@Jacob *******

Tourist visas are no longer a good long-term option to live here.

More and more consulates (probably the majority at this point) will no longer issue you a tourist visa if you've just come to the end of one.

Plus, even with a tourist visa, if you've been here 6 months or more on tourist visas or visa exemptions, theres a decent likelihood of being questioned on the way back in, or possibly denied entry.

As long as you attend classes (typically 3 or 4 a week, I believe), and make an effort to learn at least a little bit (which you probably should if you want to stay here long term), ed visas are fine.

When I first got here, there were people I met who were full time living here, with illegal, off-the-cards teaching jobs in village schools, wives, everything - just doing limitless border runs.

Those days are gone. There are of course some individuals in denial of this fact but it is no longer possible to *live* here just on short-term stays. Eventually the point *will* come when you get denied.

If you don't want to teach, or get married, then Ed visas really are your best bet.

Apparently not possible. Seems you driving this here is illegal and "a threat to safety".

However, old, poorly-maintained pick-up trucks billowing clouds of black smoke into everyone's faces (including the faces of young children); they're totally fine.

If you're coming from Cambodia to Thailand, use any border crossing that isn't Poi Pet.

That one's the one to avoid.

The Cambodia-Thailand border has plenty of other crossing points.

@Bryan *******

No one can give you a definitive answer, because like we're saying, it depends entirely on the attitude, discretion, and judgement of the immigration officer in front of you. Generally, the longer you're outside, the higher your chances of getting through without any problems.

There is no central policy book they're all reading from. The only *legal* limit set in stone is no more than two land entries in a calendar year.

There is no definitive answer to questions like yours. It's up to whichever immigration officer you're in front of. There have been cases reported here of people getting pulled aside and questioned and sometimes denied even after 6-12 months away from the country, due to previous extended stays on things like Covid extensions, and back-to-back TR visas & exemptions.

Whilst, again, it depends on the discretion of whichever imm officer you're in front of, it's generally the case that you're not fooling anyone with a short-term stay in another country after 7-8 months here before trying to come back.

Even with a visa, your entry isn't guaranteed. Back in July, I was pulled aside and questioned at CNX airport immigration when I already had a TR visa.

I was eventually let in, after showing the Three Proofs, which I'd already had to submit in Kuala Lumpur to get the visa in the first place.

Just don't enter Thailand using the Poi Pet land border crossing.

They're known for turning people away, including genuine tourists, with valid visas.

Gotta love that ASEAN community harmony

You also cannot apply for a tourist visa in Thailand.

You'd have to either get an E-Visa before coming, or go to a consulate outside Thailand.

With the latter, bear in mind increasing numbers of consulates will no longer issue back-to-back tourist visas (if you've just had one, they won't give you a second one on top of it).