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visa runs

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This page displays all the results for the Visa Runs tag, sorted by the most recent activity. There are a total of 340 questions that have been tagged with Visa Runs. Explore the questions to find discussions and information relevant to this topic.
Aug 25, 2025
17 hours ago
Hey, everyone! I’m a solo female cyclist from the Philippines who’s currently cycling across Thailand.🚴🏽‍♀️❤️

I’m almost at the end of my visa in Thailand. I got a 60-day visa exemption + 30 day visa extension from the immigration office.

I kinda expected to be done with my route for Thailand, finishing at Ubon Ratchathani to cross into Pakse and do the Boloven Plateau by bicycle, but since I’m cycling during rainy season, the weather’s quite unpredictable and sometimes heavy rainfall and storms take away precious cycling time. ⛈️

I’ve also realized my body’s tired from this nearly 5-month cycling trip and I need to slow down a bit on the bike.

I was thinking of going into Laos for a border run to get another 60-day visa exemption. Ideally, I would like to cross from Nong Khai because of the train services there that can take my bicycle. For other borders, I need to cycle and I have until August 28 to leave Thailand, but I’ve also heard so many notorious things about Nong Khai visa runs. 🚲

This will be my first border bounce. I’m not opposed to staying in Laos for a day or even a week / few weeks then head back to Thailand to complete my ride.

However, I’ve entered Thailand by land twice this year already.

First, during March just before Songkran via Nong Khai land border. Second, during May via Ban Phakkad just before they closed the Cambodian border.

For my first entry, I stayed 60 days in Thailand. My boyfriend came to visit so we traveled together, then I used the remaining 2 weeks to cycle to Cambodia.

I spent 3 weeks cycling in Cambodia before coming back to Thailand again (second land border entry) to recover because I was hit by a drunk driver, so it wasn’t really a border run but a cycling loop. (Thailand - Cambodia - Thailand)

My question is:

1️⃣ Will I be allowed reentry to Thailand given the circumstances and situation?

2️⃣ Will I get a higher chance of getting back to Thailand if I take my bicycle with me and show it to the border / IO? (proof I’m really traveling in Thailand)

Or will it be better to leave the bike with a friend who lives close to the border?

3️⃣ Will I get a better chance of getting back to Thailand if I go with a visa run agency or if I take a flight and come back to the country? This means I have to leave the bike, regardless.

4️⃣ What’s the best course of action? Should I take the chance for the border bounce or just move forward to the next country and abandon the loop?

If it helps, I understand my Philippine passport is weak, I have extensive travel history (7+ years of full-time travel, 35+ countries), so my passport has plenty of proof I’ve traveled to different places.

When the immigration officer asked for my return flight for the visa extension, I told them I was cycling and came to the immigration office with my bicycle. They were very friendly and even went to check out my bike at the parking lot. They thought the trip was actually cool. ☺️ They were even worried I was doing it solo as a woman.

This helped me dodge the return flight requirement, since I wasn’t really planning on staying in Thailand, and since I really came here to cycle. I still had to book a hotel, but that can be done if the officers inquire at the border. Bank statements won’t be an issue, but since I’m traveling by bike and solo, also camping outdoors and in national parks, I prefer not to carry the 20,000 THB they might ask to show at the border.

My experience with Thai immigration, police, and other officials while cycling has been lovely, and all of them have understood what I’m trying to accomplish with the trip. 🙏🏽

It’s my first time doing a “border bounce”, so I would appreciate any guidance towards the less riskiest option. ☺️

Thank you for your help and safe travels! ❤️

[ I originally didn’t want to post a photo of me with the bike due to privacy reasons and not drawing attention.., but apparently some people think this fake?? 🤣 Like seriously??

So yes, here you go, here’s the bike, she’s actually a cute, strong, unassuming little trike, and yes, I’m a real person, an actual tourist cycling in Ayutthaya ]
Aug 23, 2025
3 days ago
Barry *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was in Thailand March 2025 for 10 days, then again May 2025 for 90 days, I had extension on Tourist visa. I am going back in September, flights booked for 55days

Will I have problems with immigration?
Aug 19, 2025
7 days ago
Philippe ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
hello, i need advice for visa ,im 61 years old man and my wife 40 years old ,she not thai lady ,i know very well thailand for more 30 years .i want stay 6 months in thailand and 6 months in spain during raining season in thailand , soon i buy house in thailand ,i dont want put money in the bank for visa . what i can do ? visa run after 3 months or other? Thanks
Aug 17, 2025
9 days ago
Marco ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just landed today in BBK. Did a visa run to Vietnam for a few days since I already extended once this year back in February. Showed the immigration my documents no questions asked. DTV workation category. 1 year of the visa over already.
Aug 5, 2025
21 days ago
alv****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello ! Anyone who got DTV with soft power courses experienced any issues at airport immigrations during visa runs ? Like the officers question about new courses and how the course is doing because normally the courses are 6 months long. Is it required to enroll new courses after each one expires just to extend my period of stay? i’m going to skip soft power option if it is so. It’s going to be costly.
Aug 3, 2025
22 days ago
Ive tried to search for this in the group but cant find the right answers. We'll be living in Samui but will need to do visa runs obviously, what is the cheapest way people are doing this? Needing money to stretch as on a soft power DTV so no money coming in.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Aug 1, 2025
25 days ago
With the visa extension, after 12 months where do you guys choose to boarder cross curious if entry is easier in some places thank others? I really wouldnt want to stay away overnight if possible as I’ll have a cat at home who’s struggles being solo.
Jul 22, 2025
a month ago
Hello everyone. I am German and would like to be in Thailand from December 25 to the end of March 26. For the DTV only Softskill is an option. Are there offers for only 4 months? What if I want to change my location after 2 months? What if I pay for the course but don't go at all? I would also only take care of accommodation and flights once I have the DTV, because otherwise I can't plan it. So the course should also offer a full refund if I don't get the DTV. I would be very grateful for any advice. Are there people here who have received the DTV in Germany (via Berlin) and would share their experiences with me?

Kind regards
Jul 20, 2025
a month ago
Stephen **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
hi my wife and I been coming for 4mths Nov to March do 30days go to immigration get another 30days, leave Thailand for a week then come back for 30days go to immigration again extension for 30days. Just been told by friend their stopping people doing this,is this correct thanks for any help
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