ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS

Visa Exempt Entry

We're getting inundated with posts by people worrying about whether they'll get in or not and I've probably denied over 100 posts from people who outline their stay history on free stamps and then ask if they'll get in or not next time.. :O :/

Believe it or not, no one on this group or any other thai related group has a clue whether your entry/stay history will flag when you go to stamp in at passport control. It seems pretty hit or miss and quite random right now.

It does appear that you're a "real tourist" <- as in you're not trying to live here on repeated free visa exempt entries w/extensions you should have no issue at all comin' into the country. Especially if when you come here you don't stay the full time the visa exempt entry allows (60 days)

However if the officer sees your entry/stay history and it's more than a few free stamp entries especially if there's very little time outside thailand between them you can almost bet you'll be pulled aside and questioned on what you're doing..

All you can do is have proof of onward travel (preferably showing you're going back to where ever you come from in 60 days) and hope for the best.

Extensions of stay on visa exempt entries

Now as far as extensions on visa exempt entries go, it does appear that the immigration offices are indeed issuing 7 day extensions if you already got one 30 day extension on ANY visa exempt entry this year (since Jan 1 2025).

It is totally up to the immigration officer you're in front of when you apply for the extension and they'll tell you if you can get the 30 OR if you're only gonna get the 7 days. Some people with a 30 day extension already on a previous visa exempt entry report getting another 30 extension without any issue, some are told they only get 7 days. So your mileage may vary :(

Land border crossings

For all intents and purposes you people need to consider the Lao land borders closed :O They're not letting people out if you're wanting to come back visa exempt. They just turn you back at the border crossing. There are reports they weren't even letting people on valid multi-entry visas out at that border last week.

It appears to be the same for the Ranong/Kawthaung border with burma, and the Satun border with Malaysia in the south.

NOTE; One last thing;

Just so we're all clear, there is no official rule stating you get 2 visa exempt entries in a calendar year. Nothing stating that has been published at all :O It's only worded that there will be "heightened scrutiny" for people who have multiple visa exempt entries.

That's about all I got as far as info.. Sorry it's so vague

Hey folks! I've seen the recent visa info floating around from various sources, but one thing I've not seen verified is that land border visa runs are no longer allowed. I'm not sure which of the following is the case...

-With a DTV, you can leave by land for a week and come back by land (at the discretion of the visa officer) - yay or nay?

-With a tourist visa or visa waiver, you can leave by land for a week and come back by land (at the discretion of the visa officer) - yay or nay?

Or, is it that all visa classes MUST enter by air if they're coming back a few days or a week or two after leaving by land?

If anyone can link to an actual source that speaks to this, it would be great. Some border run companies said that land border run is no longer allowed, but the official announcements didn't say that, so it's unclear whether that particular part was a temporary measure or not. I'd love to see some sources (not just commenters, but actual sources ;)) that address this point. Thanks!

Hello all,

I’m in need of some advice…

In the past I’ve never had any issues or questions asked about my travels in Thailand.

Pretty much all of my time has been spent in Koh Tao diving.

In 2016 I had a non-immigrant B visa but eventually sold my share in the company and went back home. The rest of my travels have been on Tourist visa’s or visa on arrival(exemption).

Most recently I did two border crossings in Ranong to Myanmar and back in december 2023 and then march 2024 and left the country in april 2024.

Last week I re-entered Thailand with a new tourist visa which was granted to me by Thai Embassy in my home country. Upon arrival the IO asked me questions about why I’m here and when I’m leaving. ( I was in Transit on Bangkok International airport with connection to Samui) My answer was here for vacation and I’m not sure yet when I will leave. He then looked at my passport which was brand new with no stamps but saw in his computer that I’ve done two border-runs and asked me: you think is okay you go to Burma for 1 day and come back same day? You think this is normal. I didn’t know what to answer him but he took me to another IO and she was a bit more understanding. She told me I had to get a DTV visa if I want to stay longer time in Thailand and I explained to her that I’m not here for any cultural soft power activities. I had to book my outbound flight on the spot for when my 60 days are up. She said next time better for you to have a DTV when coming to Thailand.

My questions are:

- Do you think I’m marked or blacklisted in the system?

- Will IO in Koh Tao allow me to extend with 30 days and will they see the information about my booked outbound flight?

- Where would I best go abroad to after my 60 or 90 days to apply for DTV visa?

Anyone has similar experiences?

Thank you kap.

Hi guys, doing a dtv reset run at Friendship Bridge 4.

Is it possible to pay with baht for the lao visa?

So I live in Vientiane and ever since the visa lift, I have been making weekend trips to Udon and the surrounding areas. Today when I crossed I had the guy at the window ask why I’m coming in by land as I’ve already done my two border crossings. I couldn’t believe it, thankfully my wife convinced him that the 2x per year was over and he let me through. But that restriction has been lifted for almost a year now. How has this guy not gotten the memo?

Looks like the Cambodian borders are shut until further notice

Both Thai-Cambodia Border Checkpoints in Chanthaburi Province Closed — Say goodbye (for now) to border bouncers. These crossings were easy targets for border-run agencies, But with all land borders to Myanmar and Cambodia now shut, options are drying up fast. Only a few Laos crossings remain open, and even those especially Nong Khai have tightened significantly. If you're in Thailand relying on border runs to reset your stay, consider this a serious warning

Quite a long list of border crossings. No indication of how long they will be closed for.

How will the new Tdac affect land boarder runs. Will you just complete it via your phone at the border crossing or if your using a agent i suppose they will do it .

Small report: Just passed through Nong Khai Immigration (approx 19.00, taking the Vientiane - Nong Khai bus). I've lived in Thailand before, but this was my first visa-exempt border bounce (initial arrival in January, extended in March). I spent 1 week in Luang Prabang before coming back. Upon arriving at the checkpoint, the first policeman sent me to Room 15 to speak to the supervisor. He asked me what I was planning to do and to see a ticket out (which I had thankfully bought in advance), but did not ask to see ฿20,000 or any confirmed hotel bookings. I hope this helps someone.

Edit to add: I had heard anecdotally that flights to neighboring countries are looked at with some suspicion by the border guards, so I booked to South Korea. These are more expensive, but under Korean law all airlines must offer a rather generous refund policy. It might be worth considering this for your own situation as well.

Source:

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