Final crackdown for border runners - New strict Immigration regulation in force from today

[wayne hoskins]

About time come to thailand with correct visa,as they say,come through the front door,

[wolf5370]

Phew! Close one for me. I was planning on doing my first run of this kind today across the Chiang Rai border as my Tourist Visa was due to expire today. Thankfully, I decided to extend in Thailand for another 30 days instead before the long holiday weekend kicked in. I feel bad for those stranded on the other side of the border who may not have enough cash to take them to the nearest embassy and get the visa now required.

Why couldn't this be mentioned earlier?

How do these people survive on "holiday" as a tourist if they can't afford the price of a visa to get back in to Thailand. I would humbly suggest this is the very reason that the authorities are doing what they are doing.

As said, they may be between money transfers - not illegally working here, living on transferred-in cash, but not have enough at the time of the visa run. All their bills and rent could be paid by direct debit from their bank accounts, and thus not have enough cash for flights to Yangoon etc and extra money for visas. They may be between visas as said, and waiting for paperwork or a trip overseas later on - if they were on Non-O bisas before (and not extensions - as many are because they leave the country a lot and it is just easier to have a multi than an extension and applying for re-entry permits etc), then they will have many short trips and border runs every 90 days - is this included in the count if they have a month between visas - who knows? Who would risk it? . There are many scenarios in life - not just the nefarious ones. Seems they could have just forced a lot of fairly legitimate people into overstaying instead of risking getting stuck in Myanmar.

[slipperylobster]

Phew! Close one for me. I was planning on doing my first run of this kind today across the Chiang Rai border as my Tourist Visa was due to expire today. Thankfully, I decided to extend in Thailand for another 30 days instead before the long holiday weekend kicked in. I feel bad for those stranded on the other side of the border who may not have enough cash to take them to the nearest embassy and get the visa now required.

Why couldn't this be mentioned earlier?

'' I feel bad for those stranded on the other side of the border who may not have enough cash to take them to the nearest embassy and get the visa now required''

That's exactly the point. If someone doesn't have the money to make a short trip to the Embassy then how can they support themselves in Thailand..?? Obviously working illegally.

These are exactly the kind of people the authorities want to keep out.

Not necessarily. They might just be at the end of the month between money transfers from home. They may have kids here, but suddenly stranded in a country with insufficient funds to go anywhere and a 1 days visa to be there. With no warning, it is madness.

Here we go again....somebody always assumes you are illegal if you do a border run a few times. And yes, pensioners sometimes carry limited amounts of cash when they travel...and correctly so. Many shudder at using an ATM, as the machine may snatch your card or charge heavily. Not to mention that your card may get flagged if you suddenly use one in a neighboring country.

[wolf5370]

I think this measure is aimed at the "poor" foreigners as I called Immigration this week after the announcement in regards to Ranong who said that flying in and out is fine but obviously more expensive and presumably the Thai government makes money on tax (which often is not explained by airlines well as there are so many charges, security charge, Passenger fee etc) including in the ticket. Glad I am on my last Visa Run. Next month I am getting a Non-O for 2000Baht giving me 1 year and I only have to go to Immigration about 10kms away every ninety days and no fee. Hopefully my last ever Visa Run now I am 50 years old.

As said earlier - this maybe changing to 55 soon too - if not grandfathered, you may be back to visa runs.

[slipperylobster]

any other cheerful words of encouragement to ruin somebody's early up for coffee and TV?

[nisakiman]

It is not that I have anything personal against you living in Thailand, providing it`s done via the correct procedures with visas that are applicable for long term stay

How unutterably pompous.

[BKKdreaming]

If you are doing a visa run and still have a few days on your old visa will they let you back in ?

if so that would be the plan to test if that border crossing is going by new rules , old rules or Flexible rules

Has there been a number published of how many "tourists" are doing visa runs every month ?

[inthepink]

any other cheerful words of encouragement to ruin somebody's early up for coffee and TV?

Yes, apparently they're about to announce a crackdown on dirty old men with retirement visas marrying prostitutes. They've realised that all these men must have broken the law at least once when they met their bride-to-be and are going to deport them en masse. About time too. I don't like these undesirables giving the rest of us a bad name.

[wolf5370]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

changes nothing. I have friends who have been here years and have never once crossed any boarder for any visa extension.This is Thailand-have money- do as you please.This will only make those visa fixers a little more money and many local Thai vendors/businesses a little less.

I disagree. It changes much as there are many people working here sans work permits and have been using this method for staying here for years... might I say illegally. This is not a pay someone under the table type thing and get what you want. And a lot of these people who are doing this don't have money to pay visa fixers. They get on the van on go to Poi Pet and come back the next day.

Maybe you don't have friends that do this, but this doesn't mean that it changes nothing, as you say.

So would you think these people working here illegally would:

a. Say "Oh well, good while it lasted" and go home.

b. Overstay.

c. Get another visa type, such as tourist / Ed visa but never bother to study / B visa based on offer of work that never actually materialises / etc.

If you think [a] then it is the success you believe - otherwise nothing has changed in this regard. People working illegally are already doing something that can get them arrested and deported, you think they might then worry about overstay or abusing other visa rules? Of course not. It hits soft targets that are not actually costing the country anything, but are spending here - the benefit is simply xenophobic finger-lick-point-scoring of those small minded little Hitlers in charge.

[bmanly]

Hello, I have a single entry Non Immigrant O visa.

My plan is to come to Thailand for 90 days. Then I am going to Bali for a 10 day holiday.

Then I will return to Thailand by air after the August new rules come in. Will I get a 30 days when I get back, yes or no?

Also what decides whether you get a 15 day or 30 day permit when you return at a land border? I see 15/30 mentioned many times, who gets what? (I have Australian Passport)

[wolf5370]

Hopefully this crackdown will be like many others, short lived. A lot of people legitimately working, studying, living, or touring here, do border runs occasionally between visas. They should be able to differentiate between someone doing it a few times, and someone doing it for 5 years.

One would hope that those who are studying or working here are doing so on the appropriate visa.

They are. But visas run out, people change jobs, change schools, move to different parts of the country, etc. It affects people who are between visas. Many do border runs for a couple months, while waiting for new paperwork.

You know it at least a couple of months before the visa runs out. It's not like they suddenly end and you didn't have a clue.

Did you read the story in the Op? Did these people get a month warning? There can be many reasons for having a single month or two between visas - like a pending trip abroad - no warning at all from immigration. If immigration had said - from August we will be doing this....then people could have prepared for it. Trying to make it a sting, catches people that are innocent too. Bad form and stupidity.

Countries that have a welfare system - like the in the west - need to worry about such things, especially with poor people coming in. In a country like this one, that does diddly squat for foreigners if they do fall on hard times (other than arrest them), it is a pointless crusade against people that bring money in and spend it. Thailand has so many serious problems right now - you would think that pushing away foreign money for nil expenditure would be low on the priorities list!

[wolf5370]

Hello, I have a single entry Non Immigrant O visa.

My plan is to come to Thailand for 90 days. Then I am going to Bali for a 10 day holiday.

Then I will return to Thailand by air after the August new rules come in. Will I get a 30 days when I get back, yes or no?

Also what decides whether you get a 15 day or 30 day permit when you return at a land border? I see 15/30 mentioned many times, who gets what? (I have Australian Passport)

Yes you will be fine - this is about same day land border visa runs. Your nationality (and sometimes method of entry - land or air) determines the length of time you get.

[handssolo]

I think this measure is aimed at the "poor" foreigners as I called Immigration this week after the announcement in regards to Ranong who said that flying in and out is fine but obviously more expensive and presumably the Thai government makes money on tax (which often is not explained by airlines well as there are so many charges, security charge, Passenger fee etc) including in the ticket. Glad I am on my last Visa Run. Next month I am getting a Non-O for 2000Baht giving me 1 year and I only have to go to Immigration about 10kms away every ninety days and no fee. Hopefully my last ever Visa Run now I am 50 years old.

As said earlier - this maybe changing to 55 soon too - if not grandfathered, you may be back to visa runs.

[Timwin]

In my opinion these new clampdowns are a good thing and long over due, but inevitable that it was going to happen, not if, but when.

Another pompous besserwisser. "I am vetted, I am more important than those tourist visa people!". I'd bet you would squeal like a stuck pig if they changed your retirement visa requirements.

[wolf5370]

If you are doing a visa run and still have a few days on your old visa will they let you back in ?

if so that would be the plan to test if that border crossing is going by new rules , old rules or Flexible rules

Has there been a number published of how many "tourists" are doing visa runs every month ?

If its a multi-entry, then it is not relevant as you will still get your 90 days for as long as it is in date. If it was a single entry, then it too is irrelevant as it has expired when you left - and you would presumably get your 30 days (first time over) stamp.

[bmanly]

Hello, I have a single entry Non Immigrant O visa.

My plan is to come to Thailand for 90 days. Then I am going to Bali for a 10 day holiday.

Then I will return to Thailand by air after the August new rules come in. Will I get a 30 days when I get back, yes or no?

Also what decides whether you get a 15 day or 30 day permit when you return at a land border? I see 15/30 mentioned many times, who gets what? (I have Australian Passport)

Yes you will be fine - this is about same day land border visa runs. Your nationality (and sometimes method of entry - land or air) determines the length of time you get.

Thank you my friend, I was starting to panic as I leave soon. I will get a Multiple Non O next time now that these new rules have come in.

[slipperylobster]

Hello, I have a single entry Non Immigrant O visa.

My plan is to come to Thailand for 90 days. Then I am going to Bali for a 10 day holiday.

Then I will return to Thailand by air after the August new rules come in. Will I get a 30 days when I get back, yes or no?

Also what decides whether you get a 15 day or 30 day permit when you return at a land border? I see 15/30 mentioned many times, who gets what? (I have Australian Passport)

You are staying 90 days before leaving... you already have a visa for that.

Perhaps you only have a 2 month single entry and plan to extend 30 days. You could just get a double entry, if you do not already have a visa.

Yes you will get 30 day visa exempt when you fly back in from Bali.

Here is a link to a list who gets 30 days on a land border.

http://www.travelfish.org/blogs/thailand/2013/11/06/thailand-reinstates-30-day-overland-visa-free-entries-for-select-nationalities/

[larsjohnsson]

So what do people who are awaiting an extension for say, based on marriage do, if they are refused and their waiting period is up?

They would not refuse it if you have the money you should have. Just follow the rules and you will get the extension

[larsjohnsson]

What if I arrive in Thailand without visa, then I plan to go to Lao via land border and stay in Lao but don't come back to Thailand ???

In Mae sot they are saying they can't even leave Thailand !!

Yes tourists coming, can't leave Thailand. They have to stay here the rest of their life

[bmanly]

Hello, I have a single entry Non Immigrant O visa.

My plan is to come to Thailand for 90 days. Then I am going to Bali for a 10 day holiday.

Then I will return to Thailand by air after the August new rules come in. Will I get a 30 days when I get back, yes or no?

Also what decides whether you get a 15 day or 30 day permit when you return at a land border? I see 15/30 mentioned many times, who gets what? (I have Australian Passport)

You are staying 90 days before leaving...so I suppose you already have a visa for that.

Perhaps you only have a 2 month single entry and plan to extend 30 days. You could just get a double entry, if you do not already have a visa.

Yes you will get 30 day visa exempt when you fly back in from Bali.

Here is a link to a list who gets 30 days on a land border.

http://www.travelfish.org/blogs/thailand/2013/11/06/thailand-reinstates-30-day-overland-visa-free-entries-for-select-nationalities/

I have a single entry Non Immigrant O visa which I will use for my first 90 days, so I am good there. I was making sure that after 10 days in Bali that on my return they will give me a 30 day visa exempt, you say they will so that covers that, thanks.

[notmyself]

Is this also effective at the airports? Or only land crossings?

Only at landborders for now.

At airports it will be in effect as of 12 August.

One would hope they you will still be able to fly in and say spend 3 weeks on the beach before popping off to Cambodia and Laos for a week or two then returning via land for a flight out some 2 weeks later.

There are also a lot of backpackers who use Bangkok as a hub for a long SE Asia trip who could be affected by this enforcement.

[slipperylobster]

any other cheerful words of encouragement to ruin somebody's early up for coffee and TV?

Yes, apparently they're about to announce a crackdown on dirty old men with retirement visas marrying prostitutes. They've realised that all these men must have broken the law at least once when they met their bride-to-be and are going to deport them en masse. About time too. I don't like these undesirables giving the rest of us a bad name.

[Thai at Heart]

Looks like visa on arrival could soon be history.

People have to get a visa which makes more money for the bent officials.

Does anyone know how much a visa is these days?

People such as oil and gas and mining guys wont want to waste their valuable time off travelling to an embassy in another country then waiting for a visa just so they can have their month off. These blokes will be lost to other countries such as Cambodia and The PI who still have sane and workable visa policies. Their departure will be an enormous financial blow to Phuket.

Why are oil and gas guys making a habit of over landing it out to neighbouring countries?

[slipperylobster]

ya mean dirty old men are actually visiting (and oh..how awful....marrying) prostitutes?

These dirty old men must be either working as pimps or selling viagra, because they cross land borders.

my, my. No wonder I get these strange looks when I go back home.

[larsjohnsson]

this does not affect me but i wonder if it would affect all that use the 30 days visa exempt correctly.

Ie fly into Thailand without a visa, stay 2 weeks than travel to Cambodia for a week an return to Thailand for a week before heading home ( or up to Lao or down to Malaysia/Singpore/Bali)

So now they CANNOT do this?

and will need apply for a tourist visa outside to come back in.

This will hit those legit tourist as well.

Why can't they do that when they are allowed one border land crossing?

[slipperylobster]

There are also a lot of backpackers who use Bangkok as a hub for a long SE Asia trip who could be affected by this enforcement.

Correct....and not one of them trying to abuse the system either.

As a side, did you say Hub of Backpackers? I had not added that to the long list of hubdubbery yet, that we are so famous for. But you are again correct.

[hagler]

Great news at long last..

More trailer trash and low rent riff raff out of the Kingdom and off to Cambodia and the Philippines.

Place is getting better and better by the day.

[slipperylobster]

Great news at long last..

More trailer trash and low rent riff raff out of the Kingdom and off to Cambodia and the Philippines.

Place is getting better and better by the day.

I would caste a stone at you, but cannot reach your Ivory Tower, rich man.

[inthepink]

ya mean dirty old men are actually visiting (and oh..how awful....marrying) prostitutes?

These dirty old men must be either working as pimps or selling viagra, because they cross land borders.

my, my. No wonder I get these strange looks when I go back home.

It wasn't directed at you. I've no idea how old you are or what you do in your spare time. I was simply pointing out that many of the holier than thou brigade who love to rant about visa runners ( who aren't necessarily breaking any laws at all) pick and choose the Thai laws they think should be respected and those that can be ignored.

Personally, I find 65-year old men walking around shopping malls with tattooed trash far more undesirable than young guys who don't happen to qualify for a retirement visa.

[slipperylobster]

ya mean dirty old men are actually visiting (and oh..how awful....marrying) prostitutes?

These dirty old men must be either working as pimps or selling viagra, because they cross land borders.

my, my. No wonder I get these strange looks when I go back home.

It wasn't directed at you. I've no idea how old you are or what you do in your spare time. I was simply pointing out that many of the holier than thou brigade who love to rant about visa runners ( who aren't necessarily breaking any laws at all) pick and choose the Thai laws they think should be respected and those that can be ignored.

Personally, I find 65-year old men walking around shopping malls with tattooed trash far more undesirable than young guys who don't happen to qualify for a retirement visa.

Yeah ok. Not taken personally... Just had this picture in my mind that people might group me in to some kind of category....especially one that has me associating with gals of ill repute.

Thank goodness I was able to find a decent lady....against all odds. No trace of any tattoos, so we walk through the mall together, unchallenged. I am 60, nobody cares much what I do in my spare time....but it is mostly cheerful stuff...like gardening, housekeeping, shopping in the mall, light exercise and that stuff. Heck yeah, I have a beer down the street, but the nearest gogo bar is 8 hours south in Bangkok.