Visa run crackdown; 3 strikes and you are out

[bapak]

Immigration warns that any foreigner who exits Thailand after using three consecutive visa exemption entries must get a proper visa.
This is already in force at Ranong. “We began enforcing the rule from May 3 [Saturday] after receiving an order from Bangkok,” stated a Ranong Immigration officer.
This should be of particular interest in Hua Hin area as many locals do border crossings at Ranong.

[bapak]

Immigration warns that any foreigner who exits Thailand after using three consecutive visa exemption entries must get a proper visa.
This is already in force at Ranong. “We began enforcing the rule from May 3 [Saturday] after receiving an order from Bangkok,” stated a Ranong Immigration officer.
This should be of particular interest in Hua Hin area as many locals do border crossings at Ranong.

We know that this is factual as a Russian we know went from Phuket to Ranong on Saturday for a 30 days exemption and was turned away. Immigration advised the person to go to Satun, which they did, and got exemption.

[lomuamart]

Imm really do chop and change with this type of entry.
They've gone from unlimited entries to 3 entries within 6 months, to only getting 15 days at land and sea borders (30 at airport), back to unlimited and now full circle (minus, it seems the time constraint) with 3 entries. All within the last 5-6 years.
Glad I don't do them any more.

[buksida]

Visa crackdown risks stranding expats in Myanmar

Officials at Ranong Immigration today confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that they are turning away any foreigners attempting to enter Thailand after using three consecutive “walk-in” visas.

The news follows reports of immigration officers allegedly stopping Phuket expats on visa runs to Ranong from exiting the country. Ranong, nearly 400km north of Phuket, has for decades been a prime destination for foreigners conducting "visa runs".

“We began enforcing the rule from May 3 [Saturday] after receiving an order from Bangkok,” an officer at Ranong Immigration told the Gazette on condition of anonymity this morning.

“We have already spoken with several foreigners and strongly advised that they do not exit Thailand to arrive in Kauthaung [in Myanmar], as there is no Thai embassy or consulate there.

“We explained that if they went and tried to re-enter Thailand without first obtaining a visa from a Thai embassy or consulate, we would have to refuse them entry because they would have already entered Thailand three consecutive times on ‘visa exemption’ status.”

Any foreigners who ignore the advice risk being stranded in Myanmar, the officer warned.

The officer explained that the crackdown on the “three-visa-and-out rule” was aimed at catching foreign criminals staying in Thailand.

“This is just the first step in a crackdown on expats and tourists who keep renewing their visas so that they can live in Thailand for the wrong reasons,” he said.

“Some foreigners live here and form their own ‘networks’ to carry out illegal business. Some of the people we are targeting are known associates of international criminals.”

Visa run companies in Phuket have been notified of the situation, the officer assured.

“These companies can explain the rules to foreigners before they book them on a visa run,” he said. “This will help avoid any problems at the Ranong checkpoint.”

“As I said, this is just the first step as we attempt to root out foreign criminals. The next step might be tougher than this one, but law-abiding foreigners should be aware that we are not picking on any particular nationalities – criminals are the ones we want to catch.”

http://bangsaphanguide.com/forum/viewto ... ?f=1&t=990

[buksida]

And this from the visa website:

Final crackdown for border runners - New strict Immigration regulation in force from May 10

From May 10, foreign nationals residing in Thailand will no longer be able to exit and then re-enter the kingdom via a land border crossing in order to gain another 30 or 15 day stay in Thailand.

Thaivisa has been in contact with the Immigration Bureau who confirm the new regulation starts from Saturday May 10, 2014.

This latest news follows reports from earlier in the week of an Immigration crackdown at the land border checkpoint in Ranong.

Non-Immigrant Visa or Tourist visa holders with remaining entries on their visa can exit and enter Thailand as before.

However, these new measures are targeting foreign visitors without a visa who are regularly entering and exiting the kingdom every 15 or 30 days as a way of extending their stay in Thailand.

From today visitors can only enter into Thailand via a land border once, after that they will be refused entry to the Kingdom and are advised to fly out and return with a visa obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in a neighbouring country or overseas.

The Immigration Bureau has also confirmed to Thaivisa that further restrictions are to be enforced from August 12, 2014.

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.

[usual suspect]

I fear the rate these new regs are coming into force it won't be long before Thai Imm turn their attention to Non O's & Tourist visas..every year now when I apply for my Non O in the UK there has been more regs/rulings applied to my application over the last year..

[PeteC]

I always wonder if these sudden changes are orchestrated because of some political motive or party directive. We know in which camp the police/immigration stand. I think these flip-flop changes are always part of some bigger agenda. Pete

[dozer]

^
Well there's another thing that can be blamed on Thaksin.

[dtaai-maai]

I think these flip-flop changes are always part of some bigger agenda. Pete

I agree. Ban flip-flops altogether.

[Ginjaninja]

No problems for me today at the new Kanchanaburi crossing.

[margaretcarnes]

Imm really do chop and change with this type of entry.
They've gone from unlimited entries to 3 entries within 6 months, to only getting 15 days at land and sea borders (30 at airport), back to unlimited and now full circle (minus, it seems the time constraint) with 3 entries. All within the last 5-6 years.
Glad I don't do them any more.

Yes there have been several changes Lomu - but surely the '3 strikes and out' rule actually goes way back? I think maybe 8 years? And regardless of the changes to the 15/30 day rule.
Are they now suddenly enforcing an existing ruling, rather than using discretion? (Or should I say threatening/planning to/thinking about enforcing.)

One thing people should be aware of though is that farang visa runners can - and have been - banged up in the cage at Ranong Immigration in the past for whatever breaches of the regs, and it isn't a nice place to be.

[lomuamart]

You could be right on the timing, Mags but I think it was more recent than that.
I'm only reckoning things by the fact that I've had 5 annual extensions and was doing the border runs before that and getting unlimited 30 day stamps.
Looking back at the old passport, the last 30 day stamp appears to have been in January 2008.

[buksida]

I remember the '3 strikes' rule coming into effect 6 or 7 years ago but then it was just a big black stamp in your passport. Now they're refusing re-entry into Thailand and stranding foreigners in Burma.

That's one way to purge the visa-runners and backpackers I suppose.

[dozer]

Considering how many visa options are available, three strikes and out is more than reasonable.

[bapak]

No problems for me today at the new Kanchanaburi crossing.

But what was the crossing for? 30 days / activate multiple entry Tourist Visa/ etc.