Same day land border crossings still viable option for US citizens?

[ChiTownHustla]

I have to leave and re -enter on a tourist visa this month before applying for new ED visa. Flying is surely safest bet, but I'd love to save money and do a bus/border run. Anyone done this recently or have any thoughts on if this will be detrimental to have in my passport now? I have about 3 Cambodian visa stamps in my passport but none in the last 2 years.

[ChiTownHustla]

I should have clarified... I'm referring to bus day trip to Poipet.

[wayned]

You shouldn't have a problem. You will get a 30 day "visa exempt" entry, not a tourist visa, Visas are issued by embassies or consulates with few exceptions.

[paz]

I have to leave and re -enter on a tourist visa this month before applying for new ED visa. Flying is surely safest bet, but I'd love to save money and do a bus/border run. Anyone done this recently or have any thoughts on if this will be detrimental to have in my passport now? I have about 3 Cambodian visa stamps in my passport but none in the last 2 years.

If you are on visa exempt entry, you can extend it for 30 days at the immigration office, fee Bt 1,900.

[ChiTownHustla]

I think its more the massive Cambodia visa stickers that raise eyebrows rather than the visa exempt entry stamps. Anyway, maybe one more wont hurt. Leaving and returning same day is not a problem at this current time?

[paz]

Again, extending the visa exempt entry at immigration is the best choice.

[slipperylobster]

Hearing many times...no restriction on tourist visas. (but not recommended to get them all in one consulate). You will eventually need to provide proof of residence/income (happened to me with only two tourist visas this year in Vientiane.....they just wrote on my last visa to bring that next time)

Big restriction on border runs (visa exempt), if you do more than one.....fly/bus or whatever.

Nothing new, except you can extend 30 days on your visa exempt.

[slipperylobster]

Not sure if you are just going in and out quick or will take a bus to the Thai Consulate in PP/SR. Again, if you get another TV, they will just write something to the effect that next time you must bring proof of residence and proof of income.

If you are just trying to get stamped back in.....with a visa exempt, I believe you can only do that once.

[ChiTownHustla]

Not sure if you are just going in and out quick or will take a bus to the Thai Consulate in PP/SR. Again, if you get another TV, they will just write something to the effect that next time you must bring proof of residence and proof of income.

If you are just trying to get stamped back in.....with a visa exempt, I believe you can only do that once.

Once in what time frame? I want to do a quick in/out, visa exempt from Poipet as I need to buy myself a month before my paperwork for ED visa is prepared. I have several of these VE stamps, but none in the last 2 years.

[ubonjoe]

If you are not on a visa exempt entry now you will have a problem getting one.

[IMA_FARANG]

To be blunt, it's a tossup if you will be allowed to enter without a hassle, or if you will get some problems on entry at the border.

Since it's been some time before you had your last visa exempt free entry they may let you go.

Or, depending on the immigration agent and how he/she feels that day, you may have trouble at the border.

I honestly can't say which will happen this time.

I would "just happen to have" with me certain things that show you are a Tourist and not working in Thailand.

Such as travel plans, a ticket reservation out of country and maybe a hotel reservation booking, etc.

Just in case they are asked for.

What you are doing is their very definition of those out-in travelers they are cracking down on.

So I would be prepared for problems, hoping I got none, but having my defense as a "real tourist" if I needed it.

If you need to you can "just happen" to find such things in a bag or pack you are coincidentally carrying at the time.

[slipperylobster]

It is really not clear to anybody how long in between visa exempts. This is something up to the individual officer reviewing your passport, and your ability to tap dance with the right paperwork (demonstrating you have income outside of Thailand, are not living here, and are not working here). There is absolutely nothing written, that I have read so far, that says you can get two visa exempts as long as there is a specific time in between. A combination of tourist visas along with two visa exempts could lead an officer to the conclusion that you must be long staying and working. There is no magic formula to fix it so far, other that providing supporting documents and....tap dancing.

[ubonjoe]

To be blunt, it's a tossup if you will be allowed to enter without a hassle, or if you will get some problems on entry at the border.

Since it's been some time before you had your last visa exempt free entry they may let you go.

Or, depending on the immigration agent and how he/she feels that day, you may have trouble at the border.

I honestly can't say which will happen this time.

I would "just happen to have" with me certain things that show you are a Tourist and not working in Thailand.

Such as travel plans, a ticket reservation out of country and maybe a hotel reservation booking, etc.

Just in case they are asked for.

What you are doing is their very definition of those out-in travelers they are cracking down on.

So I would be prepared for problems, hoping I got none, but having my defense as a "real tourist" if I needed it.

If you need to you can "just happen" to find such things in a bag or pack you are coincidentally carrying at the time.

You apparently don't know what the definition of a in/out visa runner is that immigration has in their guideline is.

The alien must not enter the Kingdom by exploiting 30-day visa exemptions undertaking method “in-out” or called by foreigners as “Visa run”. Aliens use the advantage of Tourist Visa Exemption by leaving Thailand and returning immediately for the purpose of extending their stay, which is considered from the tourism point of view to be longer than necessary and not in line with the purpose permitted while entering country.

[csabo]

I should have clarified... I'm referring to bus day trip to Poipet.

Could you clarify your entire OP? You said you need to leave and re-enter on a visa. That implies you have a multi entry visa and have made at least one entry already. Do you? If so, its not an out/in trip. If your on an exemption, thats different. You also mention Cambodia visa stamps. Whats that? Visas for entering Cambodia, Thai visa exemption stamps from returning from Cambodia, another multi entry Thai visa? What are you talking about? The replies you are getting are so varied because your post is misleading at best. If you could tighten up your OP with clear terminology others including myself could benefit from the replies instead of the hodge podge of random stabs at the information you seek.

[Suradit69]

I should have clarified... I'm referring to bus day trip to Poipet.

Could you clarify your entire OP? You said you need to leave and re-enter on a visa. That implies you have a multi entry visa and have made at least one entry already. Do you? If so, its not an out/in trip. If your on an exemption, thats different. You also mention Cambodia visa stamps. Whats that? Visas for entering Cambodia, Thai visa exemption stamps from returning from Cambodia, another multi entry Thai visa? What are you talking about? The replies you are getting are so varied because your post is misleading at best. If you could tighten up your OP with clear terminology others including myself could benefit from the replies instead of the hodge podge of random stabs at the information you seek.

I agree. The O/P, taking into consideration the frequent misuse of terms, is unfathomable and the responses seem to be based on indefinite assumptions.

I have to leave and re -enter on a tourist visa this month

Do you already have a multi-entry tourist visa or are you plan on getting a new tourist visa at an embassy/consulate or are you saying "tourist visa" when you mean visa exempt entry?

[paz]

OP is on ED extensions and unable to extend further

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755854-ed-visa-extension-update-definitive-from-chaengwattana-immigration-today/

If he had clarified that, I wouldn't gave the wrong advice above. He should not have a problem getting a visa exempt entry.

[ChiTownHustla]

I should have clarified... I'm referring to bus day trip to Poipet.

Could you clarify your entire OP? You said you need to leave and re-enter on a visa. That implies you have a multi entry visa and have made at least one entry already. Do you? If so, its not an out/in trip. If your on an exemption, thats different. You also mention Cambodia visa stamps. Whats that? Visas for entering Cambodia, Thai visa exemption stamps from returning from Cambodia, another multi entry Thai visa? What are you talking about? The replies you are getting are so varied because your post is misleading at best. If you could tighten up your OP with clear terminology others including myself could benefit from the replies instead of the hodge podge of random stabs at the information you seek.

I'm currently on an ED visa. I have all my paperwork for extending for my 2nd year and was approved for study by MOE, but now the law says that you cannot extend for a 2nd year. So I have to leave and re-enter on either TV or VE while I wait for my new paperwork for new ED visa. Just worried I'll be stopped on the way back in. Hoping that showing this current paperwork from MOE and my school will be enough..

[Thai Visa Service]

we have offered already our services and would like to reconfirm that OP will have no issues in getting one 30 day visa exempt stamp from Thai-Cambodian border.

[ubonjoe]

As I wrote earlier since you are not a visa exempt entry now you will not have a problem. There is are no restrictions for getting a visa exempt entry after another type of entry.