What should I know about re-entering Thailand on a METV after a trip to Laos?

With this METV, you can get out and come back into the country as many times as you want before its expiration date (even the same exact day) and you will get a 60 days extension EACH TIME, no questions asked (that's why it's called a multy entry visa, in the first place).

Nobody will ask you anything, not even a proof of funds (which you already provided when applying for it or you wouldn't have it).

When you first arrive with a METV, you're in for 60 days.

With this visa, you get the choice to leave the country before your 60 days extension expires or to extend it of 30 more days at the immigration (1.900 Thb), before HAVING to leave the country (totalizing max 90 consecutive days) and come back in for a new extension of 60 days.

You cannot stay more than 60 days in a row without getting a 30 days extension, or 90 days in a row after getting that extension.

If you calculate well and leave the country and come back in BEFORE your very last day of VISA VALIDITY, you will also get a last extension of 60 days, that you will be able to extend of 30 more days (at the immigration for 1.900 Thb) AGAIN, turning your initial 6 months visa into a 9 MONTHS visa TOTAL.

BE CAREFUL though, the clock on its validity starts when they issue you the visa, NOT when you FIRST ENTER the country. So check the dates on it and calculate accordingly.

I've had it two different times and it worked more than smoothly each time.

If you have any questions, just hit me up.

Take care.

This was just posted in the other visa group:

ATTENTION MEMBERS IN CHIANG MAI / CHIANG RAI AREA

BORDER BOUCING AT CHIANG KHONG / HUAY XAI

It appears that the border at Chiang Khong is no longer allowing people to bounce out and back to get a new entry stamp or activate another entry on a currently valid multi entry visa.

This is most likely due to the ongoing investigation of Division 4 and Division 5 <-(the North West area) Immigration offices about the chinese gang, fake visa extension ordeal.

Reports are that people are being told they can EXIT thailand to get in to Lao but they can't re-enter by that land crossing. Instead you would have to go to a city in Lao and fly back in or go to Nong Khai (where reports are at this time there is no issue bouncing out and back OR entering thailand).

We are NOT letting posts on the group about peoples' experience at Chiang Khong. Post on a Chiang Mai related f/b group.

So if you're up there in the north west planning to bounce out and back at Chiang Khong you need to re-think your plan right now. No word on how long it will take until the situation gets back to normal

There are also storage services in Bangkok. For about 1000 Baht a month you can rent a lock-up.

That is exactly what I did for eight years vacationing here, rented a single hotel room for my full stay to base out of. That way I didn't have to haul my luggage everywhere. The comfort made it well worth it, with side trips into Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

You will be okay for visa. I rent a nice room at Tharathip Mansion. 7k baht per month. Has AC and wifi. Highly recommend. When I check out to travel, I usually leave a bag behind. They hold it for me, no charge. Nice people. Clean, quiet, new place. Near Saphan Khwai BTS.

I think you are fine.

You have appropriate paperwork and no history.

I do recommend travelling with 20,000 THB and rental agreement. If you can find a friend that speaks Thai (meaning a Thai national), that you can call in case of emergency.

I doubt you'll need anything but better to have and not need.

PS

I have made bunches of boarder bounces, US passport.

We haven't had a single report of anyone having an issue entering the country again with a multi entry visa. Also Laos is the easiest land border to enter.