Concerned About Entry

[KhaoYai]

I'm slightly worried by reports of denied entries and replies on other threads asking about staying in Thailand. However, my situation is different to most I've read and I hope someone can tell me I'll have no problem.

 

A little history:

 

I've been travelling to Thailand for over 16 years. In the early years my entries were always by 30 day exemptions - there didn't seem to be a problem with that then. Eventually I married a Thai girl and following that, entered using a 12 month Multi Entry Non O based on marriage obtained from the Thai Embassy in London.  My usual trips are for 2 weeks, I then leave for 8 weeks and so on and so on.  A couple of years ago I stopped getting a Non O as I thought it a waste of money because I only stayed for 2 weeks. After about 6 exempt entries an I.O. told me that as I was visiting my wife, I was not a tourist and I should get a Non O again or I would be refused entry next time. I did that but I was divorced in 2017 and therefore could not renew my Non O when it expired in April 2018.

 

I have a house in Thailand and have continued visiting, mainly for 2 weeks and leaving for 8 weeks since my Non O expired.  I have done that on a mixture of 30 day exempts and a Multi Entry Tourist visa.  Last September I visited for a month on a 30 day exemption and then went back to the UK for 2 weeks. I then I got a METV from London in October and came back for 2 weeks.  My next trip was in January this year and I stayed for a month. There was a reason for these 2 extended stays but I'm now back to visiting every 8 weeks, staying for 2 weeks.  I intend moving to Thailand permanently next year, I'm over 50 so that will either be by a retirement visa or a business visa. I do not currently have a business in Thailand.

 

My next arrival is on 1 April and my METV expires shortly after that.  All being well the following visit will be in June and I'll apply for another METV shortly before that.  So, although my visas are not back to back, there will only be around 7 weeks between them.

 

My thoughts are that as I'm out of Thailand for 8 weeks between visits and only stay for 2 weeks it should be clear that I'm not working in Thailand so I won't have any problems but some of the things I've read on other threads have concerned me. Can anyone see a problem?

[ubonjoe]

I see no reason for you to have a problem if you get another METV to for your entries since your stays are short and several weeks apart.

In reality entering every 8 weeks and staying for 2 weeks visa exempt should be allowed.

 

 

[crazykopite]

I really don’t see you having a problem a multi entry is as it is you can come and go as many times as you like and as younlong haul from the U.K. I would assume younpurchaseva return ticket with the airline so I suggest you carry on as normal .

[natway09]

I think all will be OK as you do not stay until the day the visa expires & obviously are not living here. Why do you not on your next soujoun out here get a retirement visa & arrange extension when nearly the year is up ? Sounds like you will need soon anyway ?

[JackThompson]

Entering Visa-Exempt by air is a crap-shoot unless only visiting rarely - I would avoid this.

 

Entering with a Tourist Visa and staying 2 weeks only, then out for 8, is unlikely to be a problem, though you might get interrogated since you enter at Bangkok airports.  Be sure to have over 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks on your person when entering.

 

Getting a Non-OA Visa from the Thai consulate in your passport-country would be the ultimate solution since you are over 50, if you can meet the requirements.  Alternatively, you could get a retirement-extension + multiple re-entry permit in-country, if you can meet the requirements (though I would do the OA visa to avoid immigration, in the current climate).

[KhaoYai]

13 hours ago, natway09 said:

I think all will be OK as you do not stay until the day the visa expires & obviously are not living here. Why do you not on your next soujoun out here get a retirement visa & arrange extension when nearly the year is up ? Sounds like you will need soon anyway ?

I had considered getting a retirement visa but as I'm likely to start a business in Thailand, that would be a waste of time at the moment.

 

I didn't think I'd have a problem but I've seen quite a few posts on refusals recently.

 

Thanks everyone.