BritTim

I do not believe visa exempt entry will be possible, even for those out of their home countries for months. They can probably apply for visas. As is often the case, consulates will vary on whether visas will be issued, and the paperwork required before they will be provided.

Those trying to do border runs that are clearly for immediate turnaround and visa exempt entry will most likely be prevented from leaving.

3 minutes ago, Airbagwill said:

In view of latest restrictions can the following passport holders do visa or border runs?

 

South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong,

 

Will this list expand?

As I understand it, they will not be able to do border runs for visa exempt entry, but will be able to do an in/out if they have a multiple entry visa.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Come on Tim. My cell does not even have a Sim. I do not use cell for calls. I use data and wifi.

Yes can be tracked with help from FBI.

This thread is a joke.

It is possible you could use WiFi on a phone that has never been registered with a SIM, but quite rare/ If you are using mobile data in Thailand, you are using a SIM card. Note that having the SIM card inserted is not necessary for the tracking. It is only necessary that the authorities have the basic phone details which in the vast majority of cases they have.

If they have basic information about your phone (and if you have a Thai SIM card they do) then they can track where your phone is any time it is powered on without any need for an App. Of course, the assumption that you are where your phone is may not be reliable.

20 minutes ago, Maestro said:

There is no "betrothed" visa.

There is no specific visa to visit your Thai fiance. However, as I posted earlier, there is a Non O category of "visit family and friends". While that used to be interpreted very broadly, in recent years, it has been almost exclusively limited to visiting close Thai family members (typically spouse, parent or child). That said, it is up to the consul who gets such a visa. To get a Non O to visit your fiance would need both a sympathetic consul, and extremely convincing evidence that you really are betrothed. One recent case was reported on ThaiVisa, but no one should expect to just turn up in Vientiane with a couple of photos of a Thai girl and get such a visa.

Unless really trying to save money, I would suggest a taxi all the way (cost likely around 200 baht). The logical alternative, frankly, is the 66 bus all the way from Sathorn pier to Government Centre (about two hours if the traffic is not terrible). You should be able to get a seat, and I find these long bus journeys bearable with the help of a good book.

4 minutes ago, pdtokyo said:

BritTim was that (now highlighted) spouse ... meant to read ''fiancee" or "'betrothed"' or some equally quaint term?  (i've highlighted it in the colour labelled ''Pumpkin" which sounds about right.

Indeed, I meant betrothed. My fingers must have been operating independently of my brain when I typed that.

You can enter Thailand twice in a calendar year via a land crossing. So far, clear. There is no official hard limit when entering by air. When you request visa exemption at an airport, it is at the discretion of Immigration whether it will be granted. The "six visa exempt limit" has never been a firm limit. It just notifies the official that you are a frequent user of visa exemptions, and prompts the official to scrutinise you more closely as a "genuine tourist".

With your history, I would not be at all surprised if you start getting aggressively questioned about what you are doing in Thailand when trying to enter visa exempt by air. If convenient, get tourist visas. The visa exempt entry by land at most crossings is absolutely fine. However, as noted, you can only do that twice in a calendar year.

1 hour ago, pdtokyo said:

Reading a biker site thread (2015 so a bit dated) and came across mention of Thai-Lao border crossing at Phu Du (also spelled Phu Doo) as convenient for Uttaradit residents.

 

Beats me if i can get Google maps to find the place, can someone help out with a better search name? Of course any current info would be appreciated too.

The most common names used are "Phoudou checkpoint",  "Phou Dao checkpoint" and "Ban Na Kra Seng Border". The last is the one that is recognised by Google Maps. I have never used the crossing myself, but can remember a few threads about it here on ThaiVisa.

Whether or not you use a visa run service, the procedure at the border is more or less the same. There is a monopoly service that takes your passport across the border to get the Myanmar stamps and return. They charge 960 baht, which includes US$10 for the Myanmar border pass and presents to immigration on each side of the border. Personally, I would go to and from the border under my own steam, but there is nothing wrong with using one of the visa run companies if you prefer.

12 minutes ago, thai006 said:

 

i will use that train to enter thailand after 10 days in Laos , can i enter via the 30 days exemption visa ? 

Yes, of course

1 hour ago, reallyaffiliated said:

So land crossing is more safe than a flight?

 

Thanks this makes sense. Would your cross a different border the second time, and for how long do you stay in the other country?

Land crossings are safer for visa exempt entry, although you should avoid the crossing at Poipet/Aranyaprathet. At all crossings to Laos and Myanmar, you can cross and immediately return to Thailand. Crossings with Malaysia and possibly Cambodia may require you to stay overnight. You can use the same crossing for your second land entry if you wish.

51 minutes ago, reallyaffiliated said:

So what you recommend me to do is to just get in on a visa on arrival visa if I cannot get the METV. Then go to the immigration office and get 30 days extra, 2 times. Now Im at 3 months. Then I go fly to Vietnam for example for 2 days from BKK airport. Then come back to dmk airport. Then do the same thing over again, so now I'm at 6 months. Then go for example from dmk to singapore, then fly back a few days later to DMK. etc. Is this kind of the process? Or am I misunderstanding it?

Not quite. The suggestion is:

• Single entry tourist visa (60 days, preferred) or visa exempt entry by air (30 days) in either case followed by 30-day extension.
• Visa exempt entry (30 days) via a land crossing, and 30-day extension.
• Visa exempt entry (30 days) via a land crossing, and 30-day extension.

In total this gives you 6-7 months. You will need a non tourist option after this.

It looks like there is over a two hour wait in Thanalaeng for the return. See https://railtravelstation.com/state-railway-of-thailand/northeastern-line/nong-khai-vientiane-shuttle-train/. I am sure what you propose is feasible, but the tried and true solution of the shuttle bus across the Friendship Bridge will be faster.

48 minutes ago, Bell1234 said:

You should be firmly telling your Embassy that you need the letter and you're not leaving without one.. Don't let them fob you off.

If the Embassy decides on a firm no, you cannot force them. Give them a solution that is clearly part of their current services.

I suggest asking them to witness an affidavit (with the travel advice attached) to the effect that travel through South Korea is discouraged and you changed your plans accordingly. This will have an embassy stamp, and likely be sufficient to satisfy Immigration.

44 minutes ago, Hal65 said:

 

That is an interesting theory and would explain why the new visa is fairly costly (IIRC, it costs around 15,000 thb for just the visa. The school then charges a separate fee for their service).

 

A counter point would be, that I know of 3 places in Pattaya which offer this Bangkok ED visa.

 

So if it is an agent, they are a big one. And/or they are able to do a fair amount of business without concern. There are likely 10+ schools offering this visa here now.

15,000 baht is actually attractive. I assume this includes the conversion from tourist to Non Immigrant entry (official fee 2,000 baht) which gives you an initial 90 days, then a 12 month extension (official fee 1,900 baht). Compared to the old language school visas that give only 90 days plus three 90-day extensions (official fees around 7,700 baht, but often more to avoid serious hassle) this seems like a sweet deal.

Once one agent manages to arrange something like this with Jomtien immigration, other agents will be able to negotiate similar deals. Probably, each school has its own arrangement with one or other of the agents able to fix things with immigration.

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That visa was also available in OZ maybe 8+ years ago. I have never heard of that visa recent times. I don't doubt your post, it's just never heard of anything like that recent years. Clearly it's still possible. Surely not to visit "friends"

The wording is "family and friends", but it is obviously much more restrictive these days. I was also surprised by the (I believe) totally genuine report of someone receiving such a visa a few months ago to visit his fiance.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Pay the overstay fine where. Granted these are unusual times but I've not aware of anyone paying overstay at imm office.

It is not particularly unusual to be allowed to clear short overstays at the immigration office, and have them subsequently agree to process your extension. With an overstay of more than a few days, they are unlikely to agree. It is always at the discretion of the senior official whether to allow it.

It is worth mentioning (though probably not relevant to your case) that the old Non O visa to visit Thai family and friends, while usually restricted to spouse and children these days, has been known to be issued to visit your Thai spouse. At friendly small consulates, if you have absolutely convincing evidence that you are engaged to a Thai, the consul is empowered to issue you even a one-year multiple entry Non O visa. There was a recent report of someone receiving one on ThaiVisa.

A "visa" that you get at a border crossing seems very odd to me. The only thing I can think of is that this is a conversion from a tourist entry to a Non Immigrant entry for study at a university. That would not even required a border bounce (for visa exempt entry) if you were already on a tourist entry with at least 15 days remaining.

If a genuine university course (albeit with language schools running the course) and students religiously attending classes, it is possible that Immigration will leave it alone. If it is basically a scam to get around the current problems with fake language courses just for visa purposes, there may be a pretty immediate crackdown. Alternatively, and this is what I really suspect, it is an agent assisted scam that can provide the kind of paperwork that allows it to get through in Pattaya (but likely not at most offices). In that case, if enough money is involved, it will probably survive.

20 minutes ago, idiot farang said:

I remain confused as to whether there is a 500 baht/day fine for those 7 days???

If you had applied for an extension immediately after deciding to change your travel plans, there would have been no fine, even if you were denied the extension. You will have no good explanation for your delay in requesting the extension. It is not even certain that they will accept your application. They may tell you to leave immediately by air as the overstay is too long to clear at the immigration office. Whatever happens, you are going to pay an overstay fine.

7 minutes ago, dcgm said:

At the moment I'm leaning toward Kuala Lumpur for logistical ease & because I've wanted to check it out. Would there be much cause to worry going the flight to KL route over land crossing from Vientiane? From reading I've done this morning there seem to be some examples of people getting denied at Vientiane recently?

The risk of flying in from Kuala Lumpur would be low in your case. Also, even if denied entry, you will likely just be returned to Kuala Lumpur. If that is your preference, it is a perfectly rational option.

8 minutes ago, dcgm said:

Looking at the requirements for KL I have one question about this point "A copy of reservation/confirmation of accommodation for the whole stay or rental agreement in Thailand." I can bring a copy of my lease but my concern is it extends beyond 90 days - I just wonder if they might use that as a reason to reject the application?

I have never heard of a long lease, per se, being an issue. Some will argue that a typical tourist will be staying in a hotel. You do have the option of making hotel reservations (through Agoda, Booking.com or similar) that allow free cancellation. Personally, I think this is unnecessary, but use your judgement.