On 12/1/2025 at 9:08 PM, farang51 said:

Do we actually have reports from people that has been denied extension at an immigration office after entering overland just once?

 

My experience is that I got 7 days on the basis of one overland entry this year.

 

I entered VE overland on January 15th and got a subsequent 30 day extension 60 days later.

 

My next entry was VE by air on October 10th.

 

Today I went for an extension and was told I could only have 7 days.

 

 

2 hours ago, Enoon said:

I entered VE overland on January 15th and got a subsequent 30 day extension 60 days later.

 

My next entry was VE by air on October 10th.

 

Today I went for an extension and was told I could only have 7 days.

Thanks for the report. Wow, because of an overland entry 9 months earlier. Which immigration office? I hope other offices are less strict.

4 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

My experience is that I got 7 days on the basis of one overland entry this year.

 

I entered VE overland on January 15th and got a subsequent 30 day extension 60 days later.

 

My next entry was VE by air on October 10th.

 

Today I went for an extension and was told I could only have 7 days.

 

Because they count VE per calendar year (first one can be extended by 30 days, and the second in a year by only 7)??

7 hours ago, farang51 said:

Thanks for the report. Wow, because of an overland entry 9 months earlier. Which immigration office? I hope other offices are less strict.

 

I doubt that there's going to be much variation in this regard. Local immigration offices are now under the cosh and it's extremely unlikely that one is going to willingly become the "easy" one with regard to the new maximum amount of visa-exempt entry extensions per calendar year guidelines.

5 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Because they count VE per calendar year (first one can be extended by 30 days, and the second in a year by only 7)??

Correct: the first extension will be for 30-days, the second and final one will be 7-days.

5 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Because they count VE per calendar year (first one can be extended by 30 days, and the second in a year by only 7)??

 

That is the assumption I am making.

 

 

7 hours ago, farang51 said:

Thanks for the report. Wow, because of an overland entry 9 months earlier. Which immigration office? I hope other offices are less strict.

 

Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

They were were very helpful and poilte about it.....they always are (nearly 10 years of visits there).

 

The Senior Sgt Major explained to my GF that it would be OK for me to go out for 1 week and then return.

 

I was relieved as I had anticipated the possibility of getting no extension.

 

However I have now become concerned, due to secondhand reports, about the possibility of not being allowed to leave at overland border.

 

That would spoil the plans I had already made, a couple of weeks ago, for the 7 day contingency.

 

 

9 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

My experience is that I got 7 days on the basis of one overland entry this year.

 

I entered VE overland on January 15th and got a subsequent 30 day extension 60 days later.

 

My next entry was VE by air on October 10th.

 

Today I went for an extension and was told I could only have 7 days.

 

 

And now with the new rules strictly applied for the time being, if you did the same next year, then for the first VE overland you wouldn't get an extension, but the second VE by air would get you the 30 days extension.

5 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Because they count VE per calendar year (first one can be extended by 30 days, and the second in a year by only 7)??

52 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Correct: the first extension will be for 30-days, the second and final one will be 7-days.

 

Extensions are no longer possible if entering VE via land borders.

 

The 30 + 7 day extensions are only applicable to VE entries via air or sea.

3 minutes ago, Chuck443 said:

And now with the new rules strictly applied for the time being, if you did the same next year, then for the first VE overland you wouldn't get an extension, but the second VE by air would get you the 30 days extension.

Incorrect. Read my above post.

5 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

They were were very helpful and poilte about it.....they always are (nearly 10 years of visits there).

 

The Senior Sgt Major explained to my GF that it would be OK for me to go out for 1 week and then return.

 

I was relieved as I had anticipated the possibility of getting no extension.

 

However I have now become concerned, due to secondhand reports, about the possibility of not being allowed to leave at overland border.

 

That would spoil the plans I had already made, a couple of weeks ago, for the 7 day contingency.

 

 

You should be Ok. One of the visa agents telling this about the crossing at Savannakhet: "it is OK to go to Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane and Royal Thai Consulate-General in Savannakhet to apply for a proper visa."

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

I doubt that there's going to be much variation in this regard. Local immigration offices are now under the cosh and it's extremely unlikely that one is going to willingly become the "easy" one with regard to the new maximum amount of visa-exempt entry extensions per calendar year guidelines.

 

I had already modified my application, so that it read 7 days (originally 22), after the form filling adviser told me that the new regs compelled it.

 

I had the feeling the IO went to check, with a Captain at another counter, if it could be made longer

 

 

9 minutes ago, Chuck443 said:

You should be Ok. One of the visa agents telling this about the crossing at Savannakhet: "it is OK to go to Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane and Royal Thai Consulate-General in Savannakhet to apply for a proper visa."

 

Good news...... I usually go to SK.

 

 

6 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Incorrect. Read my above post.

So you mean they will count also the first VE of the calendar year even if no extension is possible for it? That might be valuable information for many.

3 minutes ago, Chuck443 said:

So you mean they will count also the first VE of the calendar year even if no extension is possible for it? That might be valuable information for many.

You appear to misunderstand the difference between a border hop and a visa run.
Border hop is when you exit, turn around and re-enter without a visa.
Visa run is when you exit and apply for a visa at a local Thai Embassy/Consulate.

 

If you enter via land without a visa (VE) you will not be permitted to extend your stay beyond the 60 days granted on entry.

1 hour ago, Chuck443 said:

And now with the new rules strictly applied for the time being, if you did the same next year, then for the first VE overland you wouldn't get an extension, but the second VE by air would get you the 30 days extension.

 

I am planning to get a Tourist Visa in Laos (staying for 3 weeks) and return in early Jan in anticipation of getting an extension that will take me to my departure to UK date of 31st March.

 

I will get a Tourist Visa for my return in October.

 

It will just be back to normal and not really a problem.......I hope.

 

In the meantime of course anything could happen.........the current system is a contradictory mess!

 

I have already commented earlier that I could get a 3 month VE to Colombia, extend for another 3 months @ about $50 and then not be able to return there for 6 months.

 

Were it not for my Thai GF I would be doing that without hesitation.

 

 

31 minutes ago, Enoon said:

They were were very helpful and poilte about it.....they always are (nearly 10 years of visits there).

 

The Senior Sgt Major explained to my GF that it would be OK for me to go out for 1 week and then return.

 

I was relieved as I had anticipated the possibility of getting no extension.

 

However I have now become concerned, due to secondhand reports, about the possibility of not being allowed to leave at overland border.

I was at the border in Savannahket last Thursday.
Immigration were merely questioning the intentions of foreigners exiting and trying to then re-enter VE.
They were not stopping anyone leaving the Country.

 

If you enter VE by land, no extensions are permitted.

2 minutes ago, Enoon said:

I am planning to get a Tourist Visa in Laos (staying for 3 weeks) and return in early Jan in anticipation of getting an extension that will take me to my departure to UK date of 31st March.

 

I will get a Tourist Visa for my return in October.

 

It will just be back to normal and not really a problem.......I hope.

No problem with your plan.

3 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

No problem with your plan.

 

Thankyou for your responses.

 

 

59 minutes ago, Chuck443 said:

And now with the new rules strictly applied for the time being, if you did the same next year, then for the first VE overland you wouldn't get an extension, but the second VE by air would get you the 30 days extension.

 

No telling what things are going to be like in a month........or by next October!

 

For now I will be getting a Tourist Visa in Laos, for return overland in early January, in the hope that it will be a "safe" option 😄.

 

 

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

 

That is the assumption I am making.

 

Wow! So, technically it is only 'safe' to visit for 157 days per year... 

5 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Wow! So, technically it is only 'safe' to visit for 157 days per year... 

As a tourist.  Plenty of other options if you want to stay for a long time.

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

 

Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

They were were very helpful and poilte about it.....they always are (nearly 10 years of visits there).

 

The Senior Sgt Major explained to my GF that it would be OK for me to go out for 1 week and then return.

 

I was relieved as I had anticipated the possibility of getting no extension.

 

However I have now become concerned, due to secondhand reports, about the possibility of not being allowed to leave at overland border.

 

That would spoil the plans I had already made, a couple of weeks ago, for the 7 day contingency.

 

 

why not leave and apply for a visa in Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Burma?
 

12 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Wow! So, technically it is only 'safe' to visit for 157 days per year... 

The figure of 150 days is frequently mentioned by Immigration before coming under scrutiny and possibly denied entry as a 'Tourist'.

 

So a stay of 60 days + 30 day extension = 90, then a second entry with a stay of 60 days = 150 days, hence only a 7 day extension for the second entry.

 

19 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Wow! So, technically it is only 'safe' to visit for 157 days per year... 

The two VEs per calendar year might not be carved in stone. According to one of the visa agents: 
Since 17 November 2025, Immigration has changed it’s criteria, however the previous mentioned two entries per calendar year, seems not correct.

 

Haven't been able to find anything more about this yet.

1 hour ago, Liquorice said:

I was at the border in Savannahket last Thursday.
Immigration were merely questioning the intentions of foreigners exiting and trying to then re-enter VE.
They were not stopping anyone leaving the Country.

 

If you enter VE by land, no extensions are permitted.

 

   Were they refusing anyone entry ?

Just now, Chuck443 said:

The two VEs per calendar year might not be carved in stone. According to one of the visa agents: 
Since 17 November 2025, Immigration has changed it’s criteria, however the previous mentioned two entries per calendar year, seems not correct.

 

Haven't been able to find anything more about this yet.

That depends on the number of consecutive days you've stayed in Thailand.
If you're maxing out the 60 day stays, then after 2 VE entries, you're going to come under scrutiny, questioned and possibly denied entry.

However, if you enter VE for 2 weeks in Feb, 3 weeks in May, 2 weeks in August, 2 weeks in Oct, then theoretically you shouldn't have a problem.

6 minutes ago, Chuck443 said:

The two VEs per calendar year might not be carved in stone. According to one of the visa agents: 
Since 17 November 2025, Immigration has changed it’s criteria, however the previous mentioned two entries per calendar year, seems not correct.

 

Haven't been able to find anything more about this yet.

Assume any information from “sources” other than the RG or the local IO is invalid 

When I was pulled at a land border, they said if you leave, you can only come back in on an aeroplane...😒

I will need to leave the country shortly, probably to Laos via Nongkhai. Not sure whether to apply for a visa,  or just do a bit of travelling around for a week and then reenter either via Nongkhai again,  or fly back to DMK. I only need around 55 days , so a VEE 60 days would do .

Would a week out of the  country be enough for them to let me back in? Better to fly back or do a land border crossing  ?