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Will flying from Bangkok to Siem Reap for a border run help me get a second 60-day visa in Thailand?

Visa Rules Border Runs 60/30 Visa Immigration Concerns Thailand Expat Life Retirement Visa Visa Agencies

Nov 20, 2024

a month ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

hey howz everyone doing, good i hope. 

so, i’m just finishing up my first 60/30 and settling in. 

i have to do my first border run .if i FLY from bangkok to siem reap and tour angkor wat again, will i be good coming in for my second 60/30??? i’m saving up for my retirement visa here and want to use my own money to avoid the agency fees. so, i know things change here, sometimes very quickly. 

i’m more than a little worried as i brought a lot of luggage, way too much for a border run and too much to afford to lose. i have proof of 1 year contract and permanent government pension and over half the required savings but i’m still nervous. i keep hearing each immigration officer is different and could almost arbitrarily say no.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The individual is concerned about doing a border run from Bangkok to Siem Reap to obtain their second 60-day visa after the first 60/30. They are worried about the strict immigration regulations and have heard accounts of others being denied entry after similar border runs. Despite holding necessary documentation such as a year-long contract and proof of retirement funds, they fear that their long-term stay intentions may lead to complications. Several comments emphasize the unpredictability of immigration officers and recommend using visa agencies to help mitigate risks.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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John ************

There is no guarantee this will work. I did a few border runs by air, the interviews are pretry intense. They even called my wife to verify the informatuon.

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Jim **********

I did a border crossing to Malaysia (first one). I was asked a lot of questions on my return to Bangkok. I had already purchased a dummy ticket to leave Thailand for Bali. I showed this but I got the impression that it was touch and go. Eventually my passport was stamped for 60 days

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Luit *****************

Dummy tickets are just normal tickets bought by the company that offers the service and then cancels them afterwards.

But because it are not always the most logical tickets you should buy by yourself when you really travel, the immigration officer might get suspicious.

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Jim **********

@Luit ****************

I believe that he ran the flight number through his computer and saw that the flight was genuine

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Jim **********

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David ***********

Use an agency. Saves all the worry. I was told that they can stop you getting several

*****

visas as they can see you are not a tourist.

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Stu *********

If you decide to have an agent help you I would suggest Thai Visa Centre. They did my Retirement Visa renewal last year for

*****

Baht.

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Martyn ***********

Using an agent would be cheaper than messing around woth border runs? And they would sort the money for you..

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Martyn ***********

that's expensive for a renewal...

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Stu *********

@Martyn **********

That was the cheapest agent cost I had found. Do you know a cheaper agent?

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Martyn ***********

depends where you are? Maneerat Travel charge 12k in Pattaya...

@Luckchanok *********

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Martyn ***********

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Matty ****

My friend was just warned by immigration on his way back in. That his next exemption will not be approved

You're going to need to get a real Visa

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Garrett ***********

They say that all the time

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Todd *********

@Garrett **********

yup.

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Todd *********

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Brandon ************

No one can answer your question. They have become very strict and many reports of people being hassled or even denied entry after doing a 60+30, leaving and returning for 60+30, and then trying to do it again. That's pretty clear that you are trying to live in Thailand and are not a tourist. A 1 year rental agreement is more likely to be used against you than to help you, it shows you are in-fact trying to live in Thailand and are not a tourist.

Why don't you just use a land border bounce agency? They will ensure you can get out and back without any issues.

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Kace *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

i need to have a nearby toilet and am very uncomfortable on long mini van rides. i was hoping for either a bus w toilet or airplane. and this would be my first border bounce.

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Brandon ************

I guess you have to choose which risk you're willing to take then

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Kace *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

do any of the border run agencies use a bus with a toilet???

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Brandon ************

I've only ever heard of any using mini-buses (aka vans)

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Kace *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

i’m almost 70. 10 years ago it would have been no problem. dang!! i am very close to having enough savings for the retirement visa and have most things ironed out here. i’m surprised to hear getting a year contract and other things someone settling in (gym membership, subscription services, etc) could count AGAINST me as far as an immigration officer is concerned.

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Brandon ************

it shows you're not a tourist. That is why they are denying entry to people. Visa exempt is for tourists and someone trying to live in Thailand is not a tourist. That's the entire job of an immigration officer

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Kace *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

it seems set up to encourage people to use visa agents who bribe immigration rather than helping the people who try to use their own money.

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Brandon ************

It's not setup for anything. There aren't many countries in the world where you can just decide to go be there without a visa for as long as you want. Thailand is one of those that you can't do it. If you want to abuse the system then you can pay illegal bribes. That's a decision you can make, but the system isn't setup to cause that.

There is a very clear system setup for you to have a long-term visa. It's not Thailand's fault that you can't meet those requirements.

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Brandon ************

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