Visa Run 90 Day Rule

[uk_falang]

Hi

Could someone clarify the latest news.

My 2 month tourist visa from Manila is about to expire. I wish to extend this for a month and then do 3 X 30 day visa on arrivals.

Is this still being permitted?

I have a friend who recently was prevented from extending his 2 month tourist visa because he has previously done 3X30 day visa runs. This was refused at an immigration office - but when he went to the border instead of extending his tourist visa, he had no problems getting a visa on arrival.

By the way, dont go to mae sai immigration office. The head immigration officer there actually said to me "I hate farangs".

Needless to say I got the email address for "any complaints please email...." sign and will be making some complaints at a later date (when he has forgotten about me).

[astral]

My 2 month tourist visa from Manila is about to expire. I wish to extend this for a month and then do 3 X 30 day visa on arrivals.

I am under the impression this should be acceptable.

The 90/180 rule applies to Visa Exemption and

is independent of tourist visas entries.

[cali4995]

It is actually a 90 day in 6 month rule.

"Foreigners who enter the Kingdom under the Tourist Visa Exemption category may re-enter and stay in Thailand for a cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within any 6-month period from the date of first entry." The critical difference is (3) days. 180 vs. 183. You will find this important if you try and re-enter Thailand again before 183 days have elapsed.

The 30 day stamp is called a Tourist Visa Exemption, maybe we should abbreviate that TVE. A Visa On Arrival is a 15 day instrument for a separate category of 20 nations. It would be interesting to know the nationality and visa history of your friend who you say was denied a tourist visa extention of 30 days. Not that it should matter, these isolated incidents have been reported before. Who knows why.

Edited June 26, 2007 by cali4995