Advice For Visa Runners who were on multiple covid extensions: Do not return as 'visa exempt'

[EricTh]

2 hours ago, possum1931 said:

and just what is wrong with being a long-term stayer in Thailand? Why should it be so hard for a person under 50 to stay long-term in Thailand anyway? The Junta has done enough damage to the Thai economy by chasing away many decent retiree's because of immigration issues already.

 

There's nothing wrong with being a long-term stayer under 50 but you must come in with the proper long-term visa, and not misuse a short-term tourist visa.

 

Remember, we must abide by the laws of Thailand, the country doesn't abide by your set of rules.

 

Similarly, can the Mexicans or anyone in South America abuse the immigration laws of America and do back-to-back visa runs for many years just to stay in America as a 'tourist'?

 

Edited March 2, 2022 by EricTh

[EricTh]

3 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

May I ask which immigration office was this?

 

He was in Chiang Mai.

Edited March 2, 2022 by EricTh

[Caldera]

Much as some (!) in immigration like to believe that a tourist shouldn't spend "too much" time in Thailand, the Special Tourist Visa somewhat flies in the face of those who claim that this should translate to spending less than half of the year in Thailand or who make a ridiculous connection to tax residency. As that's a TOURIST visa that allows a continuous stay of up to 270 days.

 

I'm sure this kind of discussion will continue without any real conclusion. Fact is that the Thai government could have set a hard limit but has refrained to do so. Fact is also that some immigration officers have their own ideas and try to enforce them within their personal fiefdoms.

Edited March 2, 2022 by Caldera

[MajorTom]

Bottom line is there is nothing illegal about covid extensions or visa exempts. They are just as legal as any other visa or extension to stay. Regardless of certain peoples personal opinion.

 

I wonder what the crowd that fits in the retirement box would do if immigration started randomly telling people they had too many...?

Get back to your home country? ????

[markeewan]

4 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

So, if I get refused, will I get a refund for my hotel booking and the insurance I bought to enter Thailand?

No, same as any country you can be refused at the border.

 

Edited March 2, 2022 by markeewan

[StayinThailand2much]

10 minutes ago, MajorTom said:

I wonder what the crowd that fits in the retirement box would do if immigration started randomly telling people they had too many...?

Get back to your home country? ????

So, if I have a retirement extension, returning from abroad with a re-entry permit, it is less likely that I will be  stopped on entry, as opposed to a METV or SETV?

[Caldera]

9 minutes ago, markeewan said:

No, same as any country you can be refused at the border.

While technically correct, a country that aims to be a world-class tourist destination needs to ensure that this happens only in rare cases, under exceptional circumstances. Anything that can be vetted before someone boards a flight should be vetted before, and in fact that's one of the reasons why Thailand implemented APIS and makes us pay for it as part of the ticket.

 

If the Thai government wanted to impose a hard limit on visa exempt entries by air, they could easily implement that as well, just like other countries.

 

If too many people are denied entry for arbitrary reasons despite meeting the published requirements, on the other hand, that will reflect poorly on Thailand.

[Mac Mickmanus]

6 hours ago, EricTh said:

Immigration is aware of that and is putting checks like testing their Thai language skills before the renewal of their extension every 3 months or looking at their attendance. I've known at least one person who didn't get his renewal because he failed the test.

 

I had a mate who had an education visa and he was studying Muay Thai at a gym and he went to immigration for a visa extension  wearing his boxing shorts and boxing gloves and he took a spare pair of boxing gloves along , just incase an immigration officer questioned him on his Muay Thai boxing ability 

[DezLez]

15 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I had a mate who had an education visa and he was studying Muay Thai at a gym and he went to immigration for a visa extension  wearing his boxing shorts and boxing gloves and he took a spare pair of boxing gloves along , just incase an immigration officer questioned him on his Muay Thai boxing ability 

Was he knocked out, sorry, knocked back with his application?

[KhaoYai]

5 hours ago, MajorTom said:

You can apply in your home country and still do a visa run to a neighboring country.

You can do a visa run and enter visa exempt yes. What you can't do is obtain a visa at a consulate or embassy that has gone over to E-visa in country other than your home or where you have legal residence. My post was in response to advice to leave and obtain a visa in a neighbouring country - which you can still do but in an ever-decreasing number of countries.  Once that country/consulate/embassy goes to E-visa, applications will only be accepted from nationals of people with legal residence there.

[orchis]

I did exactly that; had a few covid extensions, left, came back on visa exempt followed by more covid extensions, without a problem.

[KhaoYai]

6 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

Only partially true. Bolded part is (used to be?) false or at least wrongly assumed.

 

Here as an example: Up until May 2018 one could acquire a Single Entry TR visa from the London Thai embassy using a passport from anywhere in the World without any links or ties or residence to the UK. A relative did this to visit me in Thailand. In this case, a Belgian passport was used, it is worth noting the Thai embassy in Brussels, Belgium takes a week to process a SE TR, while the Thai embassy in London used to do a next day pick up service for the same service.

 

Now mind you, 2018 is a long time ago, things have changed quite considerably and the pandemic blew over the planet, so in 2022 things might have changed a little.

 

But assuming that one may be eligible to apply for a visa only from that country's citizens or must hold legal residence there couldn't be furthest away from the truth.

 

It is not only partially true.  Read the application rules on E-Visa.  2018 is a long time ago - the Thai Embassy in London went over to E-Visa in 2019.

 

Perhaps you don't realise but to the best of my knowledge, applications at E-visa offices are not considered by that embassy or consulate - they are forwarded to Bangkok - the embassy has no discretion.

 

Please back up your claim by stating which E-visa embassy or consulate will allow visa applications from persons other than nationals and those with legal residence.

 

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

What you can't do is obtain a visa at a consulate or embassy that has gone over to E-visa in country other than your home or where you have legal residence.

As far as I know none of the nearby embassies or official consulates have switched to using the e visa site.

[KhaoYai]

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

As far as I know none of the nearby embassies or official consulates have switched to using the e visa site.

As I have said from the start UJ............once they go over to E-visa. It seems reasonable to assume that all embassies and consulates will 'modernise' at some point.  I'll be happy if they don't as I will no longer be able to obtain my visa.

 

Additionally, as I think you know, even if an embassy/consulate has not gone over to E-visa, some locations do not offer a full range of visas.  I believe for example, that Vientiane does not offer 12 Month Multi Entry Non O visas based on marriage whereas Savannakhet does (or did pre covid). I believe they only issue a 3 month single entry?

 

Singapore is also stating that 12 month 'spouse' visas are not available  and appear to be only accepting nationals or those with legal residence for certain other types of visa.

Edited March 2, 2022 by KhaoYai

[KhaoYai]

9 hours ago, tonray said:

Just bring the cash with you when you board the flight. 

I think most people know that they should be carrying 20k but most don't because they get a much better exchange rate inside Thailand.

[Caldera]

3 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

I think most people know that they should be carrying 20k but most don't because they get a much better exchange rate inside Thailand.

There's no requirement to carry Thai baht. The equivalent in a foreign currency is acceptable.

[KhaoYai]

9 minutes ago, Caldera said:

There's no requirement to carry Thai baht. The equivalent in a foreign currency is acceptable.

Thanks, I didn't realise that.

[KhaoYai]

6 hours ago, MajorTom said:

Or is there a regulation that you have to stay in the country you apply in?

Yes......LEGAL RESIDENCE

[tonray]

31 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

I think most people know that they should be carrying 20k but most don't because they get a much better exchange rate inside Thailand.

Does not need to be in baht..any major currency is ok.

[Mac Mickmanus]

33 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

I think most people know that they should be carrying 20k but most don't because they get a much better exchange rate inside Thailand.

Most people do not carry cash around anymore . 

Paper money isnt too common anymore

[jimn]

On 3/1/2022 at 10:55 PM, DrJack54 said:

I agree with you.

I avoid fb posts and think they belong in Facebook.

I didn't read one refusal of entry first hand in that copy paste. 

Having said that ....too much time in Thailand has always been a dance.

I recommend anyone doing an exit and reentry to obtain tourist visa. Yes they can also be refused upon reentry but unlikely. 

Whilst there are many people on Facebook who post SPAM there are many help groups specialising in helping peope and providing good information on what is required for returning to Thailand. Whilst aseannow.com have many helpful forums, what is required to return to Thailand and not always offering immediate quick advice is not a strong point. A specialist Facebook group is much better for this in my opinion. This forum especially Ubonjoe offers great visa advice.

Check out this facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/551797439092744/?ref=share

[Lemsta69]

20 hours ago, aldriglikvid said:

Thanks for the info! I was self curious to see how soon they will start to repel visitors at the airport as they did pre-covid. They almost bounced me arriving on a completely new tourist visa. 

Sure, I respect your sovereignty and I don't have a right to a tourist visa. But, if one is applied for and given to me by your embassy - honor it. End of discussion. 

wishful thinking bro, that's not how The Game works

[Lemsta69]

18 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

Getting married to a Cambodian citizen is free, you become eligible for the citizenship after 5 years of continuous life in Cambodia, no need to invest any funds and there is no language fluency requirement either. Easy way out.

 

Why would you even want to pay for something that you can get for free?

 

Having the Cambodian citizenship and it's passport is the best way to bounce back and forth between Thailand, however you will be allowed to stay in Thailand only 15 days at a time, so this might not be suitable to those in remote places like Phuket.

 

set your maffs is wrong. marriage plus five years continuous life != free

[EricTh]

4 hours ago, Caldera said:

Much as some (!) in immigration like to believe that a tourist shouldn't spend "too much" time in Thailand, the Special Tourist Visa somewhat flies in the face of those who claim that this should translate to spending less than half of the year in Thailand or who make a ridiculous connection to tax residency. As that's a TOURIST visa that allows a continuous stay of up to 270 days.

 

I'm sure this kind of discussion will continue without any real conclusion. Fact is that the Thai government could have set a hard limit but has refrained to do so. Fact is also that some immigration officers have their own ideas and try to enforce them within their personal fiefdoms.

 

270 days (3 months) is considered short-term and not a normal one year 365 days visa.

 

Why would other people want to run through difficult hurdles to get the other extensions if we can just use the easy special tourist visas?

 

Just read through all the complaints by other members here on how difficulty it was for them to renew their extensions due to financial constraint, forgot to transfer money in time etc. 

 

Should we ask everybody here to just switch to the special tourist visa which is supposed to solve most of our problems so that we can stay long-term?

Edited March 2, 2022 by EricTh

[MajorTom]

1 hour ago, KhaoYai said:

You can do a visa run and enter visa exempt yes. What you can't do is obtain a visa at a consulate or embassy that has gone over to E-visa in country other than your home or where you have legal residence. My post was in response to advice to leave and obtain a visa in a neighbouring country - which you can still do but in an ever-decreasing number of countries.  Once that country/consulate/embassy goes to E-visa, applications will only be accepted from nationals of people with legal residence there.

I don't see any problem with this. If it were to happen it makes everything simpler.

If you can apply for an e-visa in your passport country, you will not need to apply in a neighboring country?

This is all done online. You don't actually have to fly to your home country? You will however need to go somewhere, and then re-enter Thailand to activate the e-visa.

[Caldera]

4 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

270 days (3 months) is considered short-term and not a normal one year 365 days visa.

 

Why would other people want to run through difficult hurdles to get the other extensions if we can just use the easy special tourist visas?

 

Just read through all the complaints by other members here on how difficulty it was for them to renew their extensions due to financial constraint, forgot to transfer money in time etc. 

 

Should we ask everybody here to just switch to the special tourist visa which is supposed to solve most of our problems so that we can stay long-term?

Your maths is off, 270 days aren't 3 months by quite a margin. 

 

You've also missed my point. I specifically targeted the often-heard nugget that someone who spends more than half of the year in Thailand isn't or cannot be a legitimate tourist. Which, of course, is nonsense, it depends entirely on what a person does in Thailand - and how they pay for it.

 

As you probably know, the STV doesn't allow conversion to a non-immigrant visa or extending beyond 270 days total, so it obviously isn't an alternative for those who want to stay in Thailand for years.

[NanaSomchai]

1 hour ago, KhaoYai said:

Yes......LEGAL RESIDENCE

False.

[KhaoYai]

3 minutes ago, NanaSomchai said:

False.

As I said in a previous reply - please show evidence of an E-Visa embassy or consulate that allows non-residents to make a visa application.  Either that or retract your claims and denials. I'd be happy to be proved wrong - E-visa is not in my personal interests. Can you do that?

 

For tourism and leisure activities

For Single Entry (stay up to 60 days) 

• A current passport with validity not less than 6 months and at least 2 blank pages. Applicants must fill in online visa application with their given name(s) and surname as appear in their passports.
• Printout of visa application form submitted online, with bar code
• Travel booking confirmation
• Proof of accommodation in Thailand e.g. hotel booking, invitation letter from family or friend in Thailand
• Financial evidence e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings, sponsorship letter
• Confirmation of legal residence in the UK or Ireland (if applicants are not nationals of these countries) e.g. long stay visa, residence permit, BRP card

 

https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/84451-tourist-visa?page=5d6636cd15e39c3bd00072dd&menu=5d6636cd15e39c3bd00072de

[NanaSomchai]

Post withdrawn.

 

Edited March 2, 2022 by NanaSomchai
Post withdrawn.

[Boomer6969]

20 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

By myself, always. Well dressed, well groomed, perfume on, with the girlfriend/wife, sometimes accompanied with my Thai kid as well, always smile on all occasions, do a wai salute at the I/O, include anything between 1,000 and 3,000 THB between the first 3 pages of your passport and very importantly; let the wife do all the talking for you, let the wife take the passport from your hand to give it to the I/O, never hand out your own passport yourself (when there is money in it so you can't be accused of attempting to bribe an officer, your Thai wife is the one handing out the passport, so if things go REALLY pear shaped you can pretend it wasn't you and it was a misunderstanding) also pretend you don't understand Thai and your English is nearly non existent, that way you can't answer any questions the I/O may have, your wife will do the talking for you.

 

Why would one make things so complicated when marriage extensions are easy to get? I am on my 7th extension, never had any issue worth to mention.