Highlandman

Lol, same thing!!

In one or two rare cases, I read on various visa related Facebook forums (months ago now) that such visas were being canceled. However, it wasn't a widespread practice. Yes, like I mentioned, previous holders of volunteer visas obtained through agents may have trouble getting elite visas or certain types of extensions. Haven't heard of issues with visa exempt or tourist visa entries, especially if some time has elapsed since their last stay on a volunteer visa.

Understood. Obviously they saw that there was no electronic record of her having left on her Thai passport.

My understanding is that provided your visa/extension was NOT canceled during the time you held it AND you attempt to come back on any visa or exemption that is NOT related to that extension, you should be fine. That being said and like I mentioned before, you may have trouble converting to certain other types of visas but this applies ONLY to those having held agent assisted volunteer visas and maybe education visas. The other types are safe.

Yes, in the case of volunteer extensions. Affected individuals had their extensions canceled and forced to leave the country and were additionally fined for overstay. However, if you WERE on an agent assisted extension in the past but no longer now, you should be fine. Except, sadly, in the case of volunteer and education visas, you may, in some cases, have trouble extending certain types of visas in country or applying for a privilege (elite) visa. Bizarrely, even legitimate volunteer and education visa holders may find it difficult to get an elite visa because so many were agent assisted that a blanket "ban" is imposed on elite/privilege visa applicants. I don't think that will extend to marriage/retirement agent assisted extensions, as immigration knows most of those are "legit" except for not having the funds seasoned part. It would cause a lot of chaos if they cracked down on those, hence why I don't believe they will, at least not for a long time to come. The difference being is that volunteer and education visas obtained through agents have been used by criminals using Thailand as a base, hence the reason for the crackdown. I also don't know how far back they go when scrutinizing previous holders of such extensions. I can imagine someone who last held a volunteer visa obtained through an agent 10 years ago would have no troubles whereas someone who's held one in the past 3 years would.

They're both next to each other so why make it sound more complicated than it is.

Why wouldn't they let you through with your car? Most people who cross the Malaysian border go by car and it's a very straightforward process. Only need the blue book and you're good to go.

Most border runners return immediately and they don't have an elite visa, which virtually guarantees re entry.

If HCMC requires seasoning of funds, it's absolutely pointless to go there. Immigration inside Thailand requires 60 day funds seasoning and you receive a 12 month extension, as opposed to just 90 days you receive per entry on a non-O multiple entry.

Huh? Why are they looking for exit stamps inside Thai passports when there's autogates now and have been for years now?

I usually enjoy spending a day there every now and then, even though there really isn't much to do (once you've seen That Ing Hang and the forest just outside the city) other than dining at one of the nice restaurants there and going for a run alongside the Mekong. The point is that just getting to Savannakhet is a trek, especially for a FIFO worker. You can't fly there from Bangkok anymore, so either you're going by land or flying to Ubon or Nakorn Phanom and then catching a bus or taxi to the border and then crossing the border etc whereas everything is so convenient when it comes to traveling to Saigon.

Well, it's a long trip unless you're living somewhere like Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani or Nakorn Phanom, but even then it's a hassle. It's fine under the previous system but with this change it will be a lot more work for those that choose to do it that way. I suspect, not many will. Instead, they'll use agents or do in country extensions or just get the non-O multi entry with Financials.

In which case, the question would need to be asked: why not just get an extension of stay at your local immigration office in Thailand? If the requirements to seek a visa abroad are going to be almost like those at immigration offices inside Thailand, it negates the point of going there anymore.

Well, in that case they might as well go to Ho Chi Minh, which hosts many oil and gas guys and also has a major international airport, unlike Savannakhet, which is a backwater.

The figure was 106,000 expats working in Thailand back in 2014. Probably more now. Some of these are teachers, but likely only around 30-40%, if that

Except Cambodia has zero enforcement mechanism and thus its a non issue.

We're talking about a country where police officers manually switch traffic lights, 1953 style. I don't doubt anything is possible, but I don't see immigration as enforcers of tax regulations. Only 6% of Thais even pay tax, so clearly the Thai government isn't very efficient with tax collection.

Laos doesn't permit religious proselytizing. Malaysia only allows it for Islam, not other religions. Thailand offers the greatest amount of religious freedom in mainland SE Asia.

Yeah I don't see them doing that either. The tax certificate nonsense from the early 90s might have worked back then when hardly anyone traveled in or out of Thailand by land (at the time, effectively only the Malaysian border was open anyway) and not that many expats were living in Thailand and not many foreigners came to Thailand in general. These days are different, I don't see them going back to that. Anything is possible, though I don't see it happening.

I don't think there were ever any cross border bus services between Thailand and Sihanoukville using that border.

It is a good idea to do that. I asked before I went for my latest visa and was told by someone who did it before me, that the original one was fine. Next time I might consider bringing an updated one, just in case. Only costs 10 Baht anyway.

Yeah true but it's much more common for financed Laotian vehicles to be taken out of the country than for financed Thai ones. Might explain why there is an imbalance, especially at the Vientiane-Nong Khai border, in favor of Lao vehicles coming in to Thailand in greater numbers than Thai vehicles heading to Laos, despite Thailand's greater wealth. 60% of crossings are by Lao registered vehicles and only 40% by Thai vehicles. The ratio is more equal, or possibly slightly more in favor of Thai vehicles at other crossings, but those ones have very few vehicles crossing in general.

Lol. Everyone seems to agree that Thailand has a good Healthcare system and can take care of most problems.

You don't need the updated kor ror 2. That's only required for in country extensions. The original one from when you got married years ago, is good enough for them.

I never heard about any advice to bring a letter written by your wife for Savannakhet, whether pre or post Covid. I've gotten 4 visas through there now, all non-O multiple entry. 3 pre Covid, one post Covid. The requirements are still the same now as they were in early 2020 and prior to that.