Any evidence of immigration - More lenient now on multiple Visa Exempts?

[spambot]

Theoretically it would be possible to get unlimited exemptions for appropriate passport holder, however as always immigration has the last say.

 

Previously immigration were intolerant of multiple entry Visa exempts and directed visitors to apply for the right Visa.

 

Is there any evidence that consideration has become more lenient since the new 60 day Visa exempt, which has now been available for close to 3 months ?

[DrJack54]

No

[spambot]

Fair Enough!

 

[raz0r21]

I think it will just get tougher tbh. The upcoming high season (the first proper one since covid), is surely going to affect things. And with all the reports of foreigners behaving badly in the media... not good. 

[raz0r21]

What I could observe at Suvarnabhumi last Saturday was that the immigration officers were asking alot of questions for people arriving, and they had 3 different buttons to press: green, yellow and red. I dont really know what their purpose is, but when I was getting questioned the yellow button was pushed, and a supervisor appeared. Red is probably not a fun time. 

 

Another thing I saw was that they took some people aside for further questioning. Also looked like there was a lot of new staff manning the booths. All I could see were young or middle aged women. If this is of interest to anyone.....

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, spambot said:

Theoretically it would be possible to get unlimited exemptions for appropriate passport holder, however as always immigration has the last say.

 

Previously immigration were intolerant of multiple entry Visa exempts and directed visitors to apply for the right Visa.

 

Is there any evidence that consideration has become more lenient since the new 60 day Visa exempt, which has now been available for close to 3 months ?

 

If you join a border run with a company that does them, you benefit from the removal of the hard limit on visa exempt entries by land, no ifs no buts. If you fly in, I wouldn't expect airport IOs to be any more lenient than before.

 

And in particular, if you play the border run game and later try to fly in without a visa, expect trouble. Airport IOs have a longstanding dislike of those same-day "out-ins".

 

To me, the big open question is what happens at land borders without joining an organized border run. I'd guess a very inconsistent picture will emerge. This has already started, with some Lao borders requiring an overnight stay (as reported in another current topic on here).

[Rob Browder]

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

If you join a border run with a company that does them, you benefit from the removal of the hard limit on visa exempt entries by land, no ifs no buts. If you fly in, I wouldn't expect airport IOs to be any more lenient than before.

 

And in particular, if you play the border run game and later try to fly in without a visa, expect trouble. Airport IOs have a longstanding dislike of those same-day "out-ins".

Some recent reports indicate they are not any more lenient at the airports with longer-stay visitors on tourist-type entries than before.

 

Those with longer-stay histories would be wise to use their "service" for this:

... or stick to entering by-land - unless/until it goes beyond a "one night out" rule.

[Pattaya57]

It's too early to tell as most problems are people doing back to back stays and that can't have happened yet on 60 day visa exempts

 

The first 60 day VE was issued 15 July, so 60 days + 30 day extension is 12 Oct for first border hop to get another 60 + 30 days. Only on their 3rd 60 day entry will people know how easy it is (that'll be in January)

[Dan O]

Not enough time has gone by yet to be able to tell. I suspect that it will be roughly the same approach as before at some point. 

[spambot]

51 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

It's too early to tell as most problems are people doing back to back stays and that can't have happened yet on 60 day visa exempts

 

The first 60 day VE was issued 15 July, so 60 days + 30 day extension is 12 Oct for first border hop to get another 60 + 30 days. Only on their 3rd 60 day entry will people know how easy it is (that'll be in January)

Actually Good point - I had not thought through the calculation. However it might be that a previous border run before the 60 days Exempt then got affected by lenience on the new rule for a second border run after the 60 days Exempt new rule. But.....even as I type this, I know I am stretching sensible considerations a little too much here.

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, spambot said:

But.....even as I type this, I know I am stretching sensible considerations a little too much here.

True

 

 

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

Not heard anyone having issues since it are 60 days, same with doing extensions. The process itself is faster too than it used to be, seems they care less. The lady ones in BKK airports did seem tougher the last time I was there 2 months ago or so, I avoided it by going to a guy and that was 30 seconds.

[spambot]

15 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Not heard anyone having issues since it are 60 days, same with doing extensions. The process itself is faster too than it used to be, seems they care less. The lady ones in BKK airports did seem tougher the last time I was there 2 months ago or so, I avoided it by going to a guy and that was 30 seconds.

Good to hear - Thanks for adding this ChaiyaTH

[StayinThailand2much]

18 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

Some recent reports indicate they are not any more lenient at the airports with longer-stay visitors on tourist-type entries than before.

 

Those with longer-stay histories would be wise to use their "service" for this (...)

 

Is the number of entries overland still limited to two per calendar year, or was the limit waived?

[DrJack54]

26 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Is the number of entries overland still limited to two per calendar year, or was the limit waived?

Limit of 2 visa land per calendar year has been removed. 

Keep in mind that there was/still is no stated limit for visa exempt entries via air.

Will you eventually have issues: yes

[StayinThailand2much]

On 10/10/2024 at 3:22 PM, DrJack54 said:

Limit of 2 visa land per calendar year has been removed. 

Keep in mind that there was/still is no stated limit for visa exempt entries via air.

Will you eventually have issues: yes

 

Thank you.

[impulse]

Later this week, I plan to do my 18th or 19th consecutive monthly visa exempt visit to Swampy.  I'll post back if there are any issues. 

 

It's just my own experience, but it leads me to believe that it's not the number of VE entries that causes issues, at least not at BKK.  It's either the pattern of stays, the total days in country, or the way the tourist dresses.  (I'm only half kidding with the "dresses" comment)

 

US citizen, 67 years old, worked in Thailand for years, but have not had a visa since Covid.  17 or 18 visa exempts in a row, once a month and I stay 4-8 days on each visit. YMMV.

 

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, impulse said:

17 or 18 visa exempts in a row, once a month and I stay 4-8 days on each visit.

Hardly a typical tourist.

With only 4-8 day stays why would you expect issues.

The more common is folk obtaining ve +extension was and repeat with very little time out of Thailand. 

Risky if entries ongoing via air. 

[impulse]

21 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Hardly a typical tourist.

 

Nor do I claim to be.  Just a first person data point (17 or 18 of them, actually), current up to 3 weeks ago. 

 

Not someone's guess, or someone else's experience from 5 years ago, and not something that someone quotes from an outdated website, as is often the case on these threads.

 

Edit:  I'd add that I can easily find a few oft quoted official looking websites that still claim that what I'm doing every month is not possible.  They claim that the limit is 2 VE's a year, by land or (some of them) by air.

 

[spambot]

Thank you impulse - This is really good feedback. 

 

This is real life data . Even if another person was not, I was surprised and found the information valuable that multiple Visa Exempt entries, when staying only a small amount of days was was acceptable over a very long period of time by immigration. 

 

Thank you for great feedback.

[DrJack54]

Off topic post removed. 

[cormanr7]

I arrived Suvanabhumi early October. As noted by others. most of the IO's are now female. There were two couples in front of me. The woman in the first couple (with a EU passport) had a peculiar stamp in her passport - a black circle with black horizontal bar with some text. The IO noticed this and called for a senior offical. He asked the guy if he had a similar stamp; negative. There was a long discussion with the woman. Apparently this was a 'souvenir stamp' which is not allowed in some countries. Finally they let them through. The couple right in front of me was from Brazil. The IO asked them for a yellow fever certificate. They were unable to show this and were sent back to the health officals (which you pass going from the gate towards immigration, just before you turn into the long corridor in front of the immigration booths). Don't know how this ended.

And yes, quite a few people were questioned, and some were required to show some paper/screen shot (onward ticket?). I had a permit to stay based on retirement and a re-entry permit. No questions, just the usual comple fingerprint business. Finished in no time.      

[popabear]

Coming for the third time  VE in middle of November always feel a little uneasy , but have never had a problem in past , came in 3 times VE last year , I am 81 years old and come in a wheel chair assisted , i am unable to use a computer just to old and to hard to do a visa for me. Left last stay two and half months ago ,  Regards Popa

[DrJack54]

6 hours ago, cormanr7 said:

And yes, quite a few people were questioned, and some were required to show some paper/screen shot (onward ticket?).

 

I doubt your account. It's rare that io on arrival would ask to see proof of onward flight.

That can occur at departure from airline. 

 

[Phillip9]

7 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It's rare that io on arrival would ask to see proof of onward flight.

That can occur at departure from airline. 

 

I think whether or not the io asks to see your onward ticket depends on if your passport is from a first world country or not. 

 

The io usually asks my gf who is from the Philippines for her onward ticket.  We are always traveling on one way tickets, so that probably has something to do with it, but we have identical travel history to Thailand, and with my American passport I am not asked for it.