So I went to my online Thai Consulate in Chicago to start reviewing my requirements for a Visa application. I think I'm interested in Non-O.

I'm married to a Thai woman and we have raised three boys here. She has been here since she was 13. She is a dual citizen. We want to go back to Thailand for 6 months. We are about eight months out .

Anyway, is there a sample application I could look at? The website lists a lot but there are some generalizations. Easy?

RE: Entering Thailand as a tourist and being denied entry

We're getting more and more reports of people either being questioned extensively at the time of entry, or directly being denied entry to Thailand.

Ever since visa exempt entries were changed from 30 days to 60 days, things seem to have been getting stricter in regards to entries. As always, your entry will be at the discretion of the immigration officer you are standing in front of.

One of the key things that seems to be a point against you will be if you applied for an extension to your 60-day entry previously. If you came to Thailand as a tourist (visa exempt or tourist visa) and then applied for a 30-day extension, and then leave and return, this is what seems to be causing issues. Maybe the immigration officers believe 90 days is enough time for you to have been a tourist?

How long you need to be out of Thailand after doing these 90 days varies, and will likely be dependent upon your history in Thailand. We've seen people who returned after 3 months and still have issues. Of course some people leave and return in the same day and encounter no issues, but there's no way for you to know how it will go for you.

If you are coming to Thailand as a tourist and have already been in Thailand within the last 6 months as a tourist, there are a few things you can do to increase your odds:

Have the 3 "proofs" that can be asked for, but usually are not. If the immigration officer wants to deny you entry, these are the 3 easiest reasons for them to do it.

1) Proof of funds (20,000 baht or equivalent in another major currency, IN CASH ONLY)

2) Proof of onward travel (a ticket out of Thailand within 60 days)

3) Proof of lodging (a hotel reservation, or proof of where you will be staying in Thailand for at least the first few days. A lease agreement is not going to be in your favor when you're trying to argue that you are just a tourist and not living in Thailand)

(The single biggest item in your favor will be if you can show them a plane ticket out of Thailand within 60 days, especially if it's back to your home country)

If you have just spent your 90 days in Thailand and want to get a new stamp, then you are recommended to use a land border bounce agency to drive you to the border and make sure you get out and back in without any issues. These typically leave very early in the morning so they can get you back home before the end of the day. For example in Bangkok, they tend to leave around 4AM. Normal costs anywhere from 4-5k baht. More and more land borders are also requiring 1 or 2 nights out of Thailand if you want to do a border bounce, and using an agent will bypass that requirement as well.

You also have the option of using a "safe entry" agent at the airport if you want to fly out and back to get a fresh stamp. These typically cost around 4-5k baht as well but the price will go up if you've been spending a lot of time in Thailand. This is not the same as Fast Track which just gets you into a faster line.

Getting a tourist visa is an option, but nowhere near a guarantee. There's not really any difference between a tourist visa and visa exempt anymore as they both give you 60 days in Thailand. The immigration officers know they are one in the same and if they think you have spent too much time in Thailand as a tourist, a tourist visa isn't likely to help.

There will be many people who want to say "I entered 14 times without any problems" or "I have NEVER been asked to show money in my 800 years of entering Thailand" but it's not relevant. Unless that person has the exact same travel history as you, and was stamped in by the exact same immigration officer that you are standing in front of, their experience is irrelevant. We are talking about trends here, and the trends show that they are getting more strict across every method of entry into Thailand.

This post won't apply to 99% of people who are coming to Thailand as actual tourists for a few weeks and then going home. But there are a lot of people trying to spend a lot of time in Thailand without a long-term visa, and they are the ones in the crosshairs currently.

I did three visa exempt border bounces last year. Two by air one by land. Been on an ED Visa for the past 9 months which has ended. I need to do one last border bounce by air to get 3 months to meet the end of my lease. Will this be an issue considering it’s a new calendar year? Thanks…

I applied for DTV from the embassy in KotaBharu Malaysia and it has not been approved since January 12. I have been calling the embassy for the last 3 days and they give me the same answer every day "It will be approved today" Now I want to go back to Thailand. Has this happened to anyone before?

FYI: I just called Nong Khai immigration office for border bounce for Vietnamese national. The officer said that, if the person crossing have not extended the visa and it is the first time - the person can leave and get back into Thailand without needing to stay over night. In case, someone need this info. Thanks.

Hi. I am in Thailand on my DTV visa. I am getting closer to the time of my 90-day reporting. Furthermore, I have international driving license, but it is valid only for 3 months in Thailand after crossing the border. I was planning do the reporting and converting my license to Thai one and do 90 days, but there came an opportunity for a border bounce.

Here is my question: I will be in Chiang Rai soon. Is it a good option to do a border bounce to “reset” 90-days and driving license? If so: do I just need to exit Thailand and do I have to come into Laos? If so, for how long do I need to enter Laos?

1h drive sounds tempting in comparison to 3 days spent in Thai immigration and other offices ;-)

Is it now possible to do a border bounce at Friendship BridgeIV (Huayxay Bokeo Thailand) on the same day? I realize this is often asked, but uncertain of current regulations...

I have made this run several times from Chaing Rai earlier last year, but have heard that later there was a mandatory 2 day stay on Laos side at some of the entry points.

anyone here tried to use border bounce to cambodia ? any recommended agency? can we get 60 days for re-entry?

Hi everyone!

I have Hungarian passport, already in Pattaya 80 days and I want to make border bounce to Cambodia. Can anyone recommend one agent for me? What is the normal Prise?

🙏

Good evening :)

On a multi-entry tourist visa and about to hit 60 days in the kingdom. Plan to do a border bounce down at Satun to get the next 60 days. I'm curious if I should expect an additional fee at the border for going in and out in one day. I was told by others that they were charged, but they were bouncing on a visa exempt, so I wasn't sure if it would apply to METV or not.

If there is a fee, is it unique to Satun? Would bouncing at Sadao make any difference? Thanks.