Sorry, I looked a long time for the answer on these threads, but nothing quite fit, and then after 2 calls to the immigration office I'm extra confused (I'm not sure even they know what they are talking about at this point). Brainsplosion!

I am a USA national. I arrived in Thailand in November and got a visa exemption tourist stamp at the airport allowing me to stay in Thailand until mid December. I then went to the Thailand immigration office in Phuket in December and paid 1900 baht for a 30 day extension, so that I would leave Thailand in mid January, on January 23, 2016, which is forthcoming. Nowhere on my info does it state how many "entries" I have, so is a stamp not a "visa"? Anyhoo...

I would like to stay in Thailand for at least another 30 days (so I would leave in mid-February) or preferably another 60 days if that is possible (so I would leave in mid-March). I am employed as a digital nomad in the USA and work from my computer and I can prove that I have money to continue to be a tourist in Thailand. I do not want a work permit for Thailand.

1) If I do a run across the border into Malaysia, will they give me another 30 day stamp at the border or is that dicey now due to new rules?

2) Should I go to the Thai Embassy in Penang and apply for a 60 day visa there?

3) Am I even eligible for 60 days more in Thailand? (I have read that you can only stay 90 days in Thailand within a 6 month period, but I have also read that this rule was recently abolished.)

4) Any possibility that I can be lazy and do something like apply for a tourist visa or another extension at the Krabi immigration office? I'm on Koh Lanta. No issue with doing things the right way, I just wanna avoid unnecessary travel.

Thank you very much for your help!

1. Yes. You will be given a 30 day visa exempt entry. Best to avoid the Sadao border as it doesn't have the best reputation.

You could get a tourist visa. It's not necessary but helps to avoid unwanted questioning at the border.

There is a limit of 90 days in any 180 days for visa exempt entries at some crossings (not Mtaylasia as far as I know). Regardless, you've only had 30 so another 30 would keep you within this rule.

No. You will need to exit and re-enter with either visa exempt entry or a tourist visa.

• An extension of stay is not a visa. Neither is a visa exempt entry.

Edited January 18, 201610 yr by elviajero

Ahhhhhhhh, thank you! Visa vs entry vs days allowed to stay is very confusing. For clarity as I'm formulating a plan: if I were to go across the border now and come back, and get one more 30 day visa exempt stamp, then I would have used my 90 days total on exemption entries, correct? So no more border runs for visa exempt entries after that (or if I tried I might get questioned or refused entry)? Then, after I've been here 90 days, if I decided I wanted to stay longer, could I leave just before my 90th day and go to Penang for a few days and apply for a tourist visa at the Thai embassy there, so that I could come back? This maybe makes the most sense since I am not 100% sure right now that my work situation will allow me to stay another full 60 days (I won't know that for another 2 weeks), so I risk doing the whole application and then might not use it, but I know that I can stay 30 more. Thanks in advance!

I don't give a rip what you do, but you keep mentioning work and digital nomad so...

Don't tell that to immigration or better yet anyone else as it is "technically illegal". Officially you need a work permit to work in Thailand...

I say this only in case you don't know it.

Cheers.

I haven't heard of that, only for "working in Thailand," whereas I'm working remotely for a company I own in the US. Since I'm on the net, I can work anywhere in the world, but my company is in the US. Thanks for the reflection, tho. How would the Thailand immigration think my work in the US has anything to do with getting a Thai visa? I would imagine they would see my digital nomad work as proof of a USA income for me to spend in Thailand.

Ahhhhhhhh, thank you! Visa vs entry vs days allowed to stay is very confusing. For clarity as I'm formulating a plan: if I were to go across the border now and come back, and get one more 30 day visa exempt stamp, then I would have used my 90 days total on exemption entries, correct? So no more border runs for visa exempt entries after that (or if I tried I might get questioned or refused entry)? Then, after I've been here 90 days, if I decided I wanted to stay longer, could I leave just before my 90th day and go to Penang for a few days and apply for a tourist visa at the Thai embassy there, so that I could come back? This maybe makes the most sense since I am not 100% sure right now that my work situation will allow me to stay another full 60 days (I won't know that for another 2 weeks), so I risk doing the whole application and then might not use it, but I know that I can stay 30 more. Thanks in advance!

• Visa are effectively just a ticket to hand in at the border. The type of visa determines how long the immigration officer can allow you to stay. The stamp in your passport is the permit to stay and gives the date you must leave on or before.
• I beleive the 90 day limit only applies to 4 Cambodian border crossings. The Malaysian crossings are unaffected.
• The extension of stay doesn't count towards the 90 day limit just the 30 days granted on entry.
• If you do too many visa exempt entries you will start to get unwanted questioning at the border. They are technically unlimited but you should use a visa as much as possible.
• You could get denied entry if the IO believes you are working in Thailand.
• I don't see that you will have a problem getting one more 30 day visa exempt entry. Worst case, if you were denied, you could then go to Penang and get a tourist visa.

I haven't heard of that, only for "working in Thailand," whereas I'm working remotely for a company I own in the US. Since I'm on the net, I can work anywhere in the world, but my company is in the US. Thanks for the reflection, tho. How would the Thailand immigration think my work in the US has anything to do with getting a Thai visa? I would imagine they would see my digital nomad work as proof of a USA income for me to spend in Thailand.

That's why I told you, LOL. You said "I can work anywhere in the world" but you need a work permit to work in Thailand and being a digital nomad in your room is considered work. It's Thailand's rule, not mine and I'm just giving you a heads up not to broadcast it.

Note that elviajero who is helping you with visa info already "liked" my post to you. This is just a friendly FYI.

Enjoy your visit.

Cheers.

I haven't heard of that, only for "working in Thailand," whereas I'm working remotely for a company I own in the US. Since I'm on the net, I can work anywhere in the world, but my company is in the US. Thanks for the reflection, tho. How would the Thailand immigration think my work in the US has anything to do with getting a Thai visa? I would imagine they would see my digital nomad work as proof of a USA income for me to spend in Thailand.

It is your physical presence in Thailand when you work that makes it illegal. It doesn't matter where your employer/business is located. Even voluntary and unpaid work requires a work permit.

Immigration currently tolerate (leave alone) remote workers (digital nomads) because given the digital age many tourists keep up with their job/work whilst travelling or on holiday, and Thailand, like other countries, doesn't seem to have a problem with that. The difficulty for authorities is determining who is a genuine tourist keeping in contact with work and the person entering the country as a tourist but lives and works here.

Providing your IT income as proof when applying for a visa is fine. As long as you're travelling to Thailand for tourism the embassy/consulate will have no complaint. The border is different. If you are asked about what you do in Thailand the answer should be limited to tourism. If you mention the word work it could prompt further questioning and possibly even a denied entry.

Edited January 18, 201610 yr by elviajero

Go out, come back in, get 30 days visa exempt stamp and extend that at your Thai Immi office for a further 30 days.

Simple - covers 4 or 6 or 8 weeks + as required.

Americans get no extra privileges over other G7 countries.

Russians get 90 days visa free!

Edited January 19, 201610 yr by Evilbaz

Russians get 90 days visa free!

They only get a 30 day visa exempt entry and cannot get a 30 day extension since the entry is from a bilateral agreement.

See: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/customize/62281-Summary-of-Countries-and-Territories-entitled-for.html

Russians get 90 days visa free!

They only get a 30 day visa exempt entry and cannot get a 30 day extension since the entry is from a bilateral agreement.

See: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/customize/62281-Summary-of-Countries-and-Territories-entitled-for.html

Sorry - my bad.

I inadvertently looked at Diplomatic passports.

I haven't heard of that, only for "working in Thailand," whereas I'm working remotely for a company I own in the US. Since I'm on the net, I can work anywhere in the world, but my company is in the US. Thanks for the reflection, tho. How would the Thailand immigration think my work in the US has anything to do with getting a Thai visa? I would imagine they would see my digital nomad work as proof of a USA income for me to spend in Thailand.

you can work in Thailand but are not allowed to work without a work permit. doesn't matter where your company is. your on Thai soil, so there rules

Wow, thank you everyone for your informative replies. I wish I hadn't bothered with all the confusing queries at the immigration office and embassy. You all seem to have more clarity than they were able to express, and now I feel like I have a handle on what I need to do. Thanks again for being awesome and so incredibly helpful!