heybruce Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 Do those of us who have already been in Thailand making visa runs for more than 90 days have to be out of the country by October 1, or can we do visa runs for up to 90 days after that date? Please do not reply with rants about the ethics of staying long term on tourist visas or the logic of the new regulations. I am not working or doing anything illegal in Thailand. I assume that I meet Thailand's current legal definition of a tourist since I never had a problem getting the passport stamp. However the rules will change soon and I need to determine how much time I have to get a different visa or leave the country. I'm sure there are many other people in my situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sriracha john Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 do we really need another thread on the subject?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braccobaldo Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 I would like an answer to the question of heybruce. I'm in your same "position" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefan Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 Nobody knows the answer to that yet. Wait for more news. Don't panic. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbelt Asia Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 Do those of us who have already been in Thailand making visa runs for more than 90 days have to be out of the country by October 1, or can we do visa runs for up to 90 days after that date? Our understanding it starts Oct 1st and the number of consecutive entries are counted. Its more than 3 entries than you need a 90 day waiting period before reentering Thailand. Example. You have a 30 day stamp on July 9th, August 7th, Sept 5th and now you must leave October 4th. You will not be able to re enter Thailand without a visa or wait 90 days before coming back. The cycle than can repeat itself. www.sunbeltasiagroup.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffphuket Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 Do those of us who have already been in Thailand making visa runs for more than 90 days have to be out of the country by October 1, or can we do visa runs for up to 90 days after that date? Our understanding it starts Oct 1st and the number of consecutive entries are counted. Its more than 3 entries than you need a 90 day waiting period before reentering Thailand. Example. You have a 30 day stamp on July 10th,July 9th, August 7th and now you must leave October 5th. You will not be able to reenter Thailand without a visa or wait 90 days before coming back. The cycle than can repeat itself. www.sunbeltasiagroup.com So those with three back to back 30 day stamps in their passport presumably won’t be allowed to exit the country at Ranong, because it won’t be possible for them to re-enter from Myanmar an hour later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nam Kao Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 What a disaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heybruce Posted September 11, 2006 Author Share Posted September 11, 2006 Do those of us who have already been in Thailand making visa runs for more than 90 days have to be out of the country by October 1, or can we do visa runs for up to 90 days after that date? Our understanding it starts Oct 1st and the number of consecutive entries are counted. Its more than 3 entries than you need a 90 day waiting period before reentering Thailand. Example. You have a 30 day stamp on July 9th, August 7th, Sept 5th and now you must leave October 4th. You will not be able to re enter Thailand without a visa or wait 90 days before coming back. The cycle than can repeat itself. www.sunbeltasiagroup.com That seems logical. I have to make my next visa run in late September, which would mean I could then stay in Thailand until late October to sort this out. I think it is time to look for a well recommended Thai lawyer. Thanks for the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britmaveric Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 What a disaster Optimistic lad aren't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faxx Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 The rules seem pretty clear for those of us who do back to back border runs. I usually do visa runs for a week, i.e. stay in Thailand for 25 to 30 days and then head to another Asian country for a week before I return to Bangkok. Would I also need to worry about the new rules or is it okay for me as I do 'extended' visa runs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philomena Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 Nope, faxx, you're screwed too :-) If you read the notice properly it's anyone who does visa runs (ie: doesn't have a work permit). They will only be allowed 90 days in Thailand during any period and once that 90 days is up, you'll have to leave the country for 90 days. I've heard Malaysia is good not only for living but also working - I'm looking at Malaysia, Mexico and a couple of other places right now. A friend left Thailand a few months ago and went to Mexico and he seems to be enjoying himself there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CobraSnakeNecktie Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Nope, faxx, you're screwed too :-) If you read the notice properly it's anyone who does visa runs (ie: doesn't have a work permit). They will only be allowed 90 days in Thailand during any period and once that 90 days is up, you'll have to leave the country for 90 days.I've heard Malaysia is good not only for living but also working - I'm looking at Malaysia, Mexico and a couple of other places right now. A friend left Thailand a few months ago and went to Mexico and he seems to be enjoying himself there! so much conflicting information. So what if you get a multi entry tourist visa with extensions that allows you to be in thailand of for 6 to 9 months. Since they are not VOA's then does any of that time in Thailand prevent you from re entering at a given time? I am reading the announcement as this just applies to VOA's. Am I missing something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeechief Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Yeah I am in the same boat! I have not been working & I do not qualify for a retirement visa (only because of the exchange rate). I came here as a holding area, while I was waiting for a job OUTSIDE of Thailand. I have been doing this visa run thing for a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopburi3 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Yeah I am in the same boat! I have not been working & I do not qualify for a retirement visa (only because of the exchange rate). I came here as a holding area, while I was waiting for a job OUTSIDE of Thailand. I have been doing this visa run thing for a year. The exchange rate? You are aware that you can use/combine bank deposit as well as income to meet the 800k requirement for retirement extension of stay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbelt Asia Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 So what if you get a multi entry tourist visa with extensions that allows you to be in thailand of for 6 to 9 months. Since they are not VOA's then does any of that time in Thailand prevent you from re entering at a given time? At this time, it is only VOA's that the crackdown is after. www.sunbeltasiagroup.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rak sa_ngop Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Do those of us who have already been in Thailand making visa runs for more than 90 days have to be out of the country by October 1, or can we do visa runs for up to 90 days after that date? Our understanding it starts Oct 1st and the number of consecutive entries are counted. Its more than 3 entries than you need a 90 day waiting period before reentering Thailand. Example. You have a 30 day stamp on July 9th, August 7th, Sept 5th and now you must leave October 4th. You will not be able to re enter Thailand without a visa or wait 90 days before coming back. The cycle than can repeat itself. www.sunbeltasiagroup.com The question is of course how you define a "consecutive entry": Using the above example if you depart Thailand on Aug 6th for 7 days and have a new 30 day stamp from your rentry on 13 th Aug have you interrupted the sequence, and start counting 3 consecutive entries from fresh again? Now what if you depart for 7 days and return before the original expiry date eg depart 16th July and return 23rd July. It could be argued that in this case that the sequence has not been interrupted because you will still be making 3 entries within 90 days. Of course if you extend the above arguments you could argue that maybe once you have visited Thailand for 3 x 30 days entries with 89 day gaps between visits you will always have to wait 90 days before being able to reenter on a 30 day VOA for your fourth visit Or maybe conversely if you leave for Thailand for just 1 day you can interrupt the sequence?? Hopefully the situation will be clarified before too many people become stranded at immigration posts with only their beer money on them!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinkorswim Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 sorry to Hijack but can someone tell me the answer to this question? I am on my second Non B multiple entry visa, however I do not have a work permit as I am not working yet I have been looking for businesses to buy. When I do my visa run every 3 months is that ok if I do not have a work permit? Any replies will be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREM-R Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 There seems to be some confusion with this story. The Bangkok Post story does not give any date for the implementation of this new 'Rule" which it states applies to VOA (visa on arrival). What many farrang get when they cross the border is a Tourist Visa Exemption which allows them to stay in Thailand for 30 days. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION - According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements dated 1 October B.E. 2545 (2002), 20 December B.E. 2545 (2002) ,18 October B.E. 2547 (2004) and 6 May B.E. 2548 (2005) , passport holders from 40 countries and Hong Kong SAR do not require a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for 30 days. - Please note that Tourist Visa Exemption does not apply to foreigners holding Travel Document for Aliens issued by these 40 countries. - Foreigners entering Thailand under Tourist Visa Exemption must possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly. 1. Australia : Commonwealth of Australia 2. Austria : Republic of Austria 3. Belgium : Kingdom of Belgium 4. Brazil : Federative Republic of Brazil (****) 5. Bahrain : State of Bahrain 6. Brunei Darussalam : Negara Brunei Darussalam 7. Canada 8. Denmark : Kingdom of Denmark 9. Finland : Republic of Finland 10. France : French Republic 11. Germany : Federal Republic of Germany 12. Greece : Hellenic Republic 13. Hong Kong : Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 14. Iceland : Republic of Iceland 15. Indonesia : Republic of Indonesia 16. Ireland : Republic of Ireland 17. Israel : State of Israel 18. Italy : Republic of Italy 19. Japan 20. Korea : Republic of Korea (****) 21. Kuwait : State of Kuwait 22. Luxembourg : Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 23. Malaysia 24. Netherlands : Kingdom of the Netherlands 25. New Zealand 26. Norway : Kingdom of Norway 27. Oman : Sultanate of Oman 28. Peru : Republic of Peru (****) 29. Philippines : Republic of the Philippines 30. Portugal : Republic of Portugal 31. Qatar : State of Qatar 32. Singapore : Republic of Singapore 33. Spain : Kingdom of Spain 34. South Africa : Republic of South Africa 35. Sweden : Kingdom of Sweden 36. Switzerland : Swiss Confederation 37. Turkey : Republic of Turkey 38. United Arab Emirates 39. United Kingdom : United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 40. United States of America 41. Vietnam : Socialist Republic of Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VOA) is different Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website VISA ON ARRIVAL - According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements, passport holders from 20 countries may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days. - The applicant must possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly. - The applicant must present full paid ticket which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry - Visa on arrival is provided at 23 designated international checkpoints and applicants should submit the application form duly filled out and to which his/her recent photograph (2 ½ inches) is attached. The application fee is 1,000 Baht. - Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau , Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. 02 287-3127 or 02 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5 or at website http://www.immigration.go.th List of 20 countries is as follows : 1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan 2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Taiwan) 3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus 4. Czech : Czech Republic 5. Estonia : Republic of Estonia 6. Hungary : Republic of Hungary 7. India : Republic of India 8. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan 9. Latvia : Republic of Latvia 10. Liechtenstein : Principality of Liechtenstein 11. Lithuania : Republic of Lithuania 12. Maldives : Republic of Maldives 13. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius 14. Oman : Sultanate of Oman 15. Poland : Republic of Poland 16. Russian Federation 17. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 18. Slovakia : Slovak Republic 19. Slovenia : Republic of Slovenia 20. Ukraine List of Thailand’s Immigration Checkpoints which provides facilities for issuance of visa on arrival are as follow : 1. Don Muang International Airport , Bangkok 2. Chiangmai International Airport , Chiangmai 3. Phuket International Airport , Phuket 4. Hatyai International Airport , Songkla 5. U Tapao Airport , Rayong 6. Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai 7. Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai 8. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai 9. Betong Immigration Checkpoint , Yala 10. Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint , Songkla 11. Samui Airport , Surat Thani 12. Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration Checkpoint 13. Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok 14. Sri Racha Immigration Checkpoint , Chonburi 15. Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint , Rayong 16. Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai 17. Samui Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani 18. Phuket Immigration Checkpoint , Phuket 19. Satun Immigration Checkpoint , Satun 20. Krabi Immigration Checkpoint , Krabi 21. Songkhla Harbour Immigraion Checkpoint , Songkhla 22. Chiangrai Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Chiangrai 23. Surat Thani Airport Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Visaman Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Example. You have a 30 day stamp on July 9th, August 7th, Sept 5th and now you must leave October 4th. You will not be able to re enter Thailand without a visa or wait 90 days before coming back.The cycle than can repeat itself. www.sunbeltasiagroup.com Your example is incorrect, it doesn't make any sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyc2006 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Nope, faxx, you're screwed too :-) If you read the notice properly it's anyone who does visa runs (ie: doesn't have a work permit). They will only be allowed 90 days in Thailand during any period and once that 90 days is up, you'll have to leave the country for 90 days. that doesn't make sense when you think about it... first, define a visa run... how long does a person have to leave before it's not a visa run? 1 day, 1 week, 1 month? make it 1 month and you'll prevent real tourists from re-entering. make it 1 week and people can still game the system -- spending 8 of every 9 weeks in thailand -- and indefinitely live and work in thailand on a tourist visa, no different than before, except that 11% of their life will be in cambodia, laos or malaysia. 2nd, "only allwed 90 days ... during ANY period?" so, in a 1 year period, 90 days in forces you out for 90? they're going to force out REAL tourists. on thailand friends website, i posted a way to game the system if they base the new rule on preventing "visa runs," and also explained that if they define a visa run as anything longer than 1 week, they'll get rid of real money-spending tourists (and anything 1 week or less can still be easily gamed). the solution to their perceived problem is to measure the number of days in thailand, but if you say 90 days in ANY period, that doesn't work either... they need something like "only up to 90 days of any 180 consecutive days" to avoid weeding out the real tourists. here's the thai friends post: i'd love to see the text of the new rules, to see exactly how they intend to enforce this. the concept is easy to understand, but the language wouldn't be easy to contrive without either having serious non-intended consequences or making the new rules meaningless. how long do you need to leave thailand after your first 30-day visit before you're issue a new VOA (so that the clock re-starts for you) vs. being issued a "renewal" for the existing VOA? are they saying if you re-enter on the same day, that's just an extension of your previous 30-day visa? ok, fine, people will just do over-nights in cambodia for their visa runs... now thailand is just forcing them to make longer visa runs and spend more outside of thailand, but it hasn't stopped them from living and working in thailand on tourist visas. but if they extend the "must-go" period too long, they'll basically be preventing many legit tourists who come here 4 or 5 times/year from overseas... hmm... maybe i'm not being clear... an example: jan 1-30 thailand. jan 30: visa run, 2 hours in cambodia. jan 30-march 2: thailand. march 2: visa run, 2 hours in cambodia. march 2- april 1: thailand. april 1: can't return from this visa run for 90 days. no more thailand. that's obvious. so what's this visa-runners obvious solution? jan 1-30 thailand. jan 30: visa run, 2 hours in cambodia. jan 30-march 2 thailand. march 2: visa run, overnight in cambodia. march 3: new VOA in thailand. clock starts over. march 3-april 2: thailand. april 2: visa run, 2 hours in cambodia. april 2-may 1: thailand. may 1: visa run, overnight in cambodia. may 2: new VOA in thailand. clock starts over. the thai govt needs to define how long a person must leave after 30 days before his/her returns constitutes a new VOA or a renewal of the previous one. well, even if they say 1 week, that just means the visa-runners now need to spend 1 week outside thailand for every 8 weeks they spend in thailand. so they'll do it, and that's just 1 week of spending thailand has forced them to give to cambodia/laos/singapore/malaysia instead of thailand. if thailand really wants to fix what they see as a problem, they need to copy the way many western countries do it... an example would be a policy that states "of every 180 days, a non-thai citizen can spend 91 days in thailand on a tourist visa." of course, then, they need to have a good database to track that, because if immigration officers have to figure it out at the airport by looking at a passport, entering thailand will become a nightmare, and if they rely on physical passports for the info, you'll find lots of foreigners "losing" their passports every 3 months, and having new, clean, unstamped passports when they enter thailand. it sounds like they're defining it in a way that will just make it harder for visa-runners to restart the "visa clock," but not impossible for them to live and work in thailand on tourist visas, considering they'll still be able to spend 59 of 60 days in thailand (if they only need to leave 1 day to restart the VOA), or 8 of 9 weeks in thailand (if they need to leave 1 full week). if thailand does something crazy like saying you need to leave for 1 full month to restart the clock and get a new VOA, well, then they'll lose lots of REAL tourists. for example, i know one friend in 2005 who made visits to thailand in january, february, and march. those visits would have prevented the visits that he made in april and june. then again in 2005, he made visits in august, october and november that would've prevented his january (06) visit. between each visit he flew all the way back to the USA, where he works. in thailand, he didn't work and he spent (lots, mostly on hotels though). he's exactly what the thai govt dreams of in a tourist.... so they better think twice about how long of a requirement they set for being gone to constitute a brand new VOA as opposed to a "renewal." 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meadish_sweetball Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Example. You have a 30 day stamp on July 9th, August 7th, Sept 5th and now you must leave October 4th. You will not be able to re enter Thailand without a visa or wait 90 days before coming back. The cycle than can repeat itself. www.sunbeltasiagroup.com Your example is incorrect, it doesn't make any sense. It makes sense. 3 consecutive entries into Thailand, each time you get a stamp allowing you to stay 30 days. After this, you EITHER need to leave for 90 days in order to get another 30 day stamp OR, if you want to avoid that, you need to apply for and obtain a visa from a Thai embassy or consulate abroad. When you have a proper visa in your passport, you will be allowed to enter. If it still isn't clear, please explain in what way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Visaman Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 If it still isn't clear, please explain in what way.Sunbelt's example is too scary. The worst scenario, they will start to count from Oct 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyc2006 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Example. You have a 30 day stamp on July 9th, August 7th, Sept 5th and now you must leave October 4th. You will not be able to re enter Thailand without a visa or wait 90 days before coming back. The cycle than can repeat itself. www.sunbeltasiagroup.com Your example is incorrect, it doesn't make any sense. It makes sense. 3 consecutive entries into Thailand, each time you get a stamp allowing you to stay 30 days. After this, you EITHER need to leave for 90 days in order to get another 30 day stamp OR, if you want to avoid that, you need to apply for and obtain a visa from a Thai embassy or consulate abroad. When you have a proper visa in your passport, you will be allowed to enter. If it still isn't clear, please explain in what way. try to define "consecutive entries into thailand," and then you'll see what's not clear. sunbelt's example is the simplest of all cases to understand -- it's the stereotypical visa-running example with only a couple hours outside thailand each month. what if the stamps are July 9, August 8 (not 7th), Sep 6 (not 5th).. are those still consecutive? after all, he stayed 1 night outside in the middle of it all. what if the stamps are July 9, August 8, Sep 7? still consecutive? now each visa run has included an overnight outside the country? what if the stamps are July 9, August 14, Sep 12? still consecutive? now there was 1 week outside the country during the 2nd visa run. getting the picture? if those aren't considered "consecutive," then the visa run is still an option, it's just a little longer. if those are considered consecutive, how long do you need to leave? make it longer than the 1 week above, and you're going to prevent real tourism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinLOS Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Also what if the visitor only stayed 1 day inside Thailand on each visit.. Quite possible to have only been here incountry for 3 days yet have 3 consecutive 30 day stamps.. Are the culmulative days (if so within what time period).. Or are these stamps and if so what defines back to back or what breaks one stamp from another.. 3 stamps in any 3 months puts oput a lot of legit regular shart visitors (hong kong shoppers and weekend bangkok tourists).. Theres no clear definitions yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binro Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 At this time, it is only VOA's that the crackdown is after.www.sunbeltasiagroup.com I have been visiting nearby countries for short holidays and getting three month, single entry visas from the consulate. Does that count as a visa run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yankeechief Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I am a US citizen and have never got a VOA when I arrived 1 year ago. I do not work, I am retired over fifty and have gone to the Camodian border every 30 days to extend my stay. I must go next week. will they allow me back in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libya 115 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I am a US citizen and have never got a VOA when I arrived 1 year ago. I do not work, I am retired over fifty and have gone to the Camodian border every 30 days to extend my stay. I must go next week. will they allow me back in? Yes; because next week is not October 1st. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinthai Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I have been visiting nearby countries for short holidays and getting three month, single entry visas from the consulate. Does that count as a visa run? no, this is not at time not a visa run, because it es not a VOA-Visa. It can not be, that every trip in your home country is declared as visa run, if you come back with a new visa. Question: where you get your tourist visa for 3 month and you are married with Thai? I have the same problem now. I think I go to Kuala Lumpur or Penang. I am married with a Thai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astral Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Topic closed. Follow this thread for all the details and discussion. Thanks Moderator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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