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

[slipperylobster]

So typical of the crap through which the rest of us are having to wade. A tourist visa is good for 60d, extendable by an additional 30d. Not 30d extendable by another 30d. That's per entry.

When you get a double-entry tourist visa, you may well only get a 90d validity window (dating from the issue date of the visa). If you get such a visa and such a 90d validity in a neighboring SE Asian country, and are able to therefore execute the first entry on the first day of the validity window, and then get the 30d extension, and then exit and return on the last day of the validity window, and finally get the 30d extension on the 2nd entry, then you can be in Thailand legally for a total of 180d (not 120d).

I'm not entirely clear on exactly where you can get triple-entry visas anymore (I believe UJ has mentioned Bali), but if your object is to remain in Thailand as long as possible on that single tourist visa, and the validity window is only going to be 90d, then I don't really see how useful the triple will actually be.

Correct, btw I got a triple entry visa at Manila 3 months ago (i am a uk citizen)

Interesting...

Any special requirements other than photos, cash, passport, etc.?? How many days did it take?

I lived there 18 years, but had left. Now between decisions and am in Thailand with a double entry. I would like to spend half a year in the PHilipppines and half here in Thailand. Will arrive in Manila during September/October. I had a resident "I" card that expired, but will now renew. Intend on Thailand just being a getaway ....enjoying neighboring countries as well.

[p_brownstone]

I welcome written and spoken Thai language tests for ED visa at all embs and cons such as Taiwan.

Plus 5

Not all ED Visa Applicants intend to study Thai.

Many come to learn Muay Thai, Thai Massage and a dozen other things.

Patrick

[chrisinth]

How will I be able to maintain my gambling addiction in the casinos of bordering countries now??...................

Proper visa I suppose and a lot of re-entry permits.

Life can be so unfair at times...............................

[philthebook]

So typical of the crap through which the rest of us are having to wade. A tourist visa is good for 60d, extendable by an additional 30d. Not 30d extendable by another 30d. That's per entry.

When you get a double-entry tourist visa, you may well only get a 90d validity window (dating from the issue date of the visa). If you get such a visa and such a 90d validity in a neighboring SE Asian country, and are able to therefore execute the first entry on the first day of the validity window, and then get the 30d extension, and then exit and return on the last day of the validity window, and finally get the 30d extension on the 2nd entry, then you can be in Thailand legally for a total of 180d (not 120d).

I'm not entirely clear on exactly where you can get triple-entry visas anymore (I believe UJ has mentioned Bali), but if your object is to remain in Thailand as long as possible on that single tourist visa, and the validity window is only going to be 90d, then I don't really see how useful the triple will actually be.

Correct, btw I got a triple entry visa at Manila 3 months ago (i am a uk citizen)

Interesting...

Any special requirements other than photos, cash, passport, etc.?? How many days did it take?

I lived there 18 years, but had left. Now between decisions and am in Thailand with a double entry. I would like to spend half a year in the PHilipppines and half here in Thailand. Will arrive in Manila during September/October. I had a resident "I" card that expired, but will now renew. Intend on Thailand just being a getaway ....enjoying neighboring countries as well.

Went to Embassy on a Monday morning, it was ready on Wednesday afternoon, in and out within 5 minutes. in addition to the normal requirements I alsoI wrote a letter explaining why I wanted a triple entry visa (just a basic itinerary and a few hotel booking confirmations for my initial 1st few weeks in Thailand), also showed copy of bank statement (online version) showing I had sufficient money, did not need to show any flight details (I had explained in the letter I would be exiting Thailand by land to Cambodia or Malaysia) very very easy.

[deepcell]

I welcome written and spoken Thai language tests for ED visa at all embs and cons such as Taiwan.

Plus 5

Not all ED Visa Applicants intend to study Thai.

Many come to learn Muay Thai, Thai Massage and a dozen other things.

Patrick

even to become a Buddhist Monk!

[inthepink]

If you are so tired of seeing people older than you happy, but perhaps poorer than you think you are, then maybe its you who should leave - they are not worried about you, so it's your problem.

Ummm, I think you missed the first sentence where it said I was playing devil's advocate. I could personally care less, and no, I don't actually want to see retirement VISA regulations get stricter.

However, I do find it absolutely dispicable how many people in this thread are dancing for glee at the misfortunate of many. These new regulations don't affect me, but that's beside the point. If the shoe was on the other foot, and the retirement VISA got put up to 30mm THB, I bet all the people dancing for glee would instantly change to absolute silence and outrage. And don't think it can't or won't happen. Again, 800k THB is nothing compared to what other countries require.

You're not really comparing like for like. 800k doesn't get you residency, it gets you a 1-year extension on a non-imm visa. Hardly the same thing is it?

Can you show me a country that will give a foreigner (Retiree) PR for $23k ?, can you indicate a country that gives a legal retiree PR for "free" for that matter ?....most countries in the world that still even offer a place for retiree's do not offer PR to them as part of the deal. there may be one or two, if there is, it will not be many...

You don't get PR here just for turning up with 800k either. The point was, wolf5370 was comparing the amounts required by other countries that offer a path to permanent residency against the amount of money that you must have in a Thai bank account in order to apply for a one-year extension for a retirement visa. The two have nothing to do with each other.

[ubonjoe]

I have removed two inflammatory replies and a inflammatory comment in a post those were in response to.

[MikeDK]

I need to do a final visa run before my work papers come through and I can get my work visa.

Questions:
1)Is it possible to do a visa run by air, leaving and returning on the same day? Say I fly to KL in the morning, wait at the airport for the next flight and fly straight back to Thailand for my exempt stamp - doable? Or should I spend a night in KL to be sure?
2) Would I need to have an exit-ticket to show that I leave after 30 days? If so, anyone know if it is possible to get refundable tickets and where?

[Mario2008]

1. Yes, untill 12 August this is possible.

2. Officially yes, and if they suspect you of working illegally they can ask for the ticket out. See the story of the Rssian lady at Phuket airport. But that is for now not that likely to happen, till august 12.

[MarkCyr]

I know I'll get flamed, but I agree with cutting back on the abuse of the visa system. I know people who have lived YEARS in Thailand doing border runs.

Having said that, I hope Thailand also has some plan to simplify and streamline the work-visa application process, making it easier for schools, dive shops and other businesses that hire a lot of foreign workers to get qualified workers into the country legally, and in turn making life for those workers less stressful by removing the constant threat of "this visa run may be my last." Transparency in visa laws is a good thing in this case.

In the meantime, expect the Cambodian tourism industry to boom!

[bruceamstutz]

Like I said the laws regarding immigration here change often.

Keep an eye on TV before making plans.

That said it's amazing how the law changes suddenly

And the only warning is when you get to the border.

Could of gave people 2 weeks a month notice of this.

Also seems other visas are getting harder to get nowadays .

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Gee what you say make's sense, however this is Thailand where a whole hell of a lot doesn't make sense......

[ubonjoe]

I know I'll get flamed, but I agree with cutting back on the abuse of the visa system. I know people who have lived YEARS in Thailand doing border runs.

Having said that, I hope Thailand also has some plan to simplify and streamline the work-visa application process, making it easier for schools, dive shops and other businesses that hire a lot of foreign workers to get qualified workers into the country legally, and in turn making life for those workers less stressful by removing the constant threat of "this visa run may be my last." Transparency in visa laws is a good thing in this case.

In the meantime, expect the Cambodian tourism industry to boom!

There is no work visa. Only a work permit allows a person to work.

It is not a problem with the law, regulations and rules. It is employers not willing to get their selves legal so they can legally hire people.

[Soutpeel]

I know I'll get flamed, but I agree with cutting back on the abuse of the visa system. I know people who have lived YEARS in Thailand doing border runs.

Having said that, I hope Thailand also has some plan to simplify and streamline the work-visa application process, making it easier for schools, dive shops and other businesses that hire a lot of foreign workers to get qualified workers into the country legally, and in turn making life for those workers less stressful by removing the constant threat of "this visa run may be my last." Transparency in visa laws is a good thing in this case.

In the meantime, expect the Cambodian tourism industry to boom!

I am not flaming you but a couple of points.

Thailand's work "visa"/WP is relatively simple/streamlined and cost effective already, what do I base this on ? having worked as a foreigner in many countries over the last 30 years and have been through multiple "work visa systems" in my time and in all honesty the hardest/most convoluted and expensive was the one for the US (start to finish it took nearly 6 months to get approved) in comparison with the US system, Thailand's is very simple and cheap.

making it easier for schools, dive shops and other businesses that hire a lot of foreign workers to get qualified workers into the country legally

Has it occurred to you that maybe Thailand doesn't want this to happen...ie hiring lots of foreign workers ?....if by foreigner worker, you mean workers from Neighboring countries...Cambodia/Myanmar....the process is already in place and again pretty simple and there are large numbers working here in Thailand...but one suspects you mean making it easier for western foreigners ?

[Tomtomtom69]

One of most popular trip plans among my friends visiting Thailand was to come to Bangkok, spend some time traveling around Thailand, than go to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, come back to Thailand and rest a couple of day on a beach an head back home from Bangkok.

Was it just made impossible?

No, but it is made harder to do and will effect tourism. For that kind of scenarios you now better get a double entry tourist visa or plan the trip well so you can use a re-entry permit to keep your original 30 day stay alive while visiting a neighbouring country.

I wouldn't think that particular itinerary would be a problem at all after having read the article on the new regulations. First of all, only one visa run would be made, but in reality, I wouldn't call it a visa run because your friends would actually be heading to Cambodia and spending some time there before returning. The vast majority of "visa runners" or "border runners" simply head to a neighboring country for a stamp and come right back. Very few actually spend any time in the neighboring country. On the other hand, whenever I have made visa runs, I've always spent a few days in the neighboring country. This may be looked at differently by immigration. In any case, the article states one border run can be made and that's it. If your friends just come over for a couple of days/weeks in Thailand, followed by the same in Cambodia and then back to Thailand one more time for a few more days/weeks, there is little reason why such itineraries would be made more difficult in the future.

I am wondering however, how the following itineraries could be affected (this is just an example itinerary) used by a genuine tourist:

Aug 15 Flight SYD-BKK arrival into Thailand in the afternoon. Spend some time in Bangkok, obtain Myanmar visa.

Aug 20 Overland trip from Bangkok to Phu Nam Ron, then overland to Dawei. Travel up through Myanmar visiting Myeik, Dawei, Mawlamyine, Yangon, Mandalay and back into Thailand via Myawady/Mae Sot.

Sep 2 Second arrival into Thailand via Mae Sot. Travel north, spending some time in Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and then across to Laos at Chiang Khong/Huay Xai.

Sep 12 Arrival in Huay Xai. Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Bolikhamsai, Savannakhet, Pakse, then into Vietnam at Attapeu/Bo Y.

Sep 23 Arrival into Vietnam at Bo Y. Travel Vietnam heading north to Hanoi, then back south to Saigon via Danang, Nha Trang, Mui Ne and then crossing into Cambodia via Moc Bai/Bavet.

Oct 1 Arrival in Bavet. Travel to Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap to Poipet/Aranyaprathet.

Oct 8 3rd arrival into Thailand at Aranyaprathet. Fly out of Thailand back to SYD on Oct 15.

Total number of entries into Thailand within this 2 month period: 3. However, according to the article would such an itinerary be a problem? If so, then TAT will finally have to concede that it's doctored statistics trying to show 28 million inbound tourists actually includes a lot of border runners and thus the actual numbers may be down to only 10 million or less. Tourism will be greatly affected and Thailand can say goodbye to it's hub status, particularly in relation to being a "gateway to ASEAN".

There's nothing wrong with making it more difficult for undesirables to visit or remain in Thailand, but a blanket measure to ban more than one re-entry is too vague and likely to affect too many first time legitimate travelers. I met and became friends with a German traveler a couple of months ago who recently entered and then re-entered Thailand for a total of 4 trips within a period of 2-3 months. He overstayed his first stay by 3 days but aside from that, he only spent a few days or max. 2 weeks on his other 3 entries, one of which was simply made to facilitate overland travel between Koh Kong in Cambodia and Dawei in Myanmar via Bangkok, to obtain his Myanmar visa. It would suck if tourists were going to get affected like this.

[bruceamstutz]

For the past 3 years I've come to Thailand on 180 day-60day stay-3 entry visa's and spend time with my wife. In Jan. 2013 I applied for a USA immigrant visa for my wife. On April 17th this year she had her interview at the US Embassy. She past her interview, however because I had spent the previous 6 month in Thailand she was declined the visa. The Embassy ask I prove that I in fact have residence in the US. On April 23rd 8 docs of proof were received by the Embassy and another 8 docs of proof were received by the Embassy on May 2nd. As of this date May 12th I've had no word about her visa.

My problem is my last 60 day visa stay expired April 21 and I made a Poi Pet visa run and got a 30 day on arrival visa. Anyhow this visa expires May 20th and I had thought if her and I are still here because she still did not have her US visa I would make another run to Poi Pet on May 20th for another 30 day on arrival visa.

Now with Thai Immigration having PMS and kicking me in the N--TS it looks like this plan won't work!!

Anyone have a suggestions other than flying out to get legal in the L.O.S.????

[Tanis]

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Tanis, on 10 May 2014 - 18:34, said:Quote

I've worked here in Thailand for nearly seven years and these border runs have saved my bacon several times due to the incompetence of agencies and schools trying to process work permits and teacher's license. The ones that will be most affected by this dumb rule enforcement are those who are trying to work here legit. What about those who are fired by their school for whatever reason? What recourse do these teachers have other than packing up their bags and going back to their home country? I just love the double standards that Thais employ against foreigners and I love their apologists. Fortunately, I am going back to America next week.

The ones who have had their work permits cancelled still have the option of leaving the country and getting a tourist visa or, simply fly out/fly in to tide them over for an extra 30 days.

The same as they would have to do before the new rules if on an extension of stay based on their work permit. If they have a multi-entry non-O, then they have no problems.

If said teachers were working, having to do border runs to remain in the country, then they ain't doing it right in the first place.........

You are incorrect. Teachers at Bangkok University in recent times, have been required to make 15/30 land crossings, despite legitimate employment at established universities.

Please read the last line of my post; if they are doing 15/30 day border runs to maintain a work permit then they are doing it wrong, school or university, doesn't matter.

If I am not mistaken there was a thread on Thaivisa stating that consulates would not be granting tourist visas to those who previously had non-imm bs. Regardless, I had a couple of friends who had legit non immb visas who were terminated/quit their jobs and weresubsequently denied 60 day visas at the Penang consulate because the immigration officals refused to view them as true tourists. One friend decided to pack his bags and the other decided to do border runs until he could get a new job. Would you consider him abusing the system by going to the border until he secures a job?

edits: grammar

[Mario2008]

For the past 3 years I've come to Thailand on 180 day-60day stay-3 entry visa's and spend time with my wife. In Jan. 2013 I applied for a USA immigrant visa for my wife. On April 17th this year she had her interview at the US Embassy. She past her interview, however because I had spent the previous 6 month in Thailand she was declined the visa. The Embassy ask I prove that I in fact have residence in the US. On April 23rd 8 docs of proof were received by the Embassy and another 8 docs of proof were received by the Embassy on May 2nd. As of this date May 12th I've had no word about her visa.

My problem is my last 60 day visa stay expired April 21 and I made a Poi Pet visa run and got a 30 day on arrival visa. Anyhow this visa expires May 20th and I had thought if her and I are still here because she still did not have her US visa I would make another run to Poi Pet on May 20th for another 30 day on arrival visa.

Now with Thai Immigration having PMS and kicking me in the N--TS it looks like this plan won't work!!

Anyone have a suggestions other than flying out to get legal in the L.O.S.????

Get a multiple non-O visa in Savanakhet Laos.

Info here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/697299-worry-free-non-o-visa-savannakhet/page-2?p=7671588#entry7671588

EDIT:

you can also apply for a 60 day extension of stay based on your marriage to a Thai at immigration.

[Tomtomtom69]

If you are so tired of seeing people older than you happy, but perhaps poorer than you think you are, then maybe its you who should leave - they are not worried about you, so it's your problem.

Ummm, I think you missed the first sentence where it said I was playing devil's advocate. I could personally care less, and no, I don't actually want to see retirement VISA regulations get stricter.

However, I do find it absolutely dispicable how many people in this thread are dancing for glee at the misfortunate of many. These new regulations don't affect me, but that's beside the point. If the shoe was on the other foot, and the retirement VISA got put up to 30mm THB, I bet all the people dancing for glee would instantly change to absolute silence and outrage. And don't think it can't or won't happen. Again, 800k THB is nothing compared to what other countries require.

You're not really comparing like for like. 800k doesn't get you residency, it gets you a 1-year extension on a non-imm visa. Hardly the same thing is it?

If it is the same 800k locked away in the bank. That is year in year out. It is cheap. Stay 10 years and that is $2800 per year. Peanuts.

Show me a serious country which offers a cheap form of defacto residency or let's retirees get access to PR.

Cambodia. And there everyone can get de-facto residency for about US$270-300 per year, no need to be a retiree and no need for any funds in the bank. It's also possible to buy citizenship if you are seriously rich or according to some reports, after 5 years of residency on 1-year extensions. However, I'm not going to start a thread on comparing the merits and disadvantages of living in Thailand vs. Cambodia. That's been done to death already, not to mention not the purpose of this thread and we already know that Thailand has better infrastructure/medical/more variety of food etc.

[Timwin]

My problem is my last 60 day visa stay expired April 21 and I made a Poi Pet visa run and got a 30 day on arrival visa. Anyhow this visa expires May 20th and I had thought if her and I are still here because she still did not have her US visa I would make another run to Poi Pet on May 20th for another 30 day on arrival visa.

Now with Thai Immigration having PMS and kicking me in the N--TS it looks like this plan won't work!!

Anyone have a suggestions other than flying out to get legal in the L.O.S.????

Visit or call a couple of visa run companies maybe later this week and ask them what is the latest info. They should know, doing trips daily.

[NanLaew]

^ It's maybe time for some to rethink the old "they don't really like or want us" lamentation and embrace the much more practical and realistic idea that "they don't really need us."

I mean, what on earth makes learning to speak mangled English (think of a TEFL'er from Teeside), learning to dive and 'earning money on the internet' exclusive domains of white, English speaking types?

As soutpeel states, there's much more civilised countries with much more draconian immigration restrictions. I have worked legally in the US on two occasions and legally in Thailand on 3 occasions. Collectively, it took about a year for the US approvals whereas the Thai ones were in place within weeks.

Having worked in Thailand as well as lots of other countries, why on earth would one want to work in LOS?

[Tanis]

As soutpeel states, there's much more civilised countries with much more draconian immigration restrictions. I have worked legally in the US on two occasions and legally in Thailand on 3 occasions. Collectively, it took about a year for the US approvals whereas the Thai ones were in place within weeks.

Having worked in Thailand as well as lots of other countries, why on earth would one want to work in LOS?

My wife just got her IR-1 visa to america and she will be granted her Green Card upon arrival. going through the paperwork was somewhat of a hassle but it was a relatively easy process. I much rather deal with the american immigration restriction than Thailand's immigration. This latest crackdown is a prime reason why

[Timwin]

I predict this rule is going to be cancelled maybe few months from now or at least be more clarified. Just like with the 90 days per 180 days rule in 2009, which was later nullified. This is causing massive distruptions in visa run businesses.

[ubonjoe]

One of most popular trip plans among my friends visiting Thailand was to come to Bangkok, spend some time traveling around Thailand, than go to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, come back to Thailand and rest a couple of day on a beach an head back home from Bangkok.

Was it just made impossible?

No, but it is made harder to do and will effect tourism. For that kind of scenarios you now better get a double entry tourist visa or plan the trip well so you can use a re-entry permit to keep your original 30 day stay alive while visiting a neighbouring country.

I wouldn't think that particular itinerary would be a problem at all after having read the article on the new regulations. First of all, only one visa run would be made, but in reality, I wouldn't call it a visa run because your friends would actually be heading to Cambodia and spending some time there before returning. The vast majority of "visa runners" or "border runners" simply head to a neighboring country for a stamp and come right back. Very few actually spend any time in the neighboring country. On the other hand, whenever I have made visa runs, I've always spent a few days in the neighboring country. This may be looked at differently by immigration. In any case, the article states one border run can be made and that's it. If your friends just come over for a couple of days/weeks in Thailand, followed by the same in Cambodia and then back to Thailand one more time for a few more days/weeks, there is little reason why such itineraries would be made more difficult in the future.

I am wondering however, how the following itineraries could be affected (this is just an example itinerary) used by a genuine tourist:

Aug 15 Flight SYD-BKK arrival into Thailand in the afternoon. Spend some time in Bangkok, obtain Myanmar visa.

Aug 20 Overland trip from Bangkok to Phu Nam Ron, then overland to Dawei. Travel up through Myanmar visiting Myeik, Dawei, Mawlamyine, Yangon, Mandalay and back into Thailand via Myawady/Mae Sot.

Sep 2 Second arrival into Thailand via Mae Sot. Travel north, spending some time in Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and then across to Laos at Chiang Khong/Huay Xai.

Sep 12 Arrival in Huay Xai. Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, Bolikhamsai, Savannakhet, Pakse, then into Vietnam at Attapeu/Bo Y.

Sep 23 Arrival into Vietnam at Bo Y. Travel Vietnam heading north to Hanoi, then back south to Saigon via Danang, Nha Trang, Mui Ne and then crossing into Cambodia via Moc Bai/Bavet.

Oct 1 Arrival in Bavet. Travel to Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap to Poipet/Aranyaprathet.

Oct 8 3rd arrival into Thailand at Aranyaprathet. Fly out of Thailand back to SYD on Oct 15.

Total number of entries into Thailand within this 2 month period: 3. However, according to the article would such an itinerary be a problem? If so, then TAT will finally have to concede that it's doctored statistics trying to show 28 million inbound tourists actually includes a lot of border runners and thus the actual numbers may be down to only 10 million or less. Tourism will be greatly affected and Thailand can say goodbye to it's hub status, particularly in relation to being a "gateway to ASEAN".

There's nothing wrong with making it more difficult for undesirables to visit or remain in Thailand, but a blanket measure to ban more than one re-entry is too vague and likely to affect too many first time legitimate travelers. I met and became friends with a German traveler a couple of months ago who recently entered and then re-entered Thailand for a total of 4 trips within a period of 2-3 months. He overstayed his first stay by 3 days but aside from that, he only spent a few days or max. 2 weeks on his other 3 entries, one of which was simply made to facilitate overland travel between Koh Kong in Cambodia and Dawei in Myanmar via Bangkok, to obtain his Myanmar visa. It would suck if tourists were going to get affected like this.

That would be allowed because the trip would be clearly for tourism. Also none are out in.

The rule really does not say only one. There are other stipulations..

[stevenl]

I predict this rule is going to be cancelled maybe few months from now or at least be more clarified. Just like with the 90 days per 180 days rule in 2009, which was later nullified. This is causing massive distruptions in visa run businesses.

A big difference is this rule is easy to enforce, which the 90 in 180 rule was not.

[DrTuner]

Ok, now I can guess how the visa run companies are going to handle this. They'll have some one on the other side of the border drive the runners to another immigration point, none of the old in-out then.

[Tomtomtom69]

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The ones who have had their work permits cancelled still have the option of leaving the country and getting a tourist visa or, simply fly out/fly in to tide them over for an extra 30 days.

The same as they would have to do before the new rules if on an extension of stay based on their work permit. If they have a multi-entry non-O, then they have no problems.

If said teachers were working, having to do border runs to remain in the country, then they ain't doing it right in the first place.........

You are incorrect. Teachers at Bangkok University in recent times, have been required to make 15/30 land crossings, despite legitimate employment at established universities.

Please read the last line of my post; if they are doing 15/30 day border runs to maintain a work permit then they are doing it wrong, school or university, doesn't matter.

If I am not mistaken there was a thread on Thaivisa stating that consulates would not be granting tourist visas to those who previously had non-imm bs. Regardless, I had a couple of friends who had legit non immb visas who were terminated/quit their jobs and weresubsequently denied 60 day visas at the Penang consulate because the immigration officals refused to view them as true tourists. One friend decided to pack his bags and the other decided to do border runs until he could get a new job. Would you consider him abusing the system by going to the border until he secures a job?

edits: grammar

I was in that situation just recently. My work ended about 3 months ago, first I did a couple of 15 day visa runs, but did spend time in Cambodia (rather than just doing a turn-around at the border) and went via a different crossing each time. Then I got a double entry TR from Vientiane. I was initially worried that I might be denied due to the presence of my recent non-B. I am a dual citizen and could have switched passports, however, as I have tried to avoid flying wherever possible and seeing that officials at land border crossings are not particularly keen on allowing the switching of passports, I had to enter using my Australian passport.

I am waiting on paperwork for a new job, but I am thinking that should I need to obtain any new tourist visas in future I will be using my Swiss passport (which would be much better for the Lao entries anyway seeing no Lao visa is required for Swiss citizens).

[gangrel]

Having worked in Thailand as well as lots of other countries, why on earth would one want to work in LOS?

My wife just got her IR-1 visa to america and she will be granted her Green Card upon arrival. going through the paperwork was somewhat of a hassle but it was a relatively easy process. I much rather deal with the american immigration restriction than Thailand's immigration. This latest crackdown is a prime reason why

Adding that the process your wife went through is a one-time deal which "sorts" her for life, without ANY additional processes EVER.

[ubonjoe]

Ok, now I can guess how the visa run companies are going to handle this. They'll have some one on the other side of the border drive the runners to another immigration point, none of the old in-out then.

That would not work. They would still be leaving and entering on the same day. Perhaps a trip to PP or someplace else for a few days would work.

[sumtingwong]

I would think getting people to come to Thailand would be a bigger concern with all the political strife.

[ubonjoe]

Ok, now I can guess how the visa run companies are going to handle this. They'll have some one on the other side of the border drive the runners to another immigration point, none of the old in-out then.

That would not work. They would still be leaving and entering on the same day. Perhaps a trip to PP or someplace else for a few days would work.