mockingbird

Did you enter on a tourist visa or visa exempt? I've never heard of issues entering cmx on a TV, but even pre COVID I remember reports here of grilling when entering visa exempt.

Well done OP. Poipet is a notorious border crossing that play by their own rules, and should be avoided by anyone without an Non-O visa. If you need it, you can use a visa run company and use up your second land border hop later. You'll have no issues. FYI.. in future ignore the pathetic 'proof or it didn't happen' posters.

When I applied last month it was asking for proof of insurance (which isn't required for a non -O). My point being just upload what you know to be correct. If the embassy have said that £1000 is enough then upload statements showing that. You'll be fine. (I go my visa in 2days)

Just use a visa run company and do a border bounce to Cambodia. You'll have no issues.

Yeah, that's a lot. Don't attempt to fly in on a visa exemption. I haven't read of anyone post Covid being denied entry on a tourist visa. To really mitigate the dangers of denial, either spend some time outside of Thailand, or maybe look at other safer entry points.

I would argue that with an extensive visa history you may even be more likely to be grilled at fast track. IO's there are far less busy, and would have all the time in the world to scrutinise your history. The reality is that it's going to be a lottery when coming back through Bkk. What visa will you be coming back in on? What's your history?

Not correct. You will be able to extend your next visa exemption for another 30 days.

There's no limit when flying in. You've been in Thailand for the last 7 months on 1 tourist visa and 2 exemptions, all extended. Is that correct? I assume you are back in your home country. If I was you I would get a tourist visa. You may get questioned, but you almost certainly won't be denied entry. Entering visa exempt with a very recent history of basically living in Thailand on tourist visas/exemptions increases your chances of being denied entry. That being said, the longer you stay out of Thailand between trips the better. Border hopping, in and out on the same day or a day or 2 later, isn't as easy as it once was. Some borders are more friendly than others. If this is your plan to stay in Thailand for the rest of the year (visa exemptions and tourist visa's), then you'll have to be strategic in your planning. Edit: .. or just get a METV. Will give you almost 9 months.

Thanks for the report. Good news for long stayers, that the Laos borders are still accessible, and haven't gone the way of the Cambodian borders.

Based on my own very recent experience, and of others reported here. I was in a similar position to the OP and was told by various visa run agencies that a border hop to any of the Cambodian borders was impossible, and that the Laos borders were very risky.

Immigration have basically put a stop to land border bounces for those deemed to be living in Thailand on 'incorrect visas'. Eg you would not have been able to to a quick visa exempt border hop through Cambodia after 3 years on ed visas. You will have zero issue obtaining a METV from your home consulate. The longer you spend outside of Thailand will lessen the chances of being questioned on the way back in.

Chiang Mai is historically known to be the better choice with an actual visa in your passport i.e. tourist visa. No reports that I can remember of anyone having issues, unlike the bkk airports. However, I've seen a few reports of long stayers being grilled flying in visa exempt. Somebody reported on here last week of being heavily grilled at Chiang Mai (part of a thread with Malaysia in the title from about a week or 2 ago) when flying in visa exempt. If I was you I would get a TV first. If you fly in visa exempt then make sure you have your story straight, onward ticket and requesite cash on you.

2 days for me through London.

When I said Chiang Mai was known for honouring visa's I was referring to tourist and METV visa's. (Non Immigrant visa's are what they want you to have if living in Thailand) Interesting what you were told about the Laos borders. There is no doubt that the noose is tightening at all borders when it comes to long stayers deemed not to be on the correct visa. FYI Phuket airport is very unfriendly towards long stayers. Many reports pre Covid of people having issues there. Surat Thani would be a far better bet.

Chiang Mai is known for being less hassle than the BKK airports, and are known to honour visa's. Your problem is that you're coming in visa exempt. Pre covid there were reports on here of long stayers being questioned at CW when arriving visa exempt, and now another report on this thread.. (I don't recall any reports of denial of entry from there though) Personally, if I was in your position I'd spend a coupe of months in Malaysia. It's the spending almost no time outside of Thailand that's the problem. You've been almost 2 years in Thailand without leaving, so that puts a huge cross on your back when trying a quick bounce back in. If you're adamant on coming back now, a Laos border crossing would be your safest bet.

If your recent history in Thailand is only 1 tourist visa then you won't have any issues. Use a border run company. All you need to bring is your passport and 1 photo. No overnight stays required.

OP, there's been no sudden policy change. Over the last few years the authorities have been making it gradually more difficult for people like you to stay in Thailand long term. The agent acquired volunteer visa you refer to was shut down over 15 months ago, and was only briefly available during Covid. Your options, unmarried, under 50, and not willing/able to pay for an elite visa are a combination of education/tourist and visa exemptions. re: education visa's, immigration have said that they will be more stringent going forward in checking that you are actually attending classes. The longer you stay in Thailand the more careful you need to be on which borders to use. eg the Camdodian borders have become very problematic for long stayers recently. On the current trajectory, it may well become impossible to cross any of the Thai borders with a history of basically living full time in Thailand on the above visa's. It certainly isn't going to get any easier. There has never been a 3+ year visa available (other that the Elite) I assume you fall into the digital nomad category? Why not, as Jack has suggested, alternate between Thailand and another country in the region? You'll have no issues then.

All the Cambodian borders are iffy lately when it comes to long stayers on covid extensions/visa exemptions etc. Speak to a couple of border run companies. Send them copies of your stamps over the last 12 months. They all have their immigration border contacts who they work with, so they'll tell you if it's possible. Don't attempt to do a Cambodian border run on your own. Alternatively use the Laos borders which are far more friendly.

If I'd never set foot in Thailand in my life, I would still avoid the Poipet border.

Yep, I would say it's as simple as that.

From reading his post, I don't think he does meet the Vax requirements. OP, if you've only spent 4 of the last 12 months in Thailand, then you won't have a problem flying in. Alternatively, make your way to one of the other Cambodian borders. You won't have an issue getting back in. I'm surprised you tried Poipet. It's a notoriously unfriendly border.

Just an fyi, with your fresh passport you could obtain a tourist visa in the Laos consulates. (Save the 2 land border hops for later) I assume you flew into BKK twice on visa exemption. Risky I would of thought with your history. Did you get any hassle?

Nobody can tell you if it will be a requirement on the 13th. As of today it's not. You definitely need to start formulating a plan B.

There's nothing new in any of this. You've always had to have had squeaky clean immigration history to obtain an elite visa. I know someone who was denied before Covid because he had gone to an agent and got a dodgy 2 month visa extension on medical grounds a few years earlier. Even a couple of short overstays will rule you out.

As it stands, I haven't heard of any issues at the Laos borders. (With your history you won't be able to apply for a tourist visa in the Laos consulates, but a border hop should be OK). The Cambodian borders have been problematic lately for long stayers looking to bounce, but these have been long stayers who hadn't left Thailand for a long time. You have, so maybe no issues for you. A visa run company would be able to tell you if it's possible. You won't have any problem extending at BKK immigration.