In April 2014 I had my first (of two ...so far) of what is known by expats in Thailand as the...
Dunnn dunnn duuuunnn...
The VISA RUN.
Okay so maybe that sounded a bit dramatic like someone is trying to run from their credit card bills or something. I assure you it has nothing to do with credit unless that's what your paying to get yourself out of the country in a pinch. But honestly the process was (and still kind of is) very confusing for me.
A visa is a permit by a country to allow someone who is a non resident to stay in that country for some period of time.
As a foreigner in Thailand, you can only stay in the country within so long, usually 90 days. But that is not gospel so don't take it as such. It really depends on a whole slew of factors like what visa you are on when you entered Thailand, what permit you have and where you come from (home country) for how long you are allowed to stay before they want you out. Please be sure to check yourself with Thai immigration/ border services and be aware of the duration of stay in your passport (overstaying is not worth it- there is a fine and it does go on your record). This act of hopping across the border is "the visa run".
You must leave Thailand, they don't care where you go but you can't stay here.
