It's unusual this happened after she spent over half a year outside of the country, but this still serves as a teachable moment regarding staying here on border hops and tourist visas.

"But I know (person) who stayed here for two or three years on tourist visas and/or bounces", "So, what, it just depends on the whims of the IO?", "But, I haven't broken any laws or rules".

Yep, yep, and yep. That's basically how it works. There are no written, fixed rules or policies on how long someone can be here on short-term stays (apart from no more than two land entries per calendar year).

The answer to the question of "how long can I stay here on short-term stays" is, basically, you can keep doing it until you can't any longer.

When the "can't any longer" time comes will vary from person to person, and will depend on which immigration officer you get in front of you.

But eventually the point will come where they look at your history and say "no more", and sadly, this seems to have arrived for her now.

@Jay ****

Sorry, that was supposed to be tagged at Blade Muller.

All threads I've seen seem to be of him complaining about Thailand, calling them "third-world" etc.

@Jay ****

If you dislike Thailand so much, why are you here?

@Matthew *********

If you read the post, she already had a visa, and was trying to enter after 8 months outside TH.

You're not fooling anyone by staying a week in Kuala Lumpur.

Also, visa in your passport or not, entry is *always* at the discretion of the immigration officer in front of you. Having a visa is *not* a guaranteed entry ticket.

Also, there is no such thing as a 90-day tourist visa. There are 60-day visas, with the option to extend 30 further days.

@Viola *******

You're talking about the Poi Pet border, which is a special case. They're notorious for indiscriminately rejecting many if not most, including people who are obviously genuine tourists, with recent stays in numerous SE Asian countries. Poi Pet is universally regarded as *the* border to avoid at *any* cost.

Also, the border guards and local Cambodian mafia there appear to have a scam going; there have been numerous accounts of people walking dejectedly away from the checkpoint - and then wouldn't you know it, out of nowhere, two local lads appear. "Oh, you got rejected? No problem! We know people at the checkpoint, for a fee of X, we can get you through!".

@Ron ******

Back in June, I was with a busload of border bouncers in Mae Sai (this was a week or two before it was closed to foreigners), and a woman on my bus was able to pay off her overstay and get everything sorted right there at the border.

I'm curious where you got this information, and if you're right, when was this change brought in.

@Mick ******

Oh my, you burned me. You are truly a titan of wit and intellect.

I don't know how I shall ever recover.

@Rob ******

Instead of criticising othes for mentioning their sexuality when it becomes an actual impediment to their life, maybe be thankful that you don't need to worry about being in this position.

As in, if you came here with your wife, you would not have this problem. Your marriage would be recognised here, and she'd just be able to get a dependent visa.

Instead of complaining about people raising the issue of discrimination for being LGBT, maybe be thankful that you don't need to worry about being discriminated against for being straight.

There's also nothing to stop you from making an anonymous report here.

Though what, if anything, will come from that is another matter.

Unusual that they're directly asking for money on office premises.

These days, they seem, in most places, to be more discreet about it, and keen to protect the image of Thailand from foreign eyes.; they make more of a show in the office, in public, where the cameras are running, of having integrity. They have big signs discouraging giving "tips" etc.

(Any taking of "tea money" usually takes place in private locations off official premises, between Thais.)