BritTim

My first visit to Laos was in 1989. It was a magical trip, but the lack of infrastructure made it a real challenge. Getting on a flight from Vientiane to Luang Prabang was nearly impossible, and you could not do the journey by road in a single day (at least in the rainy season). The road was also a bit nerve wracking, as bandits were known to operate in some areas. The town was indescribably atmospheric, but the poverty in Luang Prabang was distressing to see. There was a lot of obvious malnutrition among the children. Of course, I have seen the old Laos disappear with some feelings of regret, but the changes have been mostly for the better from a human perspective.

What they try to charge for the Cambodian visa on arrival varies by entry point. At Ban Pakard they have historically not been greedy, and an extra $5 or 200 baht or so should suffice, even if you are in a hurry. Immigration on the Thai side there are absolutely fine., no attempt to extort money. I hope the visa run goes smoothly for you. It should be OK.

There are no financial requirements for a foreign woman married to a Thai man. @ubonjoecan you please confirm that this applies in practice as well as according to the relevant Police Order's Reason 2.18 on extensions of permission to stay. Before applying for the Non O visa, the visa exempt entry will need to be extended. This is because you need 15 days remaining on your existing permission to stay when applying for the Non O visa at Immigration. A regular 30-day extension is available if not used already, and a 60-day Covid extension should be possible otherwise. As an alternative to all the above, an agent can arrange a retirement visa and extension without financial proof. This is a shady process, but the easiest solution for someone in very poor physical condition. The cost for the Non O visa followed by the one-year extension through an agent will probably be in the region of 25,000 baht, though I am unsure what an agent in Hua Hin will charge.

As I recall, it is also the name of a rock group. You are probably correct that the username is a nod to his place of birth. However, that is far from certain.

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.