Border Run Alternatives

[thaicofee]

Hi there

 

I'm reading your posts and start to wonder if I may have problems coming in thailand with visa on arrival

 

I was there this year:

 

-3 weeks in june

-1 month in november

 

I'm planning to go back in march or april for 1 month 

 

Do you guys think I might be refused?

 

Thanks

[SpanishExpat]

Had never hassles coming trough BKK with a combined First/Business Class ticket. The last entry was a few days ago. The IO looked at my boarding pass, scanned the passport and stamped. Took me more or less 45 sec, incl the fingerprints, and I was trough. Back-to-back METV`s for the last few years and up to 10 Months/Year in LOS. 

Was grilled last year in the normal line though (at BKK airport). If I remember well no-one ever has been denied on a First/Biz ticket with a valid visa (with visa exempt yes). It`s just the way most Thai ppl think about status. You can afford a First/Biz ticket = they don`t dare to grill/deny you. 

 

Don`t know, if they make a difference with real First/Biz travelers and the Fast Track Service, but just wanted to share my experiences. 

 

I still wouldn`t do it again and again. There always a time for a first denial:) So whoever plans to stay long-term and hasn`t planned to marry/work officially within the next 1-2yrs, is better off with an Elite Visa.

 

Edited January 23, 2020 by SpanishExpat

[BritTim]

I do not believe your prior history would create problems at immigration. However, you need to be clear about whether you really mean a visa on arrival (15 days for nationals not entitled to visa exemption) or a visa exempt entry. I assume you are from a country that qualifies for visa exempt entry, in which case you will get 30 days (29 nights) on entry, which can optionally be extended for a further 30 days at an immigration office in Thailand.

[thaicofee]

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

I do not believe your prior history would create problems at immigration. However, you need to be clear about whether you really mean a visa on arrival (15 days for nationals not entitled to visa exemption) or a visa exempt entry. I assume you are from a country that qualifies for visa exempt entry, in which case you will get 30 days (29 nights) on entry, which can optionally be extended for a further 30 days at an immigration office in Thailand.

 

Yes it's a visa exempt of 30 days that i get when i arrive in Thailand

I could simply do a visa in the embassy but i dont really need it as one month stay is already enough for me generally 

[Snacks]

7 hours ago, SpanishExpat said:

Had never hassles coming trough BKK with a combined First/Business Class ticket. The last entry was a few days ago. The IO looked at my boarding pass, scanned the passport and stamped. Took me more or less 45 sec, incl the fingerprints, and I was trough. Back-to-back METV`s for the last few years and up to 10 Months/Year in LOS. 

Was grilled last year in the normal line though (at BKK airport). If I remember well no-one ever has been denied on a First/Biz ticket with a valid visa (with visa exempt yes). It`s just the way most Thai ppl think about status. You can afford a First/Biz ticket = they don`t dare to grill/deny you. 

 

Don`t know, if they make a difference with real First/Biz travelers and the Fast Track Service, but just wanted to share my experiences. 

 

I still wouldn`t do it again and again. There always a time for a first denial:) So whoever plans to stay long-term and hasn`t planned to marry/work officially within the next 1-2yrs, is better off with an Elite Visa.

 

You’re saying you went through the normal immigration line but you showed your boarding pass?.. I’ve never been asked to show my boarding pass so I’m interested in some more details about your experience if you’re comfortable sharing. Thanks. ????

[rabang]

7 hours ago, Snacks said:

You’re saying you went through the normal immigration line but you showed your boarding pass?.. I’ve never been asked to show my boarding pass so I’m interested in some more details about your experience if you’re comfortable sharing. Thanks. ????

The way I understood he went through normal line on another occasion but when using the priority lane he had to show the ticket. I believe they have stopped giving tickets for the fast track so you either must show the Business/First boarding pass or buy access in advance from a third party service.

Edited January 24, 2020 by rabang

[SpanishExpat]

Exactly. I got grilled at the normal immigration line last year. Before/After I had like 20 smooth international arrivals trough the Premium Line without any problem. The fast track vouchers have been stopped. There is a lady now in front of the Premium Lane checking the boarding passes. The reason is that the vouchers were re-sold. A guy, I knew on the second flight, had the EV. He offered me to join the buggy ride from the gate, as we both had to go the premium lane. The Thailand Elite lady also waited with him for his luggage, along with a porter/chauffeur guy with an AOT polo-shirt. If I wouldn`t get married soon, I would go for the smooth EV for sure. 

 

Edited January 24, 2020 by SpanishExpat

[Snacks]

42 minutes ago, SpanishExpat said:

Exactly. I got grilled at the normal immigration line last year. Before/After I had like 20 smooth international arrivals trough the Premium Line without any problem. The fast track vouchers have been stopped. There is a lady now in front of the Premium Lane checking the boarding passes. The reason is that the vouchers were re-sold. A guy, I knew on the second flight, had the EV. He offered me to join the buggy ride from the gate, as we both had to go the premium lane. The Thailand Elite lady also waited with him for his luggage, along with a porter/chauffeur guy with an AOT polo-shirt. If I wouldn`t get married soon, I would go for the smooth EV for sure. 

 

So the “premium/priority line” is for people who buy first class tickets?... sorry I’m new to this haha

 

so like, if I buy a first class ticket on Thai Airways from Saigon, I will automatically be escorted to the “Priority Line”?

 

again thanks for the clarification for this newbie ???? 

[SpanishExpat]

4 minutes ago, Snacks said:

So the “premium/priority line” is for people who buy first class tickets?... sorry I’m new to this haha

 

so like, if I buy a first class ticket on Thai Airways from Saigon, I will automatically be escorted to the “Priority Line”?

 

again thanks for the clarification for this newbie ???? 

There is no F-Class offered by Thai Airways from Saigon, but you could technically buy a business class ticket yes . First Class on Thai is just offered from Europe/ Japan/ Australia. Done it in the past and you get a Gate-to a special VIP-Lane escort (not the Premium Lane).

As far as i`ve seen, the IO in the Premium Lane and mostly senior IO, which is no surprise, as their job is more relaxed than in the normal immigration lines.

 

However, all this First/Business Class stuff is surely not worth, if you just do it to avoid getting grilled/denied. If you plan to stay 5yrs + in Thailand and have no plans to marry, the Elite Visa is cheaper/hassle-free.

[DaneUr]

Hi,

I used both my Thai land crossings earlier this year. I'm wondering when I'd next be allowed to cross by land into Thailand? Is it exactly one year from my last land crossing?

 

Or does the clock reset in 2020 (end of the calendar year)?

 

I have to say these new rules seem so arbitrary. It forced me to take a bus and fly out of Kunming last spring. I used to end my SEA trips by crossing the Thai border to get a cheap flight to Bangkok then a long haul back home. Now I do this in China. Kunming is exploding with budget options to Shanghai and Chengdu. Thailand's hurting their own air industry.

[BritTim]

37 minutes ago, DaneUr said:

Hi,

I used both my Thai land crossings earlier this year. I'm wondering when I'd next be allowed to cross by land into Thailand? Is it exactly one year from my last land crossing?

 

Or does the clock reset in 2020 (end of the calendar year)?

 

I have to say these new rules seem so arbitrary. It forced me to take a bus and fly out of Kunming last spring. I used to end my SEA trips by crossing the Thai border to get a cheap flight to Bangkok then a long haul back home. Now I do this in China. Kunming is exploding with budget options to Shanghai and Chengdu. Thailand's hurting their own air industry.

The two land visa exempt entries reset on January 1st. If you want to enter by land after using your two visa exempt entries by land for that calendar year, you must have a visa.

 

The decision, I believe, was to eliminate the discretion immigration officials at land crossings previously had to decide whether or not to allow visa exempt entry, and replace that discretion with hard and fast rules. It certainly does inconvenience some (most obviously expats in neighbouring countries who used to cross into Thailand regularly to shop) but at least the system produces certainty. Arriving at a land crossing not knowing whether or not you would be admitted was horrible.

[clorox]

went to Ban Laem border today for my usual 90 days mult non-o re-entry, immigration officer refused to stamp me out of thailand, yes that's going out of thailand, saying that i should do my 90 entry at Chaeng Watthana immigration office, i was confused of what he's trying to tell me, trying to stand my ground replying to him are you sure about that, he kept repeating yes go Chaeng Watthana office they do 90 extension there no need to go border, and kept refused to stamp me out of thailand, i wasn't sure of what's going on, since my entry will be expire in 2 days, if i came back to thailand to Chaeng Watthana and nothing happen i'll be screw, the cambodia girl that are taking care of combodia side told me just pay them 2k baht to get it stamp for that last time, obviously its bribed money, i just want to get over with it and get my 90 days return to bangkok and get more info. is there any true to that getting another 90 days at Chaeng Watthana, or they just want to stop doing in-out like poipet, 

Edited January 27, 2020 by clorox

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, clorox said:

saying that i should do my 90 entry at Chaeng Watthana immigration office, i was confused of what he's trying to tell me

They would not give you a 90 day entry stamp at Chaeng Wattana. 

The only way what the officer was telling you would make since is that you actually have one year extension with a multiple re-entry permit for it and not a multiple entry non-o visa issued by a embassy or consulate. That would be a report of staying longer than 90 day in the country.

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, clorox said:

went to Ban Laem border today for my usual 90 days mult non-o re-entry, immigration officer refused to stamp me out of thailand, yes that's going out of thailand, saying that i should do my 90 entry at Chaeng Watthana immigration office, i was confused of what he's trying to tell me, trying to stand my ground replying to him are you sure about that, he kept repeating yes go Chaeng Watthana office they do 90 extension there no need to go border, and kept refused to stamp me out of thailand, i wasn't sure of what's going on, since my entry will be expire in 2 days, if i came back to thailand to Chaeng Watthana and nothing happen i'll be screw, the cambodia girl that are taking care of combodia side told me just pay them 2k baht to get it stamp for that last time, obviously its bribed money, i just want to get over with it and get my 90 days return to bangkok and get more info. is there any true to that getting another 90 days at Chaeng Watthana, or they just want to stop doing in-out like poipet, 

CW has no international border crossing into another country. As you surmise, this is a scam to extort money. This might be a suitable use for the 1111 hotline, assuming whoever answers knows anything about immigration matters.

 

EDIT: Assuming you really have a re-entry permit, and your permission to stay is well in the future, did you try doing the 90-day address report online (too late now if the notification is due in two days)? If the issue is the 90-day address notification, you can submit it in person up to seven days after the due date. Note: you should still be allowed to leave and return at Ban Laem.

Edited January 27, 2020 by BritTim

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, clorox said:

went to Ban Laem border today for my usual 90 days mult non-o re-entry,

Where did you obtain this?

Seems wrong an IO can refuse you right of passage.

Were you perhaps hoping to bounce out then directly back in and this has been stopped?

Edited January 27, 2020 by jacko45k

[elviajero]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Where did you obtain this?

Seems wrong an IO can refuse you right of passage.

There are many border points certain nationals can’t exit from. Perfectly legal.

 

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Were you perhaps hoping to bounce out then directly back in and this has been stopped?

That is the issue. They were stopping a visa run to extend a stay. 

[clorox]

i understand you completely Ubonjoe, i been doing my mult non-o for year, i also understand most visa and ofcourse know extension base on marriage, i got my mult non-o visa outside of the country, and yes i'm doing the 90 days run at land border stamp out and return stamp in same day, its kind of weird they refused to stamp me out of thailand, they just return my passport and said go bangkok office, there were a few people with me in same situation even people with multiple B, i knew it was a scam but not this bluntly in your face, the officer even have the guts to tell me, this is last time ok after taking my 2k baht,  i didn't have a choice and just want to get over with it, i know they trying to prevent people from coming back same day, just like poipet border, so be warn going to bae laem border, or maybe im just going on the wrong day with the wrong officer, i hope its just this one time, because i would like to use the same border again on my next exit, but the again we never know,

anybody doing Bae laem border with mult non-o at the moment please let me know what they been up to, or this is just one time incident that the officer didn't know what hes talking about

 

i literally told the officer this is a mult non-o VISA obtain from embassy in USA DC and not an extension base on marriage, that i need to exit to get fresh 90 day, he literally tell me, yea u can do that in bangkok get 90 days   

Edited January 27, 2020 by clorox

[elviajero]

4 hours ago, BritTim said:

CW has no international border crossing into another country. As you surmise, this is a scam to extort money. This might be a suitable use for the 1111 hotline, assuming whoever answers knows anything about immigration matters.

Where does it suggest that this is a scam to extort money? Surely for that to be true the IO would be demanding payment in return for allowing the visa run.

 

That border crossing stopped tourist visa runs at one point in the past, it’s more likely this is a policy stopping a visa run than extortion.

 

I imagine the IO was telling the OP to go the CW and apply for an appropriate extension of stay, rather than use the ME visa to live in the country.

Edited January 27, 2020 by elviajero

[Lovethailandelite]

54 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Where does it suggest that this is a scam to extort money? Surely for that to be true the IO would be demanding payment in return for allowing the visa run.

 

That border crossing stopped tourist visa runs at one point in the past, it’s more likely this is a policy stopping a visa run than extortion.

 

I imagine the IO was telling the OP to go the CW and apply for an appropriate extension of stay, rather than use the ME visa to live in the country.

Your correct. There is no extortion. The visa run company's have now stopped going to the Malaysian border. No more same day turnaround possible at those anymore, no matter what visa or visa exempt.

[Scott]

Inflammatory post reported and removed.  

 

[BritTim]

8 hours ago, elviajero said:

Where does it suggest that this is a scam to extort money? Surely for that to be true the IO would be demanding payment in return for allowing the visa run.

There are two strong indications that this is the case:

1. The official stamped him out once given 2,000 baht.
2. An immigration official should be aware that CW is not an international border where you can leave and return to get a fresh 90-day entry.

I am assuming the report of the problem at Ban Laem is accurate. Based on this, I would say there is strong evidence they are refusing to stamp out people with multiple entry visas (unless given money) and spewing rubbish as their excuse.

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, elviajero said:

There are many border points certain nationals can’t exit from. Perfectly legal.

 

That is the issue. They were stopping a visa run to extend a stay. 

Since the poster suggested is was his normal border....

Quote

Ban Laem border today for my usual 90 days mult non-o re-entry,

Do you know that the rules have recently changed and which nationals are not now allowed to use this border? Also how did they know it was his intention to return? Another point is it is not to extend a stay, it is to get a completely new entry surely with a ME Non-Imm-O?

[elviajero]

14 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Do you know that the rules have recently changed and which nationals are not now allowed to use this border?

No, but the border has a history of being difficult in the past. Local rules can and do change from time to time.

 

Quote

Also how did they know it was his intention to return?

Maybe they asked. These land borders see visa runs all the time.

 

Quote

Another point is it is not to extend a stay, it is to get a completely new entry surely with a ME Non-Imm-O?

Semantics. By re-entering you are extending your stay in the country.

 

The bottom line is that Non O ME visas are not meant to be used for long term stays, and it’s practice will be ended at some point. Reports like this will become more frequent this year.

[elviajero]

3 hours ago, BritTim said:

There are two strong indications that this is the case:

1. The official stamped him out once given 2,000 baht.
2. An immigration official should be aware that CW is not an international border where you can leave and return to get a fresh 90-day entry.

I am assuming the report of the problem at Ban Laem is accurate. Based on this, I would say there is strong evidence they are refusing to stamp out people with multiple entry visas (unless given money) and spewing rubbish as their excuse.

There have been reports at other crossings lately too. It’s appears to be a directive from the top. No doubt some IO’s will be taking advantage of the situation.

 

I’ve been warning this was coming.

 

They weren’t suggesting the OP could get a 90 day extension (new entry stamp) from CW, just that they should be going to CW for an extension and not doing a visa run.

[Lovethailandelite]

2 hours ago, elviajero said:

There have been reports at other crossings lately too. It’s appears to be a directive from the top. No doubt some IO’s will be taking advantage of the situation.

 

I’ve been warning this was coming.

 

They weren’t suggesting the OP could get a 90 day extension (new entry stamp) from CW, just that they should be going to CW for an extension and not doing a visa run.

The shutdown is coming. It started over a week ago

[Scott3000]

2 hours ago, elviajero said:

There have been reports at other crossings lately too. It’s appears to be a directive from the top. No doubt some IO’s will be taking advantage of the situation.

 

I’ve been warning this was coming.

Which border crossings have been reported as problematic?

 

Also, do you know if it's true that a 24-hour stay outside of Thailand will be necessary to re-enter, as suggested in another post above?

 

Thanks!

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, Lovethailandelite said:

The shutdown is coming. It started over a week ago

You are spreading false info again. Do you have any proof of what you wrote other than copies of some facebook posts.

Some Malaysian border crossings have been requiring a overnight stay for many years now. That may even be something that Malaysian immigration have told Thai immigration.

Cambodia requires a overnight stay at border crossings for a visa on arrival for a long time (perhaps since day one) but normally just charge a unofficial fee for not doing it.

[USNret]

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Cambodia requires a overnight stay at border crossings for a visa on arrival for a long time (perhaps since day one) but normally just charge a unofficial fee for not doing it.

lol, "unofficial fee".  There's another word for that on the tip of my tongue...  ???? 

[Bkungbank]

For those who read this i would like to help fellow friends to use Langkawi - Satun ferry for border run as no problems at all and no question ask. Ticket price RM 35 and 2 ferries daily at 12.30 pm and 5.15 pm. Thank you and good luck.

[aldriglikvid]

I arrived in the kingdom 1/18/2020 and according to this calculator my SETV + Extension would end 4/15/2020  http://bangkokhasyou.com/thailand-visa-calculator/

 

I'm planning to do a border run with a regular visa exempt entry, and then extend it with 30 days. This will be the last of this trip. 

 

If we assume that the above mentioned calculator is correct I will start my border run on my last day, 4/15/2020. Is it correct that my Visa Exempt + Extension will reach me to June 14th? 

 

I'm getting dizzy with counting days. Thanks a bunch, fellas.