Question about Visa Runs

[MrKFC]

Hi,

I'm here on a 60 day US tourist visa, hoping to stay 6 months.

 

I'm not clear on the restrictions/regulations about renewing.

 

One friend said that I can only renew 2 times in a 12 month period, another said that I can renew several times, just can't use the same entry point more than twice.

 

I arrived Sept 26, 2017staying mostly in Chiang Khong.

 

I have an entry through this station dated Nov 11, 2016, so hoping I can use this one 2 x (30 days ea) and Mae Sai  2 x.

 

Thanks

DS

[ubonjoe]

You can extend your 60 day entry for 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 baht.

You can only do 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year at land border crossings. There is no limit if you have a valid visa for entry.

You could make a trip to the Thai embassy in Vientiane Laos and get another single entry tourist visa.

[JackThompson]

An entry at any land-border Visa-Exempt counts towards the limit of Two per calendar year. 

There is no such limit at airports, but there are special rules regarding visa-exempts, and you could be denied-entry, if you have a longer-stay history in Thailand.

If planning to stay here longer-term, and you do not qualify for a long-stay type visa (married to a Thai, over-50 retirement, working legally here, etc) Tourist Visas or ED Visas are the only viable options - unless you have some serious money to "spare," in which case you can "buy" a 5-year (or longer) Elite Visa for 500K Baht (and up).

[MrKFC]

Thank you gentlemen, both responses are very helpful, clarified everything, much appreciated!

DS 

[MrKFC]

Hey Jack, one more question about the possibility of being denied entry, related to 'longer-stay history'

 

I've tallied a little over two years here in 5 visits, first was 20 years ago ... 3 months. Most recent was 6 months from Oct 2016 through March 2017, had a couple dental implants and that process takes 6 months.

 

Is that going to cause any problems? I do own a return ticket for end of March. 

 

Thanks,

 

DS

[BritTim]

14 minutes ago, MrKFC said:

I've tallied a little over two years here in 5 visits, first was 20 years ago ... 3 months. Most recent was 6 months from Oct 2016 through March 2017, had a couple dental implants and that process takes 6 months.

 

Is that going to cause any problems? I do own a return ticket for end of March. 

I assume you are staying on tourist visas/visa exempts. You have been here long enough that some officials, who think Thailand's immigration laws are wrong, could want to give you a hard time.

 

If you use tourist visas, and enter via land borders, you are unlikely (in the current environment) to have problems.

 

Entering by air involves a very small, but real, risk if you encounter the wrong immigration official. Entering at an airport, do not use visa exempt,s and have 20,000 baht equivalent in cash or travelers' checks to show if necessary.

[Deserted]

COuldn't agree more. Smile away, say hello politely. Perhaps you can speak a bit of Thai, as long as they don't get annoyed, the chances of any aggro coming your way are reduced. 

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, MrKFC said:

Hey Jack, one more question about the possibility of being denied entry, related to 'longer-stay history'

 

I've tallied a little over two years here in 5 visits, first was 20 years ago ... 3 months. Most recent was 6 months from Oct 2016 through March 2017, had a couple dental implants and that process takes 6 months.

 

Is that going to cause any problems? I do own a return ticket for end of March. 

A return-ticket that far off is not helpful.  They would like to hear you will be going home "very soon."  The best defense is arriving with a Tourist Visa, an itinerary (which has a plan of you leaving within 60-days, never-mind you can extend), and 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks.

 

But, in your case, you might want to carry a copy of the receipt for those dental-implants, which aren't cheap.  If asked why you stayed so long before, tell them why.  If they are not happy/satisfied with that answer, show them that invoice (or invoices).  That should help erase any question as to your financial solvency, and cement your substantial contributions to the Thai economy.

[TaaSaparot]

At the moment, is it possible to do a 60 day (UK) Tourist Visa + 30 day extension + 30 day Border Run + 30 Day Extension ?

 

Or do I have to do 2 x 30 day Border Runs ?

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, TaaSaparot said:

At the moment, is it possible to do a 60 day (UK) Tourist Visa + 30 day extension + 30 day Border Run + 30 Day Extension ?

 

You could do that unless you have used up your 2 entries per calendar year allowance at land borders already.

[TaaSaparot]

47 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You could do that unless you have used up your 2 entries per calendar year allowance at land borders already.

Thanks, just trying to figure out a 5 month trip, and have not done a border run in years.

 

(Apologies to the OP for piggy backing my question on his thread)