I know these type of questions have been asked a number of times, and I searched to find answers, but they are still a tad confused

So very simple. My friend came to Thailand late September, stayed for 30 days, went to cambodia, for a few days, came back Oct 30. He is going to leave Thailand again in a few days. If he just does a border run, gets a 3rd visa exempt stamp (US citizen), but leaves before the TOTAL amount of days here in Thailand are 90 days, can he still get a tourist visa?

In short if a person enters 3 times on visa exempt, stay less than 90 days total, can he/she then go to another country and still get a Thai tourist visa?

I want to get this straight, as I don't want to give him the wrong info.

As of today, no one seems to know what will happen. No one!

Your best bet is to call a consulate and find out and share your experiance with us.

BR

Anybody else have thoughts on this?

It will depend on the foreign Consulate but all indications so far are that a single tourist visa should not be impossible to obtain.

Time will tell. It does seem like you would be in violation of the more than 90 days in a 6 month period rule.

It does seem like you would be in violation of the more than 90 days in a 6 month period rule.

Thighlander, please do not confuse the issue. Lingyai has stated clearly that his friend will stay less than 90 days in Thailand based on visa-exempt entries, and after that enter Thailand with a tourist visa. Therefore, at the time he enters with the tourist visa, he will have a record of less than 90 days on visa-exempt stay in Thailand and he will not be in violation of that rule.

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Maestro

Will it be possible to get a tourist visa, after let's say 70 days of visa exemptions, instead of 90 ?

From my point of view, the result would be same : refusal.

Or, they could give a tourist visa of... 20 days (to go until the "90 days" of the rule), which sounds ridiculous.

Hence, I think it wouldn't make a difference.

I still believe that the rule 90 days in, then 90 days out for "tourists" will be applied to visa exemptions and regular tourist visas (60 days + extension) as well.

Anyway, like other people said : we do not know.

In 1 month and 1 week we will have feedback.

cclub75, you believe that a tourist who has stayed in Thailand close to 90 days on visa-exempt entries will be allowed less than the regular 60 days when he enters with a tourist visa.

Based on recent reports I see a different trend emerging, designed to make life more difficult for allegedly fake tourists:

1. Applicants are given a tourist visa for a smaller number of entries than they apply for, in most cases only single-entry at Thai consulates in the region.

2. In some cases, the single-entry tourist visa was given with an additional stamp saying that the applicant will receive no further tourist visa from that consulate.

3. In rare cases, even a single-entry tourist visa was refused.

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Maestro

It should not be a problem to get a TV , provided you avoid notorious places PP,Rangoon,Manila.

Good luck.