Leon1980

In Hat Yai there is a belief that Covid originated from westerners and the students cough and pull up their masks when the teacher walks into the room. 

So much so that 2 of the teachers quit. Racism is much worse down south

I know with visa exempt the minimum is 2 to 3 weeks before expiry, but can Tourist visas be extended earlier? 

Cheers

I just got my tourist visa by email from the UK Embassy. I applied one month ago but we had huge difficulties. 

I fly in a few hours and don't have time to print. 

Is it okay to just show immigration my phone in Bangkok or do I need to a print copy? 

Thanks

It will be very interesting to see what the Russian and Ukrainians in Thailand will do for visa runs when they have completed their 2 land border runs. 

The land border crossing at Wang Prachan had lines of Russians in March. 

Most arrived in November and I expect by middle of May there will be some announcement on changes and relaxing of rules to prevents overstays

The best airport in Thailand we have found to fly back hassle free is Krabi. 

The immigration are the nicest we have come across. They actually want tourists and smile. 

There are only a few immigration officers and no hassle whatsoever. 

We fly from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur return for about 80 dollars. 

We book a few weeks in advance. 

We normally spend 2 to 3 days but many in my condo go back same day. 

Krabi is the way to go if it's possible for you

21 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

What if you are under 50. 

The border at Danok is 400 to return same day. However Danok is a dump. Wang Prachan for most people is 1500 but more for others. Pedang Basar will let you return next day but must have return flights, hotel bookings and 20,000 cash. 

I'm just preparing my tm7 form for tomorrow to do my 30 day extension of a visa exempt. 

I did a visa run to Malaysia last month but arrived in Thailand by air in may. 

What should I fill in under "port of arrival" and "date of arrival"?. 

Should I put the dates of my visa run last month or my arrival by air in May? 

Cheers

My visa exempt expires on Dec 21. 

If I go early my extension will begin on December 21, not the day I do extension?. 

Thanks

1 hour ago, BillyBobzTeeth said:

Did your friend go from Tamalang pier, and did he need to stay a night or did he return the same day?

If so I may try this, thank you

Yes Tamalang. There is one ferry each day at lunchtime. 

The only option is to stay one night as by the time you get to Langkawi there are no return ferries that day. 

Somebody told me that if you go to Wang Prachan after midday (the border closes at 5 or 6pm) when all the visa runs have left you will be fine. Also on Tuesdays and Thursdays when less vans. 

2 hours ago, Dr. Zorg said:

Why go there?

From Hat Yai, Pedang Bezaar is your best option.

 

Pedang Besar land border made it clear that they don't allow same day visa runs. Although people have said the rail crossing immigration are more open. 

I think it is possible at Sadao but I have never tried. But they definitely want a "fee"

5 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Not buying into the story, just had a friend there 2 days ago and it was a breeze. Just not for some Russians.

Not buying into your story.

I had a friend from Wales, UK there just over 48 hours ago. He got a ferry to Langkawi after giving up. 

By January that border will be chaotic. Hundreds of thousands of Russians in Thailand since mid October and they will all be needing visa runs by end of December, early January.

Update on Wang Prachan. 

The border is now too busy with organized visa runs from Phuket and fees have increased and many turned away. 

A warning about Wang Prachan. 

I left a post last month about how easy it was to do a visa run from Hatyai to Wang Prachan. 

It appears to be too busy now with visa runs from Phuket and other tourist areas and people are being turned away. They can only process a certain number each day and priority is given to Phuket visa run vans. 

Border fees are increasing too and one friend was quoted 3,500.

Avoid 

I did a visa run myself with taxi from Hatyai to Wang Prachan last month. 

However, Wang Prachan is tiny and only one staff working each window. Last Friday my friend gave up and turned around as there was too many visa runs from Phuket. The immigration at border are charging some people 1,300, others 2,000 and if big queues 3500. 

In a few weeks the borders with Malaysia will be impossible to cross as there will be thousands of Russians each day from Phuket. 

Even Hatyai now has a growing Russian population. The border crossings to Malaysia are going to be brutal come January

2 hours ago, bokningar said:

Have you had problems in PB? I have heard about 1 days stay needed but 3 days was news to me. Has it happened to you? 

 

This was posted in an other tread.

 

 

 

When I was going to Penang in 2019 the immigration at PB were the strictest and rudest ever and that was just leaving, not arriving, no visa run. 

They made it clear that I could not come back that day. Malaysians and Thais have their own fast queue. Westerners are taking into an office and interviewed and finger printed. 

I would never go back there again. I have heard many bad stories from that border since. One guy I know had to queue 3.5 hours with no shade.

The reviews pretty much say the same.   https://g.co/kgs/SVJ4Ca

16 hours ago, VinnieK said:

Wang Prachan?

Never heard of it.

Had to google it..Satun province.

Why not Padang Besar?..or did the driver made the decision.

I see the ...err....'fees' have increased considerably

Padang Besar immigration are very strict about staying in Malaysia 1 to 3 nights. It's also very busy. Last time we had to queue for ages

52 minutes ago, sallecc said:

This is useful info for many, thanks... Did you use old passport or got the new one? Which airport you flew in?

I flew in to Suvarnabhum and with my old passport.  I was worried same you but honestly you have nothing to worry about. Even if by some miracle you get pulled to one side and questioned as long you have funds and a return ticket you are 100% fine. 

Don't worry at all op. I had 2 years on covid extensions and went home for 3 weeks and came back on visa exempt, no issues whatsoever.  I even am currently on covid extensions again until November 18, then I will do a visa run every 75 days to keep me here until next July when I get married, then marriage visa. 

There are many many people in my condo who have been here since January 2020 on covid extensions who get picked up and dropped off daily on visa runs to Satun with no issues whatsoever.

To be 100% always have 10,000 baht cash or equivalent and a throw away return flight for 8 dollars.

1 hour ago, RedArmy said:

I would recommend the Wang Prachan border post for a quick border bounce - I used this post on Monday - Didn't see any other Foreigners & very very quite - Only 30kms from Pedang Besar.

Thanks. 

Was it possible to turn around immediately? 

Did you have to pay a "re-entry permit"?.

The visa run companies in Phuket charge 5,000 to do a visa run to same Wang Prachan as they say the re-entry permit is 2,500.

Thanks

Just now, BritTim said:

I assume you were using the road crossing. Pre Covid, there appeared to be a much better experience for those able to clear immigration in the train station. Unfortunately, immigration control in the station is only open during a short window around arrival and departure of the shuttle train between the Thai and Malaysian sides of the border.

Yes the road crossing.

The queues at Pedang Besar are unreal at the moment. My friend had to wait 3.5 hours  at immigration. Over 1 million Malaysians have travelled to the Southern provinces since the border opened. 

It was a already a horrible experience before. The immigration lady who deals with westerners is a nightmare. The rudest woman I have ever come across in my life. She interrogated us even on our way out. The reviews on Google say pretty much the same. Avoid that border at all costs