Is there any problem to get a Visa Exemption Entry at Don Muang Airport?

[alexlm]

I'm currently on my first Visa Exemption of this last 12 months that I got at Ban Pakkad (Cambodian) border, but the officer said to me I would maybe get only 7 days instead of 30 days, according to the computer wishes...

The officer said that I went at their border too much. But actually it was my first time for the last 12 months (which I spent 6 on overstay, cleared, then 6 on DETV...)

Anyway, I got my 30 days. But it seems to me that I don't want to try this border and officer again.

So I was thinking of doing a "same day" Bangkok-KualaLumpur and KualaLumpur-Bangkok trip to get 30 days again.

Is it "more certain" that I will have no problem to get my 30 days visa exemption at Don Muang Airport? While Cambodian border is uncertain?

Am I thinking right?

[sunnyjim5]

A better plan would be to obtain a Tourist visa from Vientiane or Penang.

The visa would provide an initial 60 day stay which is extendable for a further 30 days at a cost of 1900 Bht.

[darrendsd]

OP have you already extended your visa exempt at a Immigration Office in Thailand?

If you haven't and didn't know you can you will get another 30 days if you from a G7 Country, 15 if not (someone else will confirm the 15 days bit for other countrys)

[alexlm]

Yes I already extended by 30 days of course.

I'm just planning for a good way to get 2 months again safely and cheaply.

And plane is funnier (and cheaper) than a van to Laos

I need time to manage the paperwork to marry my Thai girlfriend, papers should be ready in May of this year, so I have to "cheat" until then...

I was thinking of doing this Kuala Lumpur thing 2 times, so I could stay until June. I understand that I can use 3 visa exemption per calendar year, so I guess it would be ok. But I'm just asking for advices or confirmations, or messages saying me that it's not possible, etc...

[thaibreaker]

OP have you already extended your visa exempt at a Immigration Office in Thailand?

If you haven't and didn't know you can you will get another 30 days if you from a G7 Country, 15 if not (someone else will confirm the 15 days bit for other countrys)

The extension at any immigration office is 30 days for all, regardless of G7.

That comes into consideration only at border crossings by land for visa exemptions.

[ubonjoe]

Yes I already extended by 30 days of course.

I'm just planning for a good way to get 2 months again safely and cheaply.

And plane is funnier (and cheaper) than a van to Laos

I need time to manage the paperwork to marry my Thai girlfriend, papers should be ready in May of this year, so I have to "cheat" until then...

I was thinking of doing this Kuala Lumpur thing 2 times, so I could stay until June. I understand that I can use 3 visa exemption per calendar year, so I guess it would be ok. But I'm just asking for advices or confirmations, or messages saying me that it's not possible, etc...

You don't have to take a van to Vientiane. You can fly to Udon Thani and take a van to the bridge in Nong Khai. Check Nok Air for fly/ride service to Vientiane via Udon.

A single entry tourist visa would give you 90 days total without needing to leave the country..

[jacksam]

OP I realize most will suggest obtain a setv. However I can't see why you just don't fly to places where you don't need a visa such as KL, Singapore etc and fly back obtain a visa exempt stamp. You don't have many in pp at present. Flights with Airasia sometimes very cheap. If you decide on setv follow ubonjoe advice. UT is chilled place. Flights cheap and mini bus to boarder is easy trip.

[alexlm]

So, to have a clear answer to my question:

Can I easily get a visa exempt stamp from Don Muang Airport? Or will they do problems? (at least your estimations...)

[ubonjoe]

So, to have a clear answer to my question:

Can I easily get a visa exempt stamp from Don Muang Airport? Or will they do problems? (at least your estimations...)

You should not have a problem but should be prepared to show financial proof if asked for it.

[sunnyjim5]

So, to have a clear answer to my question:

Can I easily get a visa exempt stamp from Don Muang Airport? Or will they do problems? (at least your estimations...)

Probably but it depends on what is already in your passport and your "visa" history which the IO can see on the computer screen.

[steve187]

no clear answer to your question, as you posted yourself, you are cheating until May, so you will have to take a chance, you have been advised of the 'certain' way to obtain entry. I can see there being problems maybe not this trip, but at some time in the future.

[BritTim]

I found this part of the OP quite interesting:

I'm currently on my first Visa Exemption of this last 12 months that I got at Ban Pakkad (Cambodian) border, but the officer said to me I would maybe get only 7 days instead of 30 days, according to the computer wishes...

The officer said that I went at their border too much. But actually it was my first time for the last 12 months (which I spent 6 on overstay, cleared, then 6 on DETV...)

It seems to indicate that the computer alerts when trying to enter visa exempt are based on more than the number of recent visa exempt entries. I wonder if overstays are part of the algorithm used. Alternatively, perhaps visa exempt entries longer back than just 12 months are taken into consideration.

I have no current intention of using visa exempt entries (have not for a couple of years) but it would be good to know what triggers such alerts. It might be possible that I could want to make a quick visa exempt entry by land, and some IOs seem to take the alerts as a recommendation to deny entry rather than to confirm one is a bona fide tourist.

Does anyone have any insight?

[sunnyjim5]

I found this part of the OP quite interesting:

I'm currently on my first Visa Exemption of this last 12 months that I got at Ban Pakkad (Cambodian) border, but the officer said to me I would maybe get only 7 days instead of 30 days, according to the computer wishes...

The officer said that I went at their border too much. But actually it was my first time for the last 12 months (which I spent 6 on overstay, cleared, then 6 on DETV...)

It seems to indicate that the computer alerts when trying to enter visa exempt are based on more than the number of recent visa exempt entries. I wonder if overstays are part of the algorithm used. Alternatively, perhaps visa exempt entries longer back than just 12 months are taken into consideration.

I have no current intention of using visa exempt entries (have not for a couple of years) but it would be good to know what triggers such alerts. It might be possible that I could want to make a quick visa exempt entry by land, and some IOs seem to take the alerts as a recommendation to deny entry rather than to confirm one is a bona fide tourist.

Does anyone have any insight?

An "alert" is insufficient for an IO to deny entry.

Suspicion of illegal working and/or an inability to demonstrate adequate finances are reasons for a legal denial of entry!

[BritTim]

I found this part of the OP quite interesting:

I'm currently on my first Visa Exemption of this last 12 months that I got at Ban Pakkad (Cambodian) border, but the officer said to me I would maybe get only 7 days instead of 30 days, according to the computer wishes...

The officer said that I went at their border too much. But actually it was my first time for the last 12 months (which I spent 6 on overstay, cleared, then 6 on DETV...)

It seems to indicate that the computer alerts when trying to enter visa exempt are based on more than the number of recent visa exempt entries. I wonder if overstays are part of the algorithm used. Alternatively, perhaps visa exempt entries longer back than just 12 months are taken into consideration.

I have no current intention of using visa exempt entries (have not for a couple of years) but it would be good to know what triggers such alerts. It might be possible that I could want to make a quick visa exempt entry by land, and some IOs seem to take the alerts as a recommendation to deny entry rather than to confirm one is a bona fide tourist.

Does anyone have any insight?

An "alert" is insufficient for an IO to deny entry.

Suspicion of illegal working and/or an inability to demonstrate adequate finances are reasons for a legal denial of entry!

According to the law (which is duly followed at airports) that is indisputably true. However, there is also evidence that some IOs at land borders treat the alerts as a guide (or at least an excuse) to deny entry. There have been too many reports of this to put it down to bad reporting. See the quote from the OP about "computer wishes" (probably more like "computer instructions").