@John *********

Thanks. If I’ve gone the year with ฿800,000, of course notifying Immigration, can I then simply switch to ฿65,000 a month? I thought I needed to deposit ฿65,000 every month for a year in addition to having ฿800,000 deposited during that year.

@Richard ********

Thanks. That was what I was hoping to hear.

Moderator: Stuart Cumming May 16

Some of you members (new or not so) may wonder why us mods or others are pedantic about terminology when referring to visas or entry in to Thailand. Many people are confused and mix up terms like “visa” and “extension of stay” or “visa on arrival”, “visa exempt” and “visa waiver” - to name a few.

The reason we are pedantic is that the correct answer to a question can differ wildly depending on the correct term being used.

One example is a question asking “where can I extend my tourist visa in Bangkok”. If they had a tourist visa it would be at the main government complex in Chaengwattana. If they had a visa exempt entry (which some assume is a tourist visa) it would be IT Square Laksi Plaza. Imagine being told to go to one only to find out you need to go to the other after waiting for perhaps hours in a queue.

Another example is “do I need to cancel my visa when leaving Thailand”. The answer is if they are on their initial visa from entry then they can’t cancel it anyway and it will just expire when they leave. However the majority are actually asking “do I need to cancel my extension of stay before I leave”. The answer to that is yes. [edited for clarity - if on an education or business extension] If they ever try to return and get another extension of stay for that reason then it’s a minefield of problems that could occur if they haven’t cancelled their previous one.

Many other instances of needing the correct terminology to give correct answers. So if one of us seems stupidly pedantic in asking for such then please understand that we’re only trying to give you the best answers we can by knowing your exact circumstances.

@Colin *******

Lucky you!:((

@Sam ****

Wishin’ ya luck. I’ve just got to the point I’ll only stay during the winter tourist season. Can’t take the heat and humidity. I’d head south but I’m just not a beach guy.

Don’t kid yourself. Yer here strictly on probation. Checking in with the parole officer every three months is mandatory.

@Chan **********

I might also add, when I left the country, I renewed my visa in Malaysia and was back the next week. 

Also, over the last five years, Chiang Mai Immigration procedures have been vastly improved where the staff doesn’t have the pressures on them they once did.

@Chan **********

Your departure date in your passport most likely is good enough to verify when you left.

My experience with Thai immigration was being made aware I had overstayed my visa by two months. It was a misunderstanding on my part. In any case, the Immigration police recognized it had indeed been a mistake. They warned me I needed to leave Thailand immediately and leave Chiang Mai directly out of the country. I was charged ฿20,000 and it was marked in my passport. Since then, returning to Thailand, obviously my violation would be noted. When immigration notices the violation on my passport, the only response I’ve ever seen is a smile.

If you have fulfilled your obligations for reentry, I wouldn’t be expecting any additional issues. Showing up well groomed, wearing clean clothes, and showing respectful deference goes a long ways in Thailand.

@Paul ********

Thanks for sharing.

@Paul ********

If she’s getting quotes at a $900 a month rate, it’s safe to say she’s considerably older than 50.