Limits on no-visa entries

[thaibook]

Last week my wife (Thai) and I flew to Hong Kong for her birthday.  I did not have a visa and was expecting a 30 day entry stamp.  At Suvarnabhumi the immigration official took me to see a senior colleague who wore a dark uniform, dark blue or black, not the normal pale brown.  He looked through my passport and said I could not enter, I had been doing “border runs which are a bad sign” (his words) and should apply for a visa.  When challenged, he showed me the record on the computer.  I pointed out that I had been out of Thailand for over six months – from end of March 2017 until mid-October.  He relented and gave me the usual 30 day entry.  (Below are the details of my entries in case they are material.) 

Is there a policy of restricting the number of entries without visa, not just by land but all entries?  I could apply for an extension based on marriage but until now have spent no more than six months a year in Thailand and during that time have made 3-4 trips to neighbouring countries so the combination of visa-less entries and extensions seemed the most expedient.   

Entered the Kingdom on a single entry 60 day tourist visa from Penang on 6th January 2017, extended once, travelled to Burma by land (through Tachiliek) a few days into the extension, came back and flew to the USA before the end of the month; returned to Thailand mid-October (having been out just over six months), extended once, travelled to Laos by land (through Mukhdahan) for four days, (on my return I was warned about the limit of 2 land entries per calendar year – according to our TV experts the regulation took effect on 1^st January 2017 ), extended my stay and flew to Hong Kong and then back on 14^th January.

[elviajero]

32 minutes ago, thaibook said:

Is there a policy of restricting the number of entries without visa, not just by land but all entries?

There is no published limit. IO’s are given the discretion to decide.

 

If you don’t want an extension of stay you could get a 1 year Multiple Entry Non-‘O’ Visa from the consulate in Savannakhet, Laos. That would allow you to stay a max of 90 days per entry. You could extend any 90 day entry by 60 days if required.

[thaibook]

elviajero, thank you.  If I can ask some further questions.

 

I currently have a 30 day permission to stay stamp.  I plan to travel to Iran on 18^th February for 10 days, return to Thailand for a couple of weeks and then fly to Pagan (Burma) for a week before returning here for a couple of months after which I shall go to USA/Europe until January 2019, so out of the country for 7-8 months.

 

My original approach was to apply for a 30 day extension, obtain a 30 day permission to stay stamp on returning from Iran and another one after the trip to Burma followed by a 60 day extension (married to Thai) to see me through until I fly to the USA.

Is my recent run-in with immigration likely to affect their willingness to grant 30 day permission to stay stamps and so should I make an alternative plan?

With a non-O multiple entry from Savannakhet, is there any limit to the length of time outside the Kingdom, so if I am absent for eight months will the visa still be valid when I return?

I understand that with a 1 year extension of stay based on marriage, I can get re-entry visa if I leave the Kingdom but again is there a limit to the length of time I may stay out?   

[elviajero]

58 minutes ago, thaibook said:

Is my recent run-in with immigration likely to affect their willingness to grant 30 day permission to stay stamps and so should I make an alternative plan?

It’s up to each IO every time you enter to review your entry history. So you could enter next time and not have a problem. I would, however, recommend you get a visa because  visa exempt entry is on immigration radar, so it’s unknown how you’ll be treated in the future.

 

1 hour ago, thaibook said:

With a non-O multiple entry from Savannakhet, is there any limit to the length of time outside the Kingdom, so if I am absent for eight months will the visa still be valid when I return?

There’s no limit. It’s meant for people that live outside of Thailand.

 

1 hour ago, thaibook said:

I understand that with a 1 year extension of stay based on marriage, I can get re-entry visa if I leave the Kingdom but again is there a limit to the length of time I may stay out?   

No, you can stay out as long as you like. You’ll need to re-enter before the extension/re-entry permit expires to be able to renew the extension for another year.

 

I think a Non ‘O’ visa would be your best option.

 

[buick]

i might be mistaken but i think it is well known that 6 entries w/o a visa (a visa exempt entry) will provide immigration with an 'alert' that then leads to an interview with a more senior officer.  that doesn't mean it always happens but it is not uncommon.  i had a similar travel history to the OP, although my longest stay in USA was 4 months and i spent more time in nearby countries (never less than 10 days, often 30 days).  i was pulled aside for an interview and let through, same as OP.  immigration told me to use tourist visas instead of visa exempts.  then, for the following five years, i didn't really comply with what they told me to do.  i still used alot of visa exempt entries (always by air, never land).  i think once you pass the interview with immigration, they don't pull you aside again.  regardless of the type of entries.  but that is just a guess.  i know a few members of this forum who have had the same experience, pass the interview once, no problems in the future.

[thaibook]

thank you for the replies.  It seems the best course depends on my degree of risk aversion.