Thai Immigration's Visa Exemption Policy

[retiredaamt]

This is for all expats.

Thai Immigration’s Enforcement of Thai Visa Exemption Policy

July 7, 2014

U.S. citizens are reminded that Thailand immigration laws require visitors to remain in the proper visa status. U.S. citizen tourists traveling to Thailand are eligible to enter Thailand without a visa and stay for 30 days under the Thai visa exemption policy if they are able to show an onward/return ticket and possess a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond their date of entry into Thailand.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed us that Thai Immigration will enforce existing foreign entry regulations and step up efforts to prevent abuse of the 30-day visa exemption policy for tourism granted to some foreigners, including U.S. citizens. Thai immigration authorities will review carefully travelers who have received permission to stay for 30 days through the visa exemption policy, and who subsequently seek to reenter Thailand repeatedly for an additional 30 days under the same program. If immigration officials perceive that individuals are entering Thailand to reside for an extended time or indefinitely, rather than seeking entry for tourism, such individuals may be denied re-entry. If so, they will be referred to a Royal Thai Embassy outside of Thailand to apply for a regular Thai visa before seeking to enter Thailand again. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate are not able to intervene with Thai Immigration or the airlines regarding their regulations and policies on behalf of a U.S. citizen who is denied re-entry.

U.S. long-term tourists and business travelers should check with the Royal Thai Embassy about Thailand’s visa requirements. Additional information is available at the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Thailand at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/thailand.html.

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

Larry Edmonds

US Embassy Warden Volunteer, Ubon area

[KhunBENQ]

A huge amount of threads/topics in the visa forum already.

Going on for weeks.