I am currently on a " B " visa, with 90 day permissions, expiring July, issued at Penang and have stopped working.

WP has since expired and I'm still trying to sell belongings / wrap things up in Thailand to return to home country.

Will I have a problem? If so, would it be possible to enter at Sadao on a 30 day exempt tourist type at that border and then get an extension of that after 30 days?

Thanks in advance for any replies

You could try but I suggest you don't do it at Sadao and if you are wanting to just do a border hop they will tell youi that you have to stay overnight.

Pedang Baser would be a better.choice.

^ Thank you for that response I noted the other thread about no WP entering at Ranong it was written having a B does not necessarily mean a WP is needed, Is this correct and if so, why would Sadao be different other than the usual complaints about individual officers doing whatever regarding rules ?

Stay overnight? Just for Sadao? I've done the Ranong border stamp run in /out on the same day. What about entering on a visa exempt? Possible at Sadao and or Pedang Besar ?

Yes overnight at Sadao for either type of entry and they might ask to see 20k baht cash on entry.

If you go out after your visa expires you would only get a 15 day visa exempt entry unless you are from a G7 country. Before your visa expires they would give you the 90 day entry at Pedang Baser.

Thanks again

So I would be able to get a 15 day visa exemption at Sadao? I intend to do this while the B is still valid (" Enter before..." ) so I am of the belief any border crossing would give the 90 days, ( WP problem aside. ) Is there another reason why have you singled out Pedang Besar other than you think they would be more accommodating?

Before your visa expires they would give you the 90 day entry at Pedang Baser.

Pedang Baser has been reported to be much more friendly and accommodating than Sadao.

Would Pedang Besar also require an overnight stay? Why is this different than at Ranong ? What a pain I have never understood this 90 permission to stay, one year visa one year on WP but only 90 day stays. Guess just to prop up the visa runs companies.

And so it is possible to have a B without a WP ?

Edited June 9, 201511 yr by FBlue72

No overnight at Pedang Beser.

If you are working here and can qualify for it you can get a 1 year extension of stay. No need to leave every 90 days.

It is possible to have a multiple entry non-b visa for business purposes without a work permit. But they are not meant to be used for living here. The are meant to be for people making frequent trips to the country for business. That is why some crossings ask for a work permit if it is evident a person is living here on one.

I owned my own business and did not make " make enough profit" to qualify for 1 year . Anyway, one more question please and it may warrant its own thread. Read elsewhere that 20,000 THB was needed to be shown for B visa, think it was at Ranong. Is this new Or old but now enforced? Incidentally is one expected to carry this in cash ?

I am realizing I did not mention it I have a new passport, with the old B just written in- Do you think this will make is a bit easier to get in without the WP ?

The most recent report has only been for Sadao if you have a visa or doing an exempt entry.

For multiple visa exempt entries there have been people asked to show the 20k everywhere.

I am realizing I did not mention it I have a new passport, with the old B just written in- Do you think this will make is a bit easier to get in without the WP ?

If you left the country and re-entered the country with just your new passport you would be given a visa exempt entry. You would have to show your old passport with the valid non-b visa in it to get a 90 day entry.

OK Thank you very much Ubon Joe

And the 20,000 I'm a bit confused, will I need it on the B 90 day entry ? If so , or if I go with a 15 day V E , should it be in cash or can I just show a bank book ?

Edited June 9, 201511 yr by FBlue72

OK Thank you very much Ubon Joe

And the 20,000 I'm a bit confused, will I need it on the B 90 day entry ? If so , or if I go with a 15 day V E , should it be in cash or can I just show a bank book ?

Cash !

At Sadao you might need the 20k baht for any entry.. At Pedang Besar it would not be asked for.

Ubon Joe, Why are they so different? Practically right next door, why is there no uniformity.... Oh never mind, it's a major factor in why I am leaving. . Is that 20,000 really need to be cash because I'm reading elsewhere an ATM slip is needed from that same day.

OK Thank you very much Ubon Joe

And the 20,000 I'm a bit confused, will I need it on the B 90 day entry ? If so , or if I go with a 15 day V E , should it be in cash or can I just show a bank book ?

Cash !

I'm reading an ATM slip will suffice , do you know this for a fact?

Ubon Joe, Why are they so different? Practically right next door, why is there no uniformity.... Oh never mind, it's a major factor in why I am leaving. . Is that 20,000 really need to be cash because I'm reading elsewhere an ATM slip is needed from that same day.

CASH only at Sadao!

You can of course try something else

Pedang Baser has been reported to be much more friendly and accommodating than Sadao.

True! Very welcoming folks, always a smile, and I never had a problem to enter with a Non-B visa there, or at the airport in BKK. As far as I know, a work permit can only be issued by the company and/or the appropriate officials. And as long one has no employment yet, why should he have a work permit when entering Thailand?

If I enter on my old passport with its current B , they'll see I've been here a while. There is also a photo of me and my WP from the last land entry at Sadao.

I wonder if the check point in the Nat'l park might be an even better choice.

You have been given the advice, but don't seem to get it - forget Sadao.

You need to understand that Sadao are often reported as being significantly more 'difficult'/corrupt than most other border crossing set ups.

Go to Pedang Bezar, which simply involves turning right 10 km before you get to Sadao and then going about 15km - they are very straight forward there and should give you a 90 day entry on your still valid one year multiple entry non immigrant 'b' visa (which you will have obtained from outside of Thailand) in your old passport.

Pedang Bezar shouldn't be concerned about any previous 90 day non 'b; entries in your old/new passport.

Make sure you've got 20,000 THB in your bank and take a working ATM card, just in case.

^ Thanks for your post but I have not disregarded the Sadao warn off and fully intend to heed it.

I know where Pedang Besar is as I stated the 2 borders are practically next to each other.

My worry is not prior entries per se , but I no longer have a WP and they will know I had one before,

So you are contradicting the post above NZexpat claiming cash is necessary, but you write a bank book/ ATM slip is sufficient and cash is not needed?

I have read many times in this forum and others that an ATM receipt from that day is needed though I have never noticed an ATM at either border, how does one get the receipt if returning from MY where the ATM will not print out balance info.

So which is it, or this another case of the desk officer making the rule ? If cash , can it be in Ringett I wonder ? Sure do not want to take that much on the trip down.

What a pain. FTBS I cannot wait to be done with all the hassles

Edited June 9, 201511 yr by FBlue72

^ Thanks for your post but I have not disregarded the Sadao warn off and fully intend to heed it.

I know where Pedang Besar is as I stated the 2 borders are practically next to each other.

My worry is not prior entries per se , but I no longer have a WP and they will know I had one before,

So you are contradicting the post above NZexpat claiming cash is necessary, but you write a bank book/ ATM slip is sufficient and cash is not needed?

I have read many times in this forum and others that an ATM receipt from that day is needed though I have never noticed an ATM at either border, how does one get the receipt if returning from MY where the ATM will not print out balance info.

So which is it, or this another case of the desk officer making the rule ? If cash , can it be in Ringett I wonder ? Sure do not want to take that much on the trip down.

What a pain. FTBS I cannot wait to be done with all the hassles

It would seem you have and are creating your own problems .................

You have received good advice why not just accept the advice and act upon it ?

^ Thanks for your post but I have not disregarded the Sadao warn off and fully intend to heed it.

I know where Pedang Besar is as I stated the 2 borders are practically next to each other.

My worry is not prior entries per se , but I no longer have a WP and they will know I had one before,

So you are contradicting the post above NZexpat claiming cash is necessary, but you write a bank book/ ATM slip is sufficient and cash is not needed?

I have read many times in this forum and others that an ATM receipt from that day is needed though I have never noticed an ATM at either border, how does one get the receipt if returning from MY where the ATM will not print out balance info.

So which is it, or this another case of the desk officer making the rule ? If cash , can it be in Ringett I wonder ? Sure do not want to take that much on the trip down.

What a pain. FTBS I cannot wait to be done with all the hassles

The advice you have been given above is that Sadao might well demand to see 20k THB in cash - you should not have this same problem at Padang Bezar, since despite it's proximity it has completely different staff.

I advised that it was best to have > 20k THB in your bank, just in case you need to produce an ATM slip, or worst case show cash.

The fact that Sadao took a picture of you with your WP, is almost certainly not a big issue - I somewhat doubt that particular photo is in the Thai national immigration database.

Don't see how Immigration will know that you had a WP before, they don't have access to any Labour Department databases.

As it's a forum, posters here often don't act in concert or, in volunteering opinions/facts, necessarily communicate that clearly and yes it can be confusing.

You say FTBS, please do remember that we are guests in Third World Country, these kinds of inconsistencies in 'policy' go with the territory.

So, all that Q&A to answer a relatively simple where, what and how. To summarize.

Pedang Basar trumps Sadao.

15-day visa exempt trumps 90-day.

20k baht cash trumps ATM statements.

Claro?

Engaging in an ongoing debate on mix-and-match based on the unwritten Thai Immigration laws of probabilities will get you nowhere.

^ Thai Visa Discussion forum. I would completely disagree that 15 day entry permission trumps a 90 day one.

None- the- less....

Didn't make Pedang Besar due to a wrong turn ( from a sign blocked by a tree) that mysteriously led me back to route 4 / AH2 ( just keep going straight and ignore the " Border this way .." signs) but Sadao was as easy as pie. No line, no need for 20,000, no need for WP. No need for nuthin' but admittedly the 200 baht in the passport might have been a factor.

The officer was smiling, friendly and courteous and even initialed my departure card when I requested it as it had just the date at first which I thought might cause a problem down the line

Much thanks for all the (non-judgemental ) responses.

^ Thai Visa Discussion forum. I would completely disagree that 15 day entry permission trumps a 90 day one.

None- the- less....

Didn't make Pedang Besar due to a wrong turn ( from a sign blocked by a tree) that mysteriously led me back to route 4 / AH2 ( just keep going straight and ignore the " Border this way .." signs) but Sadao was as easy as pie. No line, no need for 20,000, no need for WP. No need for nuthin' but admittedly the 200 baht in the passport might have been a factor.

The officer was smiling, friendly and courteous and even initialed my departure card when I requested it as it had just the date at first which I thought might cause a problem down the line

Much thanks for all the (non-judgemental ) responses.

For Pedang Besar you turn right at the traffic lights/police station on the right in Sadao itself (some way before the border post) onto the 4054 .

Then its a major road all the way to the border - 10km ish, as I recollect, plus actually physically less distance than to the Sadao Border Control Post.

The only reason I would personally go to the Sadao Post is if I was driving to Penang.

Pleased you didn't have any problems despite your navigation fail.

No need for nuthin' but admittedly the 200 baht in the passport might have been a factor.

Not "might". You were a good customer, come back soon!