What are the risks of frequent border hopping in Thailand without a long-term visa?

I once knew a guy (back in 1987 or so) who was upset because the US Embassy figured out that his Thai girlfriend had been a prostitute and denied her entry. When I checked with the Vice Consul in Bangkok (yes, I was bold back then, and back then it was still possible to talk to actual people in the US Embassy), the Vice Consul explained that the idea was to get her history on record so that nobody could try to blackmail her later, and the friend's next step was to appeal the ruling. I do not know if a similar issue applies here, but it might be worth the poster's time to find a way to check, just in case.

My theory is if you do the border hopping by air you can do it much longer before an IO even will find fault.

You might can do it for quite a good while

You can get a 6 months multi entry visa in Cambodia. Your GF can go to Cambodia with you aswell when it is time to stay out of Thailand for a while

Get the 6 month METV if you meet the requirements before you arrive…if not get the 60 day SETV visa with a border hop (fly not ground) you can get 105 days out of it…

Ask her boyfriend how he does it.

If you are not returning to the US regularly then you are going to have problems trying to stay long term as a tourist. There are a number of people that work 2 months on, one month off, or three months on, and 1-2 months off, that live in Thailand on their time off. They have no problems over the course of years doing it, but if you are going to try and stay long term in Thailand by crossing borders and returning in just a day, or two, you will have problems before the end of the first year doing it.

As far as her visa to the US, that takes along time, mostly because of the extensive DHS investigation, into both you, and her. Their biggest concern is her returning to Thailand at the end of her vacation, that she has never been involved with anything that could be intercepted as prostitution, and most of all, that she isn't being trafficked. It can take over a year, and doesn't matter if you are married, or not, the same standards apply, except the returning. An agent can help with all the paperwork, but can not guarantee anything, as the US agents can't be bribed.

If you're under 50 get an ED visa and learn the language, thatll give you a full year or more. If you're 50 or over, get a retirement visa.

Join this group. Tons of info and help.

Did u meet in Thailand or the US?

If you haven't already read it; The book "Thailand Fever" is a requirement!

Don't pass it by. It can help save years on your life, many tears and dollars. Couples should read it anything else; the book is written concurrently and thai in English.

If you want to stay longer, I definitely encourage going to a Thai language school, which can get you a Ed visa for about a year. You get to learn Thai and a great deal of culture understanding.. This can only help your relationship with her and her family, give you a visa, and learn a new language. A true win, win, win.

I arrived as visa on arrival from USA for 30 days. Got a 30 day extension at local immigration for 1900bht. Then got the last COVID extension for 30 days in Phuket. I left Thailand and flew to Cambodia for 3 days. When I flew back into Thailand the immigration pulled me over and was not thrilled about my time in Thailand and said I need to get a long term visa or I might have issues in the future. My girlfriend did most of the talking and I told immigration I was planning on leaving in less than 20 days back to USA anyway. I was honest and told him I want to do 6 months in Thailand and 6 months in USA. Then eventually get Thai retirement visa. It also helped that I explained to him my girlfriend had to go back to USA to keep her green card status. Losing that would be a disaster so he knew we were leaving based on the timeframe.

Long waits for processing these days

My Thai girlfriend’s sister has married a US citizen and she lives in Minnesota. I’ll ask her the exact procedure

Getting a lady from a country like Thailand to the USA is extremely difficult unless she has a very strong reason to go home.

They assume she will jump ship and disappear.

She needs these things: older age, lots of money, a good job, a house, a car, children, husband, travel history to the West (Europe or Oz).

Getting married in Thailand doesn’t cut it either….

Good luck!

Someone has Thai fever!

Plain and simple, you cannot live in Thailand long term without a long term visa.

You'll be fine doing visa exempt entry or Tourist visa entry 2, maybe even 3 times, but after that they are going to start hassling you and possibly deny you entry to Thailand. A tourist does not stay in a country for 6+ months, so if you are doing that you are basically admitting to lying about your intentions and they will also assume you are working illegally.