Can I get another visa-exempt, or should I apply again for a Tourist Visa?

[mintberrycrunch]

Hi all 

 

I am in Bangkok and currently on my 2nd consecutive TV. My current 60 day TV expires early October. I will then extend this at Chaengwattana which will take me up to early November. 

 

At that point, I need to stay just 30 days more to get me to early December, when I will return home to Europe. (no plans as yet to return to Thailand next year). 

 

So my question is: 

1. -when i get to early November, can I just fly out (to, say, KL) and back in and get one last visa exempt for 30 days? 

 

2. -or should I apply for another TV, eventhough I only want 30 days and not 60? 

 

Obviously I would rather option 1, because it's cheaper and quicker. But I'm worried I have too many stamps on my passport and I might get asked 'questions'. (I also have 1 TV from last year). So I will do option 2 if necessary. (Current TV is from Vientianne, previous is from Penang. Both applications were easy). 

 

Thanks in advance for your advices  

[ubonjoe]

Since it appears you have not done several visa exempt entries you will have no problem doing an out and back to get one.

They don't count  visa entries against being able to do a visa exempt entry.

If you are from a G7 country you would get a 30 day entry at a border crossing.

[darrendsd]

Use http://www.thaivisaservice.com/ to get a Visa Exempt, with your history it should not be a problem

[BritTim]

As stated, an in/out by air to Kuala Lumpur for a 30-day visa exempt entry should be fine. The only possible issue could be that the airline will want to see your ticket out within 30 days. It you already have your return booked to home country, that obviously will not be a problem. If your return is not yet booked come early November, and you want to defer doing so, a border hop by land is an alternative if you are from a G7 country.

[mintberrycrunch]

^^^ Thanks for the replies guys. 

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I should have my return ticket back to Europe booked by then, so hopefully that will help if they ask for it at immigration. At least now I have an idea of dates I need to look at to book my flight home. 

 

One more question: 

When doing an in/out to get my visa exempt (probably to KL or Singapore, because they have free visa on arrival, I think), do I have to stay a night there? Or could I return on the next available flight? Because I think Air Asia do several flights to KL a day... 

(I'm not from one of the Big 7 countries, so I think I would only get 15 days if I did a land border crossing). 

 

Thanks again dudes

[darrendsd]

You can extend the 15  days by another 30 thirty at Immigration if you need to if you do a land crossing

 

I am pretty certain of this but someone else will confirm for sure

 

You can go to KL or Singapore and return on the same day

 

Just to be on the safe side have your ticket to Europe with you when you return and also some cash, i'm not sure if it's 10 or 20k, again somebody else will confirm

 

The reason I say this is that Immigration at the Airport are being picky with people who do such trips, out/in on the same day, I was told on a recent visa trip that one guy was refused entry when he did such a trip, sorry I don't know what his past visa history is/was

 

You should be fine but take what I have advised you to take just to be on the safe side

 

With all the reports about how picky Immigration are being at the Airport you may be better advised to do a land crossing if you think this fits your needs but of course it's your choice

[BritTim]

5 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

You can extend the 15  days by another 30 thirty at Immigration if you need to if you do a land crossing

 

I am pretty certain of this but someone else will confirm for sure

 

You can go to KL or Singapore and return on the same day

 

Just to be on the safe side have your ticket to Europe with you when you return and also some cash, i'm not sure if it's 10 or 20k, again somebody else will confirm

 

The reason I say this is that Immigration at the Airport are being picky with people who do such trips, out/in on the same day, I was told on a recent visa trip that one guy was refused entry when he did such a trip, sorry I don't know what his past visa history is/was

 

You should be fine but take what I have advised you to take just to be on the safe side

 

With all the reports about how picky Immigration are being at the Airport you may be better advised to do a land crossing if you think this fits your needs but of course it's your choice

 

At the Bangkok airports, they are not picky. There must be some serious red flags before you will have an issue there. Although still unlikely, it is actually at land borders where an issue might arise. It is possible that capricious refusals to allow an entry can occur, without following proper procedures (no stamp in your passport, just telling you to go away).

[darrendsd]

I would say they are being picky, a friend of mine who comes here 4 times a year on VE was telling me 2 days ago that he has been questioned the last 4 times he has arrived from the UK

 

There have also been various reports on this forum of members saying they have been questioned at both Swampy and DM

 

There is nothing wrong with pointing this out to the OP and advising him to have the ticket back to Europe and cash if asked just to be on the safe side, a same day out/in could raise flags

 

As for land borders yes fair point but as the OP has not done any land crossings he should have no issue at Ban Leam, I haven't the last 2 times I have been there

 

 

[BritTim]

6 hours ago, darrendsd said:

I would say they are being picky, a friend of mine who comes here 4 times a year on VE was telling me 2 days ago that he has been questioned the last 4 times he has arrived from the UK

 

There have also been various reports on this forum of members saying they have been questioned at both Swampy and DM

 

There is nothing wrong with pointing this out to the OP and advising him to have the ticket back to Europe and cash if asked just to be on the safe side, a same day out/in could raise flags

 

As for land borders yes fair point but as the OP has not done any land crossings he should have no issue at Ban Leam, I haven't the last 2 times I have been there

 

It is normal procedure (i) for immigration officials at Bangkok airports to question those that have 6 or more visa exempt entries to confirm that they are genuine tourists (allowing entry if they are); and (ii) for immigration officials at land borders from Cambodia to (contrary to correct procedure) simply refuse entry to those with 6 or more visa exempt entries.

[darrendsd]

And as I said a same day out/in could raise questions, there was a story on here not so long ago of another member doing a same day or next day out/in and being denied entry at Phuket

 

As I also said there is nothing wrong with letting the OP know what he should have should he face any questioning

 

In the current climate it is wise to have what I have told him he should take, he may or may not need it but better safe then sorry, you never know

 

If you don't think that he needs what I have told him then feel free to tell the OP 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[londoedan]

9 hours ago, darrendsd said:

You can extend the 15  days by another 30 thirty at Immigration if you need to if you do a land crossing

 

I am pretty certain of this but someone else will confirm for sure

 

You can go to KL or Singapore and return on the same day

 

 

 

According to this report, Singapore may not be quite so amenable to 'visa-runners' as it once was:

 

http://jakarta.coconuts.co/2016/09/15/warning-visa-runs-singapore-may-no-longer-be-safe-sacha-stevensons-friend-finds-out-hard