Re-entry For Tourists At Aranya Phratet

[crazybkk]

I have a friend who took the typical bus trip to Aranya Phratet to do an in & out visa run, she's holding a Non-immigrant O visa, she was allowed to leave Thailand and returned to the country 10 minutes later.

The following week. I did a similar trip to the same border checkpoint. I am from the Philippines and prior to the trip, I had a 2 month tourist visa and I had it extended at the immigration office for another 30 days. So after this 90 days, I thought I can do a visa run to the said border for a 30 day tourist visa on arrival based on the new rules ( I confirmed this by calling the immigration hotline 1111). To my utter disappointment, the immigartion officer at the said border told me that if he lets me get out of the country from that checkpoint I wouldn't be able to get back into Thailand unless I have a ticket to get out of Thailand in the next 30 days. Now, this was news to me. He said he was doing me a favour by not letting me go out. So I didn't.

Now, is this legal? Nevermind it being legal. My question to all you visa experts is can I still go to another border checkpoint to get my 30 day tourist visa?

Any input will be much appreciated!

[lopburi3]

You need a ticket out of the country within 30 days for visa exempt entry but enforcement seems to be mainly on the Cambodian border points so far. And yes it is legal.

[PhilHarries]

It's a rule that's always been there, just never enforced. There have been several threads about this with various opinions on what you need ranging from a do-it-yourself bogus e ticket (illegal and would attract some dodgy free board and lodging if caught therefore not recommended) to bus/train tickets out to Penang or similar.