First time I went to Thailand I had a tourist visa (60 day stay) which I got extended at an imigration office (additional 30 days). Under the newly enforced reg's would someone be able to do a standard border crossing and return immediately? Or does the time spent in the country using the visa count against the traveller?

...Meaning, if someone travelled for 90 days with a visa, do they have to leave Thailand for 90 days before they return using the visa-on-arrival provision?

Edited September 12, 200619 yr by thehawk

No to both. Only applies to those who use the 30day automatic visa on arrival from the exempt country list.

I'm from Canada, so normally exempt (i.e. can get visa on arrival). So if I had a proper tourist visa for 90 days, could I leave and re-enter with a visa-on-arrival? Pretty sure the answer is no, but I thought this example might help someone out. Peace

Sorry, but the answer is yes (as far as your specific question goes).

so it only applies to the visa-on-arrival portion of the stay - so someone could potentially stay for 180 days if they hade a tourist visa for a 90 day stay and then used the visa-on-arrival for an additional 90 days?

(sidenote: dont know why i'm bothering with this - not even planning a trip to thailand any time soon, and when i do i'll be moving there)

Absolutely!

This only applies if you don't have a visa of any kind - if you do, you're fine...

Jez