Can I re-enter Thailand as visa exempt status after my tourist visa expires?

[cdemundo]

Can I re-enter Thailand as visa exempt when my tourist visa expires?

 

I am in the process of applying for a non-B visa and work permit and the process may not be complete before my visa expires.

 

Can I re-enter Thailand as visa exempt status after my tourist visa expires in order to complete these applications?

 

I have time estimates from my employer for how long the process will take.

If the optimistic times are met I am ok and will have my visa and work permit in time.

But if anything goes longer I might not complete everything before the visa expires.

 

If I do re-enter on visa exempt status will that have any bearing on my applications?

 

I want to avoid leaving the country and applying for another tourist visa because of the expense, and because the visa exempt time frame should be enough to complete my applications.

[DrJack54]

57 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Can I re-enter Thailand as visa exempt when my tourist visa expires?

Yes.

Assume you are aware that your 60 day permit can be extended by 30 days.

Also if you obtain a visa exempt entry that can also be extended by 30 days.

Where are you located in Thailand.

 

[cdemundo]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes.

Assume you are aware that your 60 day permit can be extended by 30 days.

Also if you obtain a visa exempt entry that can also be extended by 30 days.

Where are you located in Thailand.

 

I am in Bangkok.

 

It was my second tourist visa, I extended the first one after 60 days.

My second tourist visa was for 90 days, I went to Laos to get it.

Thanks for the info.

 

To get the visa exemption do I need to be out of the country overnight?

Can I just fly out and immediately fly back?

Also, does it matter if my tourist visa still has validity, or should I wait until it expires?

Edited October 22, 2023 by cdemundo

[cdemundo]

edited into previous post.

Edited October 22, 2023 by cdemundo
redundant

[DrJack54]

30 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Can I just fly out and immediately fly back?

Also, does it matter if my tourist visa still has validity, or should I wait until it expires?

You did not mention in the OP that you have had 2 tourist visas and extended each by 30 days.

So how many days will have been in Thailand with very little time time out.

Personally I would avoid retry via air.

 

You need to exit prior to expiry of your current permit. 

Upon exit any days remaining on your stamp is gone.

 

From Bangkok you could fly return to Nong Khai. 

Exit/reenter via friendship bridge. 

 

Edited October 22, 2023 by DrJack54

[cdemundo]

42 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You did not mention in the OP that you have had 2 tourist visas and extended each by 30 days.

So how many days will have been in Thailand with very little time time out.

Personally I would avoid retry via air.

 

You need to exit prior to expiry of your current permit. 

Upon exit any days remaining on your stamp is gone.

 

From Bangkok you could fly return to Nong Khai. 

Exit/reenter via friendship bridge. 

 

Actually I didn't extend both tourist visas.

First one I extended by 30 days.

Second one I was given a 90 day visa, I don't know why, rather than a 60 day.

 

So you believe exit/reenter at Nong Khai gives better chance of being granted visa exempt entry?

So in this way do I need a visa for Laos, and do I need to stay overnight?

 

Thanks.

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, cdemundo said:

So you believe exit/reenter at Nong Khai gives better chance of being granted visa exempt entry?

So in this way do I need a visa for Laos, and do I need to stay overnight?

You need visa for Laos.

Simple process.

You can reenter straight away.

 

Re your 90 day visa have no idea what that is.

Where did you obtain it.

A non O provides 90 day stamp.

A tourist visa 60 days.

 

 

 

[cdemundo]

24 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You need visa for Laos.

Simple process.

You can reenter straight away.

 

Re your 90 day visa have no idea what that is.

Where did you obtain it.

A non O provides 90 day stamp.

A tourist visa 60 days.

 

 

 

"Re your 90 day visa have no idea what that is.

Where did you obtain it.

A non O provides 90 day stamp.

A tourist visa 60 days."

 

There are more things in heaven and earth...

 

Says

"Valid from 23 Aug 2023 to 22 Nov 2023"

"Type of Visa : Tourist"

"No of Entry : Single"

"Employment Prohibited"

 

I got it at the Thai embassy in Vientiane.

 

"Re your 90 day visa have no idea what that is."

I told you, it's a tourist visa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Valid from 23 Aug 2023 to 22 Nov 2023"

That is the entry window.

When you enter between those dates you will be stamped in for 60 days.

Suggest you look at your current permit stamp. 

[cdemundo]

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That is the entry window.

When you enter between those dates you will be stamped in for 60 days.

Suggest you look at your current permit stamp. 

Jack I apologize for my ignorant reply.

I misunderstood.

Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Thanks for setting me straight.

Initially when I assumed only one setv I would suggest flight Bangkok to Saigon return a take mini holiday.

Many countries visa exempt to Vietnam.

That still could be option if you could provide letter supporting application for Non B.

 

Irrelevant but never understand why folk what same day reentry to Thailand. 

[BritTim]

5 hours ago, cdemundo said:

Second one I was given a 90 day visa, I don't know why, rather than a 60 day.

Oh dear! If your entry stamp is giving you 90 days, this seems most likely to be a stamp error, and you are probably on overstay. When an immigration official makes a mistake (and you do not get it corrected) it is your fault.

[cdemundo]

15 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Oh dear! If your entry stamp is giving you 90 days, this seems most likely to be a stamp error, and you are probably on overstay. When an immigration official makes a mistake (and you do not get it corrected) it is your fault.

I'm ok.

I'm not on overstay yet, so this will hopefully be an inexpensive lesson to learn.

Blind luck, but I have a few days to go apply for extension.

 

[DrJack54]

4 hours ago, cdemundo said:

Blind luck, but I have a few days to go apply for extension

Have a TM30 for your application for 30 day extension 

[bigt3116]

13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

From Bangkok you could fly return to Nong Khai.

If Nong Khai had an airport, which it does NOT.

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

If Nong Khai had an airport, which it does NOT.

Meant Udon Thani. 

[bbi1]

14 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You need visa for Laos.

Simple process.

You can reenter straight away.

 

Re your 90 day visa have no idea what that is.

Where did you obtain it.

A non O provides 90 day stamp.

A tourist visa 60 days.

 

 

 

Does one actually need to enter Laos after exiting & getting stamped out of Thailand via Nong Khai, or can they just walk around to the other side and enter & get stamped back into Thailand?

[Caldera]

14 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Does one actually need to enter Laos after exiting & getting stamped out of Thailand via Nong Khai, or can they just walk around to the other side and enter & get stamped back into Thailand?

You need to enter and exit Laos (which includes purchasing a visa, for most nationalities) before re-entering Thailand. 

[bbi1]

2 minutes ago, Caldera said:

You need to enter and exit Laos (which includes purchasing a visa, for most nationalities) before re-entering Thailand. 

Curious to know what actually happens if someone doesn't do that and just tries to exit then enter back into Thailand? Do they actually check your passport to see if you have a Laos visa and entry/exit stamp at the Thai entry side? Then if they see you don't they will then tell you to enter & exit Laos first?

Edited October 23, 2023 by bbi1

[Caldera]

1 minute ago, bbi1 said:

Curious to know what actually happens if someone doesn't do that and just tries to exit then enter back into Thailand? Do they actually check your passport to see if you have a Laos visa and entry/exit stamp at the Thai entry side? Then if they see you don't they will then tell you to enter & exit Laos first?

They check for the stamps from Laos, yes. At land borders, that's standard procedure.

 

If you don't have stamps from Laos, they will usually be kind enough to tell you to get them. On a bad day, they could charge you with attempting to enter the country illegally though. 

[Hanuman2547]

Why isn't your employer taking care of all the visa issues including the expenses?

[cdemundo]

1 hour ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Why isn't your employer taking care of all the visa issues including the expenses?

I am a new hire.

They will begin taking care of all the visa issues beginning with the non B application.

As far as expenses, I have to pay the 1st non B fee, they will pay work permit and subsequent visa fees.

[Toby1947]

4 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Curious to know what actually happens if someone doesn't do that and just tries to exit then enter back into Thailand? Do they actually check your passport to see if you have a Laos visa and entry/exit stamp at the Thai entry side? Then if they see you don't they will then tell you to enter & exit Laos first?

You're feet don't touch the floor, collar roughly felt. 

[cdemundo]

Ok, I extended my SETV today and it is good until November 23d. (Thank you Dr. Jack for helping me avoid an overstay.)

 

I will have had two 90 day SETVs at that time and about 176 days in Thailand, as about 4 days I was in Laos applying for the second SETV.

 

I am going through the process of acquiring a non-B visa and a work permit, I have been offered a job as a teacher.

The non-B application may not be complete at the time my tourist visa expires.

 

So if necessary I was thinking I would leave Thailand and return on a visa exempt entry.

That would give me 30 days which my prospective employer says should be more than enough time.

 

I have been told two contradictory things about what to say if I am questioned by immigration officer about my stay in Thailand when trying to re-enter as visa exempt. 

One is just to say I am here as a tourist, and to absolutely avoid any mention of getting a job in Thailand. As this is a red flag when on a tourist visa.

The other is that I could just explain to IO that I am in the middle of the hiring process and I need to extend to complete it.

 

Anyone have any advice or knowledge about this.

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by cdemundo