raz0r21

This is a very interesting topic. I have noticed many YouTubers that I have watched during the years that suddenly just dissappear, most probably because their luck ran out with long term stays or for economical reasons. With the DTV its much easier so now theres more channels than ever. But making it in the YouTube space in 2025 must be really tough, especially when most of the Thailand topics are covered already. My guess concerning Mickey is that he has a company here with employees. It seems to be a bigger operation at least, with all the different products. And he genuinely seems to love Thailand so I am sure he would want to do everything by the book.

Sorry I dont know. I recommend to ask them

That sounds like a complete nightmare. Just doing a short run to cambodia is an ordeal already. Double that time and you will have the Savannakhet run. The visa run company i used previously now offer Savannakhet runs by air to Nakhon Phanom from Bangkok. It will cost alot more tho since you need to pay for your flights aswell, maybe 2-3k baht extra. Have a look here: https://thaivisaservice.com/

Huh? just go to soi 94 in hua hin and theres a visa agent right there on the beginning of the soi, to the left side. Just book a spot and then go to the pickup point at the time they tell you to be there. After that you get in the van, ride to the border and get stamped in/out. Then back to Hua Hin. The process is done in around 12 hours. Alternatively you contact them through LINE or whatsapp or phone, i linked one company here in the thread before: MY RIDE Thailand Ltd. BOOKING: 082496 2249 WhatsApp:: me/+660824962249 Line:: https://line.me/ti/p/yRKsmm-FFc

A friend of mine did the Myanmar border run from Hua Hin. Its a pain in the ass too, but not as bad as going to Laos. It takes around 12 hours to complete, but at least it can be done in a day. Maybe a good option if living close by, or if going for a short stay in Hua Hin. There are companies at soi 94 that advertise the runs. I also found one company on Facebook that does the runs for 5 300 baht: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221530661758247/user/100083392478106/ To go all the way to Savannakhet in those vans with random strangers, and try to sleep in them during the night... nah man, nah. Im good.

One thing to remember is that this is the low season. That means that the immigration officers have more time to look at your entry/exit history since there is less queue. Arriving during the low season might also raise questions of the legitimacy of your stay since most tourists arrive from October and onwards (especially if you have been coming and going to Thailand frequently).

Thanks for the reports in the thread. Thats a small price to pay for peace of mind.

I think the agent assisted DTV border runs are for those who have problems justifying a long term stay if asked by an immigration officer. Still learning to cook pad thai after 2 years? Doing dental work 3 years straight? Might raise some eyebrows at immigration, for example.

I am almost sure they will start to crack down on DTV holders on the soft power activities. Sooner rather than later. That is probably why there already is a service available (5700 baht) for a new 180 day entry.

Hey OP, I would take the IOs comment as the first warning, and would not push it after this with a new exempt (especially flying in). I dont think a safe service is needed if you have several months in between your trips, but certainly another visa. The DTV is one of the best options right now for us long stayers / "you stay too long in Thailand" travelers. And to those who have commented that the IO has too much power to deny entry. The officer will most likely ask for a supervisor to come and check the situation. Last time the boss came up to the booth and checked my tourist visa, said something to the IO, and then I got stamped in.

There is a bit of a difference between an ETA and a TM6. ETA is something that is needed to authorize travel, while TM6 is just mandatory "information reporting" for your trip. You can probably fly without filing a TM6 but pay a fine, just like with the TM30. Without an ETA you will not even be allowed to board the plane. But it will be an absolute nightmare if both those systems are implemented. The amount of hoops to jump through would be so immense that the losses from tourism would be astronomical. I am sure most tourists will just look elsewhere if its too difficult to go to a country for a holiday.

Just my 2 cents, right now it is high season and the staff are probably very stressed. I would give them the benefit of the doubt, but yeah... I have also had my fair share of uneasy conversations at Immigration. I always feel tense and nervous interacting with them, and this mostly boils down to previous "interrogations" for staying "too long" in Thailand. Next trip I am aiming to arrive with a DTV to avoid all this. As the OP wrote, if there only were some clear rules. Maybe the new ETA will bring some clarity. In the video below the guy on the left says that the alarm bells will start ringing after 3 VE:s per year, and then you get blocked by the system. After that you have to apply through the e-visa portal and obtain a real visa, not exempt. I don't know what he bases this on, but it seems he knows a bit more than usual. You can have a look here:

Some borders require this now, but not all. My guess it will keep expanding though, probably to stop people doing visa runs by themselves to stay in Thailand. Best to use a visa service to avoid problems, even if it comes with a cost.

That is true, but nowadays the land borders have been tightening up a lot. Many of them require overnight stays, or even two night stays outside of Thailand before you can re-enter. With a visa agent you don't need to worry about this requirement, or any other new "rules" they come up with.

You can try by yourself, but I would not recommend it. The fee you pay is to make sure that you are pre-cleared and not hassled by immigration - before you even arrive at the border. They also mark your TM6 card with the Visa agency service sticker, and usually have you wear a little sign on your clothes that identify you as part of the group. If you want to do it yourself it is of course possible, but you might have issues returning the same day. They could ask you to stay in Cambodia a few nights, or you might be questioned if you have a long history of visa exempts/tourist visas in your passport. In the absolute worst case you will not be let back in at that border, and then you have to try to make your way back through another one. Not a fun time.