I have been doing visa runs on my Australian passport for 3 years. Each time I get the 2 month visa and extend it by one month.

Untill now a routine and boring procedure.

I have just received my latest 2 month visa at the Thai embassy here in Hanoi yesterday. BUT, not with out difficulty:

I was asked lots of pointy questions:

Was I working there?

Was I realy a tourist?

Why did I have so many pages of stamps?

Was I traveling around in the provinces?

Was I living in one place.

How did I spend my time in Thailand?

And other questions were thrown at me.

I was well dressed and presented, my stated occupation was "Investor", I spoke some Thai, I was calm and politly spoken as is my nature and I gave good quick honest and apparently satisfactory answers to all the questions.

Also I was able to produce extra docoments which they took copies of!

It was a condition that I had to produce an onward ticket! This "onward ticket" requirement has been a technical requirement for at least the last 15 years but is usualy unmentioned and I have never heard of this forgotten rule ever been enforced befor!

I went away with the understanding that they would not be issuing me with another tourist visa if I was silly enough to come back and apply for another one.

It seems that I got this visa by the skin of my teeth.

Am I mistaken that the last two governments have not changed official policy for two month tourist visas? Is this evidence of unofficial policy? Certainly it is very well known that the one month 'permission to stay' stamp issued on arrival has been changed.

I am interested to know the experience of others who have had surprises sprung on them which departs from the official policy.

Me and 2 friends of mine got the mention "Can obtain toursit visa from Singapore Royal Thai Embassy only THIS TIME" that was 2 months ago.

Could I suggest ...

This might be more to do with not having gone

"Home" to Australia during the past 3 years

rather than the number of Visas you have

obtained?

Have you been home during that time?

Maybe you would be readily granted more visas

- if you apply in your Home Country

Hmmm. Thanks WilliamIV, no I have only once been back 'home' to Australia in the last 3 years. Although this wasn't among the questions that they asked me.

Having to go to an embassy and get one of these tourist visas is my biggest nitemare. I've been hitching it to Poi Pet for years to get my 30 day stamps. If I'm forced to go abroad and get a tourist visa then I won't be able to afford it. On top of that I certainly would not take kindly to getting interrogated as the OP was. Another thing is certain, I don't take my dreads out for nobody and my clothes are a bit ratty

I have been doing visa runs on my Australian passport for 3 years. Each time I get the 2 month visa and extend it by one month.

Untill now a routine and boring procedure.

I have just received my latest 2 month visa at the Thai embassy here in Hanoi yesterday. BUT, not with out difficulty:

I was asked lots of pointy questions:

Was I working there?

Was I realy a tourist?

Why did I have so many pages of stamps?

Was I traveling around in the provinces?

Was I living in one place.

How did I spend my time in Thailand?

And other questions were thrown at me.

I was well dressed and presented, my stated occupation was "Investor", I spoke some Thai, I was calm and politly spoken as is my nature and I gave good quick honest and apparently satisfactory answers to all the questions.

Also I was able to produce extra docoments which they took copies of!

It was a condition that I had to produce an onward ticket! This "onward ticket" requirement has been a technical requirement for at least the last 15 years but is usualy unmentioned and I have never heard of this forgotten rule ever been enforced befor!

I went away with the understanding that they would not be issuing me with another tourist visa if I was silly enough to come back and apply for another one.

It seems that I got this visa by the skin of my teeth.

Am I mistaken that the last two governments have not changed official policy for two month tourist visas? Is this evidence of unofficial policy? Certainly it is very well known that the one month 'permission to stay' stamp issued on arrival has been changed.

I am interested to know the experience of others who have had surprises sprung on them which departs from the official policy.

New passport time perhaps ?

Sometimes the best place to obtain a visa, is the place most frequented, the embassy staff know why you are there and for what purpose. You may only get a 90 day visa, but at least you know what to expect……..Penang. Other places are not haunts for visa runners.