What challenges might I face when applying for a tourist visa in Thailand after several border runs?

This year i did, arrived from canada with visa exempt. 30 + ext. online, vietnam 4 days, 30 + extension online, laos then another 30 + it laksi extension, then Vientiane laos applied for my first TR 60 days + 30 extension… Vientiane was easy, just print out a bank statement, also had a thai letter from a friend but they did not care

Hey how we do border run

Get a proper visa at thai consulate in your home country... alternatively use a visa agent to set up a long-term visa like Ed or elite visa...

Seems like you answered your own question within your original post

Talk to an agent first... like TVC here.

@Lukas ************

Be prepared to stand any interogation at the border

You need to have the famous THREE proofs (already mentioned above but I am going to outline them for you in detail)

*** proof of CASH (no credit or debit cards or cheques) of a minimum of 20.000.- THB in Thai Baht or in another major currency

*** proof of booked accommodation for the first 3 to 5 nights after entry

*** proof of an outward flight, out of Thailand, within the 60 days you will get stamped in, regardless of the fact that you can buy yourself a 30 days extension. I suggest NO “onwardticket” (some call them “fake” tickets) but a REAL ticket, a cheap Air Asia one-way flight from Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur for 32 USD

I totally understand your predicament.

I entered Thailand in April with a 60 day T/R visa and got 2 extensions at the immigration office without leaving Thailand but then took a flight to Vietnam for a week and returned via Suvarnabhumi and almost got refused entry

It was only when a Supervisor got involved he authorised my 30 day exempt visa 🤔

As a post already stated they are getting tougher and I have 1st hand experience

NOT pleasant 🙏

when you did a border run how long did you stay out of the company

Given you are clearly living here and trying to exploit the system, have you considered getting a proper long term visa instead? A proper long term visa is the solution to all your problems.

Anything's possible.

@Lukas ************

just dress as smartly as possible, good to have a small selection of travel photos ready to show if questioned. Be super polite should be fine.

Were you told to get a proper Tourist Visa or the proper Visa i.e. a long term Visa? I fear it might have been the latter.

This is nothing new. The Thai government tightened its visa rules about 15 years ago, prior to which people were literally staying for years on back to back visa exemptions. Over the course of that time, I've had some friends who were refused entry, or given only a week to pack up, unless they get a proper long term visa. I myself experienced one occasion during which immigration officials advised me to stop using tourist visas. You'll probably get a tourist visa when applying to a regional consulate, but your 'tourist days' are definitely coming to an end. Note that getting the visa doesn't equate to immigration officials letting you in.

Can you take a bus out of Thailand? Then fly back? I need to leave on my third visa run this month, waiting to get visa from school

Probably no issue *getting* the visa from Vientiane.

Its getting back in that'll (potentially) be the issue.

Having a visa is not a guarantee of entry, and the decision on whether you can or no, ultimately, rests with the IO dealing with you. Some people get away with just using waivers & TR Visas for periods of multiple months or years, others get quizzed or denied with just a fraction of that time.

All you can really do is make sure you have the Three Proofs (finances, accommodation, and onward travel ticket) available to show the IOs at the border vis-a-vis your phone.

Be also ready to answer questions as to what you're doing in TH that required so many visa-exemptions & now a TR visa, and as to how you're supporting yourself in all this time.

Many of the Thai embassies and consulates in the region are tightening up their requirements for visas due to people abusing short term stays in Thailand. Recent reports of multiple embassies denying tourist visas if you've already had one. And even Savannakhet consulate not accepting tourist visa applications if you've had an ED or Volunteer visa.

You might be able to get a tourist visa if you haven't had one already. Two months is a long way away though and things may change by then. Also having a tourist visa does not guarantee you will get into Thailand.

I would suggest getting a tourist visa in Laos and then crossing the land border at Nong Khai. That's probably your best bet.