Does anybody know about obtaining a 60 day (30 day extension) Tourist Visa for the third time in a row? 

I fly in and out, no land crossing. My second tourist visa runs out in December and I was planning to fly out to either Vietnam or Laos for a week and obtaining a new 60 day Thai tourist visa then fly back into Thailand. I am worried this is not possible due to a post I have been reading about on here. 

If what I fear is correct and I will be denied the 3rd tourist visa then do you think I will be able to fly in without a visa and get the 30 day stamp? Also if this part is possible, can you extend that 30 day stamp? I'm basically trying to stay in Thailand till end of March and will need another 60 day visa or if I have to 30 day stamps by flying in and out and couple of times. Any help on this matter would be much appreciated. I'm from the UK.

Did you extend the 2 tourist visas you had by 30 days? (In which case you've already been in Thailand 6 months)? Or just stay 60 days on each? Makes a difference...

There is no law that states a special amount of tourist visas allowed. Therefore you could be granted another one in certain places.

However, both Immigration border checkpoints and Consulates as well as embassies are starting to deny entries or visas based upon the length of stay in Thailand per year.

Right now they seem to dislike people trying to live in Thailand on tourist visas, which have led to an unofficial rule to not allow longer than 6 month stay per year on tourist visas.

I would be interested to know the outcome, so please keep us all informed. I’ve done this in the past but don’t think it is doable now.

You’ll be able to get a visa somewhere, but that doesn’t guarantee entry to the country.

Given the amount of time you’ve spent in the country as a ‘tourist’ there’s a high chance you’ll be questioned or denied entry if you fly in. It would be best to enter by land. You’re unlikely to be denied by land, and it’s far less hassle if you are.

56 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Did you extend the 2 tourist visas you had by 30 days? (In which case you've already been in Thailand 6 months)? Or just stay 60 days on each? Makes a difference...

Yes, I extended on both.

You have 2 land visa exempts per calendar year. These will give you 30 days, which you can extend by 30.

 

If your previous entries were all by air and/or on visas you haven't used any of these yet, so bounce at a land border (other than Aranyaprathet) for 30 and extend that. You can then do that once more this year, and two times next year. That could bring you all the way up to June.

 

You can try for a visa if you like but there is a high chance it could be denied. So if you want to try, try somewhere you can return by land without the visa if necessary.

 

Flying back is not recommended if you have been here over six months, risk you will be denied at the airport, particularly if you fly back into Bangkok. Even if you fly back with a visa.

56 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

There is no law that states a special amount of tourist visas allowed. Therefore you could be granted another one in certain places.

However, both Immigration border checkpoints and Consulates as well as embassies are starting to deny entries or visas based upon the length of stay in Thailand per year.

Right now they seem to dislike people trying to live in Thailand on tourist visas, which have led to an unofficial rule to not allow longer than 6 month stay per year on tourist visas.

Unofficial rule is crazy. They should stipulate this somewhere so we don't have ask questions like this is a forum. Thanks for the advice.

47 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

I would be interested to know the outcome, so please keep us all informed. I’ve done this in the past but don’t think it is doable now.

I'll let you know how I get on.

7 minutes ago, blorg said:

You have 2 land visa exempts per calendar year. These will give you 30 days, which you can extend by 30.

 

If your previous entries were all by air and/or on visas you haven't used any of these yet, so bounce at a land border (other than Aranyaprathet) for 30 and extend that. You can then do that once more this year, and two times next year. That could bring you all the way up to June.

 

You can try for a visa if you like but there is a high chance it could be denied. So if you want to try, try somewhere you can return by land without the visa if necessary.

 

Flying back is not recommended if you have been here over six months, risk you will be denied at the airport, particularly if you fly back into Bangkok. Even if you fly back with a visa.

If I come in through land as you have mentioned how long is the stamp for, 15 or 30 days? 

26 minutes ago, elviajero said:

You’ll be able to get a visa somewhere, but that doesn’t guarantee entry to the country.

Given the amount of time you’ve spent in the country as a ‘tourist’ there’s a high chance you’ll be questioned or denied entry if you fly in. It would be best to enter by land. You’re unlikely to be denied by land, and it’s far less hassle if you are.

Do you mean try to get a tourist visa but come in by land, or do you mean to forget the tourist visa and just come in by land and get my passport stamped for 15 or 30 days (i don't know the length of time you get with coming in by land).

1 minute ago, Imajica said:

Do you mean try to get a tourist visa but come in by land, or do you mean to forget the tourist visa and just come in by land and get my passport stamped for 15 or 30 days (i don't know the length of time you get with coming in by land).

You could do either. 
 

You get 30 days using visa exemption by land or air. Extendable by 30 days at immigration.

It's 30 days, and you can extend by 30. You have two allowed per year so why not use them. Particularly the ones for 2019, as they will reset on 1 Jan so your using them now in 2019 won't affect what you can do in the future.

 

I'd even go so far as to think it is _preferable_ to minimise the number of visas in your passport as some consulates seem to do a count as part of their deciding whether they are going to give you one.

 

You get 30 days by land or air but there is a much lower risk of your being denied entry if you come in by land.

16 minutes ago, elviajero said:

You could do either. 
 

You get 30 days using visa exemption by land or air. Extendable by 30 days at immigration.

when you do it this way do I need to produce a flight out of the country?

11 minutes ago, blorg said:

It's 30 days, and you can extend by 30. You have two allowed per year so why not use them. Particularly the ones for 2019, as they will reset on 1 Jan so your using them now in 2019 won't affect what you can do in the future.

 

I'd even go so far as to think it is _preferable_ to minimise the number of visas in your passport as some consulates seem to do a count as part of their deciding whether they are going to give you one.

 

You get 30 days by land or air but there is a much lower risk of your being denied entry if you come in by land.

If i come in by land and get the stamp do I need to provide flight back out of the country proof within the 30 days? 

12 minutes ago, Imajica said:

If i come in by land and get the stamp do I need to provide flight back out of the country proof within the 30 days? 

I was asked to buy one at Poipet. It never happened at any other border. 

14 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

I was asked to buy one at Poipet. It never happened at any other border. 

but if you get a 30 day stamp and then plan to extend that 30 day then the flight you would get as proof to leave within 30 days would be a waste of money because you don't plan to use the flight you plan to stay longer than the 30 day stamp because of the extension.

So don't go to Poipet. Aranyaprathet is the Thai side of that border, I already said don't go there. It has a reputation for being difficult.

 

You are unlikely to be asked at other borders. If you are, you can deal with it then. I'd tend to avoid Malaysia as well if you can help it- I don't think they ask for flights but may ask to see 20,000 cash. Most other borders don't usually ask for anything.

 

Nong Khai, Mae Sai, Kanchanaburi are all good options, depending where you are right now.

21 minutes ago, blorg said:

So don't go to Poipet. Aranyaprathet is the Thai side of that border, I already said don't go there. It has a reputation for being difficult.

 

You are unlikely to be asked at other borders. If you are, you can deal with it then. I'd tend to avoid Malaysia as well if you can help it- I don't think they ask for flights but may ask to see 20,000 cash. Most other borders don't usually ask for anything.

 

Nong Khai, Mae Sai, Kanchanaburi are all good options, depending where you are right now.

I'm in Na chaluai, Ubon Ratchathani

Just now, Imajica said:

I'm in Na chaluai, Ubon Ratchathani

I appreciate your guidance, thank you.

1 minute ago, Imajica said:

I'm in Na chaluai, Ubon Ratchathani

The crossing at Chong Mek to Laos in Ubon is a friendly crossing and would not ask for anything but your passport.

Does anyone have a guide on how to do the Friendly Bridge Crossing?

 

I have found this guide https://harnessinglife.com/border-crossing-from-vientiane-to-thailand/

 

But iam looking for a more convenient way or is bus the only way?

13 minutes ago, pantsonfire said:

Does anyone have a guide on how to do the Friendly Bridge Crossing?

 

I have found this guide https://harnessinglife.com/border-crossing-from-vientiane-to-thailand/

 

But iam looking for a more convenient way or is bus the only way?

You don't need to use the international bus. Where are you coming from? Where are you going to?

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

The crossing at Chong Mek to Laos in Ubon is a friendly crossing and would not ask for anything but your passport.

great, so I can go out there and come back in and they will stamp my passport? 

6 minutes ago, Imajica said:

great, so I can go out there and come back in and they will stamp my passport? 

Yes you can.

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

You don't need to use the international bus. Where are you coming from? Where are you going to?

Looking to travel from KL to Vientiene

Very high risk strategy. You really need a very genuine reason.

 

Funny thing. I've been in Savannakhet both when they brought in the 20k rule then recently with the 90 days then you up. Seen 10, 20, 30+ maybe not quite 50 denied but we never hear about what happens to them.

 

Stuck in Lao with little cash? No thanks...

4 hours ago, pantsonfire said:

Does anyone have a guide on how to do the Friendly Bridge Crossing?

 

I have found this guide https://harnessinglife.com/border-crossing-from-vientiane-to-thailand/

 

But iam looking for a more convenient way or is bus the only way?

Just take a taxi from Vientiane airport to the bridge, stamp out of Laos, take a shuttle bus across the bridge, stamp into Thailand, and look for a van or taxi to Udon Thani airport. It is busy, but quite straightforward.

8 hours ago, Imajica said:

Does anybody know about obtaining a 60 day (30 day extension) Tourist Visa for the third time in a row? 

 

8 hours ago, Imajica said:

...If what I fear is correct and I will be denied the 3rd tourist visa then do you think I will be able to fly in without a visa and get the 30 day stamp? Also if this part is possible, can you extend that 30 day stamp? I'm basically trying to stay in Thailand till end of March and will need another 60 day visa or if I have to 30 day stamps by flying in and out and couple of times. Any help on this matter would be much appreciated. I'm from the UK.

 

Most of the advice so far has been pretty solid.  You may technically be able to pull it off.  But check out the regional trends:

^{https://www.facebook.com/samuivisarun/posts/2723200027690493}

 

This is just an example how how times have changed.....but

 

The trend of limiting back-to-back VE and TV entries for perpetual travelers and perpetual stayers in Thailand has been unfolding for over 5 years now.   This link has some insights to give you some historical context: https://travel.stackexchange.com/a/88871/35615

 

Seems like if you are unwilling to invest in the Elite Visa program, then you can attempt the METV, or stick with a non-immigrant B,O,O-A,ED route.  Perpetual EDs are much less common now.  

 

5 hours ago, blorg said:

I'd tend to avoid Malaysia as well if you can help it- I don't think they ask for flights but may ask to see 20,000 cash. Most other borders don't usually ask for anything.

 

Danok (Sadao / Bukit Kayu Hitam) where most of the minivans go through you should be ok.  Be prepared to pay a few baht for travel insurance as you continue on the Thai side to Hat Yai. 

 

Padang Besar should be ok also, but not sure if they are still asking for the 20k THB equivalent.

2 hours ago, pantsonfire said:

Looking to travel from KL to Vientiene

You can fly direct for buttons.