I am new to this forum and I am certain that my question has been answered before only I am not able to find it.

I am from the Netherlands and arrived my 30 days stamp (until january 10 2015) when I arrived from Munich on december 12th.

I will fly back the 20th of january 2015 (return-ticket is booked and payed)and as I would like to shop for a few things in Mae Sai I have the idea to go there ...cross the border and go back with 15 days.

My last stay was from april 29th 2014 until september 17th on a double entry tourist visa. As now duty calls during the coming three months in Holland i not needed it for this trip.

Can I do this without the risk of being refused to enter again ?

I know I can go to imigration to get another 30 days but the costs would be higher and I only need 10 days.

I am currently staying in Chiang Mai

Thanks for all your advise

You might get turned away at Mae Sai. There have been reports of them telling people to go to immigration for the 30 day extension instead of allowing them to leave.

You can try to do it but it might be a wasted trip if they turn you away.

You can always get a re-entry permit at immigration.

Or see if they do 'one day' passes at the border where they don't stamp you in and out, but keep your passport and give you an official piece of paper (post-it note with a stamp) to keep with you during your visit.

Edit: Apparently they call it 'VIP pass' and still do this according to this reference:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g303913-c131885/Mae-Sai:Thailand:Tachilek.Border.Crossing.html

1. VIP Pass

This is the one to use if you do not want to affect your current passport/visa, e.g. you have permission to stay in Thailand for longer than 15 days and want to keep it that way.

Ask the Thai immigration officer at the border about a VIP pass. Passes cost 100 Thai Baht. You will be directed to a local shop and told to photocopy a particular page of your passport. When you return, the Thai immigration officer will give you a VIP pass and keep your passport.

When you arrive at the Myanmar border, you use your VIP pass instead of your passport, the rest of the process at Myanmar immigration is the same as 2 below.

When you return to Thailand you exchange your VIP pass for your passport. There are no changes made to your passport. Your passport does not show you ever left Thailand and if you had 80 days left to stay in Thailand, you will still have 80 days left.

The other way is to use your passport and is described below, and you will be given permission to stay in Thailand for only 15 days (including date of travel to Tachilek).

Edited January 3, 201511 yr by Jdietz

I don't think immigration will do a re-entry permit for a visa exempt entry.

There are reports that the VIP pass is no longer available at Mae Sai.

Ubonjoe

Thank you ....i will then not risk it. Better go immigration in Chiang Mai and pay.