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How can I apply for a single entry tourist visa while living in Thailand?

Thailand visatourist visaexpat advicevisa application processborder runED visavisa exemptionimmigration rulesThailand immigration
Aug 9, 2023
2 years ago
Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Currently Living in Thailand. Been here for +7 Months. I want to get a single entry tourist visa. What would the best action be? I understand you cannot be inside thailand when applying for this visa. Is there a smart method to go into a neighboring country to accomplish this?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, currently living in Thailand for over seven months, seeks advice on applying for a single entry tourist visa. They need to leave Thailand to apply, as it's not possible to do so from within the country. Comments suggest visiting a Thai embassy in a neighboring country, such as Laos, as a possible option for applying. However, there's caution regarding potential entry denial upon return to Thailand, especially considering the user's history of multiple border entries. Various suggestions include applying in countries like Vientiane or considering an education visa if planning to attend classes. The conversation also highlights the nature of tourist visas, noting they do not guarantee entry, especially with recent stricter immigration checks.
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Falcon *******
laos
2 years ago
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Mitchell *******
How are you living here exactly?
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
For the record - I read that border runs are limited to 2 in a year now. Everyone knows that. However I also read flying in and out of the country could be done still without limitation. Immigration gave me a hard time yesterday, when I flew to Vietnam and flew back into thailand on the same day. I said I would seek ED visa and they said, yes do that or get a Tourist Visa or something. They were strict.
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes thats exactaly right
2 years ago
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Richard *********
@Pablo *******
 LAND border visa exempt MAX 2 entries<

UNLIMITED flying in until they say NO MORE.
2 years ago
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Richard *********
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Frank **********
You basically asked the same thing before and got answers.
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *********
 No.
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
bro who cares
2 years ago
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Frank **********
@Pablo *******
 so this is not you
2 years ago
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Frank **********
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Will ************
A tourist visa is not a guaranteed entry into Thailand. Anyone trying to live in Thailand on tourist visas and visa exempts with extensions longtime is in for a very big shock once the new government gets installed
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Will ***********
 So you have heard of cases in which someone with a TV was denied?
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Pablo *******
 There have been cases. Aranyaprathet have turned people back to Siam Reap and told to fly into Thailand and take their chances at the airport
2 years ago
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Steve ********
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Оливер *********
Don't you think Thai immigration isn't following this group and taking notes 🎶?
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Оливер ********
No. They don't need to do that anyway. Everything they need to know is right in front of them on their computer screens when someone enters the country.
2 years ago
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Tore *********
Оливер Иоьодыч extremely doubtful lol. That’s beyond paranoid. You are really overestimating how much importance individuals have….
2 years ago
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Tore *********
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Steve ********
Keep in mind that a tourist visa does not guarantee entry to Thailand. With your record of bouncing in and out of Thailand on free entries, you may be declined either the visa or the entry. Be careful
2 years ago
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Tore *********
@Steve *******
 exactly this. Best bet is to cross back by land via Laos, for example Chong Mek
2 years ago
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Shaz ********
@Tore *****************
 Couldn't he do all that in Vientiane as well?
2 years ago
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Tore *********
@Shaz *******
 definitely
2 years ago
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Tore *********
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Steve ********
@Tore *****************
 He's already exhausted his free entries.
2 years ago
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Tore *********
@Steve *******
 the 2 entries by land is only for visa exemptions entries. With an actual visa there is no such fixed limit.

No guarantee he will get in though, but highly unlikely to be denied at Chong Mek
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tore *****************
 Why not fly back from Laos into BKK?
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Pablo *******
 Have you considered leaving the country for a couple of months and then returning on a tourist visa? It seems you're under the microscope at the moment
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 i feel like education visa while in bangkok might be easier, what do you think from your experience?
2 years ago
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Tore *********
@Pablo *******
 just be aware it’s been allot of crackdown lately on dodgy ED visas, and they also exclude from ever applying elite visa (the dodgy ones, not the real ones)

But definitely possible, personally I would not unless actually attending classes.
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tore *****************
 If I actually plan on attending classes, is ED visa the best bet? I dont want to apply for a TV and get denied. Thanks for all the great comments everyone.
2 years ago
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Tore *********
@Pablo *******
 best bet or not, I don’t know what’s best for you. But yeah ED an option. If the school has approval letter from OBEC, it should be ok. The reputable schools would. But I have no idea about specific schools.
2 years ago
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Tore *********
@Pablo *******
 it’s possible of course, but land borders and especially Chong Mek is especially friendly. Your more likely to get questioned coming by air
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Tore *****************
 He's already done two this year
2 years ago
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Tore *********
Steve Smythe again, the two entries by land doesn’t apply to dedicated visas. It’s only a limit for visa exemption entries. As OP already said he is getting a SETV at the embassy….

And again obviously that’s not a guarantee to get in, especially if the immigration officer have a bad day. In any case, it’s the “path of least resistance “
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Tore *****************
 again I know that. You have a lot of confidence that Chong Mek is the place to cross, even though there are reports that people have been "questioned" there. Chong Mek once gave me a hard time when I was doing the second "free" year on an OA. They wouldn't accept my insurance certificate, so gave me a 30-day visa exempt and told me to go to CW to sort it out, which I did with no problem, but I don't share your fuzzy feeling about Chong Mek
2 years ago
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Tore *********
@Steve *******
 I’m not fuzzy about anything 😉 Can be questioned and denied at any border, just less likely at Laos land borders than others.
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 Tore, just said with an actual visa there is no fixed limit. Whats the correct answer here fellas?
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Pablo *******
 Good luck getting a visa at Chong Mek. You can try to get to a visa at a neighbouring embassy or consulate but with your recent history you might be denied.
2 years ago
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Tore *********
@Steve *******
 visa at Chong Mek? No one was saying that 😉
2 years ago
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Tore *********
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Clint *********
I just did this, same circumstances, got a tourist visa in Savannakhet. 1000b.
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Clint ********
 Thats awesome! Did you stay in Laos for a few days to do this?
2 years ago
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Clint *********
@Pablo *******
 just 1 night. Dropped it off in the morning stayed the night picked it up in the afternoon
2 years ago
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Graham ******
@Pablo *******
 Savannakhet is a drop off day 1 am and pick up day 2 pm process, it's walk in (no appointments) so go midweek when the queues are less
2 years ago
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Graham ******
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Henrik *****
Under all circumstances to activate the touristvisa, you will have to cross an border INTO Thailand.
2 years ago
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John **********
You can visit a Thai embassy in a nearby country and apply for a visa there. Will take a few days.
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 Is there anything I can do while still in Thailand to prepare? Or is it all done that day in the nearby country?
2 years ago
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Pablo ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I dont understand.
2 years ago
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John **********
@Pablo *******
 you are applying for a tourist visa, best you say nothing about Thailand other than a desire to visit
2 years ago
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John **********
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