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Why did the immigration officer warn me after my border run to Thailand?
Apr 29, 2025
a year ago
Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI arrived today on a flight from Vietnam. I have not been in Thailand for about a year. The immigration officer warned me "Don't do that again." He was referring to a border run I did last year at Had Lek/Koh Kong. Has anyone experienced this? Cheers for any input.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user recently re-entered Thailand after a year and received a warning from the immigration officer due to previous border runs, which raises concerns about their entry status and visa regulations. The community discusses varied experiences with Thai immigration officers, highlighting that each officer interprets the rules differently. Many advise that repeated border runs can lead to stricter scrutiny and potential warnings, suggesting the need for appropriate long-term visas like the Non-O to avoid issues.
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Vincent *******
tried with agent. its easy. tried doing it alone. its a lot of b.s to deal with. and a lot of conditions for its use. check in check out. pay fees before visiting abroad. etc. etc.
Ernst *********
There is no double that they are becoming more strict.
They would want you to get a visa for longer stays rather than border runs.
They would want you to get a visa for longer stays rather than border runs.
Nigel ***********
smile at them and be pleasant to them, does help, respect there doing a,job, and we all have bad days. So many people abuse the tourist visa and length of stay. If u want to stay in thailand ,follow the rules
Pierre **************
now with internet there is no more stamp on passport… But it is registered in central computer….
William ******
Thai officialdom can be very varied & indiscriminate, which is very unfair to the individual on the receiving end who is more often than not a perfectly law abiding citizen who’s using their holiday time to travel, which often involves border crossings and recrossing with no illegal or wrong doing intent.
Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTERIt sounds like everyone has to respect the 'mood' of the immigration officer more than the law itself. Thank you for all the replies.
Reply to
Philip *******
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Khun ******
immigration is tightening
David *********
For the past year and half I have been staying in Thailand 3 or 4 months and going back to America for a month or so and coming back. I never have had a problem. I have gotten married now and going to America 1 May and will be coming back on a non O visa when I return
Pål *********
Any one know if entry in Thailand with tourist visa, how long you need to stay outside Thailand for next entry for tourist visa?
Betty *********
@Pål ********
they often do not like turn around, in and out in a day or 2. Staying a few days in Penang or Siem Reap or Saigon always goes down better. And fly, air Asia is cheap.Mark ********
@Pål ********
i was in October and then in February going back on Friday.Pål *********
@Mark *******
yes i had 4 mounths in between my entry into Thailand with tourist visa, no comments from imigration. I was in november then in marchReply to
Pål *********
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Henrik *****
Depend on the Immigration Officer in front of you when you enter Thailand.
Reply to
Henrik *****
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Lindsay ********
I came on the 2 months with 1 month extension.went to malaysia. Flew to bkk. Stayed 2 more months. Total of 5 months. But it came with a warning. Will apply the non 0 visa. When on return.
John **********
It's not uncommon given your history. Visa exempt entries are for short term tourism, not for spending extended periods in Thailand and they are cracking down on this. If you want to stay longer than 90 days in Thailand get a proper visa.
Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
That's fair. The judge however, is the IO, and each of them is different, which always leads to confusion. I really did believe that I was doing the right thing, and according to the law.John **********
@Philip ******
you are correct. Always at the discretion of the immigration officer you stand in front of. Nevertheless he will be guided by any notes on the system and they are definitely getting more strict.Reply to
John **********
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Ann-Louise ********
I had this on my first ever re entry boarder run, on 24 March this year, at the Airport, asked to show funds, accommodation address, return ticket!
Did also show him my lawyers email stating we are in the process of getting our visas!
He was not interested in that! 🤷♀️
My husband at a different desk with a IMO, he just walked straight in, nothing said to him!
Did also show him my lawyers email stating we are in the process of getting our visas!
He was not interested in that! 🤷♀️
My husband at a different desk with a IMO, he just walked straight in, nothing said to him!
William ******
@Ann-Louise *******
Unfair discrimination, seems every Immigration officer works to their own interpretation of the regulations.Typical Thailand.
Reply to
William ******
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Chris ******
I had a similar experience when I entered Thailand last month. I was being grilled about a border run in Nong Khai that I did Nov 2024.
Tony *********
I've been coming in every 9 - 10 weeks but only staying 3 weeks throughout the year and stay 6 weeks at Xmas . Never been questioned . I've been doing this since late 2021 . Maybe it's the duration of stay ..
Vincent *******
seems like they would prefer to steer you towards a retirment visa. which is about 30,000 baht a year. I only like to stay 90 days at a time maximum so it makes sense for me to do one visa run every 45 days. and one on arrival. thats over 90 days.
Betty *********
@Vincent ******
who would want a retirement visa for a 3 month stay !!! Much trouble for nothing.Mikkel *******
@Vincent ******
the yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 cost exactly 1.900 baht. The same price as all other extensions. The initial 90 day visa, if bought in Thailand, at immigration, cost 2.000 baht. The 30.000 baht you mentioned is only if you use an agent.William ******
@Mikkel ******
is that 30k what they charge to be creative if you don't have the required funds?Vincent *******
I used an agent. without an agent, they require you to show proof of funds in a thai bank account. over a certain amount. which I can do. and or a statement from the us embassy verifying that you have sufficient monthly income. You write a statement. the embassy stamps it. It costs 60 dollars for them to do that. plus trip to bangkok. appointment in advance etc. in pattaya the immigration clerk gives people a hard time. maybe not so hard in hua hin. where they might accept a gift. or tip.
Tony *********
@Vincent ******
I received my retirement extension atJomtien office this morning at 8.50 am.Opened at 8.30 received ticket number 2.
At home 9.20..now 11.40 am
Return tomorrow after 2pm for the return of my passport
Brook ********
@Vincent ******
you repeatedly post false information. The U.S. Embassy hasn’t done income verification letters in over a decade.
The income requirements are ฿800,000 THB in a Thai bank or ฿65,000 THB transferred every month.
What you propose by using an agent may be prevalent, but is clearly illegal and ill advised.
Damo ***********
@Brook *******
agree… when the ‘rogue’ Immigration Officer is caught, there have been occassions where all the farang he has accepted bribes for the fake illegal visa’s are booted out 🤦🏼♂️🙆🏼♂️Reply to
Damo ***********
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Frankie *******
It all depends on the officers in charge on that day.i was there few weeks ago she did not bother to check my passport just stamp 60 days it n said go
Nongnuch ********
many IO's will check your passport for the Thai stamp history of a full year back. If they think that you have "misused" the visa-exempt entries and touristic entries for a longstay, they will issue a "last" warning. There will be nothing written into your passport, however you can rest assure that a remark was made in the central computer. On your next entries, every border official will be able to see that you have received a warning. . . . what happened to you I find a bit harsh, though, since there were many months between your recent stay and you renewed entry
Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nongnuch *******
Wow. Thank you very much for the time you took to write this. I will enjoy this last stay in Thailand. Everything I did regarding the visa run was in accordance with what I was told was possible. I am going to assume I just had a bad run in with a nasty fellow. Sad because I have really come to see many great people in Thailand. Thank you again for your time and help.John *******
@Philip ******
- I think he was just telling you that in the future you can’t do that. Times are changing. He saw that you did it before and wanted to make sure you didn’t do it this time. Nothing nasty about it. They are pushing to get people of exemptionsPhilip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ******
Yes. The first thing he did was shake his head and so "No evisa" But I read here that it's ok to get 60 days on arrival as I did last year. I also was under the impression that the visa run I did last year was ok. I do believe that he wanted to see an evisa and he didn't like the border run I did last year. I wanted to do the same thing this time but I guess that's out of the question. Thank you for the replies. Does this mean I must not ever do a visa run again?John *******
@Philip ******
- as soon as immigration thinks you are no longer a tourist and instead trying to stay here as long as possible to live, they become strict. You have 60 days with the option to extend 30 days. That is ***
of a year. If you want to do a visa run, then you are trying to stay much longer. Maybe it is time to apply for a visaPhilip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ******
Thanks, John. I am guilty of maximizing my stay in Thailand, but I really didn't think that would raise a flag. I read of people that have been doing visa runs for years. I just don't want to put any future visits in jeopardy. I really liked my last trip and was hoping to repeat.John *******
@Philip ******
- since the DTV came out last year, there are lots of posts around crackdowns around this.Nongnuch ********
@John ******
and @Philip ******
. . . you are the more on the radar if you maximise every 60-days Visa exempt stay with a 30 days extension and then rinse and repeat. If you avoid maximising each stay, likely leave Thailand for a neigbouring country before 50 days are over, stay out a few weeks and come back, the Immigration officers won't wave an eyelid and stamp you for another 60 days. . . . . The crucial point is - you must behave like a "real" tourist who is travelling South East Asia will behaveJohn *******
@Nongnuch *******
thanks, I am good. I have a DTV and I am married to a Thai. Also have a home in Cambodia, and travel internationally in the region very frequent. You are correct though, if you maximize every stay and then repeat, it raises red flags. In Philip’s case, it seems like the red flag has been raised, so need to be carefulNongnuch ********
@Philip ******
you just need to spend a few months abroad before you do a next visa-exempt entry. There is no official rule on how long you can stay inside Thailand by visa-exempt, within a 365-days period. But some officers insist that after 180 days visa-exempt within a 365 days period, you should pause . . . your best option for perpetual stays is apply for the multi entry tourist visa in your home country. it will give you up to 8 months in ThailandPhilip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nongnuch *******
Again, thank you for the information, @Nongnuch *******
. I really appreciate it. Thai people are the true reason I'd like to stay in Thailand more often. What great people, yes, and the food and beaches.Nongnuch ********
@Philip ******
I used to enter Thailand on a tourist visa. In the old days, there was a single, double and even a triple entry tourist visa. You were able to spend 60 days, extend for 30 days, make a trip to Vientiane Thai Embassy and apply for a double entry tourist visa. It made 6 months stays easy. . . nowadays, if you like to spend 6 months and even up to 8 months (in 60-days partitions) the METV is your best option. And you can apply for it every year by not maximising the stay. . . Your other option if you are over 50 years old, is the Non-Imm-O 90 days retirement visa and its change to a 1-Year stay permitDoug *******
@Nongnuch *******
You always offer the most thorough and informative comments. I have a particular situation and am wondering if you might be willing to advise? I will send you a PM. Thanks. 🙏Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nongnuch *******
Wow, thank you for all your help .... again. I'm going to look at these visas that you have suggested. I'd like to do it the right way, but I've only recently wanted to stay longer.Reply to
Philip *******
Reply
Paul **********
The IO comments are final..has he/she written anything on your passport stamp? But it is a bit harsh..I came in 1st January on 60 days then left 31st January and came back 3rd March no problem.
Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI'm near Lumpini Park
Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul *********
Nothing written in the passport. It was a land border run I did. First and only one in my life. Thank you for your reply. Did you fly in each time?Betty *********
@Philip ******
it's better to fly generally on a border hop, or take an agency group trip border hop. Plenty about. Take the best, it's cheap..The agencies are usually better received than a person alone. Some immigration officers can be awkward. Speak nicely and dress well. They can ask to see 20 000Baht cash to prove you're not broke.Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Betty ********
Thank you. I will look for a good agency. Any you recommend?Betty *********
@Philip ******
where do you stay??Reply to
Betty *********
Reply
Paul **********
@Philip ******
yes flew in. You are within the conditions I expect.. IO maybe not had a coffee yet. How many times have you been in the Thai kingdom?Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul *********
This is my second time to Thailand.Von ***********
@Philip ******
seems harsh, how long was your cumulative stay in Thailand on your FIRST visit???I was in Thailand last year on 3 occasions… first stay was in February/march 28 day stay then end of July to early Sept 56 days after the into of the 60 day visa exempt had started and then back end of November to 20th December like 25 days… had no issue any time and I have been going every year except COVID years since 2012… I think you got a I.O. who was in a Special Mood that day.
Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Von **********
Yes, the Immigration officer was a mean fellow, but I am just concerned about how he can hurt my chances of staying in Thailand in the future. I usually just ignore bad people, but this guy has the power to really hurt me and I'd just like to avoid that if possible.Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Von **********
My first visit was 179 days. One border run on the back of 2, 90 day visas.John *********
@Philip ******
And there lies the problem.Bob **********
@Philip ******
They seem to have a problem with people doing 60 exempt plus 30 day extension and then bouncing I’ve been watching people that bounce without the 30 day extension have had far less issuesCruise ******
@Bob *********
if you come in on 60 days and happen to go out for a 1 week holiday in the neighboring countries eg:china, Malaysia, Vietnam, and return back to Thailand, does it count as a reset? You get a fresh new 60days?Bob **********
@Cruise *****
yes you get a new 60 day stamp but again it’s totally up to the IO you stand in front of there’s no rule saying how many you can do but if you extend in country and try to come back these seem to be the instances that people are having problemsVon ***********
@Philip ******
you say 2 x 90 day visas… what visa ( Tourist Visa ) applied for in your home country prior to arrival in Thailand? I note you say you haven’t been in Thailand for about a year so I am pretty sure the 60 day Visa Exempt was not in force till June last year.Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Von **********
I got my first visa in March 2024, but it was a 60 day tourist visa attained through the embassy. My second visa was the 60 days on arrival.Henrik *****
Visa on arrival is 15 days, and is only for a very few nationalities.
Philip *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI had forgotten about that. My apologies. Does that change anything?
Reply to
Philip *******
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