Thoughts on fly out/fly in Samui/Penang re-entry

[BigSkookum]

I have one more entry on a three-entry tourist visa which began on Feb 2; at this point so far as it seemed like no re-entry was possible with the new rules, I was just gonna move to Cambodia for a while; the last possible day for the third entry is the 30th, when my current 2nd entry-extension ends but is also the max date for the validity of the triple entry visa.

So, my Russian friend whose wife, baby and mother-in-law are still here (he's back in Moscow) just bought them super-discount plane tickets Samui-Penang-Samui (dirt cheap I think he said 1500 baht return) and booked them a few nights hotel in Penang, and he thinks I should try it too. They haven't come back yet, but if they get turned back he'll send them to Langkawi for a while and deal with all the stuff at the house they've been renting.

He thinks I should try it too. I'm wondering if anyone else here has had any fly-in experiences since the re-entry rules changed; I know that land entry on the southern border is a no-go but that we have until the 12th until when flying in is still OK. But will they ask for 20000 baht, a ticket out and a hotel booking, or just let me in on the third entry as usual?

I see in another thread someone had done that from Vientiane and didn't seem to be asked for any of that, I'm wondering if there are any reports from people flying back in from KL or Penang and also are they getting their full 60-day entry approved or being given only 30 days?

If I try it, I'd have my stuff packed and ready for cross-border shipment if it came to that; but I'd rather be in Cambodia than get stuck in Malaysia without my stuff.

So many questions, so little time

Also I'm pondering that immigration at Samui Airport might be more lenient than at others, given the importance of expats and long-term tourists to Samui's economy? Crazy seat sale, though...... if the re-entry would work, hard to pass up the chance. I don't really want to leave Lamai but have been presuming I have no choice/ Maybe not.

My visa history: entered on a triple-entry visa in July 2012, which ran out nine months later, I'd had some time in the Phils and Cambo on it though, then had a double-entry visa arranged at Kota Bharu by Herbert/HD Visa, then a couple of two-week non-visa stamps in September-October, returned to Canada for a while where I got my current triple-entry.

A little more time and all my ducks might be in a row for a work permit or biz or ed visa...just not quite yet.

[ubonjoe]

If you have a valid tourist visa with a remaining entry you have nothing to worry about.

If you had several out/in visa exempt entries you would have something to worry about. This is what immigration is trying to stop not tourist visa entries.

[BigSkookum]

yeah I only have those two, maybe only one, I've forgotten, non-visa entries from last fall when the double-entry and its extension expired.....

I gather that what you mean is re the fly out/in not the viability of the land border; I've heard no one is getting land entries, not at the southern border, with tourist visas, new or existing; maybe that's not accurate though

I'd thought they were after sequential tourist visas; this is my third, the triple, last year's double, and this year's double, though with 3 months plus a bit in Canada and that non-visa entry in between.

[BigSkookum]

you think maybe I need two-three days in Penang, or would one night suffice to make them happy? Or possible to do a turnaround and come right bacvk the same day? Maybe that's pushing it......

[notmyself]

you think maybe I need two-three days in Penang, or would one night suffice to make them happy? Or possible to do a turnaround and come right bacvk the same day? Maybe that's pushing it......

Can't do return same day as there is only one flight in and one flight out (Tue, Wed & Sat) and it's PEN-USM-PEN too.

[BigSkookum]

Hm well looks like I can only do one night there, then, going on Tuesday....... as I have to return on Wednesday when my visa needs to be used by. Hm well I guess I could go Saturday and come back Tuesday though..... hmmm

any thoughts on needing 20000 baht, a ticket out (when??) and a hotel rez? I live in a guesthouse but could arrange a rez if needed (and a loan)

[notmyself]

Hm well looks like I can only do one night there, then, going on Tuesday....... as I have to return on Wednesday when my visa needs to be used by. Hm well I guess I could go Saturday and come back Tuesday though..... hmmm

any thoughts on needing 20000 baht, a ticket out (when??) and a hotel rez? I live in a guesthouse but could arrange a rez if needed (and a loan)

No flight on Wednesday so if you want to do it by air both ways Saturday - Tuesday is your only option. I done the trip just under 2 months ago in order to get a visa exempt entry. Had a flight out back to the UK in under 30 days and also a large wad of cash on me but was not asked for anything. Given the changes I would suggest you have cash, a ticket out of Thailand within 60 days and a hotel rez to be on the same side. Would be nice if you could inform members how it went after you return.

[cornishcarlos]

A few people I know have come back into Samui in the last few days on tourist visas. Single and doubles.

No questions asked at the airport.

I really don't think you will have any issues.

[BigSkookum]

 

you think maybe I need two-three days in Penang, or would one night suffice to make them happy?  Or possible to do a turnaround and come right bacvk the same day?  Maybe that's pushing it......

Can't do return same day as there is only one flight in and one flight out (Tue, Wed & Sat) and it's PEN-USM-PEN too.

 

 

Which airline is that?  It's not Bangkok Airways, they don't fly to Penang...some other airline my friend said, off the Samui Airport website (http://www.samuiairportonline.com I think) somewhere is where he found it.  I can't.  Only connections USM-PEN-USM I can see are all via KL.

 

my other possibility was a Cebu Pacific flight to Manila from Phuket, and they have a seat to return on the 30th....*but* I'd have to be in Phuket by 9 or 10 tonight .... should have checked earlier oh well.

 

might wind up being bus to Penang if seats aren't available when I do find that special; or to KL, and fly back from there.

 

So....that Sat-Tue-Wed schedule, which airline is that?  Firefly?  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samui_Airport#Airlines_and_destinations

[notmyself]

Yep, firefly. There is always Surat to KL with AirAsia at very very cheap prices.

[BigSkookum]

A few people I know have come back into Samui in the last few days on tourist visas. Single and doubles.

No questions asked at the airport.

I really don't think you will have any issues.

 

Ok thanks, good to get soothed..... my main problem is late-notice tickets now, with seats being sold from beneath me; I don't have a c.c. so will pay extra at a travel agent...plan at t his point is bus to Penang for 1400, then fly back on Firefly for about 5400..... though Samui-KL-Samui is around 6500-7000...but then I'm in KL for a couple of nights, and not Penang....it's all about the shekels, KL's more expensive and way more boring, by all accounts

[BigSkookum]

update; I got back Tuesday afternoon.... one the way down, the passport control dude said  "excuse me sir, but you do know you can't return today?"  "I'm going to Penang for a few days"; he repeated the question, I repeated my answer.  

 

then on the return, the passport control officer at Samui Airport seemed to take a long time looking at my passport, and I thought writing in it, or writing in something, and finally stamped it and put it on the counter, with his hand still on it; looking at a screen above him, he pulled it back strongly..."oh shit!" I thought....he scribbled on it in a few places, restamped it after resetting the date stamp.....he'd cancelled a 30-day date and replaced it with the 60-day one; maybe the screen was a calculation based on age, country of origin, and taking into account I haven't been in Thailand for ALL of the last two years....only six months since I came back


That being said, I had an odd experience with the owner of the resort I walk from my place to the beach through on a regular basis; he'd been watching me walk through as I usually do, I said "sawadee kap" and he did the same, then as we passed each other he turned and said "you long time, how long?  Holiday?"....."three months?".  I paused not knowing what to say, he said "six months?" which I said yes......"long holiday" he commented; I said "I have nothing to go back to there, I like it here, it's warm....".  He smiled, sort of, and nodded; I said, knowing what he was thinking, that I will be heading for the Philippines, which I am, ultimately, after here

that and a general difference in mood around have me thinking that I may not last out the full 60 days; I'm very large and kinda high-profile, lots in Lamai know who I am...... best to move on, given the situation...... unless I land a work permit or get an ed visa...but even then.....hmmmmmm

[notmyself]

update; I got back Tuesday afternoon.... one the way down, the passport control dude said  "excuse me sir, but you do know you can't return today?"  "I'm going to Penang for a few days"; he repeated the question, I repeated my answer.  
 
then on the return, the passport control officer at Samui Airport seemed to take a long time looking at my passport, and I thought writing in it, or writing in something, and finally stamped it and put it on the counter, with his hand still on it; looking at a screen above him, he pulled it back strongly..."oh shit!" I thought....he scribbled on it in a few places, restamped it after resetting the date stamp.....he'd cancelled a 30-day date and replaced it with the 60-day one; maybe the screen was a calculation based on age, country of origin, and taking into account I haven't been in Thailand for ALL of the last two years....only six months since I came back


That being said, I had an odd experience with the owner of the resort I walk from my place to the beach through on a regular basis; he'd been watching me walk through as I usually do, I said "sawadee kap" and he did the same, then as we passed each other he turned and said "you long time, how long?  Holiday?"....."three months?".  I paused not knowing what to say, he said "six months?" which I said yes......"long holiday" he commented; I said "I have nothing to go back to there, I like it here, it's warm....".  He smiled, sort of, and nodded; I said, knowing what he was thinking, that I will be heading for the Philippines, which I am, ultimately, after here

that and a general difference in mood around have me thinking that I may not last out the full 60 days; I'm very large and kinda high-profile, lots in Lamai know who I am...... best to move on, given the situation...... unless I land a work permit or get an ed visa...but even then.....hmmmmmm

Thanks for the update. Regarding the 30 days it could have simply been a mistake due to not seeing you had an existing tourist visa so gave you a visa exempt before realising. This type of mistake is well documented on the forum which is why one should always check before leaving the booth.