Savannakhet - only 2 no-visa entries allowed

[thaibook]

I arrived at the beginning of October without a visa.  I had a short trip planned to Laos in early December so did not want one.  At the end of the month I obtained a 30 day extension at Chaeng Wattana.

 

On 2^nd December I duly joined a Thai group organised by Wat Suan Dok in Chieng Mai for three days in southern Laos.  Flight to Ubon then bus with Thai and Lao guides and Lao drivers.  All the other tour members were Thai with a monk in the lead.  At the Lao border a 30 day entry visa was obtained swiftly.  On the return one of the Thai immigration official was nice enough to pull out a entry/exit card from his pocket followed when asked by a pen, without having to join the queue, and told me to sit and complete it.  I then joined the ASEAN/foreign queue of about 10.  About 5 people ahead of me was a man with a European passport.  I overheard him being told that he already had two no-visa entry stamps and so now needed a visa and had to go back to Laos.  When my turn came, the official nicely told me that as this was my second entry I would need a visa next time.

 

Is this new?  Is it a general policy or only at Savannakhet?  If general policy how long does one have to stay out of LOS before one is allowed to enter again without a visa?

 

Incidentally, in our group was a woman who had forgotten her passport.  So both on the way into and out of Laos we drew the bus window curtains and she simply sat in her seat rather than tramp through the immigration controls. 

 

I enjoyed the trip.  If anyone is considering Savannakhet for a visa and is not rushed for time I recommend spending a few days in Pakse and Champasak.

[Lite Beer]

Only 2 land border Visa Exempt Entries are allowed in a calendar year.

[thaibook]

Thank you for the full succinct answer.

[Lite Beer]

No limits on flight entries.

[JackThompson]

1 minute ago, Lite Beer said:

No limits on flight entries.

No "hard limit" - but could be denied-entry if trying to get one with a longer-stay history - whether that history was on Exempt-entries or Tourist Visas.

 

For those with a longer-stay history, Land Visa-Exempts are not a problem, provided you don't go over the 2x limit.  Tourist-Visa entries by land are the no-problem way to enter, with the exception of Poipet/Aranyaprathet.

[elviajero]

4 hours ago, thaibook said:

When my turn came, the official nicely told me that as this was my second entry I would need a visa next time.

 

Is this new? 

The rule started on 1st January 2017.

[NorthernRyland]

11 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

Only 2 land border Visa Exempt Entries are allowed in a calendar year.

I was told by the immigration officer at Mae Sai it's 2 land borders entries since your original visa from your country of origin. I think he was mistaken but it's not clear how many of them believe this and follow this rule.

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, genericptr said:

I was told by the immigration officer at Mae Sai it's 2 land borders entries since your original visa from your country of origin. I think he was mistaken but it's not clear how many of them believe this and follow this rule.

Probably a mistake or a misunderstanding.

It is clearly written as 2 per calendar year in the ministerial order that went into effect on December 31st last year so it matched the start of a new calendar year.

[sanemax]

6 minutes ago, genericptr said:

I was told by the immigration officer at Mae Sai it's 2 land borders entries since your original visa from your country of origin. I think he was mistaken but it's not clear how many of them believe this and follow this rule.

Its two entries on a Visa Exempt stamp , this doesnt apply to other visas .

If you have any other visa , the" two land entries" rule doesnt apply

[Hardie]

On 12/5/2017 at 7:08 PM, ubonjoe said:

Probably a mistake or a misunderstanding.

It is clearly written as 2 per calendar year in the ministerial order that went into effect on December 31st last year so it matched the start of a new calendar year.

Seems like that would have to be a mistake. After all, how can you assume there even was an original visa from "your country of origin?"