What is the difference between a Visa Run and a Border Bounce in Thailand?

Aug 26, 2022
2 years ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS:

Difference between a "visa run" and a "border bounce"

With the ending of the oh-so long ;) 60 day covid extension program (which in case you were wondering ran from Nov 1st 2020 to August 24th 2022 or 21 months and 3 weeks :O ) people will now need to exit/re-enter the country when their current covid extension stamp runs out.

There are two things which people can do when they exit/re-enter

VISA RUN

A "Visa Run" is pretty self explanatory :P

You "run" (go) to a thai consulate in another country and BUY a visa for thailand then return. This can be done by land using the thai consulates in the border countries or by air flying to another country and using the thai consulate there to get a visa before you return.

BORDER BOUNCE

A "Border Bounce" is also pretty self explanatory (if you think about what you're doing :P ).

You go to the border, stamp out of thailand, "bounce" (stamp) in and out of another country and then re-enter thailand to get a new entry stamp OR to activate another entry on a valid multi entry visa. This can also be done by land or air where you fly out and back in.

Now keep in mind the companies that lug people to the border and back AND who also lug people to the thai consulates in other countries call BOTH things "visa runs" but that is to keep it simple.

That's the two choices people who have stamps running out in the near future are going to have as options.

We wish everyone good luck in their visa running, or their border bouncing.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
This post explains the distinction between a 'Visa Run' and a 'Border Bounce' in the context of Thailand's visa regulations, especially following the end of the COVID extension program. A Visa Run involves traveling to a Thai consulate in another country to purchase a visa before returning to Thailand. In contrast, a Border Bounce refers to exiting Thailand, briefly entering another country, and then re-entering Thailand to receive a new entry stamp. Both options are common for individuals whose visa stamps are nearing expiration.
Dan ******
If you've travelled to another country and bought a tourist visa, which has been granted by the thai consulate there, is it still possible to be denied entry at the border?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
sadly your pre-covid experience is ancient history ๐Ÿ˜•

the problems are the people who have a passport full of covid stamps trying to get back in with very little time between their exit and their attempted re-entry.
Ellie *******
@John *******
Even if you get a new passport, your history from your previous passport is in the system and connected, all are visible to the immigration officer.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
and did you just milk 2 years of covid extensions and try to come back in?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan *****
actually thinking back there were cases where people who had been living here on back-2-back tourist visas were denied entry pre-covid and I recall another one where someone with a passport full of covid stamps went out, got a tourist visa and came back but was denied.

It's not common BUT a visa doesn't guarantee your entry, all it guarantees is IF they let you in they let you in for as many days as the visa allows

No one will know how it's gonna play out until people start bouncing out and back

Certainly entering by land lessens the impact of a denial of entry because you're just turned around and sent back to the country you stamped out of a minute ago versus flying in where they can send you back to where you flew in from OR back to the country your passport comes from ๐Ÿ˜ฎ
Dan ******
@Tod ********
Yes this is what I thought would be the case, still going to go through similar scrutiny at the border regardless. Will keep an eye on reports here over next couple months, I've managed to get a stamp until end of Nov now so I'm good for a while. Cheers
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan *****
i think that's about all any of us can do and it'll be a while before we start getting solid reports of what borders are like for people comin' back both visa exempt and on valid tourist visas after covid extensions
Graham ******
@Dan *****
Yes, a visa is no guarantee
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan *****
RARELY if ever seen. I'm entirely sure it's possible but I can't recall any cases where people had a valid tourist visa and were denied entry. Maybe asked to prove they're leaving in 60 days, or show proof of funds, but that's about it
Dan ******
@Tod ********
Okay cool, thanks again
Paul *********
Thx you for that
Ellie *******
Just a rough image for visual-understanding people
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