Will past COVID visa extensions affect my re-entry into Thailand after a short trip to Malaysia?

@Ananda *****

No, flying would. The authorities will know exactly what you're doing if flying to Malaysia for just one night. Whereas the Lao border crossings are relatively easygoing and carefree.

@Alistair *********

Agreed.

@Ananda *****

You've missed the point entirely. It's got nothing to do with different ways of thinking.

You managed to enter the country in January after having been in Thailand during Covid. The issue isn't a Covid extension, which didn't exist yet when you left the country. You got an automatic extension.

The point is that you may be denied because you've already been in the country for 75 days on a visa waiver plus extension. If you come back the day after having left, it will look suspicious. What's wrong with checking out Malaysia for 2 weeks? You're a tourist, so don't tell me you don't have time or you must return to Thailand the next day. You don't. You're just trying to see how long you can live in the country on a tourist visa exemption.

My point about Covid extensions (again, you never received one as you left before they came into force on November 1, 2020) is that at the beginning anyway and in some cases until as late as mid 2022, it was impossible for many people to return to their home countries. You can't be punished for being denied exit or entry into your country due to lack of flights, flights costing 10 times more than usual etc. Covid was a unique situation and if an extension was legitimately granted by immigration, they can't come back and hold that against you later.

That would be like randomly denying a foreigner entry because the IO believes they've spent too much time in the country, despite living in Thailand on a legitimate retirement or marriage or work visa. OK, perhaps that could happen, I wouldn't be surprised if it has, especially if an IO is having a bad day, the foreigner is rude and acts entitled or the IO makes some sort of mistake. Unless we become citizens, we have no automatic right of entry no matter our residency status. Even permanent residency holders don't have the kind of rights a PR holder in any western country has.

@Stuart ********

Are you kidding me? It's the Thai governments fault for overreacting to a mild flu by shutting the borders and suspending flights. Many people wanted to leave Thailand in March 2020 but couldn't, until at least mid year.

This person only remained in country until August 2020, not 2022.

Why would they have trouble?

@Stuart ********

I don't agree. He had a long break between. You spread panic.

@Stuart ********

am I reading this wrong? His Covid stamps are from 2020 only. Then out of the country for 2.5 years. And returned 2 months ago. How would this history be an issue?