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What should I do about my visa situation after being advised to apply for a visa due to multiple entries into Thailand?

Visa ExemptionTourist VisaVisa RulesThailand ImmigrationThai Partner VisaTravel AdviceVisa Types
January 26, 2024
8 months ago
Andy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi I need some advice. I Have a Thai partner & have been coming to Thailand 4 times a year on a 30 day visa exemption through Bangkok & registering my tm30 with local immigration no problems, so this time I’ve come for 64 days I’ve done my usual 30 days & then flew to Malaysia for 4 days & returned through Phuket airport where I’ve been pulled by a io insisting I’ve entered Thailand too many times & took me to his supervisor who basically told me I can only enter twice a year in a visa exemption I managed to get my girlfriend on the phone & he let me in insisting I need a visa a or o next time. I’ve since returned to Bangkok & I’ve asked my local Io if I need to get visa & his reply was no just carry on as you are doing just don’t go through Phuket international airport .

Any advice please as I have flights booked for April , July & October all 30 days
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks advice after facing issues re-entering Thailand on a visa exemption due to multiple entries. They were warned by immigration that they need to apply for a visa (either Non-O or tourist visa) for future visits. Community responses suggest obtaining a tourist visa or an e-visa to avoid complications. Some shared experiences indicate that multiple entries can lead to scrutiny from immigration officers, especially at Phuket airport. Recommendations include looking into a multi-entry visa if married to a Thai citizen, and more generally, to plan visa applications based on desired length of stay.
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Tom *******
Wear a wig and fake mustache
8 months ago
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Chris *****
Immigration is like quicksand-always can change its landscape 🤦🏻‍♂️
8 months ago
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Melissa *********
when i first moved to
@Love *********
, I entered on a six-month multiple-entry tourist visa which gave me 60day max for each visit (unless I filed for extensions). I found that to work well for me until I get on NonO .
8 months ago
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David **********
So get a visa
8 months ago
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Rok ********
Mexico started doing the same where for decades people liver on tourist visas - i got myself a residency there. I am in Thailand at the moment and would not rely on tourist VOAs. Not as easy as Mexico but surely you must be able to find a way for better visa situation.
8 months ago
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Bob **********
Each IO has his own set of rules I would definitely start coming in on a tourist visa and check to see if the IO in Phucket wrote anything in your passport
8 months ago
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Bob ********
If you have a Thai wife and the marriage is registered get a multi entry 90 day visa, good for a year
8 months ago
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Kim *******
Try for a 60 day e visa next time and extend for 30 days, you get 90 days total. Fly out of the country for a few days then enter on a visa exemption and extend for 30 days.

But as said it really depends on the officer. If they see this happening to often you may be asked questions.

I think the best way is to work out how long you want to stay in a year and apply for the right visa for that time.

I know there is also a multi entry visa valid for 6 months. Might be worth looking into.

Good luck 👍
8 months ago
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John *******
Everything is upto the IO infront of on the day there has never been guaranteed entry it's thailand remember just fly into BKK and domestic to Phuket simple
8 months ago
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John **********
I wouldn't put any faith in what your local immigration office said to you. But your normal 30 days should be fine once every 3 months, this time you went for back to back visa exempt entries which is what would have upset them, it's perfectly possible that BKK would have been the same. Next time you want to come for longer than 30 days get a visa appropriate for the length of stay
8 months ago
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Tony *********
So you were unlucky .

I do the same . I come in April for 4 weeks , July and October also for 4 weeks . All on 30 visa exemption. I get a tourist visa in December as I Come for 6 weeks . Never had an issue yet . Maybe the IO never had there coffee or their Kratom yet
8 months ago
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Aaron *******
Just get an e-visa next trips. Why risk flying halfway around the World, to be denied entry.
8 months ago
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Peter *********
Fly into bkk and then go udapol airport get flight to phuket not a problem 👌
8 months ago
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Wayne *********
@Peter ********
 why not just a domestic flight from bkk or dmk to Phuket ? IO dont check on domestic flights
8 months ago
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Mark ********
@Peter ********
 Where is that airport?
8 months ago
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Wayne *********
@Mark *******
 just fly domestic from bkk IO dont check domestic flight arrivals
8 months ago
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Daniel *****
@Mark *******
 UTAPAO
8 months ago
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Peter *********
@Mark *******
 sattahip about 30 minutes from Pattaya in car 🚗
8 months ago
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Reply to
Peter *********
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Brandon ************
Just get a tourist visa before you travel. It's cheaper than applying for an extension anyways, saves you a trip to immigration, and has higher odds of being allowed into the country. Phuket is known as a difficult airport to enter if you have an extensive history.

If that's the area of Thailand you'll be in, see if you can find flights into Krabi as we've never received any reports from people having trouble entering Thailand through Krabi airport.
8 months ago
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Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
 he doesn't need to extend. I think he should be fine continuing on exemptions. The amount of time he's here doesn't seem excessive.
8 months ago
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Michael **********
@Carlos *******
 dude, that's luck. The only thai that would help with the immigration is the thai baht if the "legend" is true
8 months ago
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Reply to
Michael **********
Reply
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