Are border 'bounces' still allowed?

[thelongshoot]

Hello people.  First can I just say, I did look around the TV.com home page and also this forum but i honestly cant see any answers to this.  TV.com seems to be just news?  Anyway.... I am at the end of my tourist visa and have almost used up the 30 day extension.  I would like to go to Bali or maybe Hanoi for a new tourist visa early November with the GF but need something to get me through until then.  Are you allowed to do a simple border run these days, as in driving to the border nipping over and back in same day?  If so what do you get these days is it 15 or 30 days?  WIll it make any difference if i fly somewhere in and out same day and again what is available 15 days or 30 if you fly?

 

Is it possible to drive to the casino island near ranong and get a visa waiver for 15 or 30 days?  I have been there a few times in the past while on a multi entry TV but have never tried it just to get a simple visa waiver thingy....

 

It worries me a little as i do have a good 5 or 6 tourist visas in my passport already, Im hoping i dnt have any 'you not tourist you stay long time' grief at whatever border i drive/fly over?  Im getting married in December anyway so will hopefully get a marriage visa at that point but yah for the time being, any feedback would be appreciated!

 

Many thanks

 

TLS

[KhunBENQ]

Quote

I am at the end of my tourist visa and have almost used up the 30 day extension.

If your travel history this year is not longer than described (?) another border run will be no problem.

30 days when flying out/in (Malaysia e.g).

30 days at land borders if you are from a G7 country.

15 days at land borders for all other nationalities.

 

G7: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States.

[thelongshoot]

Thanks so much khunBENQ for the info, much appreciated.  Would I need to show a ticket out of the country or something?

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, thelongshoot said:

Thanks so much khunBENQ for the info, much appreciated.  Would I need to show a ticket out of the country or something?

 

You might be required by the airline to have an onward ticket if you do the in/out by air. It will not be necessary if using a land border. Note that there are a few potential issues with some land borders. First, while you should be OK with your planned Ranong border hop, do not try to use other land borders with Myanmar. The Thai immigration at those border points does not allow crossing for visa exempt entries. Secondly, there is a rule, often ignored, that you must spend 24 hours in Cambodia if crossing by land and returning to Thailand. That is a Cambodian rule. If the Cambodian authorities try to enforce it, a bribe (not much) is sufficient to have the rule waived.

[freedomnow]

45 minutes ago, BritTim said:

 

You might be required by the airline to have an onward ticket if you do the in/out by air. It will not be necessary if using a land border. Note that there are a few potential issues with some land borders. First, while you should be OK with your planned Ranong border hop, do not try to use other land borders with Myanmar. The Thai immigration at those border points does not allow crossing for visa exempt entries. Secondly, there is a rule, often ignored, that you must spend 24 hours in Cambodia if crossing by land and returning to Thailand. That is a Cambodian rule. If the Cambodian authorities try to enforce it, a bribe (not much) is sufficient to have the rule waived.

Time are you 'doubly sure' out-in runners won't get asked for an onward ticket overland...for me that would be coming in from Laos after 7-day tour there...at same border I exited 'The Land of Endless Forms to Fill in".

[thelongshoot]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

 

You might be required by the airline to have an onward ticket if you do the in/out by air. It will not be necessary if using a land border. Note that there are a few potential issues with some land borders. First, while you should be OK with your planned Ranong border hop, do not try to use other land borders with Myanmar. The Thai immigration at those border points does not allow crossing for visa exempt entries. Secondly, there is a rule, often ignored, that you must spend 24 hours in Cambodia if crossing by land and returning to Thailand. That is a Cambodian rule. If the Cambodian authorities try to enforce it, a bribe (not much) is sufficient to have the rule waived.

 

Appreciate it, thanks.  Ill try driving down to the casino island and hopefully Ill be fine.  Its a nice drive from Hua Hin, albiet pretty far.  Ill try it a few days before I need to, just to be safe.  Thanks again.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, freedomnow said:

Time are you 'doubly sure' out-in runners won't get asked for an onward ticket overland...for me that would be coming in from Laos after 7-day tour there...at same border I exited 'The Land of Endless Forms to Fill in".

 

I have known out/in border hoppers to be asked to show cash, but (even at Sadao) never heard of them asking for onward flight tickets.

[KhunBENQ]

10 hours ago, BritTim said:

I have known out/in border hoppers to be asked to show cash, but (even at Sadao)

That's what has been reported.

20000 Baht or equiv. in cash.

Seems to be a rare case.

Might depend whether one looks like a hobo, backpacker or more like a "quality tourist"

[charliebadenhop]

Not sure here...

 

But I know that at Mae Sai there is a sign when wanting to go out of the country, that says "No more visa runs" and they won't let you out unless you are not planning on coming back in for "a while"

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, charliebadenhop said:

Not sure here...

 

But I know that at Mae Sai there is a sign when wanting to go out of the country, that says "No more visa runs" and they won't let you out unless you are not planning on coming back in for "a while"

You can only cross there if you have a valid Thai visa for re-entry to the country. Or if you have a visa for Myanmar.

Same at Mae Sot and Ban Phu Nam Ron.

[flynn]

Flew in with a friend at pattaya airport from Malaysia last month and he had trouble getting in, the immigration officer told him it was the last time he will get in with a 30 day stamp, next time get a proper visa, he wrote words to that effect in his passport,