My wife and I have a three entry Tourist Visa each. We entered Thailand on 20th November 2014 and 60 days would take is to January 18th 2015. We had planned to do a re-entry via Ranong (Andaman Club) before that date to give us another 60 days. Before that expires we will go to Australia from 19th February 2015 re-entering on 5th March, activating the third entry which will cover us until we return to UK leaving on 4th April 2015.

Comments on these questions would be appreciated please:

i) Is Ranong/Andaman Club still OK for same day -entry for tourist purposes? (we would take copies of flight confirmations and accommodation in Thailand details)

ii) Is Immigration on both sides open on Saturdays and Sundays?

iii) Is same day In-out via Victoria Point available? The Visa Run service in Khao Lak is telling people they can't do this now and have to go to Penang, which, of course, they can arrange or somewhere else.

There is now a mobile Immigration Office every Wednesday in Khao Lak where we stay and we could get a 30 day extension taking us to 17th February 2015 which is 2 days short of us leaving for Australia. Could we pay overstay fine for these two days or would give us problems when we return on 5th March 2015 with our still valid Tourist Visas. This would avoid the trip to Ranong and back if it is possible. If it isn't we will revert back to original Andaman Club plan.

It is now possible to get a new entry at the crossings in Ranong, They are open 7 days a week.

You could get the 30 day extension and then near the end of the 30 days apply for a 7 day extension and be given 7 days to leave the country.

Overstaying is not a good option. You will be fined 500 baht a day.

Ranong i think the morning border run service from Chumphon Town is 6 days a week (05:30), with tuesday off. Adaman club is tuesday and thurs afternoon, 12:00-ish

FAME or Farang bar is the place to go get your ticket. And check the current situation. Try to book 1-2 days in advance.

Edited January 3, 201511 yr by 4evermaat

The last time I went from Chumphon I woke up one of the sleeping mini bus drivers and hired him for the journey so if you're willing to pay you can go whenever you want. There were no taxi's that I could find in Chumphon.

It was a complete pain to do this but it worked and fitted my schedule. I tend to work to my own schedule, not some random bus companies.

What a lot of hassle just to stay on holiday for slightly longer than usual.

I know I've said this before and I know immigration read this forum so why don't they make it easier for seasonal tourists to stay for more than 90 days without having to leave the country ? Do they need all those ridiculous exits / entries to make it look like there's more tourists than there really are ?

It is now possible to get a new entry at the crossings in Ranong, They are open 7 days a week.

You could get the 30 day extension and then near the end of the 30 days apply for a 7 day extension and be given 7 days to leave the country.

Overstaying is not a good option. You will be fined 500 baht a day.

So I can extend for 30 days before the original 60 day TV expires in Khao Lak for 1900 baht then before the end of that leaving enough to cover departure to Australia get another 7 day extension in Khao Lak for 1900 baht?

More expensive than going to Ranong (we have hire car) but more convenient.

Overstay ruled out!

The last time I went from Chumphon I woke up one of the sleeping mini bus drivers and hired him for the journey so if you're willing to pay you can go whenever you want. There were no taxi's that I could find in Chumphon.

It was a complete pain to do this but it worked and fitted my schedule. I tend to work to my own schedule, not some random bus companies.

What a lot of hassle just to stay on holiday for slightly longer than usual.

I know I've said this before and I know immigration read this forum so why don't they make it easier for seasonal tourists to stay for more than 90 days without having to leave the country ? Do they need all those ridiculous exits / entries to make it look like there's more tourists than there really are ?

I really do understand how being stuck either on TR visas in order to stay here long term either perpetually or for longer holidays. The reason for the 90 day limit is that is the maximum length one may stay in the kingdom and be a foreigner. The legislation doesn't really spell out in the manner it should, what the classifications of individuals and then spells out their relationship in a sufficient manner to the country. And there appear to be some subtle legal interplay with other fundamental laws or procedures that perpetuate the current status quo.

Somewhat similar to the problems with the USA and their immigration laws since the entire system since inception has been as a pathway to citizenship. And this causes a great inflexibility and burden unto the INS and the economy in general. however the alternative is what. Permit permanent residents to reside and work within the country as a citizen with full rights as a citizen minus the vote. Potentially creating a significant number of essentially citizens but without that vital representation from the vote.

Thailand faces similar sorts of concerns relating to illegal labor, residency. employment, quality of life and differentiation and protection of the rights of citizens to have access to the resources exclusively provided for them. As a tourist destination and country able to absorb a lot of people beyond the citizens, how to legislate controls on visitors and long term residents while avoiding implementing arbitrary quota systems or controls that could throw lives in to chaos.

Thailand is very accommodating to foreigners from countries in which a Thai visitor is afforded far less convenience for short term and long term stay. How to reconcile granting concessions to a lot of foreigners for no benefit for a thai visiting overseas. There is no direct tangible reward for an individual from a nations visitors, yet you may say but they benefit from the economy being more vibrant than it otherwise would. That may be the case, but still not a direct benefit to a Thai, yet a great many foreigners having received access to the Kingdom their gift from the thai people, it is not appropriately reciprocated.

However all that aside, visa reform for non tax resident or employed individuals would be a boon. The work visa system would be fantastic if it was somewhat similar to the SIngapore system. It would be extremely profitable to streamline and facilitate access to foreigners, of course while ensuring that a Thai is not being overlooked.

I really wish that the people of Thailand would see the light with regards to work force mobility as well as foreign business ownership. I worry that far to many thais have a rather narrow and negative view of foreigners and this is a major impediment to rationalizing the visa system. Sigh

TL; DPR