Hi guys, just a visa run report. Just got denied my second tourist visa at Vientiane. Have 1 visa in my US passport from December 2018 and 3 exempt stamps. The guy simply said “my boss didn’t give you a visa, have to go back to your country.” Another American was denied in front of me; his Thai girlfriend asked them why and they said there’s a new rule where you can only get one tourist visa per year. 

I’m wondering if that’s really the case because it seems extreme, or if it’s because they also totaled up my 3 visa exempt stamps. 

Either way, just wanted to give people a heads up. Vientiane is no longer an easy consulate.

I suppose thai elite is the only option now, either that or language school. 

Edited June 27, 20197 yr by Brad103

seriously?? it's getting silly now

 

thailand 'not welcome nah'

Plan B, take your Thai girl to the US...or some other country.  Thailand is NOT the only place in this world to live. Or pay BIG for the Elite, but seems like the only guarantee with Thailand is it will be next to impossible to stay there long.   

I'm gobsmacked

Thought it was 2 or 3.

Certainly not 1

Find a new country my friend

Your first tourist visa application in Vientiane denied? That is a huge change. If that rule is implemented elsewhere, the days of visa runs are definitely going to be over.

They used to give three  tourist visa from Vientiane and a then a red warning stamp on the 3/4 th 

1 minute ago, BritTim said:

Your first tourist visa application in Vientiane denied? That is a huge change. If that rule is implemented elsewhere, the days of visa runs are definitely going to be over.

Each Embassy usually acts individually though with their own rules 

If anyone has not grasped the big picture yet, they are very slow on the uptake.

2 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Each Embassy usually acts individually though with their own rules 

Love it! The Thai immigration officer's favourite line :

 

"New rule, new rule ....!" Classic ????

2 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

If anyone has not grasped the big picture yet, they are very slow on the uptake.

Are you suggesting that they don't want foreigners here? surely not. ????

5 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

If anyone has not grasped the big picture yet, they are very slow on the uptake.

TBF, even this was unexpected 

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

TBF, even this was unexpected 

Yes, but it fits a pattern, a trend dating back several years. The past tends to predict the future. I am confident there will be more unexpected events very similar to this.

8 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

If anyone has not grasped the big picture yet, they are very slow on the uptake.

You suggesting I leave my Thai partner for my Vietnam "friend". That's a big move. I'm a good guy why me out. Ha

A off topic inflammatory post meant to deflect the topic has been removed.

21 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Yes, but it fits a pattern, a trend dating back several years. The past tends to predict the future. I am confident there will be more unexpected events very similar to this.

I have to agree. Even though I know for a fact that the stricter rules aren't being enforced at every location, it seems like they're slowly spreading from border to border and embassy to embassy, with a focus on locking down the biggest funnel points in order.

 

The BKK airports were one of the first, since even if you get a visa in KL or Vietnam, for example, it's now a hassle getting back into the country, especially considering possible issues at the Cambo and Malay borders.

 

Laos was logically the next to go, since it's easily accessible by land and was one of the most popular TV runs.

 

Many assumed that we could just avoid the problem borders/airports/embassies, but that's getting harder and harder by the day.

 

I'll likely be moving on when my current visa expires, personally.

45 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Your first tourist visa application in Vientiane denied? That is a huge change. If that rule is implemented elsewhere, the days of visa runs are definitely going to be over.

I am in a wait and see mode until I see other reports of it

I suspect it is a one off thing for some unknown reason.

They didn't tell OP that he couldn't get a visa, as they suggested he had he could get one from his home country. Which, as far as I am concerned kind of makes sense.

A one off report and everybody buys into it straight away...

That's it they hate us
Want us gone
I'm leaving
I'm outa here
Etc etc etc

To funny

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You suggesting I leave my Thai partner for my Vietnam "friend". That's a big move. I'm a good guy why me out. Ha

I'm in the same boat my friend. I'd be happy to leave the LOS, but what about my Thai girlfriend? Where can I bring her? We've been together 5 years, can't get married (please don't ask why). I'm not worried about me, but what about her? Where can we go together?

There is nothing about this "new rule" on the TVS site and they would be one of the first to know

 

https://www.thaivisaservice.com/

 

The owner posts on this site so i'm sure if it is true he will post - until he posts that it is true or his site is updated with the info it's wise to discount this posters advice

I would wait for more reports first , we only have OPs word for it.

1 tourist visa per year seems very strange to me, if thats a new rule. 

Surely it can't be, many people would maybe want to travel for 60 days at least twice per year. 

I just picked up a TV in SAV on Tuesday. It was my 2nd this year and 3rd in a row since I've been home with 30 day extension. Its for sure not a universal rule right now.

54 minutes ago, madmen said:

A one off report and everybody buys into it straight away...

That's it they hate us
Want us gone
I'm leaving
I'm outa here
Etc etc etc

To funny

Couldn't agree more - 1 unconfirmed report and the TV "they hate us" brigade are off and running ????????

Huge change indeed if true..

Quite possible though to start apply this for visas from border countries..

 

Quite big % is applying new visa from bordercountry just because it is the cheapest way to extend your thaitime.

And that is not right way to handle immigration policy for any country.

 

Edited June 27, 20197 yr by thaitero

56 minutes ago, nickstav said:

I'm in the same boat my friend. I'd be happy to leave the LOS, but what about my Thai girlfriend? Where can I bring her? We've been together 5 years, can't get married (please don't ask why). I'm not worried about me, but what about her? Where can we go together?

Yep bud I'm same boat. 7 yr for me.

Bit of side issue but think that very few Thai women are a fan of living outside of Thailand. Some move to farang countries but most Thai (IMHO) are not fans of nearby countries. Vietnam etc. 

59 minutes ago, nickstav said:

I'm in the same boat my friend. I'd be happy to leave the LOS, but what about my Thai girlfriend? Where can I bring her? We've been together 5 years, can't get married (please don't ask why). I'm not worried about me, but what about her? Where can we go together?

Same story with me. Been living together in a lovely close relationship for 6 years. There are so many things I now dislike about living here and the scales are tipping more so in that direction. But I can't...and don't want to...just walk away from her, so I stay. My home country is Australia but I don't want to get into the whole spouse migration thing, and I would be hit hard financially if I did. So like so many guys I've painted myself into a corner.

16 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

Couldn't agree more - 1 unconfirmed report and the TV "they hate us" brigade are off and running ????????

You have a point but consider the cumulative evidence. I came to los late in life. Already over 50. First few yrs I just used visa exempt because I travelled so much. Then they tightened that way up. So I'm on extensions based on retirement. Guess what ..now I have 800k in fixed deposit to cover ludicrous changes. Now at CW they want TM30. Never have previously. There are many other examples.  

2 hours ago, KiChakayan said:

They didn't tell OP that he couldn't get a visa, as they suggested he had he could get one from his home country. Which, as far as I am concerned kind of makes sense.

 

I think that is the point. They are targeting people who don't appear to be going to their home country. Thereby assuming that they are living in Thailand on Tourist Visa.

 

3 hours ago, Briggsy said:

If anyone has not grasped the big picture yet, they are very slow on the uptake.

I’m dumbfounded by the amount of foreigners here who are obvious. 

 

Lower hanging fruit is always the first to go. Then the teir that was above that becomes the new low hanging fruit. 

 

Half of you reading this comment wont be here in 2 years. Even less in 5. Bookmark it and come back so I can say I told you so.