I'm in a bit of a predicament, my situation is as follows:

I'm a UK national (35yrs old), I've been living in Hua Hin on an education visa learning Thai for 4 years now.

My visa expires tomorrow, I would like to just exit the country at the nearest suitable border crossing and re-enter on a visa exemption of 30 days and then extend that at the local Hua Hin immigration.

I was hoping I could just go to Kanchanaburi, or even better the Dan Singkhon crossing at Prachuap, however, chatting with an immigration official this morning he told me this wouldn't be possible at these border posts and suggested Laos.

I'm quite willing to take the overnight train up to Nong Khai and the Laos border but my question is: Will they allow me to re-enter immediately on an exemption without the need to go to the embassy in Vientene?

The reason that may be a problem for me is that my current passport is almost full. I have only 1 full untouched page, plus several other pages with half a page or less available.

Going out/in same day shouldn't be a problem space wise in my passport but I'm worried I don't have room if required to go and make a new visa???

Any helpful suggestions or advice gratefully received!

You will not have to stay over overnight to get an entry.

Going to Ranong might be a better choice than going all the way to Laos. Plus there would be no full page visa sticker that you will get for Laos.

You will not have to stay over overnight to get another entry.

Going to Ranong might be a better choice than going all the way to Laos. Plus there would be no full page visa sticker that you will get for Laos.

Ok, thanks for that. I take it the same would apply at Ranong, in that I wouldn't need an overnight stay/and or visa? I'll look into the travel arrangements now.

Heya,,not sure about the North but can advise about the South.....certainly appears in the thai/malay checkpoints they are scrutinizing farang re-entry,,

particularly tourist visas,,but is different at every place.

A couple of months ago my aussie friend went to Sadao border and even had a current non-o visa and was told by IMO you cannot return the same day

you have to stay in Malaysia.Admittedly he had a lot of stamps in his passport but he was shocked,,,never happened before.

Stayed the night and came back next day entered Thailand and stamped in no problems.

I personally have not had any issues but i do have a Non-o multiple entry visa.

You will probably find in reality all border checkpoints or there "interpretation of the rules can vary greatly"

Good Luck,,,,,,,at worst you might have to stay a bit.

The only crossing reported as wanting an overnight stay is Sadao at the Malaysian border.

You just get a border pass for Myanmar for a fee of 500 baht.