During 2014 the Thai Immigration authority have started enacting new rules and begun enforcing existing rules in order to discourage so called border-runs by expatriates. This relates to Visa on arrival exemption stamps and visa extensions. For a long time now foreigners wishing to extend their legal stay in the Kingdom have been crossing at one of the Thailand borders and then re-entering the country with a freshly stamped passport. By doing this means a new Visa on arrival is applicable or by using one of the entries on a multi-entry visa. As so many expatriates are extending their stay indefinitely by border-running the Thai Immigration authority has decided to look more closely at this method.
So whilst border-running to gain a re-entry stamp and stay of extension is not per se illegal for the purpose of tourism, it was open to be used for illegal purposes. So, as some foreigners may have taken advantage of this system using it for reasons other than tourism, for example residency or working without correct paperwork the Thai Government have made a few changes.
According to certain Thai Government officials and various news articles these changes are aimed at deterring criminal activity and illegal working in tourist areas.
The specific Changes in Thai Visa Rules 2014 by Thai Government are as follows;
Instead of a 30 day stamp received on re-entering Thailand by land will now receive a 15 day stamp. The exception to this rule will be for Malaysian citizens who will still receive a 30 day stamp.
Since May 2014 a land re-entry visa on arrival will be limited to a total of one 15 day stamp. Visitors will be advised to fly out of the country and re-enter by air with a proper visa from a consulate or Embassy outside of Thailand.
There is a new process for the re-entry procedure which means you can drop off the application, documents and passport all together, once it is processed it can be collected, this can take less than one hour, depending on how busy the office is at the time.
The application for a visa on arrival extension no longer involves the need to leave the country. Reporting to the Immigration office and filling out the paperwork with a payment of 1,900 Thai baht will give you another 30 or 60 day extension at the discretion of the officer.
The application of these rules is of course up to the individual border staff. The enforcement is aimed at individuals who are abusing this system so genuine tourists may not have any problem with a border-run. However, to be on the safe side for genuine tourists wanting to extend their stay in Thailand without incurring any problems it may well be advisable to go to a neighbouring county and visit a Royal Thai Embassy office and get a genuine tourist visa.
Is it worth the risk of being deported and fined when for a couple of thousand baht and a 3 day trip to Vientienne or Phnom Pen you can extend your stay in the Kingdom of Thailand?
