1st Class Visa Runs

[JR Texas]

Hi (age 51, not rich, long time resident of Thailand, American living in China who left Thailand just before TOXIN was ousted),

A friend of mine who lives in Jomtien-Pattaya just told me that 1st Class Visa Runs is currently advertising visa runs to Cambodia and Malaysia with a guaranteed double entry tourist visa, promising perpetual stay in Thailand. The owner says "no need to worry." Has anyone actually taken either of these trips and obtained a double entry tourist visa? Givent he current anti-foreigner climate in Thailand, I am worried about using such services to obtain any type of visa.

For those of you who are interested, the Thailand Consulate in Hong Kong recently told me, in an email, that they are issuing double entry tourist visas if you can prove to them that you will leave Thailand after your stay (proof being an air-ticket out of Thailand).

I hope all of this VISA INSANITY finally sorts itself out. From where I am sitting, in China, it looks like Thai immigration officials have gone NUTS from all of the TOXIN! What is happening in Thailand appears to me to be much more than a simple attack on "poor and undesirable tourists" who are "abusing the 30 day visa exempt system." TOXIN is gone. One has to wonder why the interim government continues to pursue his misguided, anti-foreigner immigration policies. That is, of course, my opinion.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

JR

[lopburi3]

Believe my greatest worry would be about the authenticity of said visa as there have been other reports of suspect stamps from Cambodia recently. Put me in the skeptic colume.

[tropo]

Believe my greatest worry would be about the authenticity of said visa as there have been other reports of suspect stamps from Cambodia recently. Put me in the skeptic colume.

Stick me in there too. ie. the skeptics "column". We're talking about double entry visas here, not stamps.

[jbaldwin]

My understanding is the double entry tourist visas are very difficult to obtain in Cambodia but still seem to be available in Malaysia, other than Penang. However, no-one can guarantee anything at present. Any firm still offering "guaranteed" double entry visa is dishonest and should be avioded

[JR Texas]

My understanding is the double entry tourist visas are very difficult to obtain in Cambodia but still seem to be available in Malaysia, other than Penang. However, no-one can guarantee anything at present. Any firm still offering "guaranteed" double entry visa is dishonest and should be avioded

Thank you for your rapid and informative responses. I agree that nothing is guaranteed, especially in these interesting times of uncertainty and change. I have only had bad experiences at the Thai Consulate in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The last time, two years ago, I was not even able to get a tourist visa from them. They told me to just cross the border and get 30 days. Now, given the current climate, they would probably grin, feed me to the dogs ,and then eat the dogs (upset stomach for sure).

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL. "May we live in interesting times."

JR Texas

[jmac]

The way I recall the ad on tv in Pattaya, they are offering a 60 day tourist visa, to be extended 30 days at immigration, then 3 30 day visa runs, then 60 day tourist again. Will this be possible, who knows.