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Great response BritTim - Thanks

Thanks Joe - Border is Poipet - However I specifically want to get the Visa prior to arriving and would prefer to have Visa in passport rather than have opportunity for tea money conversations between paperwork exchanges at border immigration. Visa in passport from in person Embassy application would be least paper exchange at immigration however I am not clear if this still gets a full page taken by a sticker. I am also not clear if the lesser paperwork exchange using the e-Visa online gets a small stamp with less page used or this also gets a full page sticker. Hence: Do you still get full page Visa stickers when applying directly at Embassy and do you get the same full page covered with the e-Visa online once you show the email approval at the border?

I will be doing a border run to Cambodian for a 45 day Visa exempt. Getting the Cambodian Visa before arriving at the border has two methods, either e-Visa online or visit in (Bangkok) Cambodian Embassy and make in person application. I have never used the e-Visa online before, but previously have applied direct with Embassy (8 years ago) and ended up with a full page visa sticker. Do you still get full page Visa stickers when applying directly at Embassy and do you get the same full page covered with the e-Visa online once you show the email approval at the border?

Ahhhh - OK, then my Bad - So Thanks. My understanding was that an airline did require the ticket proof to ensure that they did not have to pay for the ticket back on rejection, but even so; immigration could in theory ask for this ticket and was a requirement, but they rarely did so, knowing that the airlines would be mostly do this. I had presumed that this was also a theoretical requirement at the border. It is good to hear that this is not even in Thailand immigration policy as a requirement when crossing a land border and hence definitely will never be asked for if correct policy is followed.

While flight tickets out of Thailand are supposed to be shown on a border run are they actually normally asked for? I ask this since the rule for showing a flight ticket next time isn't very consistent - if you follow 'the Admitted until' without a flight this exit, why not on the next exit?

Did you need to show a ticket out of Thailand?

Actually that is a very good point - The warnings would probably prevent the denial of entry and like you say there are not a lot of border denied entry stories on this forum.

Blimey - So what happens then? Do you then have to turn around and buy a new (if there is a charge) Visa from the border country you just exited?

Did the immigration ask you for proof of onward ticket out of Thailand?

If when you enter Thailand Visa exempt and if this information was then available to the Embassy and also considered at the time of application for the eVisa - Then theoretically this would show that you are already in Thailand. Whether this occurs is unclear, but this is unlikely to be automatically available as a computer check and if done at all will be a manual process and probably isn't something that will happen due to the extra work for catching the few instances where it is occurring. Obviously applying for the eVisa while still in your home country and then entering Visa exempt would be possible - Yes immigration will have the eVisa information accessible, but when I entered Visa exempt the officer asked me for my eVisa paperwork assuming I was entering this way. I think they must use the printout bar code of the eVisa to access its details showing that it belongs to the passport holder, rather than using the passport information to access details of the eVisa to provide the match.

For what its worth, here is my interaction with London Thai Embassy: Me: Hi, I want to enter Thailand on a Visa exempt, then leave Thailand after 20 days to visit Vietnam for 30 days. Can I apply for an eVisa while in Vietnam to re-enter Thailand? Thanks Thai Embassy Reply: Dear Sir/Madam Thank you for your email. We are unable to proceed with your application if you are not currently in the UK or Ireland when applying for a visa with us. Warmest regards, The Visa Team

After working out a plan that should work because of personal circumstances I will be doing a border run for the first time in eight years. While I have done my first entry back to Thailand in 2 years (previous mix of O, O-A, Tourist and a few Visa exemptions over 12 years), arriving by plane this is the second border crossing for this calendar year. Normally the advice would be that the second border run would be accepted. However immigration does have the power to reject through personal discretion - This is where best laid plans could fall apart and theory of what should work boils down to one person's judgement which is without accountability of why the second border runs is not acceptable. I am only trying to understand my options if this situation occurs, not advice which is the best border to make the run. I really am trying to understand where rejection (or warning of rejection) actually occurs in the process, between the four stages 1). Thailand Imm OUT 2). Border Country IN 3). Border Country OUT 4). Thailand Imm IN. I am assuming that there is no situation where you can exit one country's border and be prevented from entering the next border since you would be stuck in no man's land. Is it normally the case that a warning is given before exiting Thailand (that a re-entry will fail)? Or are you able to exit Thailand, enter the new country only to find you are then prevented from now exiting the new country since you would not be allowed into Thailand? Finally in the event of failure is something added in your passport when exiting Thailand that can be seen at other points of entry?

I will be very near to Aranyaprathet around the time of my second 45 days visa exempt after arriving from UK on my first visa exempt and it would be very convenient to do a border hop at this same time. This would not be normally my first choice but given the situation of my location it would be useful to gather some data in understanding If the Poipet border run is as bad as they say? If it is a bad border hop - what is the most probable downside? a) Refusal of the second Visa exempt (Also then what are the options when stuck in no mans land) b) Payment of Tea money (Cambodian side) OR stay one night in Cambodia. c) Payment of Tea money (Cambodian side) AND stay one night in Cambodia. d) Only simple manageable scams that just needed watching out for. I am assuming that if the Poipet border is really as bad as they say then because of a reasonable volume of people doing a run at this border there will be plenty of instances that demonstrate the norm.

Thanks Joe, Not recommended because it would be something that border / Airport immigration are not used to managing and hence easier to reject or is that there is a specific issue that might make the visa void?

Could this be used as a legitimate way to overcome the need to visit a border consulate i.e Apply for the tourist visa, then enter Visa exempt, then do a border run and use the visa?

Thanks sidgy for taking the time to respond - Appreciated.

I called my airline Saudi Air yesterday and asked if I checked in online if I needed to visit the check in desk since had no hold luggage and was told I am not required and I can go directly to immigration, hence no one can check the onward flight out of Thailand. My experience might be different to others if the airline is different, if they allow online check in singularly and if actually have in hold luggage needing to check in. I am only providing this information since it might help others while possibly not be directly applicable to the poster, flying AirAsia.

Really - Wow! Is this just in Thai banking business hours / before a certain time - or is this anytime?

The last time I transferred from my Wise account into Kasikorn Bank account was nearly three years ago I would normally make the transfer at between 9pm - 10pm UK Time ( 4am - 5am Thai Time) and the funds would show up in my Kasikorn account sometime after lunch time (Thai Time). I am about to start making more regular transfers, being back in Thailand and I read that expectations are 1-2 working days. The way I think about this is that any delay is because time required for Wise to made the transfer to the Thai bank and then the bank needs time to process the transfer, hence probably its unlikely to be within the same hour from send to received. What are other peoples experience of the time taken after transfer instruction for funds to be in your Thai Bank account?

Yes - I get your point, but sometimes the obvious is much more likely. i.e just because its possible doesn't make it actual. I recently had to provide copy of my passport to a UK bank and while they might check my Visa status in Thailand, they are extremely unlikely to do so. I am not arguing one way or the other - I have no idea if the Visa is checked. I am providing what I though might be useful information for others to make up their own mind - On the basis of probability.

It would also identify who I am.

Not sure if this helps since different bank (Kasikorn), but I am in the same situation and I got an email from Kasikorn Bank customer support after requesting how I should get a new ATM since my existing one had expired. "According to your enquiry regarding to renew debit card, in this case, you can bring original passport and passbook contact any Kasikornbank branch in order to re-issue the new debit card with our staff directly." There is no mention of Visa status in the response, but I also never asked.

Thanks flexomike That is a very good point!

Yup - correct Peterw42 It is unlikely Immigration would be interested. The time when a transfer of funds might be scrutinised is if claiming withholding tax at a Thailand Income tax office where a specific officer separate to the claim officer can ask questions on Tax of earnings based upon transferred fund sources, especially for expats. If you are unlucky to be asked, when answering you can claim to have two bank accounts in your home country - One you use for all financial payments (this can include earned income) for a previous year then at the end of a full tax and either some or all of the funds are transferred into the second account. These funds in the second account are then used as the source which is transferred into to your Thailand account. No retrospective previous years of income can be taxed when paid into your home Bank account for a previous year. Basically this ensures that no income has been mixed into the account that has been used for the transfer in the current tax year and hence no further questions about taxable income should be made.

Ahh - Interesting. A friend of mine in the UK who retires in 14 months time will move to Thailand. He does not want to use the 800K in Bank method, but rather the 65K transfer from the UK every month into his existing Thai Bank account. He didn't know if he did start the transfers now for the regular 65K if he will be able to convert a Visa exempt to the O application, based upon the income method when he arrives. Obviously 13 x 65K = 845K and hence 800K in Bank would be satisfied. However he might have to send back to UK the majority of these payments through DeeMoney in 9 months time. Based upon what you identified - If he simply continues paying the 65K he will not need to find the 800K when he arrives - Thanks for that.