28 year old Male American. In January I went to Vientiane where I was issued a Double Entry visa. However, they stamped it with a red stamp which says:

"Remark: The holder of this passport travels to Thailand under a tourist visa several times which may result in the refusal of a visa in the future."

If it means what it says, I should technically be ok going to Cambo and back, since it's just using the second entry.

Can anyone corroborate this?

The stamp means nothing to anybody or anyplace other that the embassy in Vientiane.

You will have no problem do your border run to use your 2nd entry.

You should also have an anther stamp telling you to provide financial proof and proof of residence if you want to apply for another visa there.

How many consecutive visas did you obtain from Vientiane? Most people seem to say it happens on the third one.

3rd one for me, although mine says 'proof of income and residence required next time'.

Have heard of the dreaded IO mark. How is this red mark different ? Is there a remedy for the red mark and the IO mark ?

Have heard of the dreaded IO mark. How is this red mark different ? Is there a remedy for the red mark and the IO mark ?

Neither one will effect doing an entry to the country.

The IO remark will mean nothing because it has no legal basis.

The stamp on the visa only means something to the embassy in Vientiane.

I just got my first double entry from Savannakhet. I am confused about extending the first half of the visa. I know it ccan bbe done at immmigration but if I cross the mmae sai border will they automatically give me 30 days and thn I can cross again 30 days later for the second 60day period?

I just got my first double entry from Savannakhet. I am confused about extending the first half of the visa. I know it ccan bbe done at immmigration but if I cross the mmae sai border will they automatically give me 30 days and thn I can cross again 30 days later for the second 60day period?

You have to apply for the 30 day extension at an immigration office.

If you were to leave and re-enter the country they would use the 2nd entry of your visa and stamp you in for another 60 days.

I am confused about extending the first half of the visa. I know it ccan bbe done at immmigration but if I cross the mmae sai border

Extensions of stay are issued at inland immigrations office, not when crossing a border. You will need to cross a border when it's time to do the second entry on the visa. Make sure you do that before the "use by" date on the visa.

It seems that the immigration is going hard on the frequently travellers....few of my friends have been delayed and questioned and cautioned at the chiangmai airport for visisting chiangmai too often...they used to fly into chiangmai and stayed less than 30 days...go back to their country singapore and fly back into chiangmai after a lapse of 30 to 40 days.

They fly in with return tickets and cash and have been doing this for the past decades...all of them have houses built and staying with their g/f.

Never done a visa-run before..They are here to spend monies and travel around the provinces.

The immigration wants them to have a tourist visa, but why would they need one if they are allowed a 30 visa-exempted, they are not staying more than the 30 day-rule.

The thai embassy would not grant them one becos they are not staying for over 30 days to a maximum of 60 days.

Why are the immigration being so harsh...they are treating them as visa-runners...

Any idea how to avoid these encounters...thanks

It seems that the immigration is going hard on the frequently travellers....few of my friends have been delayed and questioned and cautioned at the chiangmai airport for visisting chiangmai too often...they used to fly into chiangmai and stayed less than 30 days...go back to their country singapore and fly back into chiangmai after a lapse of 30 to 40 days.

They fly in with return tickets and cash and have been doing this for the past decades...all of them have houses built and staying with their g/f.

Never done a visa-run before..They are here to spend monies and travel around the provinces.

The immigration wants them to have a tourist visa, but why would they need one if they are allowed a 30 visa-exempted, they are not staying more than the 30 day-rule.

The thai embassy would not grant them one becos they are not staying for over 30 days to a maximum of 60 days.

Why are the immigration being so harsh...they are treating them as visa-runners...

Any idea how to avoid these encounters...thanks

Mostly a case of immigration officer overstepping the bounds of their authority.

There is no rule to back up their statements.

They certainly don't fit into the in/out visa run category according to these immigration guidelines. ImmigratioNotice4-English_PDF.pdf

According to the visa company I use, one is allowed to have 5 border runs to Cambodia and 2-3 exit to Laos.

According to the visa company I use, one is allowed to have 5 border runs to Cambodia and 2-3 exit to Laos.

Perhaps a total over a period of time but certainly not back to back entries. There have been reports of 2 being the limit at Cambodia.

For Laos it might be more than mentioned dependent on the crossing.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I ended up going to Ban Laem again with my favorite visa service van company. Everything went smooth and there were no problems.

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