How Long Will They Let Me Keep Doing This?

[meowchawpnom]

I arrived in Thailand about six months ago. I've gone to the border at Mae Sai every 30 days without a problem. Nobody has asked me to do any paperwork or make copies of my passport stamps or anything. They do ask to see money, about half the time.

Now I'm getting ready to leave for a neighboring country because I figure I've been lucky and they will soon stop letting me make these monthly visa runs. (well, that's not the only reason, but it's one of the big ones) I figure I should go live somewhere else for 6 months, then maybe come back.

Problem is, I sort of would rather not do this right now. I'm in the middle of a lot of work, am comfortably ensconced in a nice apartment with a good internet connection, and leaving would be very disrupting.

Do you think that I can keep going to Mae Sai, indefinitely?

[bkkmadness]

Yep should be able to, but then again maybe they will tag you one day for a "what are you doing here chat?" and considering you are working here I assume illegally then it might be a question best avoided.

If your tired of the monthly runs just fly to Penang and get a 6 month tourist visa sorted.

[IMA_FARANG]

I arrived in Thailand about six months ago. I've gone to the border at Mae Sai every 30 days without a problem. Nobody has asked me to do any paperwork or make copies of my passport stamps or anything. They do ask to see money, about half the time.

Now I'm getting ready to leave for a neighboring country because I figure I've been lucky and they will soon stop letting me make these monthly visa runs. (well, that's not the only reason, but it's one of the big ones) I figure I should go live somewhere else for 6 months, then maybe come back.

Problem is, I sort of would rather not do this right now. I'm in the middle of a lot of work, am comfortably ensconced in a nice apartment with a good internet connection, and leaving would be very disrupting.

Do you think that I can keep going to Mae Sai, indefinitely?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've gone thru the same thing, but about 15 years ago. I made 4 trips before they asked me what I was doing. On the 5th trip they simply told me "last time, no more visa". I was getting 60 days at a time. Lucky for me, I got a job and left on that last extension. I was going thru Penang at the time.

[meowchawpnom]

Yep should be able to, but then again maybe they will tag you one day for a "what are you doing here chat?" and considering you are working here I assume illegally then it might be a question best avoided. 

If your tired of the monthly runs just fly to Penang and get a 6 month tourist visa sorted.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Madness,

Sorry to leave the wrong impression. I am NOT working here. When I said "work" I meant stuff I am writing on my computer, not work for Thai money.

[bkkmadness]

Ah no worries, that's just how I read it. Of course if the stuff you are writing on your computer is for money abroad then it's still technically work not that anyone cares about that.

Anyway, still suggest the Penang trip, you can get cheap flights there, the double entry tourist visa no problem, and it can get boring doing monthly runs all the time.

[meowchawpnom]

Ah no worries, that's just how I read it.  Of course if the stuff you are writing on your computer is for money abroad then it's still technically work not that anyone cares about that.

Anyway, still suggest the Penang trip, you can get cheap flights there, the double entry tourist visa no problem, and it can get boring doing monthly runs all the time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I once went to Penang, 4 years ago, and got a triple entry tourist visa. But that was in friendlier times, when a month extension could be got for 500 baht. Since they quadrupled all those prices, it doesn't seem worth it to me to even go to Vientiane for a single entry visa. With all the hassle and exhaustion, it's still easier and much cheaper to go to Mae Sai every month. Also, I don't fly, so Penang is quite a trip.

So the question remains, do you think they'll keep letting me do this indefinitely?

[bkkmadness]

The answer is your'll never know what they let you do indefinately, so just keep going until you get a problem there and then take action, unless you can try to fix another kind of visa.

Of course if your worried about it then just pay the extra 2-3000 baht and get the proper double entry visa. How much is it costing you to do visa runs at the momet?

[jackr]

Also, I don't fly, so Penang is quite a trip.

You don't have to...pilots do that

[meowchawpnom]

The answer is your'll never know what they let you do indefinately, so just keep going until you get a problem there and then take action, unless you can try to fix another kind of visa.

Of course if your worried about it then just pay the extra 2-3000 baht and get the proper double entry visa.  How much is it costing you to do visa runs at the momet?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, bus averages about 300 baht round trip...plus $5 for Myanmar customs...plus songtaew to the bus station... I guess 13 or 14 dollars a trip.

Can you still get a triple entry at Penang? That might be worth going for.

[thaiflyer1]

Can you still get a triple entry at Penang? That might be worth going for.

A double entry is a certainty ,if you use an agent in Penang they might be able to get you a triple.

The overnight sleeper train from BKK to Butterworth isnt such a bad run, course you/d still have to get to BKK.

[stringer]

Ah no worries, that's just how I read it.  Of course if the stuff you are writing on your computer is for money abroad then it's still technically work not that anyone cares about that.

Anyway, still suggest the Penang trip, you can get cheap flights there, the double entry tourist visa no problem, and it can get boring doing monthly runs all the time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Intriguing - I work online but it's a UK company and I'm paid from UK - would that still be counted as work? or should I just keep quiet about it? Also, am intrigued at the 6 month visitor visa from Penang item - I'd always assumed best to get a 2month visitors visa then cross border to renew - am I wrong? I'm not sure how long I want to stay - 3 months might be fine - but would be nice to have the option for longer

Stringer

[lopburi3]

Intriguing - I work online but it's a UK company and I'm paid from UK - would that still be counted as work? or should I just keep quiet about it? Also, am intrigued at the 6 month visitor visa from Penang item - I'd always assumed best to get a 2month visitors visa then cross border to renew - am I wrong? I'm not sure how long I want to stay - 3 months might be fine - but would be nice to have the option for longer

Stringer

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No provision for that kind of work so best to keep it low profile - as long as if asked you say income is from outside Thailand that you use to support yourself it should not become an issue (until things change).

Tourist visa is always 60 days but can be extended 30 days so many call it 3 months. A two entry tourist visa could then be 60+30+(out/in)+60+30 so they call that 6 months. You still have to exit but only one time.

[stringer]

Intriguing - I work online but it's a UK company and I'm paid from UK - would that still be counted as work? or should I just keep quiet about it? Also, am intrigued at the 6 month visitor visa from Penang item - I'd always assumed best to get a 2month visitors visa then cross border to renew - am I wrong? I'm not sure how long I want to stay - 3 months might be fine - but would be nice to have the option for longer

Stringer

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No provision for that kind of work so best to keep it low profile - as long as if asked you say income is from outside Thailand that you use to support yourself it should not become an issue (until things change).

Tourist visa is always 60 days but can be extended 30 days so many call it 3 months. A two entry tourist visa could then be 60+30+(out/in)+60+30 so they call that 6 months. You still have to exit but only one time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

cheers, Lopburi - not sure I'd be working anyhow, but always best to be prepared, eh?