Brian92

Hello everyone.

I hope I'm right here. My question is very simple, but the answer seems to be very hard to find for me, unfortunately. So, I hope that you nice people here might be able to help me ?

I am from Germany and planning to go to Thailand for 3-4 months (tourist visa + 30 day extension + maybe one visa run) for the first time in a condominium/apartment instead of a hotel. How should I report my stay at the immigration office so that I don't get any problems when extending if I live:

- in a condo rented via airbnb.com

- with my girlfriend who is renting a condo in a big condominium complex (so, she is not the owner)

- or something else you could recommend me?

Thanks a lot in advance ?

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Who is telling you that. It is is certainly possible. Since the 2 the entry rule went into effect last year it has actually gotten. easier,

Unfortunately, I cannot find the exact source anymore. But I read a few times that while border runs are still offered, they are only a valid option anymore for those in possession of any kind of visa (tourist visa, multi entry visa, etc.). However, not for those simply trying to extend their non-visa stay in Thailand (Visa Exempt) as it is in my case.

You mean that since the two-entries-per-year via land crossings rule took effect, it has actually got easier again and my above elobrated worries are old news now? :)

34 minutes ago, BritTim said:

You can do a border hop by land to get a fresh visa exempt entry. However, by land, this is strictly limited to two times per calendar year. If you are sure the visa exempt entry you want will be the last you need this year, I would suggest just using a land crossing. If you are unsure of your future plans, go to Vientiane, and get an actual tourist visa. You will only need to stay one night in Vientiane to accomplish this.

 

Visa exempt entries by air are actually more risky now (assuming you stay within the by land twice per year limit) than visa exempt entries at land crossings. That said, if you want to spend a few days in Phnom Penh, and getting a tourist visa there is inconvenient (sometimes the case, as it takes longer than at other places in the region) you are likely to be OK entering visa exempt again by air.

Thank you for your answer. However, I don't understand you 100%. Could you please elaborate the following a little bit more? I can do a border hop? You mean like I can go to Cambodia and come back within one day? That's what I planned originally but seems like it's not possible anymore. The two times per year limit on land crossings would not be a problem, I never did that before. Can you tell me why visa exempt entries by air are more risky now? Thank you.

Hello, I'm having a problem and hope I'm in the right thread to get help. I'm German. I entered Thailand via air and got the Visa Exempt for 30 days. I extended this for 30 days, so now I'm here for almost 2 months already. Now I'd like to stay another month and so I'm thinking about my options. As I hear, Visa Runs to get the 30 day stamp seem almost impossible these days. So, my current idea is to fly to Cambodia (Phnom Penh) for a few days (I was thinking 5 nights) as I wanted to visit there anyway and then fly back to Bangkok to get another Visa Exempt. Can anyone tell me the chances of this working out? Would be very much appreciated.

5 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

There is no source for it not being reinstated, because it was never reinstated (circular logic, but true in this case). 

 

But, there are IOs  who work at Thai Airports who think this *should* be the law, and will quote it to those they are considering to refuse-entry and put into detention.  Because airport-IOs are, in essence, enforcing this non-rule (and other rules they have invented), it is wise to expect one could have problems when breaking this non-rule if one enters their domain of control.

 

When persons who have this rule quoted to them find the "official" reason for rejection of entry in their passport, it is for one of the actual legal reasons for refusing entry (however nonsensical it may be) - rather than the non-existent rule.  Usually, the "official" denial written in the rejected-person's passport is for not having "sufficient funds for support" (20K Baht in cash or travelers checks - plastic not accepted, and no option to visit an ATM).  In some cases where the person had the cash, they were never asked to show it, and still received this official-reason for rejection.  If the foreigner shows the money (asked or not), and the IO still wants to reject entry, the "official" reason written in the passport is "coming here to work," (as if Germans are flooding in to take jobs for a fraction of the wage they could receive at home). 

 

The combination of outdated info on websites, combined with IOs quoting the non-rule, is the likely reason why people think this non-rule is still a real-rule.

Thanks man. Makes perfect sense and matches with what I thought myself. As you seem very well informed, could you give me an advice for my specific scenario? I've been to Thailand a total of six times (with the 30 day visa exemption) via airplane.

July to August 2015 (10 days)

March to April 2016 (around 2 weeks)

November to December 2016 (around 2 weeks)

4th April to 2nd May 2017

10th May to 31st May 2017

23rd June to 20th August 2017 (with the 30 day extension for 1900 Baht)

As you can see, no border runs, back-to-back entries or anything like that. But it would sum up to be 110 days within the last 6 months already. Now I'd like to travel to Thailand again soon (maybe in one week for about 3 weeks). Would you be worried in my case? :)

21 minutes ago, stevenl said:

That rule is not in effect anymore.

 

Some people are questioned after arrival by immigration though, because the system gives a warning after too many visa exempt entries.

Thank you stevenl for your quick answer. Do you happen to have any source for this? That's what I'm primarily looking for :) Thanks in advance :)

Hello everyone. I have a very important question which I can't seem to find a clear answer to in a similar (German) forum or by searching the internet myself. Is there or isn't there still the "90 days within 6 months" rule for visa exempts?

I've read this whole thread and you seem to be convinced that this rule is not effective anymore. However, unfortunately, I have several fellows in the German forum who are convinced otherwise. They know about the rule being rescinded in 2008, but claim it has been reinstated since. I really can't find any trustworthy source with a date (since the aforementioned rescindment in 2008) that states otherwise. The German website of the Thai Embassy also claims that this rule still exists... but also without a date (and official German websites like this are notorious for being outdated).

So, I hope that someone here can help me with providing a source :)