Entry/Exit strategy Thailand in 2022

[jethro69]

Well in the past, aka Pre-Covid, I used to spend roughly about 10 months/year in Thailand, including some side trips in neighboring countries.
The other 2 months during the summer, I returned back to my home country. I usually returned with a METV to Thailand, and secured another SETV in either Cambodia or in Laos, without any major issues.
When I look now at the s...load of paperwork requested for a Tourist visa, I assume those in power can't be very serious about Thailand to be a Tourist destination anymore.
For the METV, they require now multiple flights in and out of Thailand, it seems that land crossings are not an option. An return airfare to Phnom Penh is only about 100$, and would probably serve well, but I find it a bit hilarious to expect anyone to plan 180 days ahead, when the government(s) themselves can't even plan a week ahead.
Alternatively, I could use those 20$ flightitineraryforvisa bookings, but I guess it's a bit over the top.
So, I`ll rather opt only for the SETV this time, as I plan to reduce my time in Thailand anyways.
In the past I never used those 1900B 30days extensions, but I guess this time it's the way to go.
a.) Am I correct, that you can also extend the 30 days Visa-exempt entries by 30 days?
b.) Is it still the norm that you'll get 2 Visa-exempt entries/year if using land crossings.

I'm aware that, if the Thailand Pass, is still required in the future, that those land crossings will require some time abroad, I read somewhere here, you can't apply for a new Thailand Pass while still in the country.

It's no big deal, as I planned longer stays abroad anyways.
c.) A visa exempt entry by air travel does not count towards the 2 land crossing entries?
 

[RedArmy]

A- Visa Exempt entry can be extended by 30 days.

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, jethro69 said:

c.) A visa exempt entry by air travel does not count towards the 2 land crossing entries?

Of course not.

 

" Am I correct, that you can also extend the 30 days Visa-exempt entries by 30 days".

 

Yes 1900 baht. 

 

)" Is it still the norm that you'll get 2 Visa-exempt entries/year if using land crossings."

 

Yes it's 2 land border entries per calendar year

 

" I read somewhere here, you can't apply for a new Thailand Pass while still in the country"

 

That not the case. 

 

Edited May 31, 2022 by DrJack54

[arithai12]

1 hour ago, jethro69 said:

Well in the past, aka Pre-Covid, I used to spend roughly about 10 months/year in Thailand, including some side trips in neighboring countries.
.... When I look now at the s...load of paperwork requested for a Tourist visa, I assume those in power can't be very serious about Thailand to be a Tourist destination anymore.

....

10 mo/year every year, a Tourist ?

[The Hammer2021]

39 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

10 mo/year every year, a Tourist ?

Yep - a tourist- When tourism first  started the grand tours  were for months.  The short 2 week holidays came after. Many 'tourists' are holiday makers who don't do much h touring. It can be down to a matter of semantics or wealth  and  time available  to travel- ever hears of a gap year?

 

[arithai12]

3 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Yep - a tourist- When tourism first  started the grand tours  were for months.  The short 2 week holidays came after. Many 'tourists' are holiday makers who don't do much h touring. It can be down to a matter of semantics or wealth  and  time available  to travel- ever hears of a gap year?

 

As you say, a matter of semantics. I don't know much about gap years since it was not something people did in my country when I was young, but from the little I gather it generally consists in travelling around the world not staying put in another country for 10 months. The OP doesn't seem to be much "touring" either, if he did the same year after year.

But anyway, none of this is my business.

 

My comment was rather directed at the disbelief that the OP seems to have for Thai authorities who want tourists and yet don't let people easily obtain a TV valid for 10 months.

[ubonjoe]

9 hours ago, jethro69 said:

For the METV, they require now multiple flights in and out of Thailand, it seems that land crossings are not an option.

What embassy or official consulate website are you looking at.

I found this on a embassy website.

"2.4 Proof of a round trip flight confirmation/reservation showing going from the US to Thailand and leaving from Thailand (The name of the applicant must be indicated clearly)"

Source: https://thaiembdc.org/2021/05/13/metv/

You only need on ticket to Thailand and ticket of Thailand that could be a throw away one way ticket to anywhere.

[mvdf]

9 hours ago, arithai12 said:

10 mo/year every year, a Tourist ?

I've also wondered about this concept of long-term tourism. Staying 10 months a year is more likely what a resident than a tourist does. It's none of my business, I realize that, but isn't this also frowned upon by immigration authorities in other jurisdictions? I know for a fact that the EU have limits (maximum of three months within a six-month period) and even if this rule is respected, there is a high chance of being refused admission if a regular pattern of exhausting the max 90 days rule is detected. Similarly, maximum stays apply for stays in the UK, US, Australia, Canada etc.

 

All of that aside, if one is quite wealthy, then long-term tourism is certainly justified which is why there is the Thailand Elite visa for such individuals. It dispenses with all the worrying and running around for extensions and visa renewals.

 

[nana kid]

If I just fly in to BKK without anything do I get a 30 day that an be extended at Immigration

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, nana kid said:

If I just fly in to BKK without anything do I get a 30 day that an be extended at Immigration

You could enter visa exempt and get a 30 day stay that can be extended for 30 days at immigration.

The airline you travel to here on can ask for a ticket out of the country within 30 days. It can be a one way ticket to anywhere or a temporary onward ticket you can get online.

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, nana kid said:

If I just fly in to BKK without anything do I get a 30 day that an be extended at Immigration

You will also need a ThaiPass, vaccination certificate, 30-day Covid insurance and (to satisfy the airline) likely an onward flight out of Thailand within 30 days.

[jethro69]

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

What embassy or official consulate website are you looking at.

I found this on a embassy website.

"2.4 Proof of a round trip flight confirmation/reservation showing going from the US to Thailand and leaving from Thailand (The name of the applicant must be indicated clearly)"

Source: https://thaiembdc.org/2021/05/13/metv/

You only need on ticket to Thailand and ticket of Thailand that could be a throw away one way ticket to anywhere.

It's the Thai embassy in Belgium, yesterday if I'm not mistaken, it was still 'multiple flights', since today June 01 it changed to  at "least twice" 

•  For the METV, the reservation of the flight tickets inbound and outbound of Thailand on a regular basis or at least twice

https://www.thaiembassy.be/2021/09/21/tourist-visa/?lang=en

 

As we have already June anyways, I'll not need a METV anymore, as I plan to reduce my time in Thailand anyways. Those 140€ saved towards a SETV, I can use for the 30 days extensions. At the end, it's basically the same.

 

Edited June 1, 2022 by jethro69

[Smoothsailing1]

Every time I look at travelling to Thailand I decide it is too much hassle and too much risk they will ruin the trip with health hysteria, over Covid, Monkey pox, or the next one.

 

I wish anyone living in Thailand, or travelling there all the best.

 

I used to visit for 30 days at a time and not return for a few months, bouncing around different countries in the region. That doesn't seem to work anymore, as you have to keep up to date with all of the countries you may visit.

 

 

[KhaoYai]

You can have a strategy and may well be successful but just remember that anyone who enters Thailand multiple times/does border runs or constantly obtains extensions is at risk of being denied entry without warning.  Some seem to make multiple entries regularly whilst others don't have the same luck.

 

I received a warning a few years ago and my entries were 8 weeks apart, spending only 2 weeks in the country per trip - I think the only reason I got a warning rather than being denied entry was because I was married to a Thai citizen.

 

Despite Thailand apparently being desperate for tourists, we have already had reports of denied entries.  Plan away but always have a Plan B.  There are methods of doing what you are planning without the risk - not that I'm recommending it but Thailand Elite for example.

[jethro69]

On 6/1/2022 at 10:46 AM, KhaoYai said:

You can have a strategy and may well be successful but just remember that anyone who enters Thailand multiple times/does border runs or constantly obtains extensions is at risk of being denied entry without warning.  Some seem to make multiple entries regularly whilst others don't have the same luck.

 

I received a warning a few years ago and my entries were 8 weeks apart, spending only 2 weeks in the country per trip - I think the only reason I got a warning rather than being denied entry was because I was married to a Thai citizen.

 

Despite Thailand apparently being desperate for tourists, we have already had reports of denied entries.  Plan away but always have a Plan B.  There are methods of doing what you are planning without the risk - not that I'm recommending it but Thailand Elite for example.

Of course I did look at the Elite-Visa as well, but as I said b4, I want to reduce my time in Thailand drastically, the only reason I need some time is to get rid of my rental house, which I didn't use for over 2 years, and reduce a lot of stuff which came together in the past years. So throwing away 600K or even more for the Elite Visa is not going to happen.

On the other hand I would nowadays qualify for a retirement visa. But I shift away most of my assets back home away from the banks, as I don't trust them.

The Thai government and their banks, I trust even less. So I'll not deposit much more into my Thai bank account as I'll need in a foreseeable amount of time.

There are still places around in the world, where you could spend the winter months without all the hassle.  

[aldriglikvid]

Have you considered a STV? As the creation of the STV is actually made for 9 months of tourism in mind, one might argue that it's less frowned upon by immigration for "long stayers" than, lets say, several border runs and/or visa exempt. 

[jethro69]

On 6/5/2022 at 4:56 AM, aldriglikvid said:

Have you considered a STV? As the creation of the STV is actually made for 9 months of tourism in mind, one might argue that it's less frowned upon by immigration for "long stayers" than, lets say, several border runs and/or visa exempt. 

Just looked at it, it would be ok more or less, at least not more hassle than an METV.

AFAIK, not even finances are checked such as the 700€/6000€ for the SETV/METV.

However, criminal record, medical attest, insurance, leasing contract, or at least 3 months of hotel bookings, and still the requirement of Confirmed AQ/ SHA+ reservation, although thAQ/SHA+ might be outdated information.

So I rather decline their grateful offer.

Rumors, on an Asean Now suggest that they'll eventually scrap the Thai-Pass system. So I think I'll sit those few week out as well.