Hi fellow members - so I used 1 x 60 day visa exempt entry this Year in February, crossing overland from Savannakhet, which Ii extended for 30 days at immigration in Thailand..

Crossed back into Laos yesterday, and the friendly Thai i.o. stated I still had the right to use another 60 day exempt entry, if I so wished, and would need to stay in Laos for around 4 days before crossing back into Thailand to activate it.

Chatted briefly regarding forthcoming policy change, to which the i.o. stated that they were awaiting an announcement on the 6th of June concerning the matter.

iI had a mind to apply online online for a tourist visa this time, so as to save my fimal border bounce as a contingency, should the need arise.

Perusing through latest visa threads, I see mention of only 1 border run bring allowed in any Year after new changes take effect - is this to be applied retroactively ?

Cannot find reference to the actual official changes considered / proposed - can anybody provide a link ?

I am in two minds now, as to either use my still existing 60 day exempt or not, before possibly losing the right, thus trying to rely on an online visa applicatoon after the next 3 Month term expires, or applying for e-visas with the hope of still having a right to bounce this Year (albeit for 30 days exempt), should I face denial at some point.

Kind thoughts, anyone ?

Finally, I haven't as yet considered further itinerary after Thailand - with options available overland, is an onward flight a strict requisite to apply for a tourist visa online ?

Thankyou.

Had to read that post few times...

So now in Laos and advised you can reenter visa exempt.

Obviously you would opt for that especially while it's still 60 days.

After that you could obtain SETV eVisa from anywhere outside of Thailand.

That process takes only few days.

Note: changed thread title

Thanks Drjack54 for your reply -

So, you would advise for me to reenter Thailand visa exempt, with the obvious caveat that would be my border bounce quota finished for this Year.

Do you then think after the 6th June announcement that they will restrict & retroactively impose border bounce entitlement to 1 per calender Year, thus rendering my still remaining final entitlement null & void ?

For the sake of 1,000 thb and a 30 day cut on my VE, I would hate to be in the position of being denied a future SETV with no VE entitlement at the border to fall back on, so as to get back and clear up my affairs, etc - or are we to believe that SETV's will be clear cut and easy to obtain after the announcement ?

Do you know of a link pertaining to proposed official changes to be imposed ?

Thanks sgain.

49 minutes ago, Pla Simon said:

Do you then think after the 6th June announcement that they will restrict & retroactively impose border bounce entitlement to 1 per calender Year, thus rendering my still remaining final entitlement null & void ?

No.

Also that "limit" is not in place in relation to entries via air.

There is a restriction on 30 day extension to visa exempt entries however this has not been consistent.

There is no stated limit on SETV (eVisa) however spacing them out and also from different countries would be one suggestion.

I'm biased to Saigon so that an option to obtain SETV for Thailand.

To finish up.. Personally I would grab a other visa exempt entry while they are 60 days.

Clearly under 50?

There is a restriction on 30 day extension to visa exempt entries however this has not been consistent.
Given that, for someone like me who (next month or so) will have done 60 (exempt) +30, not getting an SETV would be false economics, as I would run a reasonable risk of not getting another 30 day extension, do you think? A proper SETV would be money well spent, would it not?

4 minutes ago, curlywombat said:

A proper SETV would be money well spent, would it not?

I would obtain a SETV. You can Obtain a 30 day extension to a SETV entry so good option if a 90 day stay is desired.

Obviously does put a hole in a day attending immigration for extension but hassle free.

eVisa is all online application so not difficult

4 hours ago, Pla Simon said:

iI had a mind to apply online online for a tourist visa this time, so as to save my fimal border bounce as a contingency, should the need arise.

You really shouldn't see this as an entitlement that you can "save". Another IO at another checkpoint may well be of the opinion that you've already spent too much time in Thailand as a tourist - especially seeing that you went to Savannakhet in February already, presumably also coming from Thailand with a previous stay as a tourist that had started last year.

So it really is a no-brainer: The IO told you that they'll let you in visa exempt again, AND now it'sstill 60 days, but that deal will get worse soon. The tourist visa, on the other hand, won't change, so get another visa exempt entry now and a tourist visa later.

Edited May 26May 26 by Caldera

According to our agent who's working on our marriage visa, they expect the Royal Gazette to publish the new rules on Friday June 5.

Then the new law enforced from June 20, which will be same 2024, 2 border runs per year maximum of 30 days.

37 minutes ago, hatyaidan said:

Then the new law enforced from June 20, which will be same 2024, 2 border runs per year maximum of 30 days.

Thanks for input.

What is of the main interest is when ve entry will be back to 30 days.

Also if 30 day extension will be possible for two visa exempt entries to be both have extension option.

I'm thinking yes when ve is 30 days.

SETV will always have 30 extension available

Simple answer and less hassle Multiple Entry Tourist Visa. Unless you're one of the thousands of Cheap Charlie unwanted travellers to The Land of Scams

5 hours ago, Toby1947 said:

Simple answer and less hassle Multiple Entry Tourist Visa. Unless you're one of the thousands of Cheap Charlie unwanted travellers to The Land of Scams

Sounds like you are talking about yourself.................or perhaps, you shouldn't be here,