falangUK

Absolutely, it was so stressful. Had to go twice for the first extension in Chiang Mai. The officer told me "no more free visa" even though I was actually on a tourist visa at the time, lol. Shame "Big Joke" couldn’t sort these things out along with the "fully functioning" biometric system. Thanks for the link 🙂

Well said, spot on! All their acting by immigration — surely they realize when there are more immigration officers than foreigners entering the country? Maybe they're just trying to justify their jobs. They’ll be in trouble if automated entry gates like in Malaysia get introduced, lol. I don't think they bother flipping through passport pages, doing interviews, checking for 20,000 baht, or verifying accommodation when it’s "Safe Entry" — meaning immigration handled through agents.

I've not used a border run company recently, but when I asked about the second entry, they weren't too confident. For Chiang Mai, they probably don't have much influence at Chiang Khong or whichever border they use to cross into Laos.

yeah just going to apply for an English teaching job 🤣🤣🤣

probably the 2-entry limit is for land border crossings, I don’t think there’s a limit for airport entries, which might restrict the busksheeh flow?

unless paying for a safe entry i guess?

Friendly Thai Visa Services, right? Was it at BKK or DMK? Can I assume those services are legitimate and won't cause problems later? It’s not really worth it for just a couple of months in Thailand. Next time, use Safe Entry from Bangkok — 4500 baht and smooth process.

thanks so much, read that thread, also saw Tod Daniels mentioned sr so thought it was worth asking.

worried about all the paperwork involved, don’t really know much about DTV, i prefer staying short term and taking breaks in other countries, like 2-12 months then coming back. used an ed visa before but ended up stuck here, which i hate, especially with TGF. only and main reason for being here is to be with my pups in thailand.

Asking for a "friend" does anyone have contact details for SR Services?

I don't mind making it 3000 but isn't bribing illegal here? 🤣

Yeah, exactly — same here. In 14 years, never had any issues at CNX. Always thought it was one of the easier airports — just hand over the passport, smile, quick stamp, done. This was the first time ever I saw secondary inspections happening at Chiang Mai. And not just me — there were lots of people getting pulled aside. Honestly, I also think you're right — probably fallout from all the Pai problems and visa abuse stories. Looks like they're trying to clamp down hard now — the kind of "clean-up" Big Joke always pushed for. Problem is, the net is too wide — bad guys might still slip through, I've never worked in Thailand, and never will. I'm not working, not overstaying, nothing shady — just here quietly spending. I had the incident back in 2019, right after they introduced those scanners. They nearly blocked me physically from exiting the country . I literally had to ask the young lady officer to move aside so I could pass through. BKK is still terrible too. Last year, one of my friends — a one-percenter, very successful business owner — came to Thailand for just a 16-day holiday. They held and questioned her at the airport about a six-night stay seven months earlier. Absolutely baffling behaviour.

Main reason I'm staying is because of the puppies I'm looking after. But of course, the girlfriend thinks it's because of her..

I like the tall blond brother with long hair.

Thanks Just to clarify: No history of doing back-to-back visa exemptions before. Was actually stuck in Thailand during COVID, Been out of the country most of last year and the year before. Before COVID, I actually had an ED visa for a long time, so not purely visa exempt history. This recent stay (3 months via visa exemption + extension) was the first stay in a long while. Also — really sorry if the comments about retirement/marriage visa changes came across as scaremongering — I’ve actually removed that part from my original post. It was more a case of "this is the general mood I’m picking up" rather than anything official. Should have been clearer. Honestly just surprised it happened at CNX (Chiang Mai Airport). I usually don't fly in through BKK/DMK, so was wondering if anyone's seen this happening at smaller places like Satun, Sadao, etc these days? Thanks for setting it straight — appreciated.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, honestly I’ve been out of Thailand for a long time — this 3-month visa exemption + extension was the first time I stayed properly in years. Before that, I wasn’t staying long-term at all. Just wondering — do they still issue SETVs (Single Entry Tourist Visas) in Vientiane or Penang? Or any better options you’d recommend these days? Even ED visas or whatever else — I’m open to suggestions if anyone’s had recent experience.

Yeah, usually when I exit, it's for a couple of months or even longer — sometimes a year or more. This was the first time I tried coming back in after just two nights, and clearly, they didn’t like it. Lesson learned the hard way. I’ve never used a safe entry service before — didn’t even think about it, honestly. If anyone has tips or recommendations on a reliable one (especially for Chiang Mai or Bangkok), would appreciate it. Would rather avoid going through that kind of stress again if it can be helped.

Just posting my recent experience coming back into Thailand in case it helps others. I flew into Chiang Mai Airport after a two-night trip out of the country. Before that, I had stayed in Thailand for three months, under a 60-day Visa Exemption + extension. I had everything ready - A booked onward flight leaving in 3 weeks time - 20,000 baht cash - Full hotel bookings — but it didn’t matter. As soon as I handed over my passport and boarding pass, the problems started. The immigration officer was extremely rude. She flipped through my passport like she was looking for trouble. The moment she saw I had only been out for two nights after staying three months, she flagged me immediately — no smile, no explanation. She passed me off to a younger officer who was a lot more polite. I got sent to secondary inspection. At secondary: - They made me fill out a form with my flight details and hotel booking info. - They asked to show cash — and the officer literally counted each note one by one, like they were trying to find something wrong. Luckily I had everything organised. The younger officer checked with the older ones sitting around, and after some discussion they stamped me in. While I was waiting, I saw loads of people being pulled aside, filling out forms, and getting interviewed. It was clear some were going to be sent back. You could see the panic on their faces. Meanwhile, the flight itself was half-empty. Hardly any foreigners are coming into the country anymore, and hotels are struggling like mad — but immigration officers still act like they’re managing an invasion. There’s zero friendliness at the border anymore. It’s pure suspicion. Feels almost identical to just before COVID, when they were trying to push as many foreigners out as possible. Even back then they were rude when you were leaving. COVID destroyed the tourism industry — it’s like they haven’t learned a thing. Warning if you're planning to come back in - Book an onward flight - Carry 20,000 baht cash minimum - Keep hotel bookings offline too. - Mentally prepare for being treated like a criminal, even if your paperwork is perfect. Final Thought Thailand may still want your money — but it clearly doesn’t want you. If you still plan to come back, you better come back with your eyes wide open. Why I'm Posting: I’m sharing this because this forum (ASEANNOW / old Thaivisa) has been a huge help to me over the years. Guys like the late Ubonjoe helped me and so many others with their advice. So I just wanted to give back a bit — this isn’t drama or fear-mongering. It’s exactly what happened.

14 years and counting not even once!

Thank you for the suggestion. I hope it will be back in stock soon. I’ve already asked the seller and am waiting for their response.

Hi all, I sweat a lot and I'm looking for a strong sulfur soap (5%–10%) to help with body odour and bacteria. I’ve only seen the usual Oxe'Cure 2.5% and similar mild versions in Boots and Watsons. Does anyone know where I can buy a proper 5%–10% sulfur soap locally or online in Thailand (Chiang Mai or elsewhere)? If it's not available here, I’m open to good recommendations for alternatives that actually help with BO and bacterial control. Appreciate any suggestions from those who’ve dealt with the same problem. Thanks!

Hello everyone, I’ve done some research on visa runs from Chiang Mai and would appreciate the latest updates from those who have done it recently. Here’s what I’ve found so far: Chiang Khong-Huay Xai (Laos) Border Run: I already know about the requirement to stay two nights in Laos before re-entering Thailand, with roundtrip costs around 2,500 THB and the Laos visa on arrival costing around 50 USD (~1,900-2,000 THB). Has anyone done this route recently? Any updates on the process or potential issues? Flying to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur): I’ve also considered flying to Kuala Lumpur. If I fly to KL, do I need to stay two nights before re-entering Thailand, or is it more straightforward in terms of visa regulations? Is this the best and/or easiest alternative compared to land border runs? Laos Visa Online: If I apply for a Laos visa online, will they still issue the old-style visa sticker at the border that uses a whole page of the passport, or is there a newer format? Trying to manage passport space. I’m planning to make this trip towards the end of April, so any advice or updates would be really helpful! Thanks in advance 🙂

I recently had a very disappointing experience with AirAsia Thailand on a flight from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Colombo. As a frequent traveler with over a decade of flights under my belt, I did not expect the level of unprofessionalism and obstruction I encountered at the boarding gate. The issue arose just before boarding, when a staff member suddenly insisted that I needed two blank passport pages to be allowed on the flight, despite my valid visa for Sri Lanka. I was puzzled, as I had researched entry requirements from both the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Sri Lankan immigration ([https://www.immigration.gov.lk/index_e.php](https://www.immigration.gov.lk/index_e.php)) and found no mention of this supposed rule. Even AirAsia’s own travel guidance for Sri Lanka did not list such a requirement. Despite my polite explanations in both Thai and English, the staff member refused to listen, persistently asserting that I could not board without these blank pages. Adding to my frustration, the staff member was unwilling to provide official identification beyond a misspelled name. This lack of accountability was concerning, especially considering her unprofessional conduct. To make matters worse, she raised her voice and made a public scene, questioning my eligibility to fly in front of other passengers and causing me significant embarrassment. Two of her colleagues had previously confirmed my documents were in order, but this particular staff member appeared determined to obstruct my boarding process. The situation was even more distressing as I was traveling for a family emergency after a bereavement, which I explained to the staff member. Despite this, she showed no empathy and continued with her obstructive behavior. The ordeal escalated when she began photographing multiple pages of my passport, including visa stamps, without my consent—an unacceptable invasion of privacy. Although I was eventually allowed to board, the experience left me unsettled and with a serious lack of confidence in AirAsia’s handling of customer service. I have since filed a formal complaint with AirAsia (Case Reference Number: 174557816) and have yet to receive clarification on whether this “two blank pages” rule is a real requirement, as none of the official resources mention it. Given this experience, I feel compelled to warn other travelers about potential issues with AirAsia’s ground staff, especially when dealing with sensitive or urgent travel plans. Until AirAsia addresses these service concerns and clarifies their staff’s understanding of actual immigration guidelines, I would be very cautious about flying with them.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for recommendations for a reliable mechanic in Chiang Mai to check my Honda scooter. It was caught in some flooding, with water reaching up to the exhaust pipe. I’m not sure about the extent of the damage but would like to get it inspected and repaired as soon as possible. Any suggestions for trustworthy mechanics or service centres that have experience with water-damaged bikes would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Could someone clarify how long the 60-day visa exemption for nationals of 93 countries will be available? I haven't been able to find an official end date for this exemption. Thanks for any updates!