Why should I get a Tourist Visa if I can enter Thailand visa exempt for 60 days?

@Faron ************

👍

@Gary *****

I’ve gotten questioned by United, ANA, and Korean.

@Faron ************

ok thanks

What airline was it if can ask

I will fly the Quatar

@JD *******

there is no 2 week or 30 day pass on visa exempt entries. As I said, immigration officers in Thailand don't issue varying stay lengths or decide which entry method you use. If you present a visa granted by a Thai consulate prior to arrival, that's the visa they stamped you in for. If you don't have a visa, and are from a nationality that is entitled to 60 day visa exempt entry, that's how long you are always stamped in for. You are comparing it to other countries where immigration stamps you in for different lengths of stay based on your reason for entry. That system doesn't exist in Thailand.

@JD *******

thx...i often drift off a no brainer topic like this and found your situation more interesting...

@JD *******

true.

@Lynnette ******

cheers, just work hard save hard and support where needed. The good thing is that what you do without here is twice rewarded over there

@JD *******

for sure, running out of funds is a worry. I hope you find a way to keep funds ongoing and get to spend more time with your Thai loved one.

@Lynnette ******

I have family and also my lady/girlfriend - not having much is one thing, running out of funds would be regrettable - thanks for your input

@Gary *******

I'm guessing that Siam Legal also offered to help you get a Tourist Visa? I wouldn't trust them, having found incorrect information on their website in the past year or two.

If though, you've got a history of repeated Visa Exempt entries within calendar years, you're probably better to get a Tourist Visa before arriving in Thailand. They can still refuse entry on a TV, but it's less likely unless you have a 'history'.

Gary Bourne , of course they did , that’s their business .

@Gary *******

one man’s experience is not everyone’s

@Gary *******

in 2 days? What country?

@Kimberly *********

a screenshot of an Admin post in another group four days ago

@Kimberly *********

I can't answer your question about the $1500 Visa, other than to guess that it might be the purchase cost of the LTR (Long Term Resident) Visa, or the one that used to be known as the Elite Visa, now called Privelege Card or something similar.

As for the other thing, what you were thinking of, is aimed at people who are entering as part of cybercrime activities or those abusing the system to live in Thailand instead of buying a long term visa, such as a Non-O. The new ruling, or policy is that Extensions on Visa Exempt entries are limited to two per calendar year. The first 60 day entry can be extended for 30 days. The second 60 day Visa Exempt entry will only be extended for 7 days. That means that the maximum time in Thailand of 60+3+60+7 days Visa Exempt in a calendar year. Thailand doesn't want to discourage genuine tourists and the senior Immigration Officer that made the announcement said that genuine tourists, especially coming directly from their 'home' country wouldn't be affected. Whether a general two Visa Exempt entries per calendar year will apply to anyone, I'm not sure. I thought I read something in the past couple of weeks, separately from the extensions announcement, but I can't remember what it was now. Beyond the announcement of clamping down on abuse of the Visa Exempt entries, individual Immigration Officers have a fair bit of leeway to decide who they allow in our refuse entry. I've read a lot of comments by individuals who visit Thailand a few times each year many not applying for extensions and often only visiting for 1-3 weeks in between periods of work. 'Popular opinion' is that as long as they're genuine tourists, they won't be affected.

Edit: below is a copy of a post four days ago, from Admin of the Facebook group "Thai Visa Advice: Q & A"

@everyone

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗘𝗫𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦

Based on recent reports from our clients at various immigration offices, visa exempt entries are now being limited to two across all borders, both land and air. Extensions are no longer guaranteed, and some offices are refusing to assist with transitioning to a new visa if your previous stay was based on an extension.

We're receiving a lot of inquiries about this. If you need help with in-country extensions, long term visa transitioning from exempt entry, or our prescreening and fast track services on exempt entry, please reach out as early as possible.

The best way to contact us is through our official Line account:

Okay. So help me.. It says you can stay your initial 60 days, then do 2 extensions: 1(30day) and the second is for 7 days only! So where did I misunderstand?

And do you know anything about this visa I recently heard about.. I heard you can buy a long term visa for $1500 USD?

@Kimberly *********

"60+30+7"...what's that supposed to mean? I think I know, but if I'm correct, you've put it the wrong way!

As for your statement "Not anymore you won't", that's not strictly true. The new policy/instructions to all Thailand Immigration Offices, are meant to 1) clamp down on cybercriminals/scammers (in tandem with clamping down on mule accounts) using repeated Visa Exempt entries and 2) people who are using Visa Exempt entries/Border runs to live long term in the country. While they have said there's now a limit of two Visa Exempt entries at any Border point, which includes land, air or sea, there's still some leniency, for example, entering direct from one's own country will most likely not be a problem. Interpretation or Opinion at least, is that those who regularly enter Thailand for short holidays on a regular basis for a total of up to six months while staying only 1-3 weeks in a calendar year will be fine. There's apparently still some allowance for individual Immigration Officers to make an on the spot decision based on information they have on individuals in front of them.

@Daniela *****

it is not extensions I'm doing ,the law does not state 2 visa exemptions

@Michael ******

yet the law says now 2 visa exempt entries a year. It's not expensive to get a tourist visa. I would not count on that they let me in with 4 exempts already.

@Robbie ******

exactly. I been coming here 20 years this time 60 +30. home day 89.keep passport clean its eazy when you abide by the rules.They are cleaning out the scum rite now which is good Bangkok hilton goin to be very full 17 india people arrested this week 15 no visa and overstay 500+ days .That whats got the police busy and immigration rules changed

@Robbie ******

I think that you have no problem only if you go back to the country where you are resident and then re-enter from there.

@Robbie ******

yes mate, I'll do the same when I need to. If things change I'll adapt to it,,, love Thailand ( north east) everything about it

Michael Brown , you have a similar schedule to me .

I go there for 3-4 weeks then come back to Vegas to work for a while then go back .

Soon I will retire and get the appropriate visa but in the meantime the visa exempt is perfect for me , I go again on the 27th for 6 weeks .

There’s too many scaremongers on this site .

@Robbie ******

we all worry and panic when rules change, I've been 3 times this year total 66 days , I'm going back in January for 5 weeks, ,then come back uk work hard 3 months and go again, doing nothing wrong, just having good time in great country, they not going to want to lose that through banning the likes of us

Michael Brown , precisely , you’re on the money there .

@Gary *******

holiday makers that go for 2, 3,4 weeks etc should have no problems entering Thailand 4 or 5 times a year, they are targeting the ones abusing the visa exemption extension and boarder runs,, them people basically trying to live in Thailand without correct visa.

I go for 3-4 weeks at a time , never done a border bounce , never had an overstay .

The new rules are to stop people from trying to live there on extensions and border bounces .

@Paul **********

🤦‍♂️

@Tore ********

So what??????

@Paul **********

you couldn’t deduct that?

- 94 isn’t “majority of countries”

- Many do not have 60 days

- 60 days is likely to change to 30 soon

- Some tourists visas allows up to 9 months stay if planned right

- An actual visa is subject to less scrutiny at the border than a visa exemption.

But sure, for a stay of under 2 months with no notable entry history, no need to get a visa.

But there (obviously) many good reasons to get an actual visa over a visa exemption.

@Tore ********

your point is?

@Andrew ******

Yes I’m aware of that. But the new rules don’t seem to have been officially published even though people are saying they are official.

Everything I’ve seen is from people on Facebook.

@Nongnuch *******

The only downside there is those of us who come to Thailand for 60 days but have 2 or 3 side trips. Even multi entry tourist visa can be an issue.

I’ve never had an issue but occasionally they ask.

@Ralph ******

Immigration can see your complete Thai travel and entry history on their computer. If you have never been on overstay, and never abused the visa-exempt system for a longstay, you are good to go. The safest way would be to apply in the E-visa online system, pay the fee and come on a 60-days single entry tourist visa

@Nongnuch *******

Yeah, I’m not comfortable with the ‘might’ be and I certainly won’t risk it.

@Phil *****

You enter on visa exemption not extension.

Yeh I know but border bonces for me are a thing of the padt

@Phil *****

they have toughened up on visa runs. They do this every few years.

For actual tourists it really doesn’t make much difference