BREAKING NEWS 60-day visa exemptions are now unlimited at land borders

[Bday Prang]

3 hours ago, atpeace said:

But you have to leave the country every 60 days and go through immigration.  A few hours a year to get  a non-o vs at least 30 hours in travel and misc each year.  Also the hassle to have to organize your life around a 60 day visa. 

 

People complain about a few minute process of online 90 day reporting but this is insanely difficult.  Great option if you don't have the funds for a non-o, travel a lot, and don't mind the big  hassle.

                Well I live about 10 minutes from a relatively quiet land border crossing 15 minutes in and out would be about normal and that would get me 60 days, I also live about 5 minutes from one of two  local immigration offices which is also never busy so a 30 day extension is no problem at all, then back again to get 60 more days to visit the Mrs  150 days would be  possible with careful timing, and  around 2 -3 hours spent  every 5 months would  not be  particularly onerous as far as I am concerned.  Along with  no money in the bank to worry about either, or indeed any 90 day reports or home visits, consideration periods, mountains of paperwork with endless signatures ,  etc etc  To be honest it sounds a bit too good to be true so it probably is

               It might be troublesome for those who need a residence certificate for any reason or for  those who crave a pink id card and yellow book, I really don't know  

              People will complain about anything on this forum but I am always amazed that many  people don't consider things like the location of the nearest immigration office or border crossing when planning  where to live, especially considering the monumental impact it seems to have on some peoples lives.  To be honest I didn't give the matter any thought  either,  I just dropped lucky 

[Bday Prang]

21 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Because 1 person got it from 1 particular immigration officer?

Show the link to the law.

Well as I said before, a link to the law is  one thing and will no doubt exist somewhere , but a link to  an official  announcement as to how the law might be applied , especially regarding repeated entries , along with any unofficial guidelines about  limits is unlikely to ever surface it will remain "up to them"

[Bday Prang]

2 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Despite having a retirement visa I alway thought the limit of two land crossings was ridiculous.   

 

It provided plenty of work for drivers and agents alike. 

 

I think the retarded idea started when that hyperbole character "Big Joke" started one of his early stints in immigration.

 

 

 

Somewhat off topic but has anybody else noticed the huge reduction in crazy, methed up, psychopathic, minibus drivers nowadays .  I think it reached its maniacal peak a few years before covid ,  Tailgating and undertaking was taken to a whole new level ,and I guess visa runs made up a large percentage of the offenders    but not so much of it  about anymore   What happened ?

[Phillip9]

18 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

The new 60 day entry stamp program that started 3 days ago is not limited to two entries by land in a calendar year, it is unlimited entry by land.

 

I think this is really bad news. 

 

With no defined rule, land entries will be treated the same as air entries.  People with extensive history in Thailand will face problems entering by land. 

 

We no longer have 2 "safe" land entries per year.

 

[Enoon]

4 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

 That requirement for online visa applications is a real pain, having to show a return flight within 60 or even 90 days even when extensions are available and one intends staying longer invariably involves changing flights which can be quite costly    I try to mitigate such costs by purchasing a std outbound ticket and a flexible return ticket , but some / most  airlines will happily sell you the more expensive flexible ticket , but a check of the terms and conditions will often reveal a well hidden clause that the restrictions attached to the most restrictive ticket will apply to the entire booking  Qatar and Emirates passengers take note !             Last time I checked Etihad were the only airline not operating the scam  

I've never been asked by an airline to show proof of a visa or an onward flight but i was once asked if I had visa no need to show it  

 

I have never seen a requirement for the return flight, qualifying for a Tourist Visa, to be 60 or 90 days after the entry.

 

It has been said many times on this forum that it is not a requirement for the return flight to match the duration of the initial stay when applying for a Tourist Visa.

 

My standard stay is 6 months and I have only ever shown a return flight 6 months after my initial arrival.

 

I maintain the stay by an extension and getting a 2nd TV in Laos then another extension or a VE + extension and then another VE.

 

You have been wasting you energy/money by getting flexible tickets/changing flights.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 18 by Enoon

[bigt3116]

16 hours ago, MikeUdon said:

Simplifying the process for these individuals would not only recognize their significant contributions to the community

 

Trust me, yours and the other married expats contribution is minuscule in the scale of things.

[impulse]

6 hours ago, AreYouGerman said:

At the end I just overstayed on year per year basis because nobody cared anyway.

 

Those were the good old days.  Overstay for 2 or 3 or 10 years, pay your $600 fine when you leave and come back a week later.

 

I never did that myself, but I lost some friends when that loophole slammed shut.

 

Edited July 18 by impulse

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, itsari said:

5700 baht for a multi entry which includes  the 12 month extension.

Border crossings into Thaiand cost nothing .

 

1,900 for the annual visa

2,000 for a multi entry permit

[JesusonaPogoStick]

FWIW- just did the Chiang Khong crossing and 60 day stamped. Told Laos Imm. that I was just doing a turn-around, so there was no paperwork/photos needed (always good to be over prepared)-2k baht(believe it can be cheaper w/agent). BTW, if you have never been to Chiang Khong, it's worth staying for a day or two. Easy bounce.

[marin]

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

2,000 for a multi entry permit

B 3,800

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

1,900 for the annual visa

2,000 for a multi entry permit

1900b for annual extension 

3800b multi reentry permit 

2000b for non O application 

[itsari]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

1,900 for the annual visa

2,000 for a multi entry permit

You have been misinformed 

[hotchilli]

6 minutes ago, itsari said:

You have been misinformed 

Must have gone up since my last one..

[Robert Paulson]

Are they stamping 60 days now for people arriving?

[Yagoda]

Works for me. I was going to come in in September via air, but now Ill do a land one through Poipet and ask the Immigration Officer. $20 trip to Bangkok, ha, $10 to the border and $10 on the train. 

 

Life is good.

[Robert Paulson]

Since they are trying to “boost” blah blah, what about myanmar. Any word on more of those land borders opening for crossing?

[atpeace]

6 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

                Well I live about 10 minutes from a relatively quiet land border crossing 15 minutes in and out would be about normal and that would get me 60 days, I also live about 5 minutes from one of two  local immigration offices which is also never busy so a 30 day extension is no problem at all, then back again to get 60 more days to visit the Mrs  150 days would be  possible with careful timing, and  around 2 -3 hours spent  every 5 months would  not be  particularly onerous as far as I am concerned.  Along with  no money in the bank to worry about either, or indeed any 90 day reports or home visits, consideration periods, mountains of paperwork with endless signatures ,  etc etc  To be honest it sounds a bit too good to be true so it probably is

               It might be troublesome for those who need a residence certificate for any reason or for  those who crave a pink id card and yellow book, I really don't know  

              People will complain about anything on this forum but I am always amazed that many  people don't consider things like the location of the nearest immigration office or border crossing when planning  where to live, especially considering the monumental impact it seems to have on some peoples lives.  To be honest I didn't give the matter any thought  either,  I just dropped lucky 

I agree and I too live near a slow boarder crossing and very slow immigration office.  We may be practically neighbors.  My immigration is also located next to a nice lake where I can relax and grab a nice meal.  Still a hassle IMO compared to an easy non-o for me that allows me to not worry about visa for a year. 

 

I crossed the boarder every month in the late 1990s for years and it was a 10 hour trip.  It wasn't a concern then but it would be hard to go back to that type of visa.  At 57 my life isn't as carefree as I was at 31 but a 60 day visa run might add a good dose of excitement to it so it might not be all bad.

Edited July 19 by atpeace

[john donson]

fly in , still 30 days... pretty useless

 

the border is a dangerous crazy van drive away x 2

 

no thank you

[FARANG KIWI]

2 hours ago, JesusonaPogoStick said:

FWIW- just did the Chiang Khong crossing and 60 day stamped. Told Laos Imm. that I was just doing a turn-around, so there was no paperwork/photos needed (always good to be over prepared)-2k baht(believe it can be cheaper w/agent). BTW, if you have never been to Chiang Khong, it's worth staying for a day or two. Easy bounce.

 

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, john donson said:

fly in , still 30 days... pretty useless

60

[khmerroad]

It's about time they've done something smart. As a former long time retiree in Thailand, I moved to Lao. Much easier and less cost. Being just across the border, I crossed via land border and did a lot of my shopping in Thailand. Then some genius came up with limiting land border crossings to twice a year. Good to return when needed for both me and Thailand.

[SouthThailand]

It would be really funny when Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia would limit their land border entries to 2 entries only per calendar year.

 

[fondue zoo]

I'd have to face CW immigration if I started that again, no way, I've paid my dues in that place of sour faces and waspish dispositions.

But good to know.

[mokwit]

7 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Despite having a retirement visa I alway thought the limit of two land crossings was ridiculous.   

 

It provided plenty of work for drivers and agents alike. 

 

I think the retarded idea started when that hyperbole character "Big Joke" started one of his early stints in immigration.

 

 

 

There's some evidence it was Prawit being behind all this, despite the fact he was not interior Minister (although a crony was). BJ is regarded as being his boy.

[zzzzz]

1 hour ago, SouthThailand said:

It would be really funny when Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia would limit their land border entries to 2 entries only per calendar year.

 

why would they? $$$$ for each entry

[marin]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

1900b for annual extension 

3800b multi reentry permit 

2000b for non O application 

The last three years for renewal of my retirement extension I only paid the 1,900 and the 3,800 for the reentry permits, I dont recall the other 2,000B charge.  

[brewsterbudgen]

Great news for foreigners living in Laos who need to pop across the border for shopping or medical treatment. 👏

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, marin said:

The last three years for renewal of my retirement extension I only paid the 1,900 and the 3,800 for the reentry permits, I dont recall the other 2,000B charge.  

Application for a non O at immigration office costs 2000.

If you are just doing annual extension and multi reentry permit you would pay 1900 + 3800

Single reentry permit 1000.

[BobDobbs]

22 hours ago, transam said:

Weeeell, being allowed in multiple times by plane and not land borders does seem a bit daft...🤗

 

Seems absolutely counterintuitive. People with money fly and brokies go overland. My guess is this will change come November.

[ryandb]

13 minutes ago, BobDobbs said:

 

Seems absolutely counterintuitive. People with money fly and brokies go overland. My guess is this will change come November.

 

Depending on whether you are based near an international airport or not vs how far from a border you are, might be way more convenient to drive.