Future Visits to Thailand - How to approach this

[pantsonfire]

Hi all

 

Back in 2021 i stayed bkk with tourist visa plus about 5 covid extensions.  

I left in 2022 with 4 day overstay and the  reapplied tourist visa and rentered via chiang mai and then bkk after 1 month back in uk.

Recent trip i got tourist + 30 days + 1 covid extension and left with 14 overstay(was hospitalied and needed to.opearte).

 

I entered bkk on 1st Feb 23 via TR and extended and left on 1st May.  

 

I am now back in UK and plan to return in July  for about a month so thats 2 months away and another trip in October again for a few weeks.  What is my best way in trying to get into Thailand?

Edited May 21, 2023 by pantsonfire

[StayinThailand2much]

No-one here has a crystal ball, and things may or may not change under a new government.

 

That being said, over the years, in practice, guidelines have been as follows: having a pre-arranged visa is better than relying on VFEs (30 days). Extending either, a visa, or a VFE in Thailand (by 30 days) is no problem.

 

Overstays should under any circumstances be avoided. Covid extensions are, reportedly, frowned upon by IOs. "Too many entries", esp. via VFEs as well, as is "staying too long" (with the "wrong" visas) in Thailand. - IOs have a lot of discretion compared to other countries. (Things may depend on the individual IO, latest 'instructions from above', how busy the IO is, etc., etc.)

 

Both Bangkok airports have given repeat tourists a hard time (interviews, some denials) over the past five years or so. Other airports might be 'friendlier' in this regard.

 

Theoretically, you should not have a problem. There is, however, a chance that the IO who is checking your details may ask you a couple of questions.

 

Edited May 21, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[DrJack54]

Another tourist visa..

[JayClay]

You may be fine on visa exempt entries for both, but you might want to get tourist visas.

 

If you don't want the hassle of applying for two individual tourist visas, you could get yourself a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa so you only have to apply once.

[pantsonfire]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Another tourist visa..

and then in october?

[Caldera]

Do you know how long exactly your July trip will be, and will you have a return ticket before arriving in Thailand?

 

As you wrote "about a month", getting a tourist visa would look better than maxing out another visa exempt entry or having to extend it.

[Upnotover]

29 minutes ago, pantsonfire said:

and then in october?

You could try for a multi-entry, it's certainly an option on the e-visa application.

[pantsonfire]

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

You could try for a multi-entry, it's certainly an option on the e-visa application.

issue is the bank statement

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, pantsonfire said:

issue is the bank statement

Well then pretty much your only option is tourist visas..

[pantsonfire]

Should i got to Bangkok airports or somewhere else to enter?  Being 2 months away and going with a TV iam not sure

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, pantsonfire said:

Should i got to Bangkok airports or somewhere else to enter?  Being 2 months away and going with a TV iam not sure

If you have an actual tourist visa, entering via one of the Bangkok airports ought to be OK. However, the officials there have been known to go rogue occasionally in the past. Using an airport (such as Chiang Mai) that has no history of refusing to honour tourist visas might be safer.

[pantsonfire]

Thanks. Just unsure if i shoiuld go through the stages of going to sg then to cnx then to bkk

[DrJack54]

24 minutes ago, pantsonfire said:

Thanks. Just unsure if i shoiuld go through the stages of going to sg then to cnx then to bkk

Waste of money and time.

Has already been stated in thread... obtain a tourist visa and enter at Bangkok airports. 

Flying to. Saigon and into CNX not necessary with tourist visa.

If you cannot obtain tourist visa don't come. 

 

BTW for general info for the forum..... spoke with Oz friend yesterday and he tried to enter BKK airport from Melb visa exempt and was scammed by immigration to the tune of 15k baht.

The good old "too much time in Thailand" ....

Weird thing is it had been months since his previous entry.

 

He did have the notorious "volunteer visa" stamp.

Not sure if that played a part. 

 

Edited May 24, 2023 by DrJack54

[pantsonfire]

All good this time. Nothing asked nothing required to be shown. Though, i just avoided any female IO nearby

[BritTim]

22 minutes ago, pantsonfire said:

All good this time. Nothing asked nothing required to be shown. Though, i just avoided any female IO nearby

Did you enter at Suvarnabhumi? Did you have a tourist visa?

[pantsonfire]

23 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Did you enter at Suvarnabhumi? Did you have a tourist visa?

Yea to both

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, pantsonfire said:

Yeah to both

Which is pretty much the advice posted in this thread.

Enjoy your stay.