Thailand Live Thursday 10 October 2024

[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.....

Edited 8 hours ago by raz0r21

[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).

Edited 8 hours ago by Caldera

[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.