Currently in Isaan, having spent the last month in Laos and the month before that in Cambodia. Siem Reap was amazing (and we really didn’t want to leave) but our travels to date have made us realise just how easy Thailand is (particularly when medical/dental treatment is needed and simple things like buying clothes, etc.). The mall in SR was dire.

Yes, it appears easier to extend/get a visa in Cambodia. But Thailand overall, for us, offers so much more.

@Gary *****

they don’t just allow you to go two times. If you’re a genuine tourist - visiting Thailand from your home country and returning to your home country - for say weeks at a time and doing so several times a year, there should be no issues. But by staying in Thailand for large parts of the year, the IO do not view you as a regular tourist.

You are pushing the limit of becoming tax resident in Thailand. They want you to get the appropriate visas (and therefore pay for these).

It’s a money raising exercise for visas as well as trying to ensure people are paying tax in Thailand if required. I get it as my background is tax.

As a frequent visitor to Thailand but doing a longer trip this time I will not be staying past my 60 day visa exemption and will travel elsewhere in SE Asia and come back again in a few months. Not worth having an extension flagged on the IO system.

People seem to think the year average limit resets after 12 months, which seems logical based on what that IO have told you.

@Stuart ********

my partner was asked what our plans were for leaving Thailand and when. This was a month ago. Our airline also wanted confirmation of a return ticket or that we would be leaving Thailand within the 60 day visa exemption period.

@Patrick ******

yes I understand but the bus ticket is helpful if your airline asks for proof you are leaving Thailand or the IO at Bangkok asks for your onward travel/return ticket.

Up to you to decide the flight issue timing separately.

Buy a bus ticket from Nong Khai to Vientiane (Laos). You don’t have to use it…

Necessary? Maybe or maybe not. You need to decide on your risk level. We arrived this week and this is our experience only.

1. Your airline is responsible for your deportation (return flight) if you are not allowed to enter. So they might question you. We had a one way ticket and were questioned by our airline before boarding.

2. Thai immigration expect to see a ticket leaving the country, especially if you are expecting to be allowed in on a visa exemption.

We booked cheap bus travel out of Thailand for this purpose. We advised the airline of this. They were fine.

My partner was asked on arrival by immigration when he was leaving. He said we were leaving by bus. The IO wanted to know who “we” was. Once he pointed to me, it was fine. No proof required to be shown but we had it if required.

We are not the demographic they are looking to stop. But, they are clearly scrutinising people who are entering more than before. I would at least want to have valid proof of a departure route to feel comfortable.