Visa clampdowns catching out tourists

In May of this year the immigration department started denying entry to Thailand at border crossings, of those who had multiple entry stamps in their passports. The directive was aimed at so called ‘visa run’ individuals who would routinely run to the border every 30 days, cross back into Thailand and get a fresh 30 day visa waiver or visa-on-arrival. Those days have now ended.

From August 15th the same restrictions have been applied at airports. What this means for tourists is that those who use Thailand as a hub and make multiple trips to neighbouring countries might get asked some difficult questions when returning and potentially turned away. No longer can you take it for granted that you will get guaranteed entry without a pre-arrange tourist visa.
Thaivisa.com, the popular expat resource is full of panicky comments and ominous anecdotes from foreigners who have been denied entry, or visa extensions, among them some unfortunate traveler who were non-the-wiser and now finding themselves stuck at a border town and having to make arrangements to travel to a consulate to get a visa to return.
Most visitors to Thailand need not worry, you will be given a visa waiver or visa-on-arrival if you qualify. If you leave to visit Angkor for the weekend, perhaps, then you’ll almost certainly be granted re-entry. However, if your passport shows numerous visits to Thailand in recent times they might mistaken you for an expat living here without the correct paperwork.
The most sensible solution is to apply for a multiple entry tourists visa at your local consulate before coming, it might cost $50 but will allow you to remain for 60 days an beyond, coming and going without hassle. Typically, you are permitted to stay for 30 days on a regular visa waiver, and they have recently changed the law so that you can extend it for 30 days, once, at a local immigration office.

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