markus1971

Thanks for the info but my original visa was a Thai Elite visa (before the COVID extensions) and I've been told by just about everyone, including the most popular agents, that this visa type cannot be converted into a Non-imm O visa in-country and that I have to leave and 'reset' my status.... crazy as it seems!

I'm going to Laos in about 10 days time. I'm entering via the land border at Nong Khai (Friendship Bridge I). I have been vaccinated twice (July and October 2021) and these show in my Mor Phrom app. According to the Laos entry requirements, I need a medical certificate in English showing proof of vaccination. Is the paper certificate I received from the Thai hospital good enough, or is the Mor Phrom certificate with QR code more appropriate? I'm confused as to what is actually classed as official proof..... has anyone been to Laos recently and had to show proof of vaccination?? Thanks!

Sorry..... I'm asking about returning to Thailand with 6 COVID extensions in my passport after I've already been to Laos and possible entry problems coming back to Thailand. Thanks....

I'm thinking of doing a border run to Laos soon and would like to know of peoples' experience of coming back into Thailand on a visa-exempt entry through the Nong Kai entry point. My elite-visa expired September 2021 and I've been here on COVID extensions (6 in total) ever since. I need to cross the border and reset my visa status so I can convert to a Non-imm O based on retirement upon my return here. I cannot convert to a Non-imm O visa in-country based on my current visa/extensions..... Does anyone have any experience of coming back into Thailand through a land border with several COVID extensions on a visa-exempt entry stamp? Any advice would be highly appreciated! Thanks......

A quick question.... how many days entry do you get at land borders these days (visa exempt, UK passport)? Thanks!

A quick question.... how many days entry do you get at land borders these days (visa exempt, UK passport)? Thanks!

I posted mine off at the end of July and I'm still waiting for the receipt! I'm hoping it comes in the next week or so because I need a 60 day 'COVID extension' before 13th September and I don't want any hiccups applying for it!

Yes.... it's crazy! You can convert a 45 day visa exempt entry stamp or a tourist visa into almost any other type of visa but with an Elite you cannot. Not even agents are interested in helping anyone with an Elite visa.... it's very frustrating!

You can arrive on that day.... just make sure you bring all of the necessary paperwork with you because if they refuse you your extension on that day then you are on overstay. I was saying 'only a matter of days' because before you could arrive at immigration about a month before your visa expires to extend it giving you plenty of time to provide extra paperwork, or worst case scenario, arrange a flight out of the country. You can of course arrive on the day it expires.... I wouldn't take the risk personally!

Yes, then maybe they turn me away a few days before my permission to stay expires..... maybe I can't leave the country in time and then I'm on overstay.... hence my question. Thanks for your help.

I don't want to renew my membership because I am now 50 and so I can apply for a non imm 'O' and extension based on retirement. And just so you know.... I cannot get that visa without leaving the country and returning on a tourist visa or a 30 (currently 45) day stamp. I only bought the Thai Elite visa to see me through to 50 years old and so I'm not going to pay 600,000 baht when I can now just pay for the non imm O visa. My long term plan is to stay here and now 'retire'. Thanks!

I am permitted to stay until 13th September.

Has anyone with an Elite visa tried to get a 60 day COVID extension? To explain my situation: my Thailand Elite visa and membership expires on 13th September this year and seeing as though I don't want to leave Thailand and have to go through the hassle of coming back via the ASQ/sandbox routes, I am trying to find out if I can get a COVID extension. One very popular agency has told me that because I've got an Elite Visa, they can't help, and another agency has quoted me 10,000 baht to sort it out! Maybe immigration will grant me one if I go alone, maybe they won't.... I don't want to take the risk as I understand that you now have to go and apply a matter of days before your current visa expires. If anyone has had experience of this in the past few months, please can you share your experience. Thanks! PS: Please don't bother replying if you just want to berate me for having an Elite Visa, lol!