Answered4 years ago
What is the process and experience of switching visas in Thailand after living there for two years?
Just want to share my experience of doing a air border bounce and living in Thailand for 2 years. I arrived 2 years ago on the visa exemption, changed it to a work visa for a year, then to an research Ed visa(which everyone says you can't do). That last visa expired last month. I'd been living in Thailand for 2 years straight. I cancelled both my old visas before switching visas and flying out. Flew to Malaysia for 5 days thru the DMK airport. Came back on the visa exemption a week ago. Only question they asked me was "why didn't you get a re-entry permit". Well my old visa expired March 31, and I left and came back March 26 and 30 so it didn't make sense with 1 day left, I explained I needed the visa exemption. And he stamped my passport and told me I got 45 days(now it's back to 30 days). I need to go back home to Canada this month anyways. Going to get a new passport and come back in July. I had the other necessary requirements but he didn't ask to see them (flight leaving itinerary, and proof of funds, or address).
Answer summary
The post recounts an expat's experience of living in Thailand for two years, initially entering on a visa exemption, then switching to a work visa and subsequently to a research education visa. After the last visa expired, the expat performed a border bounce to Malaysia and returned to Thailand using the visa exemption, receiving a 45-day entry stamp. The discussion includes insights about the re-entry permit, visa status, and alternative visa options, as well as other user comments regarding the expat's future plans and experiences with immigration.
36 repliesnewest first
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JD ********
Currently on 1 yr. Ed Visa from non Thai licensed school & just got my last extension stamp last month do good till June 20, which should’ve been August… overall not good experience… except for 1 instructors trainibg & teaching
But honestly actually only got maybe 9
My ? To any/all now is, As I have been researching other options, including…
other ED programs, including …
-1 yr university language program
-buying a work permit from an & sponsored from an international company
- volunteer visa as it’s back now,
-Teaching in Vietnam w/ work permit ( Saigon pays best)
-buying sponsored work permit there
Any/ All with direct experience, what are my options and what are the best in your opinion?
-Cheapest-
-Easiest With immigration
-Most convenient
-??
But honestly actually only got maybe 9
***
-10 month visa not 12, even 11 , plus had to physically go to immigration still every 90, pay fees & do self reporting. School has been closed for last month & projected possibly toward end of this month still w/ renovations & holidays. My ? To any/all now is, As I have been researching other options, including…
other ED programs, including …
-1 yr university language program
-buying a work permit from an & sponsored from an international company
- volunteer visa as it’s back now,
-Teaching in Vietnam w/ work permit ( Saigon pays best)
-buying sponsored work permit there
Any/ All with direct experience, what are my options and what are the best in your opinion?
-Cheapest-
-Easiest With immigration
-Most convenient
-??
Au *****
As long as you doing nothing wrong (no overstay etc.) You can enter by plane multiple times.
I come to Thailand 🇹🇭 more than 30 years now.
Im working offshore 4-6 weeks, than enter always by normal tourist visa (30days) sometimes, depending on my work, I extend another 30 days at the local immigration.
Im every year 4-6 times in Thailand for normal leisure reasons.
I never ever get any problems at immigration.
Even I stayed in Thailand during the lockdown for over a year with the covid visas. Never got any problems at all
I come to Thailand 🇹🇭 more than 30 years now.
Im working offshore 4-6 weeks, than enter always by normal tourist visa (30days) sometimes, depending on my work, I extend another 30 days at the local immigration.
Im every year 4-6 times in Thailand for normal leisure reasons.
I never ever get any problems at immigration.
Even I stayed in Thailand during the lockdown for over a year with the covid visas. Never got any problems at all
Mark *******
I would say from experience this is questionable
Aidan **********
you did well my friend, nice work
Tony *******
So
Medi ******
slovak citizen here. spent just 100 days in thailand, twice. can someone advice some convenient way how to have future in thailand
Stefan ****
@Medi *****
education visa. Marriage. The same way you entered till now . Get a job + workpermit and visa. Elite visa. Retirenment visa. Just google a bit the requirements and you will have more detailed questions and better answers.
Jack ****************
@Stanley ******
Is a "research education" visa different than an education visa?Kevin *******
How did you get here two years ago when the borders were all closed ?
Sara ******
@Kevin ******
borders wasn't closed. I came to Thailand November 2020 and I was 14 days hotel quarantine.Chris *********************
@Kevin ******
no it wasn't I did the quarantine so did many othersKevin *******
@Chris ********************
virus spreader !
Paul *******
@Chris ********************
I wouldn't have gone through that, even with a family. Fortunately, I knew what was about to come and was able to be with my family the whole time the borders were closed.Chris *********************
@Kevin ******
when you have a family in Thailand and a good job in UK ya got to do .believe me quarantine wasn't very nice.Chris *********************
@Kevin ******
😄 🤣Kevin *******
I was due to fly back April 3 2020 had a week in koh Chang came back on 26th April locked in next day till November but got back to feel so lucky I missed all that uk lock down! Cheers England July 7th !
Stanley *******
OP@Kevin ******
man, I came back and did the 11 day quarantine. At the time, April 6, pretty much no one was flying. My airplane from Vancouver to Korea to bkk had like 15 people on it.Stefan ****
@Kevin ******
beginn of 2021 it was possible to enter Thailand with 14 days , later 10 days quarantine. Before that with the special tourist visa.
Mma *******
Why do you need a new passport- you haven't done anything wrong. Why not apply for a TR visa while your in Canada, that way, if granted you know your good to go. Then, when you come back after your TR visa expires you can do 2 land border bounces this calendar year.
Stanley *******
OP@Mma ******
running out of pagesStanley *******
OPSeems easy to do in Edmonton, gonna be there for 2 months anyways.
Cris ********
@Stanley ******
any reason you won’t get a new passport at the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok?Stefan ****
To the all " good luck with new passport people" . You seen the fingerprints etc.. but how they use it , if ever, you dont question.
I dont know it either, but i think he will be fine.
I dont know it either, but i think he will be fine.
Tony *********
Getting a new passport won't help you as it's all on their system so they know everything
Stefan ****
@Tony ********
well obviously they have a passport with stamps in their hands to look at. But a fresh one is stamp free
Thomas **********
@Stefan ***
well obviously Thailand is now online and the old new passeport trick isn’t working anymore. If he’s flagged better come back with a proper visa.Stefan ****
@Thomas *********
well obviously i forgot that thailand is online ....
Tony *********
@Stefan ***
He's not going to have a problem because he hasn't done anything wrong. But in the case of someone who has been banned for a long overstay for instance a new passport won't help.Tony *********
@Stefan ***
He will have a new passport but the same name and date of birth. That is logged on the system.Tony *********
@Stefan ***
that means nothing when it's all on the computer in front of them . That's why you have fingerprint and photo everytime you come in . It's all there in front of them . They know everything .I don't know what you are trying to say ?
Stefan ****
@Tony ********
but do they care ? What popup or warning light you expect will pop up ?Stanley *******
OP@Stefan ***
are 2 visa exemptions in 2 full years a lot?Stefan ****
@Stanley ******
no its not . 2 exempts in one year or even less than one year is still fine.Tony *********
@Stefan ***
well obviously if they are now asking question why he keeps coming in on visa exemption
Frank **********
Good luck when you come back.
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