked for my onward ticket of which i usually "have" one ready. this time i did not thinking nobody asks for that. she DID.
anyways i will sort this out with immigration and/or get the O or other extended visa. moral of the story:
"IF" i had my onward ticket (or rented one, per se) the immigration officer i believe would not of gone into her rant. there was a female supervisor sitting behind her i believe she was new and wanted to make "a" name for herself.
as i am not aware on a tourist visa if you leave there is a specified amount of time you need to stay out before coming back. then again thai immigration. like any nation's immigration can say, do whatever they want.
IF i had an onward ticket i believe i would not have had to listen to her lecture. just FYI.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The author, a frequent traveler to Thailand, faced scrutiny from immigration upon re-entry after a 20-day trip to Cambodia with no onward ticket. Despite holding a valid 60-day tourist visa and extending it for 30 days, the immigration officer insisted on the need for an 'O' visa and expressed that the author could not re-enter Thailand under their current visa status. The author believes that having an onward ticket would have prevented this issue, highlighting the importance of carrying one to avoid complications with Thai immigration.
