VISA CHANGES For people entering Thailand by land

RE # 231 .

Thats significant , copied and pasted from that link to Phuket article -

" The conference was led by Phuket Immigration Superintendent Chanatpol Yongbunjerd, who also confirmed that the former rule limiting foreigners entering on “visa exemptions” from staying more than 90 days over a 180-day period was no longer in effect.

As a result, foreigners from any of the 40 countries eligible for “visa exemptions” can now legally reside in Thailand year-round, provided they don’t mind making a “visa run” every 15 days (30 days if by air) and abide by all other laws and regulations. "

post 228
You can obtain a tourist visa in Penang, KL or KB in Malaysia for your entry into Thailand if you need more than the 15 days land crossing allows. Immigration is not checking for onward travel so only airlines when you fly in are a concern. Thailand may remove the charge for tourist visas next week (for a 3 month period) to make it even easier/less expensive.

"I'm glad someone has raised the issue of travelling from Malaysia to Thailand by boat. "

I know someone who just did this (own boat) and they got 15 days.

So with FREE tourist visas, and unlimited visa runs, what on earth were they expecting to achieve by this 15 day idea????

More money for visa run companies?

or just be bloody awkward?

another nape-of-the-neck decision by Thai govt.......

It will be a pain in the ass for people working illegally to do a visarun every 15 days.

Soooooo I am leaving from Vancouver Feb 24th to Thailand and my travel agent contacted the consulate in Vancouver and has said I can get a triple entry visa (in Vancouver) but in 2 month increments up to 6 months........ SO Maximum 3; 2 month visas x $35CND=$105. And said I have to leave Thailand every 60 days. I will be staying on Koh Samet 99% of the time, so I will just go to the Cambodia border and repeat that 3 times.............does that sound right????? I sure hope so.......

It looks as though ALL (????) visas will be FREE for the next 3 months!

If that doesn't go against the 15 day idea was does!?!?!?

So you can only come in free for 15 days, unless you want to come in for 30 60 or 90 days that is(????)- I wonder if the are including non immigrant "O"s and "B"s in this????

Talk aout chaos!

and to cap it all Thai Air are claiming to cut 50% of flights......

do I detect a certain sense of panic here?

post #238
You can extend any of those 60 day stays for another 30 days but it would cost 1,900 baht and photos. You will have the chance to use 3 visa entries during the six months from the date visa is issued. So will cover 180 days using the 60x3 method or 180 plus 30 with extension on last entry or almost 180 plus 60 plus 30 if you want to extend each time. With extensions you would have to leave after about 90 days. Without extensions you have to leave every 60 days.

"It will be a pain in the ass for people working illegally to do a visa-run every 15 days. "
I've yet to be convinced that this was the target or that there are a significant number of people doing this on a long term basis. most get tourist visas......so I don't think it will have an effect there if that was the real aim.
I'm still of the opinion it is just another stupid idea a nabob had in the toilet, no-one has the balls to tell him what a twat he is.

"or that there are a significant number of people doing this on a long term basis."

Lots of people working on Phi Phi and in Khao Lak do it that way on a long term basis. From Phuket less, but since there are more people working here there is also here a significant number of people that was dependent on the 30 days visa exempt rule.