What options do I have for re-entering Thailand after traveling to Laos with a near-expired visa?

@Chris *******

I'm on my way to Bangkok now. 🙏🏽

@Chris *******

It appears that the limit for 2 entries has been changed by now

@Robert **********

never heard about this hail Mary trick, but it surely sounds like worth testing 😂

@Chris *******

9 monks are the optimum as 9 is a lucky number in Thailand

@John *********

yep, fast track service

@Brian ********

yeah, I’ve been coming here for years on visa exemptions, spending 3 months per year in the same places trying to decide whether to marry, get work, or invest in a business and I see no reason why I should be prohibited from doing so since I still live of the year in another country and make absolutely no money in Thailand and getting Thai elite visa, retirement or DTV is not an option for me.

Also seeing some people here try to define what “tourism purposes” are with the pedantry of a talmudist interpreter is just ridiculous

as if you could ever define something so vague. Why is the average Pattaya enjoyer who spends months a year there on a huge budget less of a tourist than the backpacker who has been coming to Thailand for a decade and jumping from hostel to hostel?

The simple truth is that all these problems can be avoided if the Thai government would simply offer guidelines to the number of days you can spend in a year as a tourist on a visa exemption or tourist visa. Other than that we already know that we cannot work, which is perfectly fine.

I currently now, after many years, have a girlfriend in Thailand, what would happen if when I come back after many months in my homecountry I get denied because some border guard does not like the fact that I used to spend 3-4 months a year in Thailand?

@Chris *******

with your extensive tourist visa and visa-exempt stamp history in the recent 365 days, you are running a VERY high risk to be refused entry at an airport in Bangkok. I would NOT fly into Bangkok. I'd rather stay in transit, fly back to your home country, wait 3-4 months and apply for a 60-days tourist visa before you try to enter again. Immigration does not think that you are a "genuine" tourist, because you obviously have been "milking" tourism entries for a longstay in Thailand, which Immigration doesn't tolerate any more. You better start to get the proper visa for your purpose

@Chris *******

that's more than enough to cause you problems in the new world that has evolved since they they changed to the 60 day visa exempt stamp. Even ignoring your stamps prior to that happening last July you've entered visa exempt in September, I assume November, January and trying again now. It's not at all surprising you were refused entry. You just can't do that anymore. I personally think you will also struggle to enter via Bangkok

@Jo**

why can’t you do it anymore - understand if living but if genuine need to attend what’s the issue. Never heard this and please don’t say haven’t you seen the news - no I haven’t and no one wishes to share it with me either. visa exempt is not just for tourism so unsure why you think it is so. Happy to be shown im wrong if indeed I am.

@Brian ********

not sure what you mean by genuine need to attend? Tourist visas and visa to entries are for the purposes of tourism. Not for spending extended periods of time living in Thailand

@Chris *******

even so you've hit a limit that is hard to circumvent these days. I think you will struggle at bangkok. Next time you come get a proper visa that matches the purpose of your stay (which is obviously not tourism)