BritTim

As @Calderapointed out, refusing entry with a valid tourist visa has been reported from some airports (of which Suvarnabhumi is one). His point is that, historically, almost all land crossings will invariably honour visas, as will some airports (such as Chiang Mai). Reports of refused entry with a valid visa at entry points where this has never previously occurred are useful.

True enough. This who in the past preferred travelling to a border crossing rather than their local immigration office (when needing less than 30 days and not having previously extended) will now be forced to use the cheaper option of an extension at the local immigration office.

That does depend on where you enter Thailand. If you have a visa, many land crossings and some airports will stamp you in without questioning, regardless of how many previous tourist entries you have. What I think will end unlimited consecutive tourist visas is (as I think will eventually happen) embassies and consulates in the region switching to the e-visa system. At that stage your previous tourist visas acquired through the system will be visible. Even now, if using the e-visa system, they want to see copies of every stamp in your passport(s) associated with entry into Thailand in the last 12 months.

Can you explain how this is a suitable replacement for a border bounce at Phy Nam Ron. Normally, people doing this want a fresh visa exempt entry or a fresh entry using a multiple entry visa. I am not aware of any immigration office providing a service equivalent to either.

I am assuming that passengers using the replacement shuttle bus will need to clear immigration at the road crossing (not immigration at the stations). I cannot find any confirmation that this is the case. Does anyone have definite information on this?

When the Thai authorities announced that, starting on a specific date, there would be blacklisting penalties for those on overstay, there were multiple accounts of people leaving to become legal (and returning) with over 20 year overstays (I think the most was 28 years). I believe it is more difficult now than in the past. Unlike most here, I think living in a remote area makes you more likely to be caught. As a foreigner in such a village, you stand out like a sore thumb, and officialdom will almost certainly become aware of your existence. If you are well liked by the locals, officials knowing you are not quite legal might leave you alone, but this is less likely than in the past. Of course, the payment of bribes might buy leniency. On the other hand, if you are in a small, cheap apartment in an anonymous area of Bangkok, it is very possible that no one will take any notice of you for decades. There are raids done occasionally looking for Burmese and Cambodians, but Westerners are usually only at risk in large apartment buildings where the authorities carry out checks on every room.

No. The METV is a multiple entry visa. If you wanted, you could enter as many as three times and receive three extensions based on a single METV.

First of all, there will be zero issues at most land borders and some airports, no matter how many times you enter with an METV. Further, the only limitation on 30-day extensions is that you can only get one per entry with the METV. The only slight concern would be over entering at certain airports (including both Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang). As @DrJack54suggested, there really ought to be no problem with the first entry on a new METV after three months away, but there are some officials who are incensed at the very idea of foreigners entering Thailand frequently, or for long periods, as tourists. It is unlikely you would have a problem but, if you encounter one of these officials, you cannot 100% rely on them to act rationally or in accordance with the law. If you have the opportunity easily to either enter by land, or enter at one of the airports (such as Chiang Mai) that have no history of refusing to honour tourist visas, it might be prudent.

Certainly, it can contribute to the hospitality industries in some countries that compete with Thailand. There is also an argument that it leads to better service and lower prices for those foreigners willing to navigate the obstacles involved in spending time here. I still feel a little sorry for those from cold climates that are just looking for a relaxing, warm place to spend half the year.

There are all kinds of rationalisations you can find to explain their actions. The reality is that you have officials who are upset that foreigners have been allowed to legally stay in Thailand via extensions of permission to stay that, in their view, the government should never have made available. They now decide that they are not going to perpetuate this leniency by allowing the foreigner to leave and legally return visa exempt. It is the same mindset that leads officials at some airports to decide that certain consulates have issued tourist visas improperly, and refuse to honour them. There was a time when these kinds of abuses (at least against Westerners) would not have been sanctioned. Times have changed.

That stamp was reported around that time to make getting further tourist visas from nearby consulates very difficult until you procured a replacement passport. I never tried.

One data point from several years ago ... I only once applied for a tourist visa in Phnom Penh. At the time, I had a passport with a number of previous tourist visas (from Vientiane, Penang and Savannakhet, as I recall) but none from Phnom Penh. I originally tried to use an agent. The embassy told the agent I had to attend in person. When I went, the officials were inclined to refuse me the visa. They eventually agreed to issue the visa, but with a stamp that said I travelled frequently to Thailand as a tourist, and would likely not be eligible for further tourist visas.

While the cabinet may influence decisions, and Immigration has a say when the cabinet is considering such matters, visa policy is set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Immigration Bureau is not under the MFA, but is a branch of the Thai police under the Ministry of the Interior. Consular officials at individual embassies and consulates also tend to have the discretion to adjust conditions somewhat, as they feel is appropriate to local conditions.

Kind of nice to reflect that you are a millionaire until you buy a couple of coffees.

The obvious solution is to go to Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City or Kuala Lumpur where they use an appointment system.

Pretty sure he meant Koh Tao (near Samui).

Unlike immigration officials at airports, consular officials are allowed unlimited discretion, only qualified by what their superiors will allow. Multiple websites make this clear. For instance, see https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/general-information?menu=5d5bd3cb15e39c306002a99c However, That is, immigration officers are airports have no discretion. They should grant or deny entry strictly according to the terms of the Thai Immigration Act (mostly, Section 12).

The FAQ is outdated. Try applying for the e-visa, and see if you can specify Tachileik as your point of entry.

I have received $5 change there at one time when the visa fee was different.

I think this is "problems", as in it becoming increasingly difficult for snowbirds and other long stay tourists to use Thailand as a base.

Phnom Penh is best avoided for tourist visas unless your history as a tourist in Thailand is pretty limited. In your case, you imply that you have had tourist visa(s) from Phnom Penh before. If those were placed in your current passport, I would strongly advise you to go somewhere else.

The best place, currently, to walk across and back is Cong Mek (border crossing to Laos in Ubon Ratchathani province (fly to Ubon, van to Chong Mek). However, I note that you want to do it by car. In the past (not recently) I have twice successfully used Ban Pakard (paying, after a friendly discussion, the official fee for Cambodian visa on arrival). These days, it is very unlikely that you will avoid, at a minimum 200-300 baht for same day return. This is reasonable because of a stupid Cambodian law that mandates staying overnight. I cannot guarantee what it will cost now, but I believe you would be successful doing it as a (tiring) day trip.

Yes, it is an actual Cambodian law. There are a couple of exceptions. You are allowed to leave the same day if you arrive by air at Phnom Penh airport (specifically, only that airport). Also, the restriction does not apply if you have a multiple entry business visa.

If you are going to be shortly reaching 50, the Thailand Elite program still has merit, as it insulates you from changes in the preconditions for extending your permission to stay based on retirement. The 20-year membership, in particular, provides excellent peace of mind. However, the Elite membership is quite costly. After age 50, you can get a Non O visa with the intention of retiring in Thailand (initial 90-day stay) followed by one-year extensions. This is very cheap (in principle) though you need to be able to either keep 800,000 baht on deposit at a Thai bank, or show 65,000 baht per month income (sometimes, trickier than this seems). These retirement extensions can be acquired through agents without showing financial proof, dubious but showing a fine willingness to integrate yourself into Thai society. If you want to avoid the costs of the Elite membership, and just need ways to stay for the next half year or so, this is definitely possible. Let us know.

I have done it twice, but not recently. It is definitely possible, but you need to know how to avoid the scams in a quiet, friendly manner. Do not let avaricious officials upset you. As noted above, a present to Cambodian immigration for the same day return is not a scam. There is a stupid Cambodian law that you must stay at least one night.. While you might be able to dodge this present, expect to pay about 200 to 300 baht. On the other hand, as long as you have clean, undamaged US$ banknotes, there should be no need to pay more than the official price of US$30 for the Cambodian visa on arrival. There should be no scams by the Thai officials, but times have changed, and you may need to exercise patience and understanding with them also these days.