BritTim

Also, be aware that those from certain countries are subjected to greater scrutiny. Ideally, if from some 3rd world countries, it would be better to enter via Chiang Mai airport than DMK, as Chiang Mai airport has no history of denying entry to those holding visas (other than pursuant to Section 12 of the Immigration Act). Even entering via DMK, you would be truly unlucky to be denied entry.

For short visits, Lao citizens can get 30-day visa exempt entries (which, unlike most visa exempt entries, cannot be extended). For longer visits, a single entry Non O visa allows a stay up to 90 days. As she is Lao, it is very possible that the embassy in Vientiane will not insist on financial proof to issue the visa. For stays over 90 days, she will need a one-year extension of permission to stay for which she will need to show 400,000 baht deposited in a Thai bank account.

I agree, but he is not the first person to use the username as a thread title.

Look at the OP's username.

Based on your situation, it seems that Non Ed visas could be a reasonable option. However, you would probably want to travel around a bit first, looking for somewhere you all want to live that is convenient for a suitable language school (not forgetting schools for your children). I would advise entering with a single entry tourist visa, and moving around for the first couple of months to check out the situation. After that, you can get a 30-day extension in country, and (pretty much at the same time) apply with a school for a language course and visa. You need to allow a few weeks lead time to get the Non Ed visas in country. It will depend on the reaction of all of you to living in Thailand whether this will work out. Good luck!

Yes, my understanding is that (for studying at an informal school) it is difficult to get an Non ED visa (or extension) in country after 12 months continuously in Thailand.

The station, logically enough, is called Lak Si. From most parts of the Sukhumvit line, best is to change to the MRT at Asoke station (Sukhumvit on the MRT) which takes you to Bang Sue. From Bang Sue, it is just about 4 stops on the dark red line to Lak Si. EDIT: Also possible is to take the Sukhumvit line to Mo Chit, walk to Chatuchak Park MRT station, and take the MRT to Bang Sue from there. There is currently no direct connection from the Sukhumvit line to the dark red line.

When you leave by air, airport immigration will transfer limited information from the old passport without a letter from the embassy, and stamp you out on the new passport. You can then enter with just the new passport for a visa exempt entry. It is less certain whether this would work at a land border.

At Ban Pakard, there should be no problem doing an in-out within an hour or so, especially if tolerant to overcharging for the visa-on-arrival. There is no problem entering on foot. It is less than a five minute walk between the Thai and Cambodian immigration.

I strongly recommend you check with BOI that they will allow you to use their services with a Non O visa. Yes, I know working on a Non O visa (Thai spouse) is allowed, but as @ubonjoe warned, that does not mean BOI will be OK with it.

Do not be surprised if the Cambodian side Asks you to pay more than US$30 for the visa on arrival; and wants to charge you a fee (100 - 200 baht should be enough if you cannot avoid it) for same day return. The overcharging for the visa is not acceptable, and you can usually persuade them to taker the official fee. Stay calm and friendly while negotiating this. There is a silly Cambodian law that those without multiple entry visas must spend at least one night in Cambodia. The small fee to have the Cambodian officials turn a blind eye to disregarding this law is understandable. I still avoid it when I can.

As advised above an METV followed by two visa exempt entries by land (a total of about 5-7 border bounces over the course of the yea) would allow a stay of a year pretty safely. It would get hard if you wanted to stay longer than a year as a tourist. Another option is to get a Non Ed visa (probably to study Thai) which could be appropriate if willing to stay mainly in one place and wanting to learn Thai.

Staying six months per year on visa exempt entries (in the manner implied by the OP) should be possible. If trying to stay more than six months out of the year, you should avoid airports, entering by land, and find friendly embassies/consulates who will give you visas. You will also need to develop a thick skin if posting here, as some members consider it terrible that you stay here for fun longer than a few weeks a year.

What will you do when the officials responsible for stamping you out of Thailand go to the toilet, delaying you so you miss your flight? There are many officials at Suvarnabhumi. Assuming that none of them will be available to do your re-entry permit is paranoia. Just make sure you allow an extra 20 minutes at the airport or, if really the worrying type, an extra 30 minutes.

You will have zero problems with your planned four month stay. However, recognise that you cannot rinse and repeat indefinitely.

Since he mentions Mae Sai, I do not think he is using visas. I think he is doing border bounces for visa exempt entries (initial one by air followed by two by land).

I think J&E Concierge will probably accommodate you, but would expect their price to be high. Going to Ban Laem under your own steam would almost certainly be cheaper.

I absolutely agree, if that is the only red flag that turns up in his immigration history. There are a number of factors, usually, involved if an immigration officer decides to deny entry other than pursuant to Section 12 of the Immigration Act (especially if entering with a visa). For instance, arriving at immigration dirty, dishevelled and smelling of drink will not, by itself, get you denied entry (though it might have 30 years ago). However, it might well be the deciding factor if there are other negatives in his immigration history. Based on experiences over the last few years, currently, the most important factor, when entering as a tourist, is now much time you have spent over the last year or so in Thailand as a tourist. Second, is whether you have a history of overstays. EDIT: I should have added that all the above generally applies only when entering by air and (if holding a visa) only at certain airports.

I stand to be corrected, but I recall reading that you can suspend use of the Elite visa when you get a Non B visa, and reinstate use of the Elite when you no longer have a valid Non B or extension based on working. Anyone know different?

As implied above, there are three separate cases: You have a Non O-A visa that is not expired. In that case, the immigration officer on entry is almost certainly going to insist that you use it (if you can satisfy the insurance requirement). He may or may not agree to stamp you in visa exempt if you cannot meet the insurance requirement. The embassy that issued the Non O-A visa might be willing to cancel it prior to your trip. You would need to ask them. You have an extension of stay from an original entry on a Non O-A visa, together with a re-entry permit. In that case, you can ask the immigration officer to stamp you in visa exempt, but it is at his discretion whether to comply. Especially when there is a period of months left on your extension of stay, he may well insist on stamping you in on the re-entry permit. You have an extension of stay, but left Thailand without a re-entry permit. This is the easy case. You will get your visa exempt entry.

... except when it does. Everyone agrees that a single short overstay is not an issue in isolation. However, as part of an overall immigration history as a tourist, it can sometimes be used against you.

You are obviously fully cognisant of his friend's prior history in Thailand, especially as a tourist. All I was able to glean from the OP was that he only had one short overstay. Although you can confidently state that the overstay can under no circumstances be a factor, I was not able to be so sanguine. If he his friend spent the last two years in Thailand as a tourist, followed by an overstay, I do not consider entering by air (even with a tourist visa) to be anything like a sure thing. However, you obviously know that is not his situation. I am sorry not to be as well informed about the OP friend's situation as yourself, and considered it prudent to qualify that the overstay was not a problem in isolation, but could be a possible factor in the larger scheme of things.

By itself, this should not be an issue. However, if returning by air, intending to enter as a tourist, after spending significant time already recently in Thailand, it could be a factor. Even then, the odds would be in his favour.

If getting a tourist visa in Vientiane, and returning by land, there is not too much to worry about. If you have applied for tourist visas in Vientiane before, there is a possibility that the application could be refused, but I imagine you are not in that situation. Even (worst case) if you were refused the tourist visa, you could still reliably enter visa exempt which, with the 30-day extension) gives you a couple of months to decide on next steps. Only if you were in the situation of a realistic chance of a denied tourist visa in Vientiane and you had already received two visa exempt entries by land in 2022 do you standard any real risk.

Agreed.