@Lloyd *******

let's be honest, this is something that's extremely common in Thailand. Let's not pretend like it doesnt exist. I'm just very surprised the post was even approved to begin with given how the admin never lets anyone discuss those famous "visa schemes".

Didnt ask for any proof of residence in your home country right?

So how does that work out if I dont have any proof of address in my home country? 🤔 I've been in Thailand for 10 years so even though I still have my name on the family home's mailbox I have no way to prove it.

@Tod ********

I did both 😂

Yes, but for those who are already having ideas, remember that immigration officers probably won't let you abuse the system now more than they did in the past. If you keep doing back to back visa runs, you'll get pulled aside and told to get the proper visa, eventually. I did that for a while and got away with it but considering all the extra questioning I was subjected to, it became apparent that after 5 back to back visa runs complete with extensions for each of them, if I tried to do it just one more time, I would have been turned away.

When entering at an airport it's really just at the officer's discretion.

My mom entered up to 4 times per calendar year on a visa exemption and was never questioned.

I myself did a few entries on back to back visa exemptions (2 at the end of 2023 and another 2 at the beginning of 2024) after having been here on a Non-B for 3 years and even longer before that on a Non-ED. The officer could have denied me entry given my long history of non-immigrant visas followed by back to back visa exemptions... but they did let me in every time (though there was some questioning).

It depends on a lot of factors. Of course it could depend on the mood of the officer on duty that day, but it also heavily depends on how you behave and carry yourself. If you have that sort of entitled and irritated behavior that some people always seem to have with immigration officers, you might run into issues. If you're polite and honest you should be fine.

In my experience the TM30 was never asked at IT Square whenever I used a residential address. They only asked for that TM30 from people who were staying at a hotel. Make sure your residential address is in Bangkok though otherwise they'll tell you to use whatever provincial immigration office your address is in.

@James *******

in my experience they were happy to let me get the extension without a TM30 when using a residential address. Did it 3 times, never asked for a TM30 as long as I was using a Bangkok residential address. All the tourists who were staying at a hotel were asked for it however. Again idk if it was office policy or if they simply decided they liked me enough to not bother with it.🧐

@Tod ********

I've done 4 back to back free entry stamps after having had a Non-B for 3 years. I spoke Thai to the immigration officials at the booth and explained very clearly my intentions. Yes I am trying to enter on a free visa stamp, yes I live here and I am planning to get a proper visa to settle down again properly but needed some time to prepare the right visa type.

They did not object, and gave me the stamp without further questioning every single time. I am not planning to repeat the experience a fifth time though as I will be making my new non immigrant visa soon.

I guess the way you present yourself is also pretty important as, after all, no matter what the law says, they're the ones who decide whether or not to let you in.

@Tod ********

then they could leave through a land border, go to Siem Reap and visit Angkor Wat or something and come back for another free 30 days... it's perfectly legal, why not mention it?

That way they could also stay for 3 months without any trouble.