ilocos

In effect when rules are subjective there are no rules that we can rely on 100%. Just convince IO you are not coming to Thailand to work as best you can.

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I'm on double entry tourist visa spending a week in Vietnam and arriving back to Thailand on 14th for second half of my visa.

Wonder how this will go. I don't have any back to back visas in my passport, and I don't have any jvisa exemptions. I do have multiple double entry tourist visas over many years. Visa was acquired from home country, not a border country in Asia.

you'll be fine. youre not doing an Out/In7

I wouldnt be so sure!

the other thaivisa article (recently) stated clearly that people with VALID 60 day tourist visas were refused entry in the south of thailand.

even if a consulate gives you a VALID visa,,, the immigration officials may not let you in.

it says above that immigration is warning all foreigners to get the correct visa!!! but this is a stupid Catch22 situation where you get a CORRECT VALID VISA from a Thai Embassy and then you are refused entry with this CORRECT AND VALID VISA!!!!

-- completely bad!! its the Thai Embassys job to NOT issue a visa in the first place!!! the government should make more effort to communicate to their embassies throughout the world of this new rule!!!

i'm sure its just ONE email that needs to be sent as a group message to all their embassies. so why on earth hasnt this been done? why dont foreigtn thai embassies know this rule? why are they issuing visas to people that are not allowed visas?

or,, is it the immigration checkpoints that are misunderstanding this rule?

if the cut off date is in August,, then why are people getting stopped today and yesterday?????

this is VERY BAD and costly to people... immigration is NOT following its own rules!!!

i personally (kind of) understand the rules and I am trying to make the necessary changes. I am happy to play their game.. but they have to abide to the rules!! its really so bad for them to not follow the rules.

ok I'll teach you the rules. Immigration officer has the right to assess whether you are a genuine tourist even if you have a tourist visa. It's a very subjective assessment. If he feels you will work in Thailand he has every right to stop you entering Thailand.

Thanks for "teaching me the rules" Lol

- you are stating what most people already know.

I am not referring to this.

I am talking about this "lack of communication" situation... where Central Immigration issues a new set of rules and they dont follow through.. (they dont bother to make sure that all immigrations AND consulates understand it). obviously their new regulations are not definitively complete.. (as such where it lets their immigration checkpoints know the exact 'ins and outs' of the rules.

immigration officers have ALWAYS had the right to prevent people from entering the country.

but now it seems they are doing a BLANKET METHOD... where ALMOST EVERYONE gets banned!!!

for example,, my parents who come to visit me on holiday every year. they stay here for 3 months and they come twice a year.

potentially, an uncertain immigration officer may deny them entry coz he thinks they have too many tourist visas in their passports.

are seriously,, you cant be saying that its acceptable that immigration (in the south of thailand) denies entry at its border (and advises the tourists to head back to KL and fly to BKK) !!!

that is absolute proof that left hand is doing something completely different to the right hand !!!

i personally think its disgusting that one or two particular borders will not deal with tourists coming from africa and some other eastern european countries !!!

- I mean,, what on earth is that ???

i can remember when they used to COUNT STAMPS in your passport (for 180 day gaps) about 4 years ago..

geez!! what a nightmare that was!!

anyway..

i'm happy to follow the regulations,, but I hate the way they go about it and how bad they are at making sure that their own officers and consulates understand it.

Never invest money in Thailand that you are not willing and able to walkaway from.

This has to be the most condescending phrase ever that pops up every now and then on TV.

It's as if Thailand is unique to any other place on planet earth that when investing in something one has to way up the pros and cons of whatever that investment might be.

Isn't it obvious to all now? Jeez. The guy at the border post has the final say - same as any Western country. Thailand has caught up with the West. I'm sitting with 5 Russians in Starbucks penang denied entry to thailand. They look very unhappy, disappointed. If they have any suspicions you're working illegally you're not coming into Thailand.

In fact they look positively numb with despair, shaken, moribund. I can't but feel pity for them wearing faces like that.

Are they tourists? Or were they long stayers? Or were they working illegally?

Isn't it obvious to all now? Jeez. The guy at the border post has the final say - same as any Western country. Thailand has caught up with the West. I'm sitting with 5 Russians in Starbucks penang denied entry to thailand. They look very unhappy, disappointed. If they have any suspicions you're working illegally you're not coming into Thailand.

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

Do you not read anything in the OP pieces?

Legitimate tourists who wish to enter Thailand are advised to show officials hotel bookings or some kind of travel itinerary.

In addition to this, I would add that (in their eyes), you are probably NOT a tourist when:

1. You have no luggage

2. You have numerous out/in stamps back to back or in close relationship to each other

3. You leave the border at 10am and reenter at 1pm on the same day

4. You are on a bus/van that caters specifically for out/in border runs

Get the picture?

When I first came to Thailand I planned on staying here less than a month, but things changed and I stayed for 13 months. I never worked and I did 12 border runs back to back to stay. First Samui to Malaysia and then Bangkok to Cambodia. I never felt like anything other than a tourist on an extended holiday and had money as I was planning to go to other countries to travel when I got bored of Thailand.

Now my situation then may or may not be common or rare, but without it I wouldn't be celebrating 10 years of marriage and have a beautiful son.

I'm all for doing things the right way, but I feel that Thailand doesn't help itself. Most want to be legal, but there is no clarity and offers that fit people.

Maybe Thailand doesn't want the traveller type like I was anymore, but in this day and age I would think a lot of graduates see Thailand as a holiday / extended break once they have finished studying. Thailand can be a wonderful country than I and many others visited and decided to stay in. It will be a shame if that option is not open to others in the future.

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

What about my condo ? It's up for sale at 1.8 million. I was expecting to get my return of investment back. After all, I have invested money in this country but I'm still a tourist.

Sent from my SM-P601 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You are like the relative that comes for a week and lands up staying until kicked out

Jesus Christ thats up to me ..i mean if i want to go home..that should be my business second the welcoming attitude can be half way.welcome is ok not welcome is fine..but dont pretend to be both of them

Nobody said they (you) are not welcome, just don't overstay that welcome.

Hello Spain, Greece, Italy...

Don't you Europeans have enough playgrounds, where you have sun, women and drink?

No visa hassles, and you can work online?

What is it about this country that is so fantastic?

Surely not just the exchange benefit...

Exactly ! That s what i am talking about.

The motto is " are you a genuine tourist ? do you want to spend your winter vacation in Thailand ? don't you have any problem or illegal activity and you come solely to spend your money ? Go away , hated farang ! Go to Greece, Caribbeans, go away ! in Thailand we don't want tourists ! "

You just said that !

Very smart indeed. You should propose it to the Tourism Department of Thailand. "Go away, farang !" slogan

Go home. Come back next year. If 90 days is insufficient - so what?

Unfortunately it is not up to you at all. It is up to Thai immigration so what I say has as little effect as you. No point in getting all steamed up about it.

I still maintain all tourists are welcome - but only as long as they stay only up till the maximum period allowed. It doesn't matter one bit if this suits your plans or not.

Again and again and again.

Which is the maximum period allowed ??

Tell me.

Is a double visa still ok ?

Two entry with two extension ?

How many days outside between the two ?

If you tell me which are the rules, thank you.

But nobody here seems to know.

It is UP TO THE MOOD OF THE INMIGRATION OFFICIER.

If he THINKS you are not a tourist because he had a bad night sleep, you are kicked out even if you are a 100% legit tourist.

What is allowed and what is not ? Tell me.

This is the golden question that NOBODY knows the answer to.it has been asked multiple times on on a few threads.

What i do know through common sense is that a 2 or 3 entry visa is just 1 visa.

The extension question also is a grey area.

Only grey areas here. The high season will kick off in few months and with only grey areas, Thailand will not be an attractive destination for tours.

Tours have their databases with the rules of every country. If Thailand has no clear rules, it will be skipped by TONS of tourists next season.

Wanna bet ?

"Now, those on a visa run who are allowed back in will find an "O-I" (Out-In) mark next to their latest stamp marking entry. From August 13, nobody with an O-I sign on their passport will be allowed to re-enter Thailand if they cannot produce a proper visa."

How did everybody miss this?

If a genuine tourist on a long stay gets a O-I sign in their passport how long are they not allowed to enter for?

And what is the "proper visa" next time they want to come in if they are under 50 and not working?

sorry but such an important decision, and all is given is a vague statement in The Nation is shambolic.

I think it is confirmed by information at Chong Chom today. ONE visa run only.

You go out and come back in you get "O-I" marked on the entry stamp. This suggests that you can come in for 30 days, go out/turn round and get another 30 days (if you are from a G7 country).

That is it.

Frankly, that is more than sufficient for the casual visitor/tourist.

As for under 50's not working, then marriage is the only option for a longer stay.

... They stayed with two back to back tourist visas. Retirement visas are not an option, they are not retiring in Thailand. They are tourists enjoying winter months in the sun.

As Immigration said "If they are genuine tourists that's fine". No problem.

They can just get one of those 6 month seasonal tourist visas which don't exist.

Either a new seasonal visa is introduced or they will be forced to do a 'visa run'. Visa run is now banned so seasonal tourists who want to stay for a full winter are now banned.

Nothing states that visa run is banned completely. Continuously visa runs and people with a long history of visa runs are those this scheme is aimed for.

Unfortunately I have a feeling that some people who simply want a long (4-6 months) winter holiday are going to get caught up in this crackdown.

It's not unreasonable to buy a holiday home somewhere warm and go there from September/October through March/April. The full Winter.

The fact that people have to leave the country at all and do a visa run is ridiculous - they should issue 6 months tourist visas for those who come every winter.

Can anyone direct me to a long stay burma forum.

You are like the relative that comes for a week and lands up staying until kicked out

Jesus Christ thats up to me ..i mean if i want to go home..that should be my business second the welcoming attitude can be half way.welcome is ok not welcome is fine..but dont pretend to be both of them

Nobody said they (you) are not welcome, just don't overstay that welcome.

Hello Spain, Greece, Italy...

Don't you Europeans have enough playgrounds, where you have sun, women and drink?

No visa hassles, and you can work online?

What is it about this country that is so fantastic?

Surely not just the exchange benefit...

Exactly ! That s what i am talking about.

The motto is " are you a genuine tourist ? do you want to spend your winter vacation in Thailand ? don't you have any problem or illegal activity and you come solely to spend your money ? Go away , hated farang ! Go to Greece, Caribbeans, go away ! in Thailand we don't want tourists ! "

You just said that !

Very smart indeed. You should propose it to the Tourism Department of Thailand. "Go away, farang !" slogan

Go home. Come back next year. If 90 days is insufficient - so what?

Unfortunately it is not up to you at all. It is up to Thai immigration so what I say has as little effect as you. No point in getting all steamed up about it.

I still maintain all tourists are welcome - but only as long as they stay only up till the maximum period allowed. It doesn't matter one bit if this suits your plans or not.

Again and again and again.

Which is the maximum period allowed ??

Tell me.

Is a double visa still ok ?

Two entry with two extension ?

How many days outside between the two ?

If you tell me which are the rules, thank you.

But nobody here seems to know.

It is UP TO THE MOOD OF THE INMIGRATION OFFICIER.

If he THINKS you are not a tourist because he had a bad night sleep, you are kicked out even if you are a 100% legit tourist.

What is allowed and what is not ? Tell me.

<snip>

I married instead and that I did, I haven't regret that decision one bit (yet)

Sent from my iPad so Please excuse any typos

I hope you didn't marry for the visa. Your wife instead of the visa becomes risky. Many get cleaned out, take care.

I am already married 3 years+ ago, and you would be damm stupid to marry because of a visa

And for your concern, my wife is already my sole inheritor (with both a will here and overseas) and has full knowledge over my finances and I AM STILL ALIVE. And sorry for trusting my wife.

Sent from my iPad so Please excuse any typos

If you are that wealthy as you say (already have 3 condos and thinking of buying another one) why don't you spend the 500K to get the Thailand Elite Easy Access Card ? Or is that too expensive ?

Yeah because Thaksin's Elite Card system worked so well didn't it!

I almost bought one of those, but fortunately I didn't, but my comment was directed towards the Guy who has the money to buy 3-4 condo's but is complaining that he can't get a Visa and for him a good solution is the NEW Thailand Elite Easy Access Card. Just do a search on the Forum.

Those original TE cards from when they were first launched are still being honoured so you lost out big time by not getting one as they are for life, which includes the 5 year visas and the one yer entries for life.

I married instead and that I did, I haven't regret that decision one bit (yet)

Sent from my iPad so Please excuse any typos

Did anybody read this line in the story: "Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay."

Seems pretty clear to me.

But does that include double or triple entry visas issued in home country which are not back to back? Ive been coming to relax for 180 days every Winter for the last 8 years. The only work I do is in the bedroom. I do go out and straight back in sometimes. Will I be regarded as a 'visa runner'? Is there any way Thaivisa.com can seek clarification on this please, or request our embassies to get this clarified on behalf of their citizens? Im sure they are best placed to point out the inconsistency of issuing multiple entry tourist visas if they are not accepted for re-entry. After all the 2nd or 3rd entry is: "for the purpose of extending their stay". If out/in is banned and we must stay out, then we should be told for how long.

Looks like we have many very strict wannabe thai immigration officers on Thai Visa. I think visa runners know who they are. Passport full of tourist & exempt visas. It's you they are after. Don't delude yourself. I certainly won't.

Too many posters intent on making a mountain out of a mole-hill.

Too many posters asking questions that nobody can answer.

Too many posters saying that the sky will fall on Thailand if these measures are implemented.

Too many posters with a lack of perspective.

Very easy. If you intend on staying in Thailand for more than thirty days, get the correct visa.

If you intend on staying in Thailand for more than ninety days, get the correct long-term visa.

here comes the genius

mr easy i want to stay as tourist in thailand for 1 year because i have lot of money to do that

whats my visa?

Easy.

Thailand Elite Card.

It's your only choice, but, hey, if you have a lot of money................

this looks good

i am checking, In other words, the usual visa run that needs to be done every 90 days is extended to 1 year - exclusively for this Thailand Elites Privilege Entry Visa.

Apology accepted.

Immigration and many here can't see past the small expat community

I lived in a villa complex in Samui, at least half the villas were rented to owners of seasonal businesses and retirees spending the winter months in Thailand. They stayed with two back to back tourist visas. Retirement visas are not an option, they are not retiring in Thailand. They are tourists enjoying winter months in the sun.

They now either have to cut their stay by half, or more likely, head for the Caribbean.

_______________________

yes I am in the same situation. Just like HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people who want to spend a seasonal holiday AND ONLY HOLIDAY in Thailand.

They will all be affected , so they will go to spend their money in another country. 99.9% of this people gives no hassle at all, they help local communities.

But whenever i tried to say that, I was attacked in this forum. It seems like people who wants to spend more than 1 or 2 months holiday are considered all criminals, drug dealers, illegal teachers, etc etc.

Come on and open your eyes, how many people want to skip the harsh winter and spend it in the tropics ? Millions, and millions and millions, this is not an hyperbole, some hundreds of thousands of them do it in Thailand ....or did it.......

just go to Hua Hin, 90% of people there spend the winter away from Scandinavia...

Did anybody read this line in the story: "Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay."

Seems pretty clear to me.

Pretty clear to you? Great. so enlighten us, what is immediately? One day, one week, one month? Someone who takes a sabbatical and wants to stay one year in Thailand with back to back double entries, how long between the two visas please? I look forward to your response.

Up to you to try, but don't whine when you're standing at the border and will be refused to get back in.

so its fine for you if the consulates give tourist visa and the border guards deny entries?

Again, seems like you don't get the point of this crackdown. This is not to stop you at the border with a fresh new visa giving by a consulate. It's to stop people who continuously has been making border runs, as an example if they have been here for 5 months, then go to Laos and get 2 months tourist visa which can be extended further. They shouldn't disallow you to enter with the fresh visa, but if you try to extend it after those 2 months, then you have been here 7 months, and for a good reason they should reject your entry as a tourist.

Just because you get a visa with extra entry, doesn't mean that you are allowed or entitled to use that entry and be here more than the maximum days allowed by law.

But it would be have been fairer to have their visa denied at the Consulte of Penang rather than giving them a new visa and than being refused entry.

That was not nice. That made many people worried.

I did understand him, but our conversation is much longer and he want to be here as tourist for one year, which i try to explain him that is by law not allowed as tourist, hence why he should get a proper visa.

All he does is making a lot of different "what if" as he did when i suggested a ED visa, he also just said "what if".

I already explain that fresh visa should not be rejected, however, he should not rely on entry makes him entitled to enter Thailand again.

i applied and got an ed visa

personally,it was so stressful...i had to get out of the kingdom

they changed teachers many times

the location of my school burned(fico place in asok)

not to mention the recent stricter requirements

i just want to be a tourist,in thailand 1 year or 2 years or even 10 years

every 3 months getting out of the country,of course,to apply for a new tourist visa

To turn up on the border in a visa run van is plain stupid even with a tourist embassy issued visa. A fool and his visa is soon parted lol. Were the 8 turned back on border with visa using visa run van

i have a been a tourist in thailand for about 3 years,the last 3 years.i won lottery(or sort of) so i could stay long time with ordinary stamps(30 days) or 2 entries tourist visas(180 days) and i did not need to work

i rented an apartment in bangkok and when i was bored i went somewhere else,few days or 1 week or so(i went everywhere in thailand)

i am too young for retirement i am 33.i like to be single and having fun.sometime i went out of thailand(Bali,Hcm city,Tokyo or Vientiane) few days to apply for a tourist visa or just a 30 days stamp

i took a flight (nok air promotion) from don muang to hua hin i was the only passenger haha i had a short talk with the cabin crew about it

me " what the.."

cabin crew "we think our boss made a mistake"

the transfer from hua hin airport to town was free lol

anyway,i thought to take 1 more year holiday or so from october/november

but i cant do that anymore,right?the immigration will see my passport and assume i am an illegal worker

You could consider spending your holiday studying a bit thai, and get a 1 year ED visa which will be around 30.000 baht for both visa and school. I won't recommend to get ED visa for studying thai, and skip school though, because they does sometimes check up on you if you attend your class or interview you when you make your 90 day report.

crystal ball. Perhaps they'll selectively apply rules to Russians, Koreans, nigerians

Hehe, i personally wouldn't rely on a crystal ball every time i had to make a visa run. Same reason why i after 6 months here decided to go for a "proper" visa, i didn't want to be a nervous wreck every time i had to cross that border and not know if i could go back to what i currently would consider as "home".