Hey, just wanted to give you a heads up about something important for those of us in Thailand. So, if you’re thinking about doing a quick border bounce to reset your 60-day stamp, here’s the lowdown based on what we’ve been hearing from folks like Integrity Legal Thailand as of November.
First off, there’s this thing called the “2-Strike” Rule that might actually be a thing now. In the past, you could enter Thailand by land as many times as you wanted, but things seem to be tightening up. So, if you’ve been getting consecutive Visa Exempt stamps and you’re on your 3rd run in a row, chances are you might get pulled aside for a chat.
Next, there’s the “Show Me The Money” Check that’s been tripping people up. At certain checkpoints, officers are asking to see 20,000 THB in cold hard cash. Just flashing your Wise or banking app on your phone won’t cut it. They want to see those banknotes in your hand. Pro tip: make sure to withdraw the cash before you hit the immigration desk because ATMs might be a bit of a trek away.
Now, let’s talk about the difference between a “Border Run” and a “Visa Run.” Right now, there’s a big distinction between the two:
– A Border Run (Risky) involves popping over the border for an hour just to snag a stamp before heading back.
– On the other hand, a Visa Run (Safe) means traveling to places like Vientiane or Taipei to apply for a proper Tourist Visa (TR) or DTV. If you have the option, go for the DTV.
So, what’s the deal with the whole “border bounce” situation? Is this era of easy resets coming to an end? It’s hard to say for sure, but it’s clear that things are changing, so it might be time to rethink your strategy if you’re used to relying on quick hops across the border. Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay on top of the latest updates to avoid any unexpected surprises at the immigration desk.