Nong Khai Border Bounce. Avoid !!!

[DrJack54]

24 minutes ago, thai006 said:

On my way to the border wish me good luck 

Give us the gory details when you get into Thailand.

Good luck

[Briggsy]

You'll be fine.

 

I think I recall you stated your final destination was Nong Khai. There are share taxis to Udon chiefly on the Laos side. If you get one of these you go through as a car passenger rather than a pedestrian. I am sure they would do you a price to your destination. I always thought going through in a share taxi was more likely to succeed than on the shuttle bus as a foot passenger. I don't know if this is true though.

 

Good luck.

[thai006]

Finally I get in Thailand without hassle,

 2 minute a himigration. The guy didn't ask any questions just stamp me 60 days 

 

So now people need to know you need stay 2 days at nong khai border if you want have another 60 days on arrival 

[DrJack54]

26 minutes ago, thai006 said:

Finally I get in Thailand without hassle,

 2 minute a himigration. The guy didn't ask any questions just stamp me 60 days 

 

Thanks for update.

If Nong Khai continue with this along with other land border crossings then this is bit of game changer.

"Games" being operative word.

 

Surely this would not apply to bounce for Visa holders such as METV.

Perhaps some will consider  grab a DTV 

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, thai006 said:

Finally I get in Thailand without hassle,

 2 minute a himigration. The guy didn't ask any questions just stamp me 60 days 

 

So now people need to know you need stay 2 days at nong khai border if you want have another 60 days on arrival 

 

Nice to hear that it ended well for you just before the end of่ the year. Thanks for keeping us posted. 

 

Not knowing beforehand is the biggest issue, along with the hassle and less than friendly treatment. A little break in Vientiane for a couple of nights isn't that bad in itself.

[thai006]

Really stay 2 days in ventiane is not to bad  but  the  mistake I done  is I should ask the IO on the departure if I can go and back same day  like before 

[sandyf]

On 12/30/2024 at 7:23 PM, DrJack54 said:

Anyone with a visa exempt entry and is entitled to 30 day extension.

There is no entitlement, it was a concession granted following a hardline move by immigration in 2014, can be retracted as easily as it was given.

My first extension request got me 5 days.

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, sandyf said:

There is no entitlement, it was a concession granted following a hardline move by immigration in 2014,...

That is 10 years ago.

Also not sure of your particular situation at that time.

 

Still better..post recent report of application for 30 day extension to visa exempt or tourist visa entry rejected.

Obviously not down to paperwork eg TM30 etc

Waiting 

[DrJack54]

Removed off topic post regarding other countries 

[sandyf]

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That is 10 years ago.

Also not sure of your particular situation at that time.

 

Still better..post recent report of application for 30 day extension to visa exempt or tourist visa entry rejected.

Obviously not down to paperwork eg TM30 etc

What on earth???

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, sandyf said:

What on earth???

Post recent report of  rejection of 30 day extension to a visa exempt or tourist visa entry.

Simple.

Otherwise your claim is pointless 

 

[Celsius]

On 12/29/2024 at 4:57 PM, DrJack54 said:

Post suggesting illegal activity removed

 

You literally said to other poster to bring extra cash for a bribe.

[DrJack54]

17 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

You literally said to other poster to bring extra cash for a bribe.

 

A payment to expedite same day bounce does not equate to illegal entry to another country via boat. 

[bigt3116]

5 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

A payment to expedite same day bounce does not equate to illegal entry to another country via boat. 

 

Very true, it does not equate to illegal entry.

 

Surely both are illegal?

[Hawaiian]

On 12/30/2024 at 12:24 AM, Tod Daniels said:

Sadly, as people are finding out, it's not so easy "living here" on free stamp 60 day visa exempt entries. Doesn't matter what your excuse is 😮 (married, family, what ever) it cuts no ice with passport control IF you're trying to bounce for a free stamp 60 day entry 

This isn't the thailand it was when they guaranteed you got two 30 day visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year. Once they switched to 60 days they eliminated the guaranteed land entries and you are no better off entering by land than you are entering by air anymore.. 

There's only a couple borders that are "soft touch" and will let people out/back the same day without much trouble at all. 

AFAIK the intent of increasing the visa exempt stay to 60 days was to allow bona fide tourists longer stays to generate more income for the country.  Correct me if I'm mistaken.  It is evidently being abused by long-stayers.

[Hawaiian]

On 12/30/2024 at 2:23 AM, DrJack54 said:

It will make headlines if that occurs.

Can't imagine that would happen in any situation. 

Anyone with a visa exempt entry and is entitled to 30 day extension.

Was there in November and passport stamped for 60 days with visa exempt.  Never asked about my return flight.

[Briggsy]

4 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

AFAIK the intent of increasing the visa exempt stay to 60 days was to allow bona fide tourists longer stays to generate more income for the country.  Correct me if I'm mistaken.  It is evidently being abused by long-stayers.

People are trying to make sense of the rules but the rules constantly change, are not consistent and are very vague.

 

I don't think a rich Norwegian planning to stay in Thailand in 3 and a half months over the bitter Northern winter is abusing the rules when her pre-trip research told her it was possible with an in-out border bounce.

[Hawaiian]

5 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

People are trying to make sense of the rules but the rules constantly change, are not consistent and are very vague.

 

I don't think a rich Norwegian planning to stay in Thailand in 3 and a half months over the bitter Northern winter is abusing the rules when her pre-trip research told her it was possible with an in-out border bounce.

By long stayers I was referring to those living in Thailand without the "proper" visa. The Norwegian IMO is a bona fide tourist.

Agree, the ever changing and vague rules are why I gave up thinking about living in Thailand.  Thankfully my Thai girlfriend likes living here in Hawaii and has no intention of moving back.

[Briggsy]

3 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

By long stayers I was referring to those living in Thailand without the "proper" visa. The Norwegian IMO is a bona fide tourist.

Yes, according to the video released by Immigration, "proper visas" are non-immigrant visas and DTV's. All the other visas and visa exempts are therefore outside the "proper visa" category.

 

My own rule of thumb for what Immigration call "staying too long" is over 50% of your time staying in Thailand for a period exceeding six months. Exceed this without a "proper visa" and you could be denied entry.

[Nick Carter icp]

4 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Yes, according to the video released by Immigration, "proper visas" are non-immigrant visas and DTV's. All the other visas and visa exempts are therefore outside the "proper visa" category.

 

My own rule of thumb for what Immigration call "staying too long" is over 50% of your time staying in Thailand for a period exceeding six months. Exceed this without a "proper visa" and you could be denied entry.

 

   I made an error of when I was entering Thailand to get a visa exempt, the I,O asked me whether I had a visa .

   I told him that I would be applying for a long term visa when I get back into Thailand , and I told him that I had already began the application process and I needed 30 days for the long term visa to be processed .

    That was a huge mistake . 

The I.O told me that that was illegal and I had to apply for the visa abroad .

   OOpppss

[Tod Daniels]

5 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   I made an error of when I was entering Thailand to get a visa exempt, the I,O asked me whether I had a visa .

   I told him that I would be applying for a long term visa when I get back into Thailand , and I told him that I had already began the application process and I needed 30 days for the long term visa to be processed .

    That was a huge mistake . 

The I.O told me that that was illegal and I had to apply for the visa abroad .

   OOpppss

that was totally NOT correct 😞

Most offices require you have a minimum of 15 days left on your current stamp (Chiang Mai requires you have a minimum of 21 days)

Many people have to bounce out/back to get a new visa exempt entry stamp so that they can do the Non-Immigrant visa application INSIDE the country at the immigration office because the stamp they're on doesn't have the required time.

That is a totally valid reason for bouncing out and back,

𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝟯𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 .
you couldn't have "already begun" anything as far as the in country visa, because you didn't have the time on your stamp to start the process 😞 I think that is what messed him up, you needed a NEW stamp to START the process

[Nick Carter icp]

47 minutes ago, Tod Daniels said:

𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝟯𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 .
you couldn't have "already begun" anything as far as the in country visa, because you didn't have the time on your stamp to start the process 😞 I think that is what messed him up, you needed a NEW stamp to START the process

 

   I had already contacted the agent and arranged a price  , a date for handing everything over  and the other necessary documents needed .

  Doesn't that count as "already beginning the process" ?

[Nick Carter icp]

59 minutes ago, Tod Daniels said:

that was totally NOT correct 😞

Most offices require you have a minimum of 15 days left on your current stamp (Chiang Mai requires you have a minimum of 21 days)

Many people have to bounce out/back to get a new visa exempt entry stamp so that they can do the Non-Immigrant visa application INSIDE the country at the immigration office because the stamp they're on doesn't have the required time.
 

 

   I said that I needed 30 days left on the permission to stay because that is how long the process will take .

   That must have made him realise that I was going through an agent and not going directly through immigration , 

   He was annoyed and shouting , as I didn't want to cause an escalation , I just backed off and walked away  as he didn't seem to be open for a discussion 

[tmax]

Classic Thai Immigration trying to create Thailand Privilege Visa customers so they make 600k+ thb

[Nick Carter icp]

2 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

that was totally NOT correct 😞

Most offices require you have a minimum of 15 days left on your current stamp (Chiang Mai requires you have a minimum of 21 days)

Many people have to bounce out/back to get a new visa exempt entry stamp so that they can do the Non-Immigrant visa application INSIDE the country at the immigration office because the stamp they're on doesn't have the required time.

That is a totally valid reason for bouncing out and back,
 

 

   Thinking about it,  I may have misunderstood .

When I initially tried to enter Thailand through the border the I.O asked to see a flight back to my home Country and I couldn't provide one .

   I went away to get internet connection for my computer and showed him an out of date flight ticket and asked whether that could be accepted .

   He said that it couldn't and I then said that I just need to get back into Thailand where I will get a long term visa .

   He may have meant *No you cannot come back into Thailand (because you haven't got a flight home) and you can apply for the long term visa from abroad* .

   *You cannot apply for the long term visa from within Thailand because you haven't got a flight back home*

  Maybe that's what he meant 

  

[falangUK]

On 12/30/2024 at 7:23 PM, DrJack54 said:

It will make headlines if that occurs.

Can't imagine that would happen in any situation. 

Anyone with a visa exempt entry and is entitled to 30 day extension.

Sorry if this is unrelated... If they stamp you in with a 60-day visa exemption, can they still require you to leave on the date of your onward flight, say in 3 weeks? There's nothing written in the passport except the standard 60-day visa exemption stamp, but they verbally told you to leave on that day. Also, they kept the form I filled out for the interview with the immigration officer, which had my departure date and flight details.

[DrJack54]

23 minutes ago, falangUK said:

If they stamp you in with a 60-day visa exemption, can they still require you to leave on the date of your onward flight, say in 3 weeks?

Once stamped in for 60 days the onward flight is irrelevant and you would be able to apply for 30 day extension. 

The 30 days would start from expiry of the 60 day visa exempt entry

[falangUK]

On 4/29/2025 at 4:44 PM, DrJack54 said:

Once stamped in for 60 days the onward flight is irrelevant and you would be able to apply for 30 day extension. 

The 30 days would start from expiry of the 60 day visa exempt entry

Thanks a lot, just double-checking—this is what I figured from your earlier replies across a few threads. So nothing gets logged into their fancy biometric system tying me to the onward flight? It’s a legit ticket, still got it, just looking to enjoy a few extra weeks here instead.

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, falangUK said:

So nothing gets logged into their fancy biometric system tying me to the onward flight?

Absolutely. After you enter with a 60 day stamp you will be able to apply at your local immigration office for 30 day extension. 

Even another border  bounce if use agent minvan company 

[sometimewoodworker]

On 5/3/2025 at 6:01 PM, falangUK said:

Thanks a lot, just double-checking—this is what I figured from your earlier replies across a few threads. So nothing gets logged into their fancy biometric system tying me to the onward flight? It’s a legit ticket, still got it, just looking to enjoy a few extra weeks here instead.

It is extremely likely that information that you gave to the IO will be logged into the system, however that said unless there was anything written into your passport (it is extremely rare that this is done) once stampeding in you can leave on any flight or boarder crossing on or before the permission to stay date, if you get an extension of permission to stay that of course means that the last day you can be in Thailand is also the date on that extension. 
 

Just because you had a flight date when you entered Thailand does not mean you must keep that flight date. In all probability there are hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors who change plans and depart on different dates.