steve0101

I guess it's become a requirement everywhere

I think my best course of action is when I'm exiting the Thai side, just ask the IO if I can return on the same day, and if he says no, a couple of nights in a hotel is not so bad. Thanks all for your responses and I will update the forum with my experience when I go.

Did you notice if other people were being told to do the same?

I will for sure write an update when I go and hopefully add some clarification. It seems that some people have been getting hassled just trying the border bounce twice in a row, where as when I did my second bounce at NK in early DEC 2024, there was no issue at all. Didn't ask me any questions, just stamped back in and back on the bus across the bridge. I think the whole thing took 20 minutes.

I wonder if my 4th entry (and third border bounce) at NK being my first entry in 2025 will make any difference to them. As in, does anyone know if they apply the calendar year to entries?

Well, I guess based on the experience of @Nasa, you require a 2 night stay in Laos. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try my luck at a quick bounce and if they refuse, go stay in Vientiane for 2 nights and try again. The timing is unfortunate as I am actually due to fly to the Middle East for work on 21 Feb Feb but my visa expires on 5 Feb. Anyway, thanks for responses from all

Hello all. Are there any recent reports of anyone doing a 4th back to back entry on the 60-day VE. I first entered in 2024 by air, on a 30-day exempt, followed by a 30 day extension. This was followed by 2 border crossings at Nong Kai where I literally walked into Laos and walked back both times. I also used did 30 day extensions for both of those. I am planning to try this again next week when my latest 30 day extension expires but wondered if anyone had entered 4 times or had attempted a Nong Kai crossing 3 times and had experienced any issues from IOs. When I came through last time, which was my third entry in 2024 and my second entry via a land border without any stay in Laos, the IO didn't bat an eyelid. But I could be pushing my luck

Thanks Dr Jack!

Hi all, does anyone know whether it makes a difference if going to Laos, either by land or air, and returning on the same day makes any difference to immigration in the long run? As in, if I do it again 3 months down the road, it will look bad if I have not actually stayed out of the country for even a day?

How much?

Was that at Laksi?

Thanks for responses guys. That puts my mind at rest!

Hey Jack, thanks, and yep, I know I get the extension at Laksi but I was told to go to CW first to pay a late fine for the TM30. I was told that if I go to Laksi without a receipt for the TM30 fine, they would just tell me to go to CW first and do that and then go back to Laksi for extension.

Hey all, I posted on this a couple of weeks ago but just read something worrying. Been in Thailand almost 30 days with 30-day exemption received at airport on arrival. On Wednesday. I was planning to get a 30-day extension at CW and because I have no way of getting a TM30 from the friends I'm staying with. I was planning to stay in a hotel the night before so they register me before I go to CW. However, I read some chats on Reddit last night where people who tried the same thing were refused because the TM30 did not show where they had stayed prior to their 1-night hotel bookings. Anyone have recent experience of this?

Thanks Jack!

Thanks Jim, good to know. Just one question. Does that mean I pay the fine at Chiang Wattana before heading off to do the extension at the other place (I forget the name)?

Hi all, and apologies in advance for repeating this subject. I know that landlords etc are supposed to submit a TM30 within 24 hours of arrival but where I'll be staying this will not happen, at least not on time. I don't want to enter into a debate about any of that, I just want to know if when I have to go an do an extension after 30 days at immigration, if checking into a hotel the night before will suffice and I will just be subject to a fine for being late. Or will it be a case of immigration wanting to know where I stayed up until then? I went through this a year ago and went to immigration without any TM30 or documents and was told to go and get them and come back, which I managed to do within 24 hours and I paid a late fee of 800 baht, but they would not have done anything had I not gone back and hassled the landlord to give me the required documents. But I also just read a comment on Reddit (dated 4 months ago) where the person showed up at immigration without any TM30 and they claimed they were able to pay the fine but were not required - like me - to actually go and get the documents required for the TM30. Any input here would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe they've changed it so hotels can make more money?

Hey, they didn't ask me for any proof of travelling back into Thailand. I think they just assumed from my Udon Thani hotel booking that I was crossing by land with a taxi to the border from Vientiane. They didn't ask anyone to provide flights out of Laos when I was there.

Sorry, I submitted on Wednesday and got it back on Friday. Sorry for confusion. I got mixed up because I actually arrived in Vientiane on Tuesday but too late to submit

Yes, very, very quiet. It was a relief when I saw how few people were there. Same when I picked up. That doesn't mean every day is like that though. I heard when I was there that Monday was to be avoided. The receptionist in my hotel told me that, anuyway.

Not anymore. Now it takes 3 days. So if you submitted on a Monday, you pick up on Wednesday. I know it used to be pick up the day after submitting but I guess that has changed.

Hi SAcannon, I submitted a print out of a one-way ticket out of Thailand within the 60-day limit as well as a hotel booking in Udon Thani for 3 nights, which I subsequently cancelled. Couldn't cancel the plane ticket but it wasn't much (1250 baht). As I mentioned, I didn't get questioned about any of my history and the 3-day hotel booking seemed to be enough.

Hello, all. Quick update. First off, thanks for the responses I got to my original query on getting an SETV in Vientiane. I submitted all my stuff in Vientiane last Tuesday and got the visa on the Friday and then crossed by land back into Thailand. I had been in Thailand on exempts since Dec 2022, and without any actual days spent out of the country (just in and out on the same day – land and air) so was not sure if I would get one issued or I’d be let in, if I did. Anyway, there were no issues or questions. The only thing that happened was the IO that took all my docs on the Tuesday expressed his extreme annoyance that some were creased. Anyway, hope that helps for anyone in the same position. ALso, when I submitted my documents at opening time there on Tuesday, it was really dead. About 10 other people and me, that's it. Was in and out before I knew it.

Thanks Caldera. I've booked 3 nights at a hotel in Udon Thani upon my return so I can visit a friend near there. Hope that's enough. Will update the forum on what happens.