Am I considered as a visa runner?

[Maestro]

I agree with those who feel that a spade should be called a spade, not SPD, and a city should be called by its name, not an arcane abbreviation or acronym.

George Bernard Shaw said it: "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place"

Incidentally, HCM is the IATA airport code for Eil airport in Somalia, a country in Africa, and I doubt very much that there is a Thai consulate in that airport.

[MsClueless]

Ie. no need to leave Thailand after first 30 days are due?

If you intend to stay longer than 30 days it's better that you get a tourist visa in first place.

Reason is that a visa cost less than the extension at 1,900 Bt and saves you a potential long wait at immigration in Thailand that is not fun.

but visa exempt stamp at airport is free, am I correct?

he live in country with no thai embassy, so difficult to apply tourist visa before arrive to Thailand.

[iammarilou]

Ie. no need to leave Thailand after first 30 days are due?

If you intend to stay longer than 30 days it's better that you get a tourist visa in first place.

Reason is that a visa cost less than the extension at 1,900 Bt and saves you a potential long wait at immigration in Thailand that is not fun.

but visa exempt stamp at airport is free, am I correct?

he live in country with no thai embassy, so difficult to apply tourist visa before arrive to Thailand.

Yes visa exempt stamp is free.

[MsClueless]

If my friend not easy to apply two month tourist visa before get to Thailand, which one better

1. Visa exempt 30 days, then visa extension in Thailand

2. Visa exempt 30 day, leave Thailand go for trip Cambodia or Malaysia. Then come back Thailand second visa exempt stamp?

Thank you for all help

[ubonjoe]

If my friend not easy to apply two month tourist visa before get to Thailand, which one better

1. Visa exempt 30 days, then visa extension in Thailand

2. Visa exempt 30 day, leave Thailand go for trip Cambodia or Malaysia. Then come back Thailand second visa exempt stamp?

Thank you for all help

It would be best to get the 30 day extension at immigration. The fee is 1900 baht.

Unless they are from a G7 country they would only get a 15 day entry at a border crossing.

[MsClueless]

hi Ubonjoe

sorry i come back again with same question

i saw on immigration website, this link

i read and think do they say you can enter for 30 days (from UK) and visa extension only for 7 days?

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=voa

i look in box for 3o days, and the remark

thank you

[paz]

i saw on immigration website, this link

i read and think do they say you can enter for 30 days (from UK) and visa extension only for 7 days?

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=voa

i look in box for 3o days, and the remark

That was answered before, can obtain an extension for 30 days or go to the border and re-enter.

[glassdude007]

Thanks for this info..

I recently had to fill out this form on arrivial at Phuket airport after which I was aloud to enter with 30 day stamp same as always..

was wondering what the form was for as it was a,terrible copy barely readable and i and just asked general questions about my stay address,departure flight, etc.. It did have something on there about money but i left it blank and was no problem..

What I mean by visa runners.....its not just people that cross border then turn around and re enter.

I over 18 months left Thailand, by plane, and stayed out each time for several days. I WAS a visa runner. Wasn't breaking any law but let's say not acting in the spirit of what the stamps were designed for. That is tourists staying 60 days or so. That's why they allowed the stamp extension.

Vietnam and Cambodia don't let you in without a visa. I think Thailand is generous. Maybe do away with the stamps all together.

You were not a visa runner. A "visa runner" is somebody that only leaves and then immediately returns for another visa exempt entry. But it is truly a misnomer in that sense because you don't get a visa.

What you were doing was and is perfectly legitimate. That is what tourists often do.

Ubonjoe first of all ...thankyou for all the advice you give the members.

Last time i went to hcm I decided to get a tourist visa. I did this just befor the aug 12 , so called crackdown.

I understand what your saying and i await feedback from members that have had many many stamps, all beit travel by plane and staying out say 7 days every month. Wish members would give us an update, positive or negative.

Sort of unrelated but when i was in thai consulate in HCM to apply for tourist visa ( im going to au tonight for isit and will obtain non imm o. When back get extnsion based on retirement)

Anyway the polite io said, after looking at my passport with MANY stamps...." why you no have retirement visa"

Yes i know its only an extension.

Bob Dylan wrote a song .....the times are a changing

You were not a visa runner as defined by Thai immigration.

[mngmn]

What I mean by visa runners.....its not just people that cross border then turn around and re enter.

I over 18 months left Thailand, by plane, and stayed out each time for several days. I WAS a visa runner. Wasn't breaking any law but let's say not acting in the spirit of what the stamps were designed for. That is tourists staying 60 days or so. That's why they allowed the stamp extension.

Vietnam and Cambodia don't let you in without a visa. I think Thailand is generous. Maybe do away with the stamps all together.

You were not a visa runner. A "visa runner" is somebody that only leaves and then immediately returns for another visa exempt entry. But it is truly a misnomer in that sense because you don't get a visa.

What you were doing was and is perfectly legitimate. That is what tourists often do.

Ubonjoe first of all ...thankyou for all the advice you give the members.

Last time i went to hcm I decided to get a tourist visa. I did this just befor the aug 12 , so called crackdown.

I understand what your saying and i await feedback from members that have had many many stamps, all beit travel by plane and staying out say 7 days every month. Wish members would give us an update, positive or negative.

Sort of unrelated but when i was in thai consulate in HCM to apply for tourist visa ( im going to au tonight for isit and will obtain non imm o. When back get extnsion based on retirement)

Anyway the polite io said, after looking at my passport with MANY stamps...." why you no have retirement visa"

Yes i know its only an extension.

Bob Dylan wrote a song .....the times are a changing

In response to your request for feedback - I flew into Don Muang last Friday and was told I was "lucky" to get in this time and would need a visa next time.

To fend off some of the over zealous posters in this forum:

- I have many visa exempt (30 day) entries in my passport.

- I have only stayed for the full 30 days once, in several years of entries.

- I have never done an out-in visa run (visa runner). Ever! In more than 30 years of coming to Thailand.

- The shortest time I have been out of Thailand before returning was for two days in May (I reflected on the wisdom of this at the time, wish I had listened to my gut!).

- I am normally out of Thailand for 2-4 weeks before returning.

- I am of a race, skin colour and nationality all considered to be "good" by Thias.

- I was previously told by an immigration officer at Swampy (most emphatically, mai mee ben ha, mai mee ben ha) that my pattern of entries to Thailand was OK.

- My TV post on my problems attracted several replies and a couple of private messages confirming that the same thing has happened to other people. Its not an overwhelming number but it seems that it could happen to anyone entering on a visa exemption (obviously the possibility increases the more times you have done so).

- Many posts on TV mention "rogue" immigration officers who make up their own rules. For what purpose one can only speculate.

- Anecdotal feedback suggests that female immigration officers are the most likely to cause problems. Both the officers that hassled me were female.

My conclusions are:

- If possible, it is best to avoid Don Muang (Air Asia are you listening?)

- Select a queue with a male immigration officer

- Right now it unwise to rely on what has happened in the past as a prediction of what might happen in the future. I would certainly not risk ruining my holiday by not having a tourist visa to enter Thailand.

- Having said that most people seem to get a warning and are eventually allowed to enter but hey, holidays are meant to be fun (TAT are you listening?)