30 day VOA

[tonbridgebrit]

Hello everybody.

Can I just get this bit sorted ? A British or any G7 country passport holder flies into Thailand, and automatically gets a 30 day stamp on arrival. 
Right, towards the end of his 30 day stay, he goes over to Laos/Cambodia by foot/car. He stays in Laos/Cambodia for ten minutes, and then walks back into Thailand.
They will give him a new 30 day stamp, right ?? 

Now then, when the new rule on August 12th comes in, you will only be allowed to go over to Laos/Cambodia, stay there ten minutes, come back and get another 30 day stamp, you will only be allowed to do this ONCE. Once you've done it ONE time, you can't go and do it again and get a THIRD 30 day stamp.
So, this is the new rule regarding the 30 day stamps (the VOA for the G7 passport holders) ? 

Have I got this right or wrong, or are we not sure yet ?

All comments welcome, thanks !!   :)

 

[Mario2008]

It all depends on the circumstances.

 

If you can show that you are a real tourist with tickets, hotel bookings etc you will be allowed to enter.

 

But it is in such case much better to just apply for a tourist visa before you come to Thailand.

[paddyjenkins]

What if you stay across the border for 3 weeks and then come back...how many then?


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Mario2008]

Unknown. If they think you are not a tourist they can question you. You than have the opportunity to show them you are a real tourist with hotel bookings, slips for a tour, tickets out of Thailand etc.

[Suradit69]

30 day VOA

 

 

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but misused terminology causes a great deal of misunderstandings in some of these threads.

 

A VOA - Visa On Arrival - is used by relatively few people, none from the g& countries.

It is a Visa Exempt Entry you are talking about. As the name implies, you would be allowed to enter without a visa and ...

 

 

Longer visa exemption extensions begin August 29, 2014

 

BANGKOK: -- The Immigration Bureau has announced that of August 29. 2014 you will be able to extend your visa exemption period whilst you're in Thailand by 30 days, instead of the current 7 days, giving a total visa-exemption stay of 60 days.  The fee for extension of stay is 1,900 Baht (unchanged).

 

 

 

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/744440-longer-visa-exemption-extensions-begin-august-29-2014/

[tonbridgebrit]

Thanks for all the above writing !

Yes, suradit69, I actually meant the Visa Exempt Entry ! I didn't actually know about how after August 29th, the 30 day stay can be extended by 30 days for 1900 baht ! Thanks for telling me this.

Right, no need to reply to this, but something for the future. Right, a man gets a double (or triple) entry tourist visa back home, he's from a G7 country. He uses the double entry tourist visa, and the two extensions, hence, six months in Thailand. He then goes to Laos/Cambodia (for ten minutes, or maybe a couple of days), and comes back in on his ONE visa exempt entry. So, one more month. Then, 1900 baht for the 30 day extension. By now, he's had eight months in Thailand. Now then, go home to England, stay a month or two, and then come back to Thailand on another double/triple entry tourist visa. And do the whole thing all over again !

Actually, that eight months stay, using the above method. Well, after the double entry stay (six months), he goes to Laos to apply for a single entry tourist visa. That gives another two months, and throw in the one month extension. That's now nine months. Go to Laos for ten minutes (okay, maybe stay two days), come back on the 30 day Visa Exempt Entry, just do it ONCE. And then, 1900 baht 30 days extension. That means an eleven month stay in Thailand. And then go home to England, and come back and do it all again !!!!

Is the above idea absurd/nonsense, or just simply can't be done ??
Surely, there's a good chance it can be done !
:)

 

[macpayne]

ummph yes in theory you could do just like that, but if some Thai immigration officer is a bit keen and sees what your trying to do,you may very well be sent to the office and quizzed quite extensively as to why you are trying to beat there system.Just get yourself a 3 month visa and just before it expires go out of Thailand and apply for a 1 year visa for about 8000 Tbt i think, i had a friend from the UK do it this way and no problems,cheaper and a lot more time saving than your way. 

[Mango Bob]

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What if you stay across the border for 3 weeks and then come back...how many then?


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

What if?   What If? 

 

The facts are you must show that you are really a tourist and not trying to stay in Thailand using 30 days exempt entry to stay here.   The way you are asking this question it seems you are what immigrations is trying to stop.

[TerryLH]

"...just before it expires go out of Thailand and apply for a 1 year visa for about 8000 Tbt i think,..."

Can you tell us what kind of visa you think that is?

[Tomtomtom69]

I am quite sure that an absence of 3 weeks, provided it wasn't preceded by months or more likely, years of mostly back-to-back visa exemptions and/or tourist visas would be more than enough to satisfy immigration officials one isn't a border runner. Similarly, any previous overstays won't help your situation either, no matter how short or long ago they were (well except those that preceded immigration getting computers or happened say 10+ years ago perhaps).

 

From an analysis of various stories on this forum and the wording of the immigration crackdown to stop border runners, using in/out type travel to extend their visa-free stays in Thailand, it seems that the majority of people trying to do this are doing SAME DAY border runs, usually just crossing over to the other side to get their visas on arrival (if required)/passport stamped and then return to Thailand almost instantly. These are the MAIN persons being targeted and the MAIN ones finding themselves in trouble.

 

Not many posters here have stories about how they exit Thailand for a few days or even weeks every time they leave the country (aside from the FIFO oil/gas guys) but from what I can gather, this type of travel should be OK.

[tonbridgebrit]

Thanks tomtom, and the above comments.
Yes, the 8000 bt visa for one year, what visa is it ?    :)

Right, so going over to Laos or Cambodia for ten minutes, and coming back for the 30 day stamp is what they're trying to stop or reduce. And you can only do this ONCE.
I do get a bit confused by all the writing on Thai Visa. So you and a few others reckon that staying in Laos or Cambodia for a couple of nights, and then walking back into Thailand, this should/will be allowed ?

A bit of news for those going to Vietianne for a tourist visa. About three months ago, I went on a Thursday. It was very busy, and the they did question me and asked for a bank book. I also went a month ago (both times, to get a tourist visa), this time was on Wednesday. It was pretty quite, I almost couldn't believe how quite it was. A member of staff actually walked up to me, talked a bit, and asked if I wanted single or double entry !!  I think I'ill never go on Thursdays again, Wednesday from now on !   :)

 

[ubonjoe]

Mondays and Thursdays are the busy days at Vientiane. That is when the visa run vans are there.

[tonbridgebrit]

Hello Ubonjoe !

So, do you agree that the crackdown the 30 day stamps is actually about stopping/reducing those who go to Laos or Cambodia (actually Malaysia and Burma as well) for ten minutes, and then walk back into Thailand ?
Hold on, so after August 12th, if you came (flew) into Thailand on a 30 day stamp, you will only be allowed ONE of those 'border runs' (this is when you go to Laos or Cambodia, and walk back into Thailand after ten minutes in Laos/Cambodia) when your initial 30 days is expiring. But if you stay in Laos for a couple of nights, (throw in those ATM receipts and bank statements that show you are drawing out money in Thailand, and it's from your account back home in England, and have them on you when you walk into Thailand), then, then you should (or have a pretty good chance) get back in on a 30 day stamp. And indeed, have three or four of these 30 day stamps in a six month period ?

See, what I'm trying to say, is, is for those who really are NOT working in Thailand. These people have ATM cards, they draw out cash in Thailand's ATM machines, the bank statement (from a bank account in England/Australia/USA/etc) actually shows Thai baht being drawn out in Thailand, these people should be able to get the 30 day stamps and or tourist visa from Vietianne or Savanaket, or wherever.
So basically, these people will very likely be allowed to carry on staying in Thailand for the long-term. Just go home to England once a year, or maybe, even just once every two years !    :) 

[AYJAYDEE]

Hello Ubonjoe !

So, do you agree that the crackdown the 30 day stamps is actually about stopping/reducing those who go to Laos or Cambodia (actually Malaysia and Burma as well) for ten minutes, and then walk back into Thailand ?
Hold on, so after August 12th, if you came (flew) into Thailand on a 30 day stamp, you will only be allowed ONE of those 'border runs' (this is when you go to Laos or Cambodia, and walk back into Thailand after ten minutes in Laos/Cambodia) when your initial 30 days is expiring. But if you stay in Laos for a couple of nights, (throw in those ATM receipts and bank statements that show you are drawing out money in Thailand, and it's from your account back home in England, and have them on you when you walk into Thailand), then, then you should (or have a pretty good chance) get back in on a 30 day stamp. And indeed, have three or four of these 30 day stamps in a six month period ?

See, what I'm trying to say, is, is for those who really are NOT working in Thailand. These people have ATM cards, they draw out cash in Thailand's ATM machines, the bank statement (from a bank account in England/Australia/USA/etc) actually shows Thai baht being drawn out in Thailand, these people should be able to get the 30 day stamps and or tourist visa from Vietianne or Savanaket, or wherever.
So basically, these people will very likely be allowed to carry on staying in Thailand for the long-term. Just go home to England once a year, or maybe, even just once every two years !   

dont bet on that!!

[Tomtomtom69]

Thanks tomtom, and the above comments.
Yes, the 8000 bt visa for one year, what visa is it ?   

Right, so going over to Laos or Cambodia for ten minutes, and coming back for the 30 day stamp is what they're trying to stop or reduce. And you can only do this ONCE.
I do get a bit confused by all the writing on Thai Visa. So you and a few others reckon that staying in Laos or Cambodia for a couple of nights, and then walking back into Thailand, this should/will be allowed ?

A bit of news for those going to Vietianne for a tourist visa. About three months ago, I went on a Thursday. It was very busy, and the they did question me and asked for a bank book. I also went a month ago (both times, to get a tourist visa), this time was on Wednesday. It was pretty quite, I almost couldn't believe how quite it was. A member of staff actually walked up to me, talked a bit, and asked if I wanted single or double entry !!  I think I'ill never go on Thursdays again, Wednesday from now on !  

 

 

Yes absolutely, this is what I've always done. There is no set rule as to how long you have to stay away from Thailand but at the southern border with Malaysia, officers have told people to stay away from Thailand for 1-2 nights at the minimum. I think if you plan to spend a few days, a week perhaps in a neighboring country and then return to Thailand you should be OK. I have done this recently and was fine, no particular questions asked other than my purpose of stay in Thailand.

 

You should have applied for a double entry the first time you went. Maybe you didn't know it was available? Or you overlooked it on the form?

[inbangkok]

Hello everybody.


Now then, when the new rule on August 12th comes in, you will only be allowed to go over to Laos/Cambodia, stay there ten minutes, come back and get another 30 day stamp, you will only be allowed to do this ONCE. Once you've done it ONE time, you can't go and do it again and get a THIRD 30 day stamp.
So, this is the new rule regarding the 30 day stamps (the VOA for the G7 passport holders) ? 

Have I got this right or wrong, or are we not sure yet ?

All comments welcome, thanks !!   :)
 

If this is actually what you are interested in doing, you don't need to anymore because beginning at the end of the month you can extend your 30 stamp by another 30 days at immigration. It has always been that you can only extend a stamp by 7 days, which was a waste of money and time sitting at immigration.

[tonbridgebrit]

 

Thanks tomtom, and the above comments.
Yes, the 8000 bt visa for one year, what visa is it ?   

Right, so going over to Laos or Cambodia for ten minutes, and coming back for the 30 day stamp is what they're trying to stop or reduce. And you can only do this ONCE.
I do get a bit confused by all the writing on Thai Visa. So you and a few others reckon that staying in Laos or Cambodia for a couple of nights, and then walking back into Thailand, this should/will be allowed ?

A bit of news for those going to Vietianne for a tourist visa. About three months ago, I went on a Thursday. It was very busy, and the they did question me and asked for a bank book. I also went a month ago (both times, to get a tourist visa), this time was on Wednesday. It was pretty quite, I almost couldn't believe how quite it was. A member of staff actually walked up to me, talked a bit, and asked if I wanted single or double entry !!  I think I'ill never go on Thursdays again, Wednesday from now on !  

 

 

Yes absolutely, this is what I've always done. There is no set rule as to how long you have to stay away from Thailand but at the southern border with Malaysia, officers have told people to stay away from Thailand for 1-2 nights at the minimum. I think if you plan to spend a few days, a week perhaps in a neighboring country and then return to Thailand you should be OK. I have done this recently and was fine, no particular questions asked other than my purpose of stay in Thailand.

 

You should have applied for a double entry the first time you went. Maybe you didn't know it was available? Or you overlooked it on the form?

 

 

"You should have applied for a double the first time you went". Well, I was in Vientianne on a Thursday, I did actually ask for a double (I have rarely done so on previous occasions), and the man in the office bit was looking at my passport. I think he noticed that I flew into Thailand on a triple entry tourist visa in late 2013, and he did actually ask why I was in Thailand for such a long time ! He asked for a bank book, and I happened to have my Thai bank book with me. So I said 'yes', he told me to go upstairs and get it photo-copied. So, give passport and form and photocopies to him. He gives me ticket, and I go to the bit where you pay. I then noticed that he had written SINGLE and not double, and my fee was 1000 and not 2000 baht !    :)

It was very busy, I didn't really bother to get back to him, and say to him "look, I wanted a double, you have given me a single, can I have a double ". As said before, I went to Vietianne again, one month ago, again, for tourist visa. And yes, this time, on a Wednesday, THEY asked me 'do you want single or double' !!   :)

Anyway, good to notice that this is what you do. I've done mainly this, for at least a few years now. And I plan doing it for a few years more. And do you agree, previously, and especially now, it's not easy getting the non-immigrant 'O' one year visa. This is because, to get it, you must have a reason for being in Thailand for such a long time. You're suppose to say things like 'married to a Thai', but supposedly, from now onwards, even if you are married to a Thai, that doesn't mean you'ill get the non-immigrant O visa !   :)

 

[tonbridgebrit]

 

Hello everybody.


Now then, when the new rule on August 12th comes in, you will only be allowed to go over to Laos/Cambodia, stay there ten minutes, come back and get another 30 day stamp, you will only be allowed to do this ONCE. Once you've done it ONE time, you can't go and do it again and get a THIRD 30 day stamp.
So, this is the new rule regarding the 30 day stamps (the VOA for the G7 passport holders) ? 

Have I got this right or wrong, or are we not sure yet ?

All comments welcome, thanks !!  
 

If this is actually what you are interested in doing, you don't need to anymore because beginning at the end of the month you can extend your 30 stamp by another 30 days at immigration. It has always been that you can only extend a stamp by 7 days, which was a waste of money and time sitting at immigration.

 

 

Yes, inbangkok, somebody called suradit69 had already said so. Thanks.
So what's your view, if there are going to be problems in the future, to come into Thailand on the 30 day stamp. Get it extended by 30 days. Then go to Laos or Cambodia. Maybe stay ten minutes, but maybe a couple of nights. Then walk back into Thailand on a 30 day stamp, and extend that by 30 days. And/or then go back to Laos or Cambodia, get the tourist visa at the Thai embassy there, come in for 60 days, get it extended by 30 days, etc.
Carry on, end up staying in Thailand for ten or eleven months, then go home to England/Australia/USA, stay home for five weeks, and then come back into Thailand, and do it all over again ???    :)

 

[inbangkok]

 

 

As of now, yes...I think their could be problems and I would not take the chance until people start reporting their experiences and we see how this thing plays out.  I would absolutely get a multiple entry tourist visa if you have any plans of leaving Thailand and returning within a few days for the time being.  But that's just my opinion and what I would do.

 

As for the last part of your question (staying for ten or eleven months).....I guess trying to do it that way is an option.  Or you could get and Education Visa and try to learn Thai which would be a more practical and secure way to go about a yearly stay in my opinion.  

 

Edited August 6, 2014 by inbangkok