IMMIGRATION
No more visa runs
Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong,
Somchai Samart
The Nation

Source: File photo

Immigration authorities will not let visa runners return after August 12

BANGKOK: -- FOREIGNERS WHO do regular visa runs in order to extend their stay in Thailand have less than a month before a crackdown by the authorities to enforce immigration laws more strictly.

From August 13, people will not be able to re-enter the country, regardless of their choice of transport.

The Immigration Bureau has already instructed officials to deny entry to foreigners doing visa runs as a measure to stop the exploitation of tourist visas and visa exemptions to live or work here.

Visa runs have been common among foreigners in Thailand recently, given that a simple search on the Net turns up several companies offering "visa trips" for expatriates staying or working here.

Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay. By exploiting 60-day tourist visas and 30-day visa exemptions, many foreigners can work illegally in language schools, or restaurants and other businesses. It is easier for some to get jobs this way, as some employers do not want to go through the complicated process of seeking work permits and like to avoid the expense if they can.

"I have done visa runs several times before, because my employers would not agree to seek a work permit until I passed their probation period. So, when you stop allowing visa runs, the lives of many foreigners in Thailand will be affected," a 46-year-old American said.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau website says: "Leniency will be granted until August 12, but only for passengers arriving by air. Foreigners who come to Thailand must seek a proper visa in line with the purpose of their intended stay here."

Now, those on a visa run who are allowed back in will find an "O-I" (Out-In) mark next to their latest stamp marking entry. From August 13, nobody with an O-I sign on their passport will be allowed to re-enter Thailand if they cannot produce a proper visa.

The Immigration Bureau has instructed checkpoints on shared borders to stop visa runners from entering the Kingdom effective immediately.

Immigration Division 6 chief Pol Maj-General Tatchai Pitaneelabut, who oversees immigration affairs in the South, said visa runners come from several countries, including Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.

"They come here to work as tour guides, waiters, waitresses, etc," he said, pointing out that these visa-runners are often based in tourist centres such as Phuket and Songkhla.

However, he said the presence of the so-called "out-in" migrants in the South had been significantly reduced because immigration officials were already enforcing stricter laws.

Pol Lt-Colonel Weerawat Nilwat, an inspector at the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province, disclosed that immigration officials at his workplace had already barred more than 100 visa-runners from re-entering the Kingdom.

"We have to be strict because we have to uphold laws and properly control immigrants. Efficiency on this front will also reduce crime," he said.

Pol Colonel Thirachai Dedkhad, the superintendent at the Sa Kaew checkpoint, said officials under his supervision were not stopping visa runners from re-entering yet. "But we have been warning them to acquire a proper visa before they come to Thailand the next time."

He said immigration officials had also warned people departing that they must obtain a proper visa if they want to come back.

"We have made it clear that if they want to work in Thailand, they must seek a work permit and get the right type of visa," Thirachai said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/No-more-visa-runs-30238504.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-15

Had this confirmed to me last night by Kap Choeng Immigration for the Chong Chom Border Crossing.

I assume the Out/In that takes place on a double or triple entry tourist visa will not fit the criteria for refusal

Had this confirmed to me last night by Kap Choeng Immigration for the Chong Chom Border Crossing.

was the out/in a visa exempt of a multiple entry visa?

Looks like a lot of foreigners are either leaving or will have to get married, have a child or get a retirement visa.

I'm on double entry tourist visa spending a week in Vietnam and arriving back to Thailand on 14th for second half of my visa.

Wonder how this will go. I don't have any back to back visas in my passport, and I don't have any visa exemptions. I do have multiple double entry tourist visas over many years. Visa was acquired from home country, not a border country in Asia.

I'm on double entry tourist visa spending a week in Vietnam and arriving back to Thailand on 14th for second half of my visa.

Wonder how this will go. I don't have any back to back visas in my passport, and I don't have any visa exemptions. I do have multiple double entry tourist visas over many years. Visa was acquired from home country, not a border country in Asia.

you'll be fine. youre not doing an Out/In

Looks like a lot of foreigners are either leaving or will have to get married, have a child or get a retirement visa.

condos will be selling for peanuts soon

The 64,000 dollar question is:

What is the minimum amount of time a suspected visa-runner should stay out of the kingdom to avoid the dreaded O-I stamp?

Will it be 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or is it going to be another arbitrary decision based on the whim of each border agent?

Off-topic side note: This past week I have been inundated with requests to teach or tutor English. Requests are coming from all directions. I say no because I am not a qualified English teacher. Are a lot of undocumented English teachers packing up and leaving?

I'm on double entry tourist visa spending a week in Vietnam and arriving back to Thailand on 14th for second half of my visa.

Wonder how this will go. I don't have any back to back visas in my passport, and I don't have any visa exemptions. I do have multiple double entry tourist visas over many years. Visa was acquired from home country, not a border country in Asia.

you'll be fine. youre not doing an Out/In

How do you define Out/In though? I'll be in Vietnam for 7 days. Is Out/In about people who cross back the same day? 1 day? 3 days? 1 week?

I wish the immigration rules were clearer.

I'm on double entry tourist visa spending a week in Vietnam and arriving back to Thailand on 14th for second half of my visa.

Wonder how this will go. I don't have any back to back visas in my passport, and I don't have any visa exemptions. I do have multiple double entry tourist visas over many years. Visa was acquired from home country, not a border country in Asia.

you'll be fine. youre not doing an Out/In

Nobody knows including the guy at immigration.

Good luck with that.

I'm on double entry tourist visa spending a week in Vietnam and arriving back to Thailand on 14th for second half of my visa.

Wonder how this will go. I don't have any back to back visas in my passport, and I don't have any visa exemptions. I do have multiple double entry tourist visas over many years. Visa was acquired from home country, not a border country in Asia.

you'll be fine. youre not doing an Out/In

How do you define Out/In though? I'll be in Vietnam for 7 days. Is Out/In about people who cross back the same day? 1 day? 3 days? 1 week?

I wish the immigration rules were clearer.

youre 7 days and using an airline. dont worry. they are targeting the same day folks and the back to back visas.

I'm on double entry tourist visa spending a week in Vietnam and arriving back to Thailand on 14th for second half of my visa.

Wonder how this will go. I don't have any back to back visas in my passport, and I don't have any visa exemptions. I do have multiple double entry tourist visas over many years. Visa was acquired from home country, not a border country in Asia.

you'll be fine. youre not doing an Out/In

Nobody knows including the guy at immigration.

Good luck with that.

care to show ONE example where a double entry tourist visa has been refused after a 7 day trip out?

narrithiwat crossing 4 days ago the group coming back from Penang with double entry tourist visas

A lot of people are going to lose a lot. Including Thais. This is baby with bath water on steroids. Too inflexible and done too fast. It would be OK if there were now easier "real" visas, work permits, including legalization of online freelancing, etc. But there is not. On the condo market, no kidding, this is really bad for places like Pattaya. Cause and effect clearly not well considered on this one.

The 64,000 dollar question is:

What is the minimum amount of time a suspected visa-runner should stay out of the kingdom to avoid the dreaded O-I stamp?

Will it be 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or is it going to be another arbitrary decision based on the whim of each border agent?

Off-topic side note: This past week I have been inundated with requests to teach or tutor English. Requests are coming from all directions. I say no because I am not a qualified English teacher. Are a lot of undocumented English teachers packing up and leaving?

I would say that many tefl teachers of government schools have a big problem,so the abuse of visa runs has been restricted. I would also say that many will not even be able to afford a flight back home

Did anybody read this line in the story: "Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay."

Seems pretty clear to me.

narrithiwat crossing 4 days ago the group coming back from Penang with double entry tourist visas

It does say After August 12th, and adjoining boders will be stopped, its very easy to understand you know, what happened 4 days ago will be irelevant

Will this affect Lao freelancers ,who work in Pattaya and do 30 day visa runs at Vientienne. A work permit for hookers r us lol

Did anybody read this line in the story: "Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay."

Seems pretty clear to me.

+ 1 but not to some

narrithiwat crossing 4 days ago the group coming back from Penang with double entry tourist visas

link?

Did anybody read this line in the story: "Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay."

Seems pretty clear to me.

Not really. Maybe for visa exempt....

But it also explicit mentioned tourist visas. Those that get tourist visas in locations like Laos and Cambodia spend multiple days applying and receiving the visa. So a tourist visa runner at Vientenne for example might be 2-3 days as "immediate" whereas visa exempt would be the same day.

Hence the confusion regarding the precise period to avoid being labelled Out/In

Did anybody read this line in the story: "Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay."

Seems pretty clear to me.

+ 1 but not to some

+ 1 yes. However, most visa runs require at least one night outside Thailand.

Will returning to Thailand after 24 hours be considered returning immediately? It seems to be.

What is clear is that Thai immigration wants to prevent multiple in-out trips for the sole purpose of extending stay, whether it is an exempt 15/30 day entry or a 60 day entry with a tourist visa.

I think that border agents will scrutinize the visa and entry history of each person, ask a few questions, and make a decision based on that. If this is the case then the longer one spends outside Thailand the better.

It would be reasonable to say that a true tourist is one who stays in the home country the majority of the time, making occasional and brief forays into other countries. Back to back tourist visas don't fit that profile.

Try pulling that b2b stunt in the UK or US for example and see what happens. Quit whingeing... what's source for the goose.

As in everything the "devil is in the details".

Exactly how this will be interpreted by the local immigration entry point is unclear.

We will begin hearing a chorus of "but I've always done it this way" from those "tourists" who use a double entry and/or triple entry tourist visa to stay in Thailand.

They could come under real tough scrutiny even on an entry by AIR after the 12th of August.

The rationale may be, "Tourists visa are for tourists, and some one who has 2 or 3 double entry tourist visas back to back might NOT be a tourist..... they might be using those "tourist" visas to stay illegally in Thailand and working here.

Now prove you are NOT doing that to be let in..

Also, I here predict that those who have several "ED visas" back to back in their passports might also have problems soon, even if they enter by air.

As I said it all depends on how the ruling is interpreted by the local immigration office.

And, honestly, no one can predict right now exactly what interpretation will be.

That includes those arriving by air at swampy.

It will be chaotic, that's for sure.

As the Chinese saying goes, "May you be cursed to live in "interesting" times".

narrithiwat crossing 4 days ago the group coming back from Penang with double entry tourist visas

It does say After August 12th, and adjoining boders will be stopped, its very easy to understand you know, what happened 4 days ago will be irelevant

some one asked for an example ...I gave one ... and your excuse is? .....i am very aware of whats going on and the 12th Aug date ..so what is your idiotic point?

As in everything the "devil is in the details".

Exactly how this will be interpreted by the local immigration entry point is unclear.

We will begin hearing a chorus of "but I've always done it this way" from those "tourists" who use a double entry and/or triple entry tourist visa to stay in Thailand.

They could come under real tough scrutiny even on an entry by AIR after the 12th of August.

The rationale may be, "Tourists visa are for tourists, and some one who has 2 or 3 double entry tourist visas back to back might NOT be a tourist..... they might be using those "tourist" visas to stay illegally in Thailand and working here.

Now prove you are NOT doing that to be let in..

Also, I here predict that those who have several "ED visas" back to back in their passports might also have problems soon, even if they enter by air.

As I said it all depends on how the ruling is interpreted by the local immigration office.

And, honestly, no one can predict right now exactly what interpretation will be.

That includes those arriving by air at swampy.

It will be chaotic, that's for sure.

As the Chinese saying goes, "May you be cursed to live in "interesting" times".

i'm betting that the double/triple TV's that are acquired back to back will be targeted no matter land sea or air arrival. The government has as much as said so already. what is unclear is whether a keen IO will go after someone doing a quick turnaround on the next entry of a double or triple entry.

narrithiwat crossing 4 days ago the group coming back from Penang with double entry tourist visas

link?

right here on TV ...or do you only read what you post?

right here on TV ...or do you only read what you post?

the discussion was this:

I'm on double entry tourist visa spending a week in Vietnam and arriving back to Thailand on 14th for second half of my visa.

Wonder how this will go. I don't have any back to back visas in my passport, and I don't have any visa exemptions. I do have multiple double entry tourist visas over many years. Visa was acquired from home country, not a border country in Asia.

you'll be fine. youre not doing an Out/In

Nobody knows including the guy at immigration.

Good luck with that.

My answer:

care to show ONE example where a double entry tourist visa has been refused after a 7 day trip out?

are you claiming that someone was refused entry in narathiwat when trying to enter on the second entry of a double entry tourist visa after being absent from thailand for a number of days? I have seen no such post!

The 64,000 dollar question is:

What is the minimum amount of time a suspected visa-runner should stay out of the kingdom to avoid the dreaded O-I stamp?

Will it be 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or is it going to be another arbitrary decision based on the whim of each border agent?

Off-topic side note: This past week I have been inundated with requests to teach or tutor English. Requests are coming from all directions. I say no because I am not a qualified English teacher. Are a lot of undocumented English teachers packing up and leaving?

I am curious about this also. When I was a teacher, it was like pulling teeth to get my employer to get me my WP. It eventually got done but sometimes needed to do a I-O.

Schools will now need to be more proactive and only hire those with a degree.