Hi guys,

 

I would like to hear your opinions on what do you think would be best strategy for me wanting to stay here until Q1'18 (12 months more). After that, I plan on staying in EU for long. Here's some info on me:

 

• EU national
• Was employed in Thailand with Non-Immigrant VISA B for 1 to 1,5 years around 2 years ago
• Was in Thailand for short holidays in 2008, 2011 on visa-exempt entries
• Overstayed twice: once for 50 days (2 years ago), second time for 4 days
• Did two SETV in last 6 months: 1st from EU, 2nd from Vientiane
• Did two VISA extensions for 30 days in last 2 years, will do a third one shortly (2 extensions within last 6 months)
• No visa-exempt land crossings
• No visa-exempt fly-ins within last 2 years (I think)
• Never did METV

 

I'm planning to do next SETV in Nepal end of April. I think it has 50%+ success rate. After that, I'm not sure - it could be a combination of SETVs + 30d extensions & visa-exemption entries and/or cool-off period (?). I'd appreciate your recommendations as in - what would you do ?

 

Obviously there's no bullet proof solution but I'd be happy to hear feedback.

 

Much thanks,

Matt

 

I think immigration is likely to leave you alone on tourist entries if satisfied that you are not working in Thailand. The older you are, the more likely they are to believe you are retired and not working. Unfortunately, since you do not raise the possibility of a retirement extension, I am guessing you are under 50.

I think you should plan to re-enter regularly at Suvarnabhumi, and have the following:

• Good reasons for spending so much time in Thailand.
• 20,000 baht equivalent cash.
• Documentation of your sources of income that clearly demonstrate that you have no need to work.

Prior experience suggests that Suvarnabhumi immigration looks at each case individually, and will not deny entry if you can satisfy them. At Don Muang and (even more so) Phuket, their decisions are not always based on logic.

Some will suggest entering through land borders (using tourist visas so no hard limits) on the basis that any denied entry is unofficial and not recorded in the immigration database. This allows you to attempt to enter elsewhere with a high chance of success. I understand the argument (though a canceled exit stamp, from say Cambodia, might make some subsequent immigration officials suspicious) but I would personally still trust Suvarnambumi to make rational decisions.

As you say, there is no 100% guaranteed solution, and you should probably ensure you have a plan B for if the worst happens.

Edited March 28, 20179 yr by BritTim

You could sign up for 400 lessons of Thai Language School and get a NON-ED visa - that should be good for 1 year.

 

You will need to go to the classes regularly.

Do not try to plan exempt/touristvisa strategy for 12 months.

Just come back to forum always when there is about one week time left in Thailand.

Read the fresh visanews and then make a new decision where to go for new visa or exempt entry..

On 3/28/2017 at 10:41 PM, BritTim said:

I think immigration is likely to leave you alone on tourist entries if satisfied that you are not working in Thailand. The older you are, the more likely they are to believe you are retired and not working. Unfortunately, since you do not raise the possibility of a retirement extension, I am guessing you are under 50.

I think you should plan to re-enter regularly at Suvarnabhumi, and have the following:

• Good reasons for spending so much time in Thailand.
• 20,000 baht equivalent cash.
• Documentation of your sources of income that clearly demonstrate that you have no need to work.

Prior experience suggests that Suvarnabhumi immigration looks at each case individually, and will not deny entry if you can satisfy them. At Don Muang and (even more so) Phuket, their decisions are not always based on logic.

Some will suggest entering through land borders (using tourist visas so no hard limits) on the basis that any denied entry is unofficial and not recorded in the immigration database. This allows you to attempt to enter elsewhere with a high chance of success. I understand the argument (though a canceled exit stamp, from say Cambodia, might make some subsequent immigration officials suspicious) but I would personally still trust Suvarnambumi to make rational decisions.

As you say, there is no 100% guaranteed solution, and you should probably ensure you have a plan B for if the worst happens.

Thanks for reply BritTim. Yes, I'm below 50.

 

Could you explain further the text I highlighted ? Let me know if I understand this correctly: I'm trying to cross the board via land on a visa-exempt entry and I get denied i.e. Cambodia officials let me through to Thailand, and Thailand tells me to go back to Cambodia. I also get a stamp "cancelled exit" which is not pretty. Then, I fly to Laos and try to re-enter Thailand, but at a different crossing ?

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Matt199 said:

On 3/28/2017 at 10:41 PM, BritTim said:

Some will suggest entering through land borders (using tourist visas so no hard limits) on the basis that any denied entry is unofficial and not recorded in the immigration database. This allows you to attempt to enter elsewhere with a high chance of success. I understand the argument (though a canceled exit stamp, from say Cambodia, might make some subsequent immigration officials suspicious) but I would personally still trust Suvarnambumi to make rational decisions.

As you say, there is no 100% guaranteed solution, and you should probably ensure you have a plan B for if the worst happens.

Thanks for reply BritTim. Yes, I'm below 50.

 

Could you explain further the text I highlighted ? Let me know if I understand this correctly: I'm trying to cross the board via land on a visa-exempt entry and I get denied i.e. Cambodia officials let me through to Thailand, and Thailand tells me to go back to Cambodia. I also get a stamp "cancelled exit" which is not pretty. Then, I fly to Laos and try to re-enter Thailand, but at a different crossing ?

The point is that denying entry by the book involves senior officials in a fair amount of work. If the denial is at an airport, proper procedure is followed. The denial is documented, a stamp recording the denial is made in your passport, with the official reason for denying entry. The attempted entry and denial is recorded in the immigration database.

At land borders, if they decide to deny entry, they almost invariably just tell you they will not allow you to enter and force you to return to the country you just came from. As far as Thai immigration is concerned, there is nothing in your passport, or in immigration's system to indicate you tried to enter. However, your exit stamp from the other country needs to be canceled. An eagle eyed immigration official might notice this, and deduce what happened, but mostly it will likely pass unnoticed. Thus, yes, you can go to another land border (or fly in) and there is a good chance you will be processed by a more obliging immigration official.

Got it. Thanks for elaborating !

On 3/28/2017 at 10:48 PM, somethingnice said:

You could sign up for 400 lessons of Thai Language School and get a NON-ED visa - that should be good for 1 year.

 

You will need to go to the classes regularly.

Is there any way of getting NON-ED or ED visa without attending anything ? I could do the language IF I worked with Thais or I had Thai gf, but I don't.

 

Still thinking of options. Thanks

1 hour ago, Matt199 said:

Is there any way of getting NON-ED or ED visa without attending anything ? I could do the language IF I worked with Thais or I had Thai gf, but I don't.

 

Still thinking of options. Thanks

With language courses, there is generally no way of avoiding classes. In a few cases, bribes to the local immigration might be possible, but could not be relied upon.

If looking for a way to game the system, and living in Chiang Mai, these guys have a special relationship with the authorities, and attending their classes is optional: http://www.cmlocals.com/combat-class-chiang-mai/

Personally, for 12 months, I would just go the tourist visa route, using it as an opportunity to visit several interesting cities in the region (Phnom Penh, Yangon, Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong ...).

13 hours ago, Matt199 said:

Is there any way of getting NON-ED or ED visa without attending anything ? I could do the language IF I worked with Thais or I had Thai gf, but I don't.

 

Still thinking of options. Thanks

You must pay the bribe for each extension to avoid hassles whether you attend classes or not - at least in some areas.  Check with prospective-schools, and ask if there is an "easy track" to your visa-extensions - that you heard some say they needed to pay a fee every 90-days to get them without hassle or delay.    Note that you can take any language other than your passport-native language - so if not interested in Thai, maybe something else would work.  If you are going to pay for it - might as well get some benefit, whatever Immigration's policy is.

 

If not interested in a language, I agree with BritTim - go the TouristVisa route for 1-year.  When/if that becomes problematic (unlikely in the 1st year), then see what options are available going forward.

13 hours ago, Matt199 said:

Is there any way of getting NON-ED or ED visa without attending anything ? I could do the language IF I worked with Thais or I had Thai gf, but I don't.

 

Still thinking of options. Thanks

 

12 hours ago, BritTim said:

With language courses, there is generally no way of avoiding classes. In a few cases, bribes to the local immigration might be possible, but could not be relied upon.

If looking for a way to game the system, and living in Chiang Mai, these guys have a special relationship with the authorities, and attending their classes is optional: http://www.cmlocals.com/combat-class-chiang-mai/

Personally, for 12 months, I would just go the tourist visa route, using it as an opportunity to visit several interesting cities in the region (Phnom Penh, Yangon, Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong ...).

 

Pro language Asoke has gone back to not requiring attendance. I have some friends studying there, 20k baht for a year and they were told no need to come to class. In fact they prefer it and that price is a slight discount for not attending.

On 28/3/2017 at 6:03 PM, thaitero said:

Do not try to plan exempt/touristvisa strategy for 12 months.

Just come back to forum always when there is about one week time left in Thailand.

Read the fresh visanews and then make a new decision where to go for new visa or exempt entry..

where to find the fresh visa news?

On 01/04/2017 at 4:32 PM, Hjernestimulanz said:

where to find the fresh visa news?

Have a browse of the visa forum https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/1-thai-visas-residency-and-work-permits/

 

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