Will I face issues entering Thailand on a visa exempt status and applying for a tourist visa?

I’m in a similar but worse boat 🤣 I go back to the UK for 2.5 weeks tonorrow and I’ve been here since January bar 16 days in Bali. When I booked the trip back I never expected I’d have stayed this long, so what can ya do. I also return to BKK airport and am expecting to be denied. All you can do is have the three proofs, be polite and if questioned be honest.

I was questioned returning from Bali and after telling the truth about being a lazy tourist and showing my flight out I was let in 🙂

I did the volunteer visa then 3 or 4 covid extensions, left then came back on a tourist visa, I didn't have any problems. However, some people suggest that Phuket airport is more forgiven then BKK airports.

I think you will be ok if you have your onward travel already planned and travel with plenty of cash.

Be very respectful to the immigration officers. I think some people get attitude towards IOs and end-up in trouble.

I was in a similar situation and opted for a 60 day tourist visa. I had a warm welcome entering the country.

Flying in for a visa exempt will be sketchy. I'd use an agent to do fasttrack/vip service. Or fly to Malaysia or Laos and enter by land.

If I had a bunch of covid extensions I'd get a new passport ASAP. It doesn't fix everything because immigration can still see your history, but you'll be able to get easy tourist visas in Vientiane, Savannakhet, Penang, etc.

Edited:If you make it thru on a Visa Exempt then get your 30 day extension here-> then use a Visa agent out of Bangkok such as Thai Visa Service to do a border bounce to Cambodia to repeat the process. This agent will secure you another Visa Exempt up to a maximum of 2/calendar year, as it will be 2023 by then you are good to go on this option.

How long have you been out of the country for?

If you get into Thailand, why not use a border run company to either get a visa in Laos or just get visa exemption via border bounce? Much safer option.

First of all, you cannot apply for a visa in Bali. The embassy there no longer serves foreigners and is only for Thai citizens.

You'll likely be pulled out of line at the bare minimum and be questioned thoroughly.

If you decide to come, I would suggest making sure you have the 3 proofs so they can't easily deny entry, but having them is no guarantee either and you could still be denied entry.

1) proof of 20,000 baht or equivalent in another major currency in cash only.

2) proof of leaving Thailand within 45 days

3) proof of at least a week of lodging/hotel reservation

Also you have a high chance of your visa application being rejected at any of the consulates in SE Asia with your history.