Multiple Visa Exempt Entries

[cyclone6]

I've been coming to Thailand since 1994.  While I have used tourist visas occasionally, I typically enter on a 30-day visa exempt.  Now that I am spending more time in Asia, this is what I have typically been doing (US passport):

 

1)  Enter Thailand by air with 30-day Visa exempt entry

2)  Spend <30 days in Thailand, exit by air to Cambodia to visit friends there

3) Re-enter Thailand a couple of weeks later by air with another Visa exempt 30-day entry

4) Leave Thailand to go to the US - where I usually spend about 3 months

5) repeat the 4 steps above.

 

Will this behavior eventually get flagged for something?  Or is this OK and unlikely to cause any issues?

 

I could certainly do a tourist visa here and there if multiple visa exempts will cause problems.

 

Thanks for any advice you might have. 

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, cyclone6 said:

Will this behavior eventually get flagged for something?  Or is this OK and unlikely to cause any issues?

Not staying 30 days or extending, and staying out a couple of weeks between visits helps. But whether or not you’ll get questioned or worse in the future is anyone’s guess.

 

They are mostly interested in stopping people living in the country full time as tourists. A Tourist visa would help as IO’s are less likely to deny entry.

 

If I were you I’d keep using the visa exemption until they stopped me or put pressure on to get a visa.

[Tanoshi]

Personally, I'd consider obtaining a TV in the US beforehand, which would allow a 60 day entry.

I'd then purchase a re-entry permit to allow entry after your Cambodia visit, then obtain a 30 day extension at Immigration.

 

More hassle, but less chance of denial of entry.

[Peter Denis]

Maybe an METV [Multi-Entry Tourist Visa] could be an option for you.

As the cycle you describe - Thailand/Cambodia/US takes approx 6 months, an METV would allow you to do 2 full Thailand visit cycles, when timed right.

The drawback being that

- you need to enter Thailand again - start of 2nd cycle - just before the expiration of your METV - 6 months from issuing date;

- your second leg (Thailand/Cambodia) of your 2nd cycle, should be less than 60 days, so that you can still do a 1 month extension of stay for your last Thailand stay.

On the plus-side

- you would be worry free without IO visits during the first 6 month cycle

- even if you miss a visa entrance deadline to use the METV for your second cycle, you could simply go back to your previous VE routine

[Peter Denis]

You mention that you are already 25 years coming to Thailand.

So if you are presently +50 years of age you are eligible for a Non-Imm OA Visa (sometimes called retirement visa), which would allow you to stay 1 year hassle-free in Thailand (90 day reporting would not be applicable as you don't stay 90 days consecutively).  And at the end of year 1, you could extend for 1 more year (but which would require you getting a re-entry permit each time you leave Thailand to keep the extension alive).

An additional advantage is that it is not a Tourist visa, so no worries about that too.

If you meet the requirements, this would for sure be the best option.

[BritTim]

There has been an ever increasing likelihood that the wrong immigration official will take exception to what you are doing, especially when entering visa exempt. If you are lucky, this may not happen any time soon, but the odds have been shortening.

[kiwikeith]

On ‎9‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 4:06 AM, elviajero said:

Not staying 30 days or extending, and staying out a couple of weeks between visits helps. But whether or not you’ll get questioned or worse in the future is anyone’s guess.

 

They are mostly interested in stopping people living in the country full time as tourists. A Tourist visa would help as IO’s are less likely to deny entry.

 

If I were you I’d keep using the visa exemption until they stopped me or put pressure on to get a visa.

continue as you are nothing wrong here