Final crackdown for border runners - New strict Immigration regulation in force from today

[sonnyt34 34]

This is big news that will affect a lot of people.

Kudos to Thai visa for getting the info out there.

I wouldn't fancy being a border runner right now - that said, going in and out of Thailand every 30 days means you aren't a tourist anyway and are probably milking the system.

Immigration seem to be on one at the moment!

I just came to thailand for 3 months not milking the system leaving next month, coming back for longer stay with an ed visa in september

[Spoonman 2,333]

changes nothing. I have friends who have been here years and have never once crossed any boarder for any visa extension.This is Thailand-have money- do as you please.This will only make those visa fixers a little more money and many local Thai vendors/businesses a little less.

This has nothing to do with visa extensions but is all about those who do not have a visa and are doing border runs every 15/30 days to get another visa exempt entry. the time has come to sort their ........... and get a proper visa.

Lets face it. doing a border run every 15/30 days is costly, why not fly to a neighboring country for 2 days and get a proper tourist visa.

Edited May 10, 2014 by Spoonman

[Soutpeel 17,198]

Hopefully this crackdown will be like many others, short lived. A lot of people legitimately working, studying, living, or touring here, do border runs occasionally between visas. They should be able to differentiate between someone doing it a few times, and someone doing it for 5 years.

It is understood that the new regulation is to prohibit back-to-back border runners who stay for an extended time in the country without a proper visa from a Consulate or Embassy abroad or an extension of stay granted by the Immigration Bureau in Thailand.

One suspects the legitimate people you mention would already have a proper visa ?....this is to stop people who work/live here without a proper visa living here long term jumping the border every 15/30 days, a legitimate tourist/some one touring would have little problem with this

[ClutchClark 7,584]

This is big news that will affect a lot of people.

Kudos to Thai visa for getting the info out there.

I wouldn't fancy being a border runner right now - that said, going in and out of Thailand every 30 days means you aren't a tourist anyway and are probably milking the system.

Immigration seem to be on one at the moment!

I know many people who rely on the border runs; however, I don't believe any of them were attempting to milk the system. They were unaware what they were doing was illegal. It seems odd that there is such an industry set up to support this practice andwhich advertise their services openly if, in fact, it was against the law.

This crackdown is actually advantageous to tourists on extended stays since it is much cheaper to apply for and receive a Visa than to make the monthly border runs.

Edited May 10, 2014 by ClutchClark

[Mario2008 3,563]

What about new Non Immigrant O visas, do they still have multiple entry as before?

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Depends where you apply and for what reason.

[ClutchClark 7,584]

So fly in and out every 30 days won't be affected?

It will be effected in August 2014.

[TallGuyJohninBKK 17,546]

What about new Non Immigrant O visas, do they still have multiple entry as before?

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

This apparent policy change has nothing to do with people holding Non-O visas. No impact whatsoever.

It's only pertaining to those attempting back-to-back visa-exempt (meaning with NO visa) land border crossings.

[Mario2008 3,563]

So fly in and out every 30 days won't be affected?

It will be effected in August 2014.

Correct.

It seems that as of 12 August border runs by air will also no longer be allowed.

[ubonjoe 34,592]

What about new Non Immigrant O visas, do they still have multiple entry as before?

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

No change for those with visas.

It is only for those that do not have visas.

[pinkpanther99 3,582]

If you go in and out of Thailand every month for say a period of a year - the only purpose being to get 30 days at the border, then I am sorry but you are not a tourist.

Go and fill out all the reams and reams of paperwork and jump through all the hoops like the rest of us had to be able to say here legally long term.

[naanaa 2]

But fly out and fly in in 2 days won't be affected?

So fly in and out every 30 days won't be affected?

It will be effected in August 2014.

Correct.

It seems that as of 12 August border runs by air will also no longer be allowed.

[TallGuyJohninBKK 17,546]

What about new Non Immigrant O visas, do they still have multiple entry as before?

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Depends where you apply and for what reason.

Mario, that strikes me as not quite a clear answer....

If someone is holding a current Non-O visa, AFAIK, this policy/enforcement change should have no impact on them, whatsoever.

If you or Keng are addressing a different question of whether the various Consulates will also be tightening their visa issuance policies for new/future applicants, it seems those policies are changing and varying all the time from place to place.

But AFAIK, there's nothing in this current policy announcement that bears on that issue.

[apiwan 166]

Like I said the laws regarding immigration here change often.

Keep an eye on TV before making plans.

That said it's amazing how the law changes suddenly

And the only warning is when you get to the border.

Could of gave people 2 weeks a month notice of this.

Also seems other visas are getting harder to get nowadays .

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[DP25 2,576]

Hopefully this crackdown will be like many others, short lived. A lot of people legitimately working, studying, living, or touring here, do border runs occasionally between visas. They should be able to differentiate between someone doing it a few times, and someone doing it for 5 years.

One would hope that those who are studying or working here are doing so on the appropriate visa.

They are. But visas run out, people change jobs, change schools, move to different parts of the country, etc. It affects people who are between visas. Many do border runs for a couple months, while waiting for new paperwork.

[KhunKevin 66]

I had a triple entry tourist visa issued in the UK because i was just coming over for a few months as i expected to back to the UK within that time for work, the work has not yet started, there fore i am having to 'Milk' the system until my job starts.

Now in that period of time i have bought a house and spent over 400,000 baht here in Thailand, does that sound to you like milking the system or Thailand milking me of my hard earned cash?

Enough said!

Edited May 10, 2014 by george
inappropriate language