Hello everyone,

In 2025, I spent 270 days in Thailand: 1 single-entry tourist visa + 2 visa exemptions, with each stay extended by 30 days.

I left Thailand at the end of November and returned two months later with a single-entry tourist e-visa obtained from the Thai embassy in Hanoi.

Upon arrival at Don Mueang, after my fingerprints were taken, the woman checking my passport told me that I had spent a lot of time in Thailand and called someone over.

That person, a very calm man, asked me to follow him: we walked about 10 meters, he asked me to sit down, took my fingerprints again, stamped my passport (60 days), and told me I could go. In total, it took one minute; there were no questions or comments. I still asked whether there was a problem, and he replied that I had stayed too long in Thailand, which I readily acknowledged.

Has anyone ever had this kind of experience? I plan to apply for a 30-day extension and then leave for Vietnam, normally for a three-month stay. Is there a risk that the 30-day extension could be refused?

Unless, with the closure or difficulties of Middle Eastern hubs, they start offering free Elite visas!

Thanks,

18 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Is there a risk that the 30-day extension could be refused?

Doubt that would happen.

The 30 day extension is to the SETV entry.

Should not be an issue.

Note if you are applying for the extension in Bangkok you attend CW (not IT mall)

Quick mention of my recent experience...

I have a METV and have been unexpectedly scrutinised on both arrivals into Thailand. 1st arrival beginning of January, then I went back to the UK for a week end of February and returned beginning of this month. Was in fast track both times having arrived on business class flight.

Both times too several minutes to process.

First time, was asked if I had someone here and why I spend so much time here (was here just over 2 months last year, and have been coming for maybe that duration each year for last 20 years, never questioned once about it).

The most recent arrival, supervisor called over to check my passport (which was only renewed in December 2024). I asked if there was an issue and they said no. But everyone else in my line had been quickly processed. Was asked when I'm returning to the UK (which is in May).

Last and previous years, I attracted no scrutiny. I'd bought the METV to attract less of it given the conflicting reports about limiting visa exempt entries. But I'm not sure if it's of any help, if anything it seems to raise more suspicion with IOs. Who knows.

Would also report the queues at BKK on arrivals and departures were horrendous, thankfully I was on fast track. Also encountered very rude female IO on departure from BKK last month, looked totally p*ssed off, refusing to process any farang and jabbing finger for us to use auto gates - they don't work my passport. Unprofessional but what can you do, I went to another line...

3 hours ago, MarkyM3 said:

Also encountered very rude female IO on departure from BKK last month, looked totally p*ssed off, refusing to process any farang and jabbing finger for us to use auto gates - they don't work my passport.

Maybe that's the problem. If the auto gate cannot read your passport's chip, the same probably is the case when an IO processes you. While a faulty chip doesn't render your passport invalid, it could explain why you've been given extra scrutiny.

3 hours ago, Caldera said:

Maybe that's the problem. If the auto gate cannot read your passport's chip, the same probably is the case when an IO processes you. While a faulty chip doesn't render your passport invalid, it could explain why you've been given extra scrutiny.

In which case it would, I think, be more appropriate for @MarkyM3 to direct his ire at those bungling incompetent idiots in His Majesty's Passport Office in the UK for issuing him with a duff passport in December 2024, rather than at Thai immigration officers for doing their job.

15 hours ago, MarkyM3 said:

refusing to process any farang and jabbing finger for us to use auto gates - they don't work my passport.

I have a protective jacket cover over my passport, and the auto gates do NOT work for it (in Thailand, Singapore, Australia, nor Canada) if I leave the cover on. However, if I remote the cover, the auto gates work fine! ... So for every immigration crossing (using an auto gate) I remove the cover.

Is there any chance you have a protective jacket cover protecting your passport?

It's a Dec 2024 issued passport and been used around Europe and the US several times with zero issues. Took maybe 20 seconds to process when I landed in Atlanta at Christmas. Passport was taken out of the cover. Someone else had the same problem.

I entered BKK and DMK using this passport multiple times last year. No issue, only difference was I didn't have an METV. Always worked at Heathrow and Stansted fast-track gates on my arrivals

All my arrival documents this year both times were in order and presented.

Everyone's ignoring the main gist of my post which is the major scrutiny having an METV attracted. That was clearly NOT because my passport chip was f**ked.

Elsewhere, being treated rudely by visibly pissed off IOs is not "doing their job" nor are the horrendous queues at this airport that I thankfully avoided as a fast track passenger. I've been using BKK several times a year since it opened and it's the worst it's ever been from a passenger experience perspective.

Thanks to the 2 helpful commenters here.

1 hour ago, MarkyM3 said:

Everyone's ignoring the main gist of my post which is the major scrutiny having an METV attracted. That was clearly NOT because my passport chip was f**ked.

But why can't you use the auto gates to exit Thailand if everything is fine with your passport? You said that doesn't work with your passport, and that cannot have anything to do with having a METV.

UPDATE

So, I went to Immigration on March 20: not only did I have no issues at all, but in 20 years I don’t remember an extension being processed so quickly — it took only 30 minutes, and there was hardly anyone there.

Now I’m supposed to leave Thailand for three months before coming back, but as always, I don’t feel like spending 90 days in Vietnam. However, given the most recent reception I had at Don Mueang, I’m hesitating to stay away just long enough to apply for a new SETV (about one week).

In the past, things were easier at Chiang Mai Airport than at Bangkok airports. What are the latest reports regarding that airport? I’ll clarify again: I’m not from one of the countries targeted by the Thai authorities, and I would have an e-visa.

Thank you!

7 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

I’m hesitating to stay away just long enough to apply for a new SETV (about one week)

You are trying to live in SEA (mainly Thailand) in the main visa exempt.

Soon (at some point) visa exempt back to 30 days.

There are other visa options.

4 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

I’ll clarify again: I’m not from one of the countries targeted by the Thai authorities, and I would have an e-visa.

But you're essentially a "visa runner", and currently they aren't the flavor of the month. If I had your history, I'd be thinking about using a safe entry service rather than trying my luck at another airport.

8 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

In the past, things were easier at Chiang Mai Airport than at Bangkok airports. What are the latest reports regarding that airport? I’ll clarify again: I’m not from one of the countries targeted by the Thai authorities, and I would have an e-visa.

Near the end of last year there were a lot of reports of people getting hassled at Chiang Mai. I don't think it's the joy it used to be.

3 hours ago, Caldera said:

But you're essentially a "visa runner", and currently they aren't the flavor of the month. If I had your history, I'd be thinking about using a safe entry service rather than trying my luck at another airport.

IMO best advice. The OP is playing the game which will end in tears.

Safe entry service is a guarantee.

For the OP history maybe 5k

On 3/11/2026 at 10:10 AM, Caldera said:

Maybe that's the problem. If the auto gate cannot read your passport's chip, the same probably is the case when an IO processes you. While a faulty chip doesn't render your passport invalid, it could explain why you've been given extra scrutiny.

Is the correct answer. I "nuked" my old passport, rendering the RFID functionality and was forced to use the 'manual' outbound immigration method. No issues there, but did have a longer inbound immigration experience upon my return.

Got at new passport and everything back to normal, egate outbound and conga line inbound.

@anotherfarangishere

You may welll have been flagged. You may not get another chance. Use safe entry next time you enter Thailand.