What is the best approach to stay 90 days in Thailand with a 30-day Visa exempt entry?

Jun 3, 2019
6 years ago
Cindy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I need to stay 90 days but cannot get a 60 day tourist visa before arrival.

If I arrive via airport and recieved the 30 day Visa exempt stamp (USA passport) is it better to:

Extend for 30 days at the immigration office in Chiang Mai and then do a border run to Mae Sai for a land crossing 30 Visa exempt stamp.

Or

Arrive on flight, do a border run at Mae Sai, and then extend at Thai immigration in Chiang Mai?

I'm not sure when is better to do a border run.

This is my first time staying longer than 30 days in Thailand.

Thanks!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks advice on how to stay in Thailand for 90 days when unable to obtain a 60-day tourist visa before arrival. They are considering options involving a 30-day Visa exempt stamp received on arrival and additional extensions or border runs from Chiang Mai to Mae Sai. The community provides insights regarding extension processes and potential issues with border runs.
Emma *************
Sometimes (it seems to change all the time) they don’t let you do a border run at Mae sai (I used to live there and they had phases of allowing and not allowing people to do this) - just a consideration.
Tod *********
@Emma ******
okay, they stopped letting people bounce out at Mae Sai Tachiliek BEFORE they went back to the two 30 day visa exempt entries in a calendar year by land.

That was back on Dec 31 216. :O

They're fine to bounce out and back in at now.
Biff *******
@Emma ******
Immigration at the Mae Sai border won’t let people out into Myanmar if, for whatever reason, they wouldn’t be allowed back in to Thailand. The reason for that is that at that border you do not get a visa for Myanmar, you get a day pass which only allows you to stay in the Tachiliek area. There are many reasons why a person would be denied entry but it’s not that there are certain times where they let everyone bounce there and certain times they don’t. It’s that they don’t let anyone bounce there who wouldn’t be allowed back in. At any time.
Robert *******
I see the problem, thanks for explaining.
Emma *************
@Robert ******
I’m only speaking of my experience from living and working there for almost 3 years. No it is not because of them already using the 2 land border crossings as they hadn’t previously made any that year
Robert *******
I never see reports at one of the most populair border crossing from Chang Mai, the Mae Sai border that people are not allowed to make the crossing without any reason. If they are not allowed it is or they already have two land border crossings in that calendar year or they did not cancel their Extension of Stay as they should do before leaving the country.
Emma *************
@Robert ******
you’d have to take that up with immigration I’m afraid
Emma *************
I’m afraid that I can’t tell you the reasons they do or do not allow and why or when they do this all I can share is my experience with this and that of others I know that have tried there...not starting rumors just giving the OP a heads up so she is aware that this may not be allowed
Emma *************
@Robert ******
just to clarify I don’t mean the exempt entry rule I mean the crossing were they allow you to do it. There have been times people have been allowed to do it and then others they have not (including since the rule updated at the end of 2016)
Robert *******
@Emma ******
This page is for advice, not just rumors. Why did you or all the others not allowed to make this border run? Please answer.
Emma *************
Cindy Fonseca they really do and it’s hard to keep up. At the time they weren’t allowing it at Mae sai, I successfully did one at Chiang Kham- Laos but I had proof of my flight out of Thailand
Robert *******
Cindy Fonseca Things do not change on a daily basis. Last change of Visa Exempt Entry was 31 Dec 2016.
Cindy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Emma ******
thanks for the tip! It's hard to figure things out plans as it seems things change a lot
Robert *******
And what where the reasons people where not allowed to do the crossing?
Robert *******
I think best option is to get the 30 day Visa Exempt entry, than apply for the Extension of Stay for another 30 days. Than do the border run to Mae Sai for a new 30 day Visa Exempt Entry, which is again possible to extend with 30 days at Immigration. Just in case you travel plans change.
Cindy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
thanks! I've only been 1 time by air so shouldn't be an issue
Robert *******
Seeing that it is not your first time to Thailand, be aware you can only enter Thailand twice a calendar year by land borders to get the Visa Exempt Entry and you could be asked for the 20.000 Thb or equivalent currency in cash, proof on onward travel and proof of accommodation.
Cindy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
thanks! That's what I was thinking
James **************
You can go to laos to get a tourist visa.
Cindy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *************
due to logistics I don't have the amount of days available it would take to get the 60 day Visa from an embassy/consulate.
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