BritTim

In my opinion, this is the kind of thread that people are likely to refer to in the future. That is why I believe quoting prices in USD makes sense. As I explained before, prices in USD will tend to be more stable compared to prices in other currencies. While not always true, more often than not, prices get set in the currencies of overseas trade (about 45% USD worldwide, but much more often in Asia, and 35% in EUR, but pricing in EUR is mostly within Europe). As currency exchange rates fluctuate, prices in other currencies tend to move up and down with them.

If you only care about the prices on a specific date, it is more convenient to know the price in your home currency. Unfortunately, people on this forum use all kinds of different currencies, and you cannot please all of them. I suppose you could assume that everyone here is comfortable converting from Thai baht, but I am far from convinced that applies to the typical tourist. What I do know is that I have had a fair idea about the conversion rate from my home currency (UK pounds) to the US dollar continuously since I started travelling overseas at age 17. For your benefit, you can get a good approximation of USD prices in AUD terms by adding half again to the USD price.

Although airline tickets fluctuate so much that it applies less when quoting their prices, it is reasonable to get in the habit of quoting any prices that are not fixed in another currency using US$. As currency rates fluctuate, the US$ price has a tendency to greater stability as US$ is the medium of international trade more often than any other currency. The only exception is when dealing with prices in Europe when quoting in euros can be better.

If there is significant time left on the re-entry permit, the consulate will probably not want to give you a new visa (and you would rarely need one). However, there should be no problem if there is just a couple of weeks validity left on the re-entry permit. On the other hand, if the re-entry permit protects an extension based on working, there is much more likely to be an issue. Unusually for Thailand, these kinds of new visa issues tend to be handled pretty logically. EDIT: If you are still worried, you can have the re-entry permit cancelled at the location where you originally acquired it.

You should have no problems at the consulate in Savannakhet. They will not be interested in extensions issued by immigration in Thailand.

No. The borders with Myanmar are all closed, with the possible exception of a limited opening from Ranong to the Grand Andaman Resort (no visa exempt entries on the return).

There is no good reason to drive yourself with public transport being so cheap in Thailand. One option: fly to Ubon, have some fun there. Then, early one morning, take a van to Mukdahan and cross to Savannakhet in time to apply for the visa. Stay one night in Savannakhet. Next afternoon, collect passport and maybe take the Fly-Ride service on Air Asia back to Bangkok. If you want to minimise the time away from home, and are close to Bangkok, take the overnight VIP bus to Mukdahan, cross to Savannakhet for the visa, one night in Savannakhet, next day collect passport, and return to Bangkok via the Fly-Ride service. Many other good options. Officially, as you have read, using the e-visa service while not in home country is against the rules. Some have nevertheless done it successfully. I would personally not risk it, but up to you.

... or research how to avoid these difficulties, perhaps (not sure these days) by using immigration at Padang Besar station rather than the road crossing. Has anyone tried this recently for a same day in/out?

Since you say fly and come back (no mention of a visa application) i assume you are either (i) holding an unexpired multiple entry visa; or (ii) hoping to receive a visa exemption on your return. If you have a multiple entry visa, a same day return from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur (around US$200 on Air Asia) is one option. From Chiang Mai, leaving Saturday to Hanoi and returning Sunday can be cheap (under US$200) if you are eligible for visa exempt entry to Vietnam. If expecting a visa exempt entry, be careful! Depending on your immigration history, you risk a denied entry, and a border bounce by land could be more prudent. That does not necessarily mean a lot of overland travel. For instance, you could fly to Penang, take a taxi to Hat Yai airport, crossing back to Thailand by land, and fly onward domestically to your final destination.

When doing a border bounce with Cambodia, the Cambodian officials require compensation for allowing same day return. This is legit. According to Cambodian law, you must stat one night in Cambodia. Also, although the price for a Cambodian visa on arrival is supposed to be US$30, they will try to get more. If you pay in baht, or fail to have pristine, undamaged US notes, you will be obliged to pay more (negotiable). If going with a border run company, they may sort out all the paperwork and payments on the Cambodian side for you. Not all companies do, and you will very likely fall foul of the skilful scammers at the border these days, if you are a first timer.

I am aware that, a number of years ago, Laos stopped issuing visas on arrival at Savannakhet international airport. That change was announced. If other crossings stopped giving VOAs, there would normally a notification of the change. However, the authorities may have decided that VOA issuance was suspended, and they announced when they restarted at selected entry points. Thus, other suspensions may or may not be permanent. It might just be a case of a few residual restrictions from Covid not yet having been lifted. EDIT: As it turns out, the Lao authorities did announce the change to the entry points issuing visas on arrival. See https://web.archive.org/web/20210723232142/https://laos-adventures.com/laos-travel-guide-visa:

I have applied for tourist visas at the Thai embassy in Hanoi in the past, but not recently. At the time I used them, it was a good place to apply.

A visa from the Cambodian embassy is exactly as in the past. You do not get a full page sticker if you get a Cambodian e-visa Be careful using Poipet/Aranyaprathet for a border bounce for a visa exempt entry. Thai immigration at this crossing has a bad reputation.

There are only a tiny number of transferable memberships that are potentially available. When those holding such memberships have indicated that they are open to offers, they have received offers that are totally inadequate. There is simply no incentive for anyone to try to setup a marketplace for something that, at best, might result in one or two transactions per year. A 2nd hand transferrable membership will cost you more than the cheapest non transferable new memberships ... if you can find anyone potentially willing to sell their transferable one.

This is an agent who only deals with visa conversions and extensions when all the requirements are met: https://www.facebook.com/asiavisaconsulting/. If in Bangkok, ask them for a quote. It has been a long time since I last heard their pricing.

Mostly, you can only get a re-entry permit at the immigration office that issued you your most recent extension of your permission to stay or, if no extension, your resident province as notified in the TM-30. Exceptions are at most international airports and at some land borders or at some immigration offices close to the border. The re-entry desk at Suvarnabhumi can be used at any time, just before you pass through immigration on the day of your departure.

Did you read https://www.thailandelite.com/membership/? That seems to contain the most important information.

You have other reasons to avoid going via Penang, but a taxi from Penang to Hat Yai airport (around US$100) and onward flight to Bangkok is not that painful. I think your risk is fairly high if you fly into Bangkok without a visa, relying on a visa exemption.

The order is apply -> approval -> pay -> enter In theory, Immigration could find a reason to deny you entry (as they could, in theory, with an O-X visa or Smart visa) but the chances are tiny, and would imply that Immigration has found something serious in your immigration history (perhaps, when you were using a different passport).

Absolutely no problem. Do not worry. Even the Thai authorities understand that travel plans can change.

It would be safer if you used a land crossing (avoiding Poipet/Aranyaprathet) rather than flying in. Since you are arriving with a visa (not asking for a visa exemption) there ought according to the rules be absolutely no problem, and there would not be at some airports. However, both Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang can sometimes manufacture reasons to refuse to honour your tourist visa. Your prior history (before your 90 days on the SETV + extension) could prove relevant.

This sort of confidently stated and totally incorrect information from the consular officials is the norm. People tend to assume that the Thai embassy should be a reliable source of information on all things Thai, but in reality they are horribly ignorant of anything except the services they provide themselves. Unfortunately, their almost total ignorance triggers the Dunning-Kruger effect.

How many visa exempt entries into Thailand have you had over, say, the last five years? It is known that once you hit six visa exempts, the immigration official used to receive an alert that you should be subjected to enhanced scrutiny to determine whether you are a regular tourist. (I do not know it this alert still exists, but suspect it likely does.) Against you will be that you have spent over 10 of the last 12 months in Thailand as a tourist. That might be a problem if the official decides you need extra scrutiny. If you return by air to Suvarnabhumi or Don Muang, the odds are that you will be OK. However, it would be safer to fly somewhere like Penang and enter Thailand by land. It would be good if you could get a tourist visa for your return, but the Thai embassy in Japan does not issue visas to foreign visitors. Although short notice, maybe it would be possible to get a tourist visa through the e-visa system. Another option would be to fly somewhere like Kuala Lumpur (appointment required) for a tourist visa before flying to Bangkok.

By Land, Laos. By air, maybe Hanoi Vietnam.

A run with an agency from Chiang Mai to a border with Laos is a reasonable option, depending on cost and the nature of the transport used. Notably, it can mean a cramped van with lots of sweaty, oversized Westerners. Although requiring some initiative on your part, it is possible to do the run more cheaply, albeit taking a couple of hours more, using public transport, and this can end up being more comfortable. If money is not the primary consideration, it may also be possible to negotiate a good price with a taxi to take you to the border, wait until you cross and return, and bring you back to Chiang Mai. If you want more details on what is required to do this border bounce under your own steam, ask. If you prefer a little holiday instead, you can fly from Chiang Mai to Hanoi on Air Asia for around 6,000 baht return, leaving December 11 and returning December 14. This will require a 30-day e-visa for Vietnam as US citizens do not receive visa exempt entry to Vietnam.