@James ******

As top 5% you should just buy elite visa to solve all your problems.

@Andriy **************************

I think Thailand has visa for almost every purpose, so everybody who is not a dummy can just apply for a visa. Staying for a long time in most other countries also needs to apply visa, so why should Thailand be different?

@James ******

there is no 2 exempt land crossing rule. Of course they can make rules different, but stricter rules means real tourist get inconvenience, because there is a hardcore group trying to live in Thailand, refusing to buy a visa for their purpose. And don't forget, for long term tourists METV exists, but of course you can try to profit from free entries as long as it gets, but the visa exempt just is tot created for that purpose, and by using it, you accept that you depend from the individual officer.

@Garrett **********

All countries shoul use it by now.

@Ni**

This sounds like an advertisement from agents offering border runs for visa exempt.

When you call METV and DTV too much paperwork you cannot be taken serious.

When you spend about 10 to 15 minutes, you can have done the application for METV or DTV online, getting in and out the country every 60 days is costing far more time...

It is normal that a country wants people to pay for a visa when they stay for a long time, not just to earn money, but have more control.

And I know the visa exempt is big bussiness for some companies, but that does not make it correct.

@Caz ****

they are not turning away genuine tourists on an exemption, only people who misuse the system. Vietnam not even has visa exemption, and I do not hear complaints. The complaints here are not from tourists, but from people who made it a challenge to get in as many times as possible without paying for the proper visa. And about the Russians I agree with you.

@James *******

Spending is not enough to get access in Thailand and not the keyword here, paying teamoney is a completely different thing.

Even when you prove you buy house or condo gives you no more rights, the immigration officers are not interested in your financial situation, only in their own financial situation.

@James ******

visa exempt only for certain countries, and that list is not as long as Thai list, and also the 90 days cannot be back to back

@James ******

so that is 220 days in about a year. Are you really expecting immigration officers that to find normal touristic use?

You even stayed long enough in 2024 to become a Thai tax resident for that year.

@Ar ******

your friend is using visa exempt, while for his purpose of stay he just need the correct visa, mist likely METV. So he is just using the visa system incorrect, accidentally because he does not know, or on purpose because he wants to save money. You cannot blame immigration officers for this, and I certainly do not wear a rose colored spectacle. I was once stopped at the border after shopping in Malaysia, completely without reason, so I know they are not always acting according the rules, but your friend just has to get the right visa if he does not want to have risks. And parking in Hat Yai is never easy, I think the officers working there just use up all parking space.