Hi,

I've been cycle touring through Thailand + nearby countries since September and fly out of Chiang Mai in mid June. My current entry stamp doesn't quite see me through till my final flight out, so I will need one more stamp to cover me for about 10 days, from either Mae Sai or northern Laos crossing (UK passport):

1) I've had 4 visa-free land entries(l), 4 visa-free fly-ins(f), 1 single entry tourist visa(t). Sequence was l,f,t,l,f,f,l,l,f.

2) I can carry evidence of sufficient funds in my bank account, evidence of cash spent over my stay, flight ticket out of Chiang Mai, an onward flight back to the UK from another Asean country, a job offer starting August in Malaysia, passport/internet evidence of having cycle toured through several other countries on my way to Thailand, I guess I could also start keeping hotel receipts to prove I'm on cycle tour. If I do the Laos crossing I'm happy to cycle tour there for a few days before returning, so I would only need a few extra days visa-free to give me time to cycle back to CM before flying out.

3) Not been working at all (legally or illegally), though I did help out at a couple of different volunteer projects and technically probably should have had a volunteer visa for that (I wasn't receiving any food or accommodation, and I guess it's a bit grey as to whether I was technically a volunteer or just visiting friends and doing a couple of good deeds each day). If they were determined, border guards could find out that I've been doing this via various internet blogs.

What are my chances of getting another visa-free entry stamp? Mae Sai OR Laos border better? I would rather not carry all of the above evidence with me, what do you think I will need to keep print-offs of (just in case)?

Many thanks,

sm1234

PS Would be grateful to know if you are speaking from recent experience, here-say or expressing a strongly held theory (I'm happy to hear from any of you, but it would good to be able to separate well-grounded theory from hard evidence)

Edited May 29, 201412 yr by sm1234

If you have spent time outside the country between all your entries plus the last entry was by air you will not have a problem getting another entry.

They are only looking at people that have back to back entries that are just leaving the country and immediately returning Or those that have been staying here long term by using different types of entries.

Thanks Ubonjoe,

3 of my 4 land crossings were same day returns, all flights were multi day trips though. Hoping that the most recent flight has reset the counter to zero!

You should not have a problem. The fly out would of broke the chain.

Awesome! Thanks.

Not that it effects me, because I will be gone, but I'm guessing from August that won't be the case?

I would still recommend bringing your itinerary or coming in via Laos, particularly via a smaller crossing such as Tha Li in Loei province. That is because Thai officials know that Myanmar is a dead end without a visa. As a cyclist, the Myanmar authorities will apparently now let you enter at some crossings, the best one being Myawady opposite Mae Sot the other one being Phu Nam Ron/Htee Khee, but Mae Sai/Tachilek might only allow you to cycle near Tachilek and no further (I do say might as regulations change). In any case, all land borders are dead ends without a Myanmar visa in your passport.