Caldera

Not only that, also the cost and stress resulting from a failed attempt are much higher when flying in.

Since you're making that comparison, I don't see any tangible improvements in the USA either, judging by the outcomes.

I nearly had a chuckle about that, had I not remembered what's really happening on the Mekong.

That's just silly scaremongering or unrelated to the overstay issue. They check for "red flags" (arrest warrants, travel restrictions) no matter if the person leaving is on an overstay or not.

People have overstayed for years and decades with their Thai bank accounts left intact. The only real change has been that banks nowadays need to check your permission to stay when you go to a branch, so unlike 10 years ago, you probably couldn't get a new ATM card while on overstay etc.

As things stand, no official announcement has been made to that effect, and the guidance on the eVisa website that I've posted here advises successful applicants to print out their eVisa. I neither doubt your first-hand report nor am I surprised, as it's in their system just like you said. I just don't think there's any guarantee that another official at another border or on another day doesn't want the printout, which is why your success story is of dubious value to others. Anyone entering with an eVisa anywhere is best advised to have a printout.

If Thais weren't so scared of getting some sunshine and walking around, that would probably be a complete non-issue at this point. All that coughing and sneezing in Bangkok and I never seem to catch anything.

Yes, I've been to Vientiane lately. Yes, the need to print something when I'm traveling around does arise sometimes. I've never had a problem getting it done - anywhere - and if those temperatures in Vientiane (and also in Thailand) bothered me to the extent that I couldn't walk around outside, I wouldn't have moved to the tropics. I believe in being prepared, but each to their own, you did get away with it after all.

You were just looking for the wrong places. You are right that internet shops are mostly a thing of the past, but there are still print shops, copy shops and photo shops around. That failing, you could have asked the receptionist at your hotel to print it for you.

Can you give us an example of such a piece of information they ask for that is difficult to provide truthfully for many people?

That's not how it works, I think you're confusing it with another offer that isn't available for foreigners. The Journey card is a regular Visa debit card, there's just no currency conversion surcharge when using it for purchases abroad. They use whatever the Visa exchange rate is on that day, you don't exchange any currencies yourself. That does work well and as advertised.

I'm aware, but how is this helpful advice for someone already rocking up at the immigration office without child?

Personally, I like visiting Vietnam and travel there quite often. But their rate of return visitors is very low, so unless and until they can fix this, they're no real threat to Thailand.

I have a KBANK Journey card, no problem to get it as a foreigner.

If there's one thing that they should have learned, it's that they need a better candidate.

The popup message when you first enter https://thaievisa.go.th/ reads as follows (added emphasis by me): Attention : E-Visa applicants are no longer required to submit passports and supporting documents in person at the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General. It is important to note that you are only able to apply if you are currently not in Thailand. After the e-Visa application has been approved, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to applicants, which can be printed out for presenting to airlines and Thai immigration officials when traveling to Thailand. They do at the very least advise you to print it out. As your example shows though, you might get away with not having a printout. Especially when entering overland where there is no airline involved that might want to see proof.

Assist him by mentioning that having a child would help? As far as I understand, it takes nine months to "fix" this!

That website definitely belongs to Thai Visa Centre and works just as you'd expect from them. Let's give them @ThaiVisaCentre a chance to confirm it themselves.

It's old news that immigration do have eVisas in their system. I've mentioned that here myself years ago. That doesn't remove their requirement to print it and present the printout when you enter though, so there's no guarantee that another foreigner entering at another border or on another day would be just as lucky as the OP.

Yeah I remember those Batman stamps. That was a fantastic border crossing for border runs from Bangkok. Good old days indeed.

About time that they get this over the finish line!

The TDAC in itself shouldn't change anything with regards to border bounce services. It's merely an electronic service for submitting the TM6 arrival card. Previously there was talk about introducing an ETA, which hasn't been implemented yet but could still be on the table as a phase #2 after the TDAC roll-out. That could be a game changer for border bounces.

The first time I've heard this must have been almost 20 years ago, soon forgotten by those who "vowed"...

So your company has no rubber stamp, no office and no website, and you are surprised that they doubt that it is legit? Honestly, when they said that they want to see a stamp, you should have nodded in agreement and left - to the nearest stamp shop. Sounds like it's your own small business, so what would stop you from getting a silly little rubber stamp to make them happy? Option #2, let an agent do the extension and pay 10x the price of a rubber stamp.

They explained it to you. They see you less often than other border bouncers, so they see the need to extract more money from you whenever they do see you. That the process to extend your stay within Thailand is so convoluted helps them big time. And yes, that is the going rate.