thaiasia

On 12/15/2023 at 3:21 AM, DrJack54 said:

Thanks for update.

Thinking this is important shift for those entering visa exempt with several entries.

Perhaps you would of had more grilling without that onward flight. 

Did you buy actually ticket or "rent a ticket" 

Just rent a ticket from onwardticket.com

I'm in Thailand now. The IO flipped thru my passport and saw the previous stamps, and then asked how long I will be in Thailand, and asked to see my return ticket. I'm glad I bought the onward ticket, because this time it was needed.

Anyway, he stamped me in.

Thanks for the responses, everyone!

Hi everyone, I left Thailand early July and have been in Finland since then. I was wondering if it's safe to fly back to Thailand now, after being away from Thailand for about 5 months. Considering that last time I was in Thailand for a longer period of time, what are the chances of being denied entry now? If they deny entry, they'd send me all the way back to Finland?

Would love to spend the New Year in Thailand !

I would fly from Helsinki to Suvarnabhumi, straight flight.

44 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

This has been discussed earlier.

Also 3 visa exempts plus extensions does not match up with your stated time spent in Thailand. 

One land entry last year plus two this year visa exempt. 

 

Plus one via air prior to that to enter Thailand? 

Seems like 4 already.

That would match with your stated dates. 

Now planning another. 

 

In the second part of another post you indicate  that you have only spent "hours out of Thailand in past 8 months.

 

IMO very little chance of entering Thailand via air visa exempt.

Especially with your planned ONE night stay out of Thailand. 

 

Surely this thread is not serious. 

It is a serious thread. But then again, I wonder if it makes any sense to do this anymore. If I go to Finland, and come back to Thailand, say, January next year, would it be likely they let me enter without any issues? Obviously it would be better to get a tourist visa next time ????

45 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The OP has already done 4 visa exempt entries back to back.

If he tries for a tourist visa imo would be issued void.

Also don't think he will have success with 5th visa exempt via air.

He even plans only couple of days out of Thailand.

He messed up with last land border bounce.

 

Only 3 visa exempt entries, not 4. And I am going to do it again. So this time will be the 4th.

I've only been outside Thailand for about 2,5 hours during these 8 months. First time for about 1.5 hours in Padang Besar, and the next 2 times in Laos, half an hour each time. I just had one beer (beerlao) on the Laos side, then headed back to Thailand. This time I was planning to stay in Kuala Lumpur overnight. Have to see ????

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Ok.

Depending on your location currently in Thailand you could consider best country to fly to and return. 

I would at very least have a plan B if refused entry on arrival you will be flown back to point of departure. 

I'm assuming Finnish citizens have visa exempt entry to countries such as Vietnam.

There are flights from Saigon to CNX (at least there was previously) .

 

 

I'm staying near Bangkok. I've never been to Vietnam so don't know the visa requirements but I've been to Malaysia before and no visa was required. My plan was to fly to Chiang Mai from Kuala Lumpur, but if that's a bad idea, then I think I'll just maybe stay in Malaysia for a while, and go back to Finland. 

I've been thinking about moving to a EU country anyway, because no visas are needed there at all.

EDIT: if they refuse entry, I would be flown back to Malaysia, and not to Finland where I'm from?

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Personally think you have been lucky.

At a guess perhaps border runs to Malaysia.

A 5th visa exempt very problematic.

You just state now 2 visa exempt via land last year and two this year.

That's 4.

How did you first enter Thailand.

You presumably arrived via air from somewhere.

What is total time spent in Thailand.

 

 

 

 

I had to edit that post because last year there was only 1 land entry. Not 2. The first entry was when I flew to Suvarnabhumi from Finland.

Came here early October, so I have been here about 8 months.

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You should have been clear in your OP 

So 4 visa exempt entries with extensions back to back and now going for a fifth.

 

Haven't bothered with a tourist visa.

You should have obtained a METV at the start.

 

CNX is always suggested as a soft entry.

 

Can't imagine how any io would allow you to enter again visa exempt with couple of days out of Thailand.

Try a couple of weeks/months out. 

 

If you have only used one visa exempt via land for this calendar year then try border bounce.

Definitely not entry via air

I've used them both. 1 entry via land last year, and 2 this year as well. I guess it's time to head home ????

3 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

"I have been in Thailand since October last year, with no visa, only visa exempt and the extensions at the immigration office"

 

If this will be your 3rd visa exempt, how could you possibly be in Thailand for 7-8 months on 2 visa exempt entries?

2 visa exempt entries this year. Last year 2 as well

I know the land border entries are limited to 2 per calendar year. But I was planning to fly to Kuala Lumpur, stay there a couple of days and then when I come back to Thailand, fly to Chiang Mai (instead of Bangkok). Visa exempt. I have been in Thailand since October last year, with no visa, only visa exempt and the extensions at the immigration office.

Would this work, or are they going to deny entry at the Chiang Mai airport?

11 hours ago, Salerno said:

It's got to be tough living in the country deemed to be "The happiest" for the past five years ????‍♂️

I'm from Finland, and it's definitely not the happiest country ????

That country is full of angry, envious people. On top of everything else, it's overpriced! Glad to be here in Thailand !

5 hours ago, Saigon said:

That means that you'd better spend at least 2 nights in Malaysia, doesn't it?

Yes, 2 or 3 nights in Malaysia, and it would be a lot easier to come back to Thailand.

5 hours ago, sadmoneysnow said:

Hi, so you exited thailand, entered malaysia, exitied malaysia, then went to the Thai IO to get stamped in but they told you to stay in Malaysia for 3 days?

 

They told me the same thing when I did a visa run to Padang. I did not know you could bribe them though

Yes, that's exactly what I did.

There was a group of old men just sitting outside, I think they were playing cards. The man who gave us a ride to Hat Yai went to talk to them, and one of them said that for 2500 baht he will help me. I paid him, and then he and I both went back to the same immigration room again, and they stamped me in, no questions asked ????

8 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

Is the train up to Hat Yai running normally again?

From Bangkok to Hat Yai, yes. But we could not book the train all the way to the border because there was some problem with the train tracks from Hat Yai to the border. The employees at Hua Lamphong could not say when it will be fixed.

Just got back to Thailand today. In Padang Besar, I was first told to stay in Malaysia for 3 days and then come back to Thailand (I tried to re-enter Thailand after being in Malaysia for about 15 minutes ????)

Someone who offered us a ride to Hat Yai went to talk to some people who just hang around the building and I was told that, for 2,500 thb, I can re-enter Thailand immediately. I know there would have been other options but just wanted to take the easiest route this time. I gave the money to that old man who first I thought was homeless.. After I paid, we both went back to the same immigration officer again, and they gladly stamped me in.

So, 2500 thb seems to be the current price ????

I'm about to do a visa run soon, and I was wondering if it's possible to go to Padang Besar, enter Malaysia, and then just enter Thailand again right after? Or do I need to stay in Malaysia overnight before coming back to Thailand?

Anyone has any experiences?

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Well done and went as some predicted. 

BTW assume you entered visa exempt.

Any question re onward flight from airline at your departure? 

 

Any questions from the immigration officer at passport control upon entry? 

Yes, I entered visa exempt. I bought the ticket from onwardticket.com but nobody asked. In Finland, I used the self check in service, and no one asked any questions at the departure gate either.

The immigration officer at Suvarnabhumi didn't ask any questions.

In Thailand! You guys were right.. immigration was a breeze ????

20 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Your example is very different to OP.

When was your most recent visit to Thailand.

About 4 years ago. 

I already booked a flight to Thailand for next week but after reading the OP I started to think about what happened to me as well at Don Mueang. They told me "you can't enter Thailand visa exempt anymore".

Now that was about 4 years ago, but does that mean you can never enter Thailand visa exempt anymore, or did they mean just that year 2018?

EDIT: I'm entering visa exempt

International travellers to Thailand will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination or ATK test results from 1 October, 2022.

https://www.tatnews.org/2022/09/thailand-ends-covid-19-emergency-decree-on-30-september-2022/

????

9 hours ago, my friend I said:

Most businesses still enforce mask wearing. Supermarkets and department stores, some restaurants, don't go into 7/11a. Many places have a barrier across the door, they don't even let you in.

 

Was at Fort Cornwallis area on Sunday about half are still wearing masks outdoors. Hin bus station most people wearing masks, all the vendors were.

 

Don't know about hotels.

Looks like Malaysians are quite paranoid ????

On 9/9/2022 at 4:15 AM, my friend I said:

Second day after mask mandate ended. No change from what I can see. Business owners not letting people in without masks

I guess the mask mandate ended about 10 days ago. Business owners still not letting people in without masks? How about 7/11 or supermarkets? Or hotels?