Vientiane Visa Run -July 2019

[plat]

Unexpected change to plans means that I should stay in Thailand a bit longer. I exit the country next week. I would like to return as soon as possible.

 

A) When can I come back as a tourist on a visa exempt entry on a US passport? Will 2-3 days away be alright? Is there a required length of time that I have to be out of the country? 

 

B) Will the land border at Nong Khai be any trouble for a quick return? Also, do they enforce requirements for onward ticket, and hotel reservations? 

 

C) Does a bus entry at Nong Khai offer the best chance of success? Are any other land borders better for what I want to do? Airport entries appear to be sometimes problematic.  

 

D) Is there a limit on how many months per year a tourist is allowed to stay in Thailand?

 

E) I understand that there is a 2 per year limit on land border crossings. Do entries with a visa count in that calculation?

 

My recent history in Thailand:

Early Nov 2018 - flew in from out of the region, visa exempt entry for US passport.

Early December - 30 day extension

Late December - Tourist visa from Vientiane, entry at Nong Khai by bus after 5 days in Laos

Late Feb - 30 day extension

Late March - Tourist visa from Vientiane, entry at Nong Khai by bus

Late May - 30 day extension

Late June - 7 day extension

No problem at all for any of this. No officials have asked any questions.

 

Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

A. Same day is not a problem. Just enter Laos turnaround and come back.

B. No

C. Just cross and return using the shuttle bus is good enough.

D. No

E. No

[BritTim]

D. Officially there is no limit. Unofficially, it depends on the entry point used and the individual immigration officials and their supervisor.

[CelticTam]

This may be more problematic than you think. Firstly, you will have to apply for a Lao visa ($35) - remember photo / $  etc. Secondly, there is a regulation that prohibits exit from Thailand and return same day - I know, for I was a victim in Sadao in 2014 - Nong Khai is more relaxed, but who knows. Thirdly, although this will be only your first land-crossing this year (30 day visa exempt stamp)- the IO might look at your prolonged stay in Thailand as a tourist, combined with "regular" visa runs, and suggest that something is amiss and deny you entry. Just be aware and have a Plan B in place. Please post and let us know how your trip went and any issues that arose. Good luck!

[ubonjoe]

47 minutes ago, CelticTam said:

Secondly, there is a regulation that prohibits exit from Thailand and return same day -

There is no regulation, rule or order that states that you cannot leave and return the same day.

Only a few odd border crossing will say there is. At the Malaysian crossings that might be something that Malaysian immigration is telling Thai immigration to enforce.

[Carolina Reaper]

3 hours ago, CelticTam said:

Secondly, there is a regulation that prohibits exit from Thailand and return same day

I've heard that, too, but I'm quite sure it is only folklore, at least for Vientiane and many other border crossings. I did the Nong Khai/Vientiane border run (Non-O ME @90 days) in late 2017. With some subtle, weird feelings of guilt, I made an immediate U-Turn after being admitted into Laos side. No problem whatsoever. Just had to suffer the loss of an entire passport page for the Laos visa and a piece of another page for stamps in/out.

[ericthai]

There is no thai ruling on returning the same day.  Cambodia has a 24hr rule saying you must stay for 24hrs, but typically a small tea money payment can get this overlooked.  

[plat]

The update:  There were no questions of any kind from Thai and Lao officials on my 45 minute visit to the PDR. Also, there are no notations or unusual stamps in the passport.

 

The only interesting thing was the necessity to digitally record fingerprints on exit from Thailand (but not on entry).