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What challenges might one face crossing the Nong Khai border into Thailand?
Nong Khai Border CrossingDTV VisaThai Immigration ExperienceVisa IssuesExpat ExperiencesLand Border Crossing TipsThai Immigration Rules
Oct 18, 2025
6 months ago
Damien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERJust cleared immigration at Nong Khai. The female IO busted my balls. Everything she told me right up to the second she went silent and stamped my passport said I wasn’t going to Thailand tonight.
She scans my passport and I guess she doesn’t see my DTV upon first glance and she gasped “mister you’ve been in Thailand a very long time!”
To which I responded, “I have a DTV.”
“Oh? What you do in Thailand?”
I told her, “Holiday”
She just laughed at me in what must’ve been disdain.
The. She proceeds to tell me that the policy says I cannot cross land border. Idk man. I’d advise everyone to fly or go through during the day.
Not here to fear monger, but she was honestly telling me I wasn’t going to be admitted right up until she stamped me in.
Interesting experience thus far, but I won’t be taking an international train again
She scans my passport and I guess she doesn’t see my DTV upon first glance and she gasped “mister you’ve been in Thailand a very long time!”
To which I responded, “I have a DTV.”
“Oh? What you do in Thailand?”
I told her, “Holiday”
She just laughed at me in what must’ve been disdain.
The. She proceeds to tell me that the policy says I cannot cross land border. Idk man. I’d advise everyone to fly or go through during the day.
Not here to fear monger, but she was honestly telling me I wasn’t going to be admitted right up until she stamped me in.
Interesting experience thus far, but I won’t be taking an international train again
TLDR : Answer Summary
A traveler shares their tense experience crossing the Nong Khai border into Thailand on a DTV visa. The immigration officer expressed skepticism about their long stay and compliance with policy, leading to anxiety until their passport was stamped. Community comments reflect mixed experiences at the border, with advice on the importance of having visa documentation and varying perceptions of immigration procedures.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Anonymous ******************
The worst ball busting I have ever had was at the Mae Sai border border and it was all done thru one of the glory holes there.
Normally if you can make eye contact with the officer AND you dress well and appear humble in my case everything goes well.
The only place I was ever asked gor money was at that nasty Sadao border and that was for one USD to stamp the passport. I always get anxiety when going through there.
I guess some of these people can have bad days, I try and position myself in lines where I can see the officer has a smile on their face and doesn't look like they have been told that the kaprow moo in the cafe was all sold out.
Ball busting if you have the correct visa is no problem, they just wanna ascert dominance and its best to let them do it, speak very quietly and smile.
Normally if you can make eye contact with the officer AND you dress well and appear humble in my case everything goes well.
The only place I was ever asked gor money was at that nasty Sadao border and that was for one USD to stamp the passport. I always get anxiety when going through there.
I guess some of these people can have bad days, I try and position myself in lines where I can see the officer has a smile on their face and doesn't look like they have been told that the kaprow moo in the cafe was all sold out.
Ball busting if you have the correct visa is no problem, they just wanna ascert dominance and its best to let them do it, speak very quietly and smile.
Anonymous ******************
You weren't there for a holiday. Be more honest. A holiday is 2-3 weeks then you go back to where you are residing for your job.
"Long stay travel" is a more suitable response. Means you lay down a base for a few months/weeks while funding your travels with online work or income from businesses
"Long stay travel" is a more suitable response. Means you lay down a base for a few months/weeks while funding your travels with online work or income from businesses
แดนนี่ ***********
I crossed the border by train to Vientiane 3 weeks ago.
Took a trip for like 10 days in Laos
Came back by train as well
Had no problems with my dtv
Took a trip for like 10 days in Laos
Came back by train as well
Had no problems with my dtv
Sean *******
Fly into BKK next time you'll be stamped in no questions asked. You gave the right answer with holiday. She knew she had nothing to work on that's why she laughed.
Greg ********
If she really wanted to break your balls she could have asked for ongoing proof of activity (SP or Workaytion) and proof of funds.
Arto ****************
Nong Khai bridge border is the worst, I guarantee they're coached to not let people in. Take the train if you cross from Vientiane, they're chill and never given me any drama.
Anonymous ******************
"You stay Thailand too long get a visa!
OK here's my DTV.
NO, not like that.
😒"
OK here's my DTV.
NO, not like that.
😒"
Lewis ********
Interesting i did 3 borders bounces on my DTV through that border. No questions asked
Tang *****
Remember put a person in a uniform. Power trip.
เอดี *******
I knew he was sherman😀
Damien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@เอดี ******
อะไรนะ? เชอร์แมนคือใคร? 🤣Reply to
Damien ***********
Reply
Yoni ************
Has anyone experienced any issues after applying for a Non-B visa and then crossing the border with it, in order to apply for a work permit afterward?
Greg ********
@Yoni ***********
Never ever heard of it. In my last company, foreigners were sent to Singapore for the B. Must be hundreds over the years and never an issue - it was a large company.Brandon ************
@Yoni ***********
of course not. But you need paperwork from your job in order to apply for the non-BReply to
Brandon ************
Reply
John **********
I guess you didn't have a printout of your evisa as you should have. I doubt you would have had an issue if you presented that along with your passport
Siggi *******
@John *********
you don't need any printouts when you crossing the borderJames ********
@Siggi ******
it's wise to have a print out of the DTV visa email you received.Damien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Siggi ******
yeah the IO refused it and only wanted my passportJohn **********
@Siggi ******
yet it says clearly on the evisa to print it out. Why make life difficultReply to
John **********
Reply
Maurice **********
@John *********
why a print out? Mine is in the passport.John **********
@Maurice *********
if you have a sticker in your passport there's nothing to print out but most people have an evisa which should be printed outReply to
John **********
Reply
Damien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
she didn’t want me to hand her anything but my passport. She wouldn’t take it nor scan my tdacJohn **********
@Damien **********
they see the DTAC on their screenReply to
John **********
Reply
Anonymous ******************
One of the corrupt borders nong khai
Michael **********
Lots of bulls**t....I love Thailand but this visa crap turns me off...
Brandon ************
Anonymous participant 937 Nong Khai was the easiest border in Thailand until recently. If you want a corrupt border look at Poi Pet before they closed the borders.
Anonymous ******************
@Brandon ***********
I got denied entry from this border 3 years ago now I have dtvAnonymous ******************
@Brandon ***********
this one corrupt tooReply to
Anonymous ******************
Reply
Sean *******
Anonymous participant 937 Yeah sounded like she was waiting for a sweetener...
Robin *********
@Sean ******
this is my guess also. They're all on the (baksheesh) payroll up there with visa companies from Chonburi that I know of (24 hour minivan + visa stamp return) instead of the old Cambodian border. If they refuse us entry, they know word gets back, forcing our hand. Obviously as previously mentioned, flights are the safest option and even then, its suggested to stay 1 night atleast? Other border runs ive read that are working are near chiang rai. I'd like more information on these personally...for future reference. And to answer 'what are you doing in Thailand'? Is it not advisable to say 'Thai cooking'?Reply to
Robin *********
Reply
Toni *******
I did same at the same border, after 350+days here, I was vientiane for 15minutes. The IO was laughing and telling me I have DTV so i can stay long time :)
Damien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERFor context, this was my second DTV stamp and I had been out of the country for more than 48hrs.
I plan to travel a bit this time around and just continue to reset the count. Maybe Vietnam will do for a while
I plan to travel a bit this time around and just continue to reset the count. Maybe Vietnam will do for a while
Luit *****************
@Damien **********
I think the more your behaviour looks like living in Thailand, the more risk you have IO does not like. As long as you comply to all visa requirements they have no good reason to stop you, but they know you cannot force your rights.
But even that sometimes does not work. Before DTV when I was in Thailand on 60 day visa exempt and around day 40 we wanted to visit Malaysia for just 1 day because that is within 100 km from where we live, the IO in Pedang Besar refused to let me in because "same day in and out we don't do at this border crossing"
I never found an official rule anywhere that same day in and out is not allowed, but for IO it is a moment to decide if you get new visa exempt, and for DTV the IO also can decide not to let you enter.
Damien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luit ****************
I had exercised my visa exemption allowed to me as an American, realized I lived Thailand and got my DTV. My passport is practically brand new outside of that and travel to Cambodia to apply for the DTV and the trip to Vientiane.They gave me a stamp for 180 days. Used it to explore this new country what can I say? 🤌
Luit *****************
@Damien **********
DTV is not meant for living in Thailand, but by using 180 days back to back stamps for 5 years, legally you do nothing wrong as long as you still comply with all visa rules, but Immigration just does not like it, for living in Thailand other visa are meant.Peter ********
@Luit ****************
that's a lie, the thia embassy it self on YouTube said this was the visa to do exactly this. 180 extend 180 for 5 years.Anonymous ******************
@Peter *******
Non-immigrant visas allow you to stay for a full year, though. Extensions at immigration are quite possible, whereas extending a DTV is almost impossible. This visa was conceived by the previous, failed government without much consideration for other stakeholders (banks, immigration, etc.). Youtube isn't the reference here in Thailand, they aren't the ones you deal with at borders.Luit *****************
@Peter *******
The fact you have to go out of the country should be enough for every intelligent person to understand DTV is not meant to live in Thailand, therefore are a number of other visa.When a country wants you to live there it would not tell to leave.
That you are not able to understand that is one thing, but telling I am lying is just ridiculous!
Peter ********
@Luit ****************
you are lying, the thia embassy came on to YouTube and told us exactly what this visa its for and how it can be used. 180 days and one extension another 180 days 360 days before having to leave the nation for 5 years.Luit *****************
@Peter *******
What is a lie? Everything somebody else is saying? Where did you see DTV is meant for living in Thailand? What is thia embassy? Why should you leave the country when you really have a visa to live in the country? Just try to activate your brain if present next time before you accuse others of lying.Peter ********
@Luit ****************
no one said live in the country for ever 180 times 2 then a bounce to a border then 180 times two. for 5 years, maybe you paid a lot more not to have to leave 5 times and your mad about itLuit *****************
@Peter *******
That you and others use border bounces as a trick to use a tourist visa as a kind of long term visa, is all up to you, but DTV is definately not designed for people who want to live in Thailand. No country will design a visa with the obligation to do trips to their border every 180 days when that visa is intended for long time stay. When yo do remote work DTV is a cheap visa, 5 years soft power is not really cheap.Peter ********
@Luit ****************
yeah I agree soft power route is a rip off ,the Workcation route is the best,also its not a trick its what the thia embassy said to do and planed for us DTV visa holders to do so not abusive to the DTV visa rules at all, the two month free tourist visa like most do for many times is abusive work around which I have heard people doing for years to live in thialand most of the time but they are cracking down on that as well i have heard. I think they do trips to flow money into those industries and a trip to visit a new place every 6 to 12 months is kind of nice.Luit *****************
@Peter *******
So you call border runs not a trick? What is in it for the designers of the visa? The only reason they want you to leave is that they don't want DTV to be a long term visa. I never said this is abusive use, it is just not intended use, and indeed completely legal.Peter ********
@Luit ****************
what's in it for the designers of the dtv visa you ask ,in my opinion its more travel to thialand which they want and economic growth and profits for the citizens of thialand , more flights away and back in help those industries directly, where do you sorce the thia embassy views on intended use of the DTV visa? because it sounds like your sorce is just your opinion on the matter?Luit *****************
@Peter *******
When you really believe borderruns are something made on purpose discission is useless. Banks also see it not as long yerm visa, DLT does not see it as long term visa, Visa agents don't see it as long term visa, Googl AI does not see it as a long term visa. MFA classifies it as a tourist visa with a stay of 180 days what can be extended once with 180 extra days, so less than a year, which generally is not classified as long term. But when you are convinced it is long term, just keep thinking that way, all up to you. But I am talking about Thailand, and you are talking about thialand, maybe that causes the different opinion.Damien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luit ****************
yeah it’s a tourist visa I’m gonna use the days they allot me 😂 but it’s looking like after this I will be spending the next year in Vietnam and JapanWho knows by then I’m sure rules will change for DTV
Reply to
Damien ***********
Reply
Toni *******
@Damien **********
what country your passport? Not every country is liked worldwideJazzie *****
Damien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Toni ******
USA 🇺🇸Conor ***********
@Damien **********
was a it a fat rude lady I had issue with her last week I have an Irish passport . Would not let me come back in if I left had to fly in ended up costing me 7500 another random guy approached me getting me in by car lolDamien ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Conor **********
thin with a somewhat sharp tongueReply to
Damien ***********
Reply
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