I wanted to share a real-world update from my current stay in Thailand in case it’s helpful to anyone stressing about border runs. I’m married to a Thai (4 years now) and usually stay in the village at her home. My pattern is pretty simple: I come for about two months at a time, every six months or so. U.S. passport, long validity, nothing exotic.

This trip I planned a longer stay — around three months — splitting time between Koh Tao for diving, village time to work on the house, and a quick side trip to Laos for some ziplining and waterfalls. We use my wife’s online immigration account (tm30.immigration.go.th) to log my address every time, so immigration has had a complete record of my movements for years.

Here’s the part people worry about:

When I left Thailand for Laos, I had 2 days left on my original visa-exempt entry. Zero issues leaving. I did the visa on arrival at Chong Mek (not the e-visa — timing didn’t work), which did take up a full passport page. Stayed two nights in Laos. When I came back, Thai immigration stamped me in with a fresh 60-day exemption with no comments, no questions, no drama.

Despite all the fear-mongering (one attorney/agent even told me not to go), the reality was simple: If you’re not trying to live in Thailand indefinitely off back-to-back tourist exemptions, you’re probably fine. My travel pattern is normal, my stays are reasonable, and immigration treated it exactly that way.

Posting this for balance — the internet tends to amplify the horror stories, not the routine experiences that go smoothly.

-- Pic of me and my wife added for a bit of flex. And yes — before anyone says it — I’m fully aware I’m punching above my weight class. 😄

Posting as a data point.

US passport holder.

DTV workcation (self-employed).

Applied via Ho Chi Minh City Consulate

Applied: Just before midnight on October 8th, 2025

Extra documents requested: October 9th, 2025 (all pages of passport + time and date, income for the past 6 months highlighted in transaction records + past 2 years of income taxes, business registration + company profile, CV or portfolio + examples of work)

Extra documents submitted: Mid afternoon October 9th, 2025

Messaged Consulate on Line: October 20th, 2025 (message read, but not responded to)

DTV approved: October 21st, 2025 1:15pm

Good luck to all!

I'm a little out of the loop, can anyone give me an update?

I thought that last year Thailand made a big deal out of announcing that the visa-exempt entry would be reduced from 60 days back down to 30 days. But a bunch of friends of mine have mentioned getting a 60 day visa-exempt entry stamp this year. Not sure what to expect when I come back next month. US-passport holder here, also curious for my German friend coming later this year too.

Hello All,

My mother has a US passport and will fly into BKK after about a week she will come to Chiang Mai.

My question regarding the new online arrival card is about the trip and accommodation section.

Should she use the address for the hotel in Bangkok where she will enter Thailand and begin her trip?

Or should she use our home address in Chiang Mai where she will stay for the majority of her time in Thailand?

Thank you in advance 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

I just spoke with Immigration in Thailand to ask how long the e-visa online takes. I've read the e-visa takes 3 to 5 days, but a few days ago, someone in this group posted that it took 15 days.

The agent said no need for an e-visa with a US passport, I will get 60 days at the airport.

I explained I've been to Thailand 3 times in the past year (Total 4.5 months in Thailand in the past year)

She said it's fine, since I've been out of Thailand for 2 months.

I never did a border bounce, no overstays, longest I've stayed in Thailand is 60 days. Total of 4.5 months in Thailand over the last 12 months.

I have a week until the flight. I have most of the documents ready, so can apply tomorrow or tonight.

The agent said again, don't worry, just come, no need for the e-visa.

But people are posting here about being refused entry, just for visiting the kingdom too often.

Thanks in advance!

DTV Workcation Approved in Taipei for US passport holder living in Chiang Mai

9 March

Departed Chiang Mai, arrived in Taipei.

10 March

*7:42 AM*. Arrived at National Immigration Agency (內政部移民署, 廣州街15號) and took my place behind a short queue of 9 people waiting outside.

*8:00 AM*. Doors open and I retrieve a queue number from a machine and an application form located next to that machine. I fill out the form at the tables provided and proceed to the waiting area.

*8:08 AM*. My number is called and I approach the agent, hand her my queue ticket, passport, and completed form. She also asks for a copy of my passport, which I had on me, and the NT$100 fee, insisting on exact change. I verify my info on her screen, then she leaves and returns with the needed document and a receipt (I speak and read Chinese, so this all happened rather quickly). I go back to the tables at the entrance and pull out my computer and phone. I photo the document, uploaded it (using hotspot) to my nearly complete application, and clicked “Done.” When attempting payment, I received an error message four times. I decide to return to my guest house to try again there in case I need to call my bank. During the bus ride back I review posts in this group and learn it could be any number of issues, including my VPN.

*9:35 AM*. I arrive back at the guest house and try payment once more, this time without VPN. It works.

*11:15 AM*. I receive an email requesting the following:

“• Other request documents: Your company's license.

• Other request documents: Please provide records of salary transfer to your bank account (within 3 months).”

Thanks to a previous post, I already had my employer’s US business license and uploaded it immediately. For the “records of salary transfer,” I used electronic copies of my paychecks plus phone screenshots of US bank deposits made by my employer. I arrange these into a single, separate PDF and submit both documents.

*3:06 PM*. I receive yet another email suggesting my last submission was insufficient:

"• Other request documents: The transaction details must show the bank's name and your name with account number. (within 3 months)"

It’s possible the reviewer missed the info on my initial submission as my name is listed as a joint account holder (with my spouse as the primary). On this assumption, I encircled the relevant info with wider red lines and also included my 2024 W-2 (US annual wage and tax statement) on the hunch that the purpose was to verify sufficient salary. I upload the single PDF and submit it.

11 March

No communication whatsoever. Status remains unchanged at “Processing.”

12 March

*9:35 AM*. To my surprise, I receive an email indicating my visa is approved. I can’t believe my eyes, so I log on to the site and it’s indeed consistent with the email. No request for an interview. So, I change my flight and prepare to head back to Chiang Mai. With time to burn and a copy shop nearby, I go and print the e-visa.

*10:16 PM*. It’s my turn at passport control. I hand the officer my passport and the e-visa printout. Within 2 minutes he scans both, takes my photo, stamps my passport, and I enter Thailand saying nothing more to the officer than “Thank you.”

----------

Pardon my verbosity—I hope the info is helpful. Sorry in advance for not replying promptly to any questions. Try searching the group posts, use the filters, and patiently read. Thanks to everyone else who’s shared info!

Please put my mind at ease. US passport holder, planning to fly to Thailand tomorrow, staying a couple weeks. Can I still do visa on arrival or do I need to do an application?

I am currently a US passport holder in Thailand I arrived on a 90 day type O. Visa, I am wondering, can I extend that while I am in Thailand or do I have to leave and come back in to get 60 more days? It is single entry visa.

Can I simply make flight reservations to leave USA, without doing anything else, receive a 60 day visa upon arrival and then apply for an additional 30 days near the end of my 60 days there. Or do I still have to send all the paperwork to the Thai Consulate in California in order to be issued a visa. I have been told we can now receive a 60 day visa upon arrival. Confused.

Please excuse me if im duplicating a much asked question but im having difficulty retreiving any searches inquiries. Im arriving in Bankok from USA in January for 54 days under a 30 day tourist visa (upon arrival). Is immigration still giving an additional 30 day visa stamp for a total of 60 day stay? thank you.