30 Day Waivers How Many is too Many

[Eddie45]

I have got 2 30 day waivers in my passport. Back to back with the extensions. If I fly out and return the same day will I get hassle for my 3rd 30 day waiver.

[StayinThailand2much]

There is a chance, even though, officially, there shouldn't be a problem. Depends on the IOs on that day and whatever instructions they received from higher up.

 

I wish they would announce a 'rule' of how often one can travel to Thailand, like 3 times visa-exempt, or a total stay of XXX days in a row, rather than leaving one at the mercy of grumpy IOs and their 'mood' on that day...

Edited May 15, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[Eddie45]

StayinThailandtoomuch thanks for the info. If I flew to Bali or Laos and applied for multi entry tourist visa, would this be okay after having spent 135 days in the country on waivers + extensions.

[Caldera]

There's no hard limit, but repeatedly flying out and back in without much time spent outside of Thailand certainly increases the risk of attracting scrutiny.

 

Can't you at least make a holiday out of it instead of flying back in on the same day? You're pretty much begging for an IO to take an interest in you.

[Eddie45]

Just now, Caldera said:

There's no hard limit, but repeatedly flying out and back in without much time spent outside of Thailand certainly increases the risk of attracting scrutiny.

 

Can't you at least make a holiday out of it instead of flying back in on the same day? You're pretty much begging for an IO to take an interest in you.

Do you think a 7 day holiday in Bali or Kuala Lumpur would be long enough to draw less attention.

[orchis]

will lead to some scrutiny.
also up to the discretion of the IO in front of you.

[Regyai]

Choosing an IO desk when returning that contains a 'Y' chromosome, will greatly enhance your odds of success

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

5 minutes ago, Eddie45 said:

StayinThailandtoomuch thanks for the info. If I flew to Bali or Laos and applied for multi entry tourist visa, would this be okay after having spent 135 days in the country on waivers + extensions.

Again, depends on the IO, but having a visa is much better than coming repeatedly visa-free. As for the Multi-Entry Tourist Visa, I think it's not available for non-residents in the locations you mentioned. Past reports stated that Bali is not a great place to apply for tourist visas. Perhaps someone can add recent  info in regards to the embassy in Vientiane...

[StayinThailand2much]

15 minutes ago, Eddie45 said:

Do you think a 7 day holiday in Bali or Kuala Lumpur would be long enough to draw less attention.

I was grilled at both Bangkok airports in late 2019/early 2020, despite having spent a couple days each time in Vietnam. (The second time I even had a flight out the same day from the other airport, but was almost denied entry despite of that!)

 

The more often you arrive visa-exempt, the more likely it will be that you'll be questioned or even denied entry...

 

Sadly, IOs seem to be back to this practice after the pandemic.

Edited May 15, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[Greenwich Boy]

Bali is a no go as they have stopped issuing visas. Applications must be made in Jakarta

[Sheryl]

Just now, StayinThailand2much said:

I was grilled at both Bangkok airports in late 2019/early 2020, despite having spent a couple days each time in Vietnam. The more often you arrive visa-exempt, the more likely it will be that you'll be questioned or even denied entry...

 

Sadly, IOs seem to be back to this practice after the pandemic.

this.

 

If I understand OP correctly he has been 135 days in country more or less back to back.

 

No one can say for sure, but quite likely to get at least some questions.

 

Visa entry after an absence of a few weeks would be better. Even then, be prepared to be asked what you are doing in Thailand and why you stay so long. Remember that visa exempt entries and Tourist visas as supposed to be for tourism, not living here.

 

Longer term you really need to get an appropriate long stay visa.

 

Once you hit 180 days in country within a twelve month period, denial of entry becomes a real possibility (though nto a certainty).

 

 

[Eddie45]

 

Just now, Sheryl said:

this.

 

If I understand OP correctly he has been 135 days in country more or less back to back.

 

No one can say for sure, but quite likely to get at least some questions.

 

Visa entry after an absence of a few weeks would be better. Even then, be prepared to be asked what you are doing in Thailand and why you stay so long. Remember that visa exempt entries and Tourist visas as supposed to be for tourism, not living here.

 

Longer term you really need to get an appropriate long stay visa.

 

Once you hit 180 days in country within a twelve month period, denial of entry becomes a real possibility (though nto a certainty).

 

 

Yes have spent 135 days back to back. If I booked my return flight back to the UK. So I am basically trying to get 1 more 30 day waiver and then will go back to UK for 6 months do you think this would help my chances of getting another 30 day waiver. I could print out my return flight and show the IO.

Edited May 15, 2023 by Eddie45

[DrJack54]

19 minutes ago, Eddie45 said:

 

Yes have spent 135 days back to back. If I booked my return flight back to the UK. So I am basically trying to get 1 more 30 day waiver and then will go back to UK for 6 months do you think this would help my chances of getting another 30 day waiver. I could print out my return flight and show the IO.

You stated .....

'If I fly out and return the same day will I get hassle for my 3rd 30 day waiver."...

 

That would be a bad plan.

There are good options to take a mini holiday.

Saigon is ripper joint.

Very easy commute from airport to District 1 night life area.

UK pp holders can enter visa exempt.

 

If you want quick reentry into Thailand you can do border bounce for visa exempt entry via land.

You can do two of those per calendar year. 

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, Eddie45 said:

 

Yes have spent 135 days back to back. If I booked my return flight back to the UK. So I am basically trying to get 1 more 30 day waiver and then will go back to UK for 6 months do you think this would help my chances of getting another 30 day waiver. I could print out my return flight and show the IO.

Having an outbound flight in 30 days (not 60) will usually help, yes. 

 

Indeed if arriving by air many airlines require it at check in if you do not have a visa.

 

Frankly in your shoes I'd get a visa. But that's me. 

[Eddie45]

Thanks for the replies. I wont do this again. I will get a visa. When I arrived I didnt plan staying this long. 

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, Eddie45 said:

Thanks for the replies. I wont do this again. I will get a visa. When I arrived I didnt plan staying this long. 

For a long stay you could consider a METV.

 

That visa would enable you to stay in Thailand for 9 months and even longer 

Edited May 15, 2023 by DrJack54

[Eddie45]

55 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

For a long stay you could consider a METV.

 

That visa would enable you to stay in Thailand for 9 months and even longer 

Yes thats what I will do.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, Eddie45 said:

Yes thats what I will do.

Think you posted that you will be returning to UK.

The METV is applied for in country of nationality or where you have permanent residence status.

 

Since eVisa in UK there are threads discussing ways to sidestep that requirement.

Suggest ignore that and obtain your METV while in UK 

[Pattaya57]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

For a long stay you could consider a METV. That visa would enable you to stay in Thailand for 9 months and even longer 

How does OP get more than 9 months out of a METV? it's valid for 6 months with a maximum stay of 60 days + 30 day extension. So enter just before end of 6 months gives you another 60 + 30 to make almost 9 months

 

Edited May 15, 2023 by Pattaya57

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

How does OP get more than 9 months out of a METV? it's valid for 6 months with a maximum stay of 60 days + 30 day extension. So enter just before end of 6 months gives you another 60 + 30 to make almost 9 months

 

The "even longer" is referring to other side salads such as visa exempt entries via land borders along with 30 day extensions. 

[Pattaya57]

Just now, DrJack54 said:

The "even longer" is referring to other side salads such as visa exempt entries via land borders along with 30 day extensions. 

So nothing to do with METV ???? 

[DrJack54]

19 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

So nothing to do with METV ???? 

Of course nothing to do with METV.

Everyone knows that gem can provide up to almost 9 months. 

 

That does not preclude additional options for longer stay. 

Edited May 15, 2023 by DrJack54

[BritTim]

For another visa exempt entry, you would be well advised to do a border bounce by land. Where are you located? Border bounces at Mae Sai (extreme North), Mae Sot (West) and Ranong (to the Andaman casino and resort) are easy and cheap if you can conveniently get to one of them. From Bangkok, there are (usually expensive) flights to Mae Sot airport walking distance to the border. Next best are border bounces to Laos.

[Caldera]

16 hours ago, Eddie45 said:

Do you think a 7 day holiday in Bali or Kuala Lumpur would be long enough to draw less attention.

With your recent immigration history, anything could happen when you attempt to enter visa exempt by air another time in the near future. Staying out for a week and having a ticket to the UK within 30 days from entering Thailand would greatly improve your chances in case of being questioned.

 

If I were you, I'd consider a border bounce by land instead. For your future plans, as others have said, getting a METV in the UK would be the best solution to stay longer. 

[animalmagic]

16 hours ago, orchis said:

will lead to some scrutiny.
also up to the discretion of the IO in front of you.

I can vouch for the fact that the discretion of the I.O. is a concern.

Prior to Covid travel restrictions I used an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) for all my travel around Asia for 3 years.  This card is similar in effect to a pre-approved Visa for all APEC countries and allows visa free entry to all jurisdictions with length of stay in Thailand pre-approved for 90 days.  During Covid I first used the extensions before changing to a Retirement then Marriage extension of stay.  

Now that the travel restrictions have lifted, I have renewed my ABTC and have since arrived from HK and Malaysia.  On the first occasion there was no problem, and I was granted 90 days on arrival on 21 April before leaving on 7th May and returning on 12th April.  On this occasion the I.O. was very unhelpful and did not at first want to give 90 days.  She eventually relented and warned me I should get a retirement visa before entering something in the computer.

Quite strange that an I.O. can unilaterally ignore the decision of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that granted me unlimited entries of 90 days for a 5 year period.  Stranger still is her advice to get a retirement visa when the ABTC is for the purpose of doing business throughout Asia! 

I can get the retirement visa but want to avoid the hassle and unnecessary expense, and I can get a marriage visa, but my wife does not like being interrogated by Immigration; we have been married for over 20 years.

Very disgruntled but do not want to stick my head too far above the parapet.  I am considering approaching the I.O. Main Office at the airport when I travel to the Philippines in June. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

[bigt3116]

17 hours ago, Eddie45 said:

StayinThailandtoomuch thanks for the info. If I flew to Bali or Laos and applied for multi entry tourist visa, would this be okay after having spent 135 days in the country on waivers + extensions.

METV are only issued in in a country where you have legal residence, i.e. your passport country.

[Regyai]

57 minutes ago, animalmagic said:

I can vouch for the fact that the discretion of the I.O. is a concern.

Prior to Covid travel restrictions I used an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) for all my travel around Asia for 3 years.  This card is similar in effect to a pre-approved Visa for all APEC countries and allows visa free entry to all jurisdictions with length of stay in Thailand pre-approved for 90 days.  During Covid I first used the extensions before changing to a Retirement then Marriage extension of stay.  

Now that the travel restrictions have lifted, I have renewed my ABTC and have since arrived from HK and Malaysia.  On the first occasion there was no problem, and I was granted 90 days on arrival on 21 April before leaving on 7th May and returning on 12th April.  On this occasion the I.O. was very unhelpful and did not at first want to give 90 days.  She eventually relented and warned me I should get a retirement visa before entering something in the computer.

Quite strange that an I.O. can unilaterally ignore the decision of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that granted me unlimited entries of 90 days for a 5 year period.  Stranger still is her advice to get a retirement visa when the ABTC is for the purpose of doing business throughout Asia! 

I can get the retirement visa but want to avoid the hassle and unnecessary expense, and I can get a marriage visa, but my wife does not like being interrogated by Immigration; we have been married for over 20 years.

Very disgruntled but do not want to stick my head too far above the parapet.  I am considering approaching the I.O. Main Office at the airport when I travel to the Philippines in June. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

Oooops:

 

Quote

She

I would suggest 90% of your problem right there

[animalmagic]

4 minutes ago, Regyai said:

Oooops:

 

I would suggest 90% of your problem right there

I would agree.  She also kept telling me she wasn't being rude or impolite whilst being rude and impolite!  But she was the only officer available in the provided channels, and female I.O.'s in the general channels in the recent past have always been polite and helpful.  The last one, pre collection of new ABTC card, asked how long I intended to stay.  I pointed out my travel history pre-covid using the ABTC and said I have another trip scheduled soon so will either get 30 or 60 day extension, or another marriage or retirement extension to cover the period until I go to HK to pick up my ABTC.  She simply smiled and noted that I obviously understood the options and would let me sort it out.

The ABTC is to facilitate legitimate business activities of residents of APEC; 'good guys in bad guys out?'

[Regyai]

Quote

She also kept telling me she wasn't being rude or impolite whilst being rude and impolite! 

Hazard a quick guess at the two recurring words at her annual reviews in reference to customer feedback 

[Eddie45]

Thanks for all the replies. If I went to Jakarta or Laos to apply for a tourist visa, are these only single entry tourist visa's?