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border runs

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This page displays all the results for the Border Runs tag, sorted by the most recent activity. There are a total of 344 questions that have been tagged with Border Runs. Explore the questions to find discussions and information relevant to this topic.
Aug 25, 2025
5 days 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 21, 2025
9 days ago
Marvin *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello everyone 🙂

Do we really need to leave Thailand after 6 months with DTV or there are other solutions to get another 6 months?

Thank you very much!!
Aug 16, 2025
14 days ago
Sasha ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’m hoping to spend 7 months in Thailand and currently trying to get a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa from Canada right now but they have asked for a detailed account of what I am going to be doing during my stay. So I have asked the KPT Language school if I can pay for a 4 month course ‘Thai for Beginners’ in advance, from Canada. I was going to enrol regardless but I had wanted to do it in Thailand - but that’s fine. My question is: I was relying on applying for a 30 day extension and doing a land border bounce through an agent - after reading many posts, I am worried now. Do you think I will have issues?
Aug 12, 2025
18 days ago
Doug *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello all, again. I’m in the USA selling some property so I can put $26,000 USD in a US bank account. Problem is I can’t wait two/three months for the account to “season” in order to apply for a 90-day Non O visa as I planned. It seems my only option is to return to Thailand without a non O and then just hire an agency. The second problem is that from November to July of this year due to extenuating circumstances and lack of knowledge I ended up doing THREE border runs (used an agency).

So I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be allowed re-entry even though I have no bad marks in passport or even comments from any IO. My question is, can I re-enter the kingdom by using a “fast track” service and then hire an agency to do the magic required for a 90-day Non O visa, bank account, and extension of stay? Or is there an option I am not aware of? Thanks.
Aug 11, 2025
18 days ago
Aditya ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does anyone know an agency which does border runs to Pakse, Laos?
Aug 1, 2025
a month ago
Sorry about the anonymous post I don't usually do it but don't want a certain person bugging me. Done my second entry today at chiang khong and it was smooth asf. Leaving laos he said you only stayed one night but I had my print out to hand and (laminated with dtv print out on one side and soft power document on the other side.a smile and through in 2 mins max. On the thai side exactly the same but took a bit longer as the lady was interested about my cycle touring as I was entering with my touring bike.took about 3 mins max. Showed my dtv but she just passed it back to be with a โคกดีและปลอดภัยเดินทาง.
Jul 21, 2025
a month ago
Callum *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just entered on a 60 day visa-on-arrival at DMK after spending 4 days in Taiwan. Previously had been in Thailand for a year on a education visa. Was lightly questioned for a minute about school and if I would study more or not, but seems no problem entering again after leaving for a few days. Never usually post here, but I saw a lot of people complain and share rejection stories about visa-on-arrival, specifically at DMK. Possibly its because they tried to do multiple visa-on-arrival back-to-back.
Jul 21, 2025
a month ago
Ian ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all

I will be overwintering in the Chaiyaphum area with a 6 month METV.

Would anyone happen to know if there is an office in Chaiyaphum where I will be able to get a 30 day extension after the 1st 60 days?

I am just trying to avoid doing 2 border runs.

Tia x
Jul 12, 2025
2 months ago
Zof *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, I’m currently in Thailand and will need to exit country after 90 days being on a multi entry tourist visa (METV - 60 days + 30 days extension).

Do I have to stay abroad for a certain number of days, or can I leave and return on the same day?
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