Detained At Don Muang

[babyg]

I wonder if anyone has experienced this or could advise.

My partner, British, is currently being detained at don muang after being refused entry. Yesterday he was refused entry to Japan and this is the reason they are giving. He went to Japan with a friend of mine (Thai) who i went with to the japan embassy in bkk to get a visa. I am british too so don't need a visa. We were going to look at the expo (which finishes today). I couldn't go so he went in my place. Apparently he was "behaving strangely" according to japan imm. and hadn't booked a hotel. We were not told this was critera when at the embassy.

He has my british mobile and thats the only way i can contact him. We are trying to sort out a ticket as they want him to go back to the uk.

Any advice is welcome. Thanks

[Voo Doo]

It doesen't make sense to me mate.

You supposed to go to Tokyo to look at expo which finishes today and you couldn't make it, so she ( Thai friend) went with your Brit friend insted...? He was "behaving strangely"... ? so he was sent back to BKK.

Why is he detained here?

How about your Thai friend..? Is she in Japan at the moment?

[loong]

I'm sorry, but if you are a Brit, please try to write coherently.

I understand that your are probably frazzled, but your post is impossible to understand.

[Dragonman]

Never heard anything like it

"Behaving strangely". What does this mean? Torrets Syndrome?

Why hasn't the OP gone to Don Muang to try and sort it out?

Strange old world.

[Digger]

Entry into Japan is pretty tight, however saying that they must have had their reasons why he has not been let in. Its the only country I have travelled to where customs everytime I went there (must be more than 20 times) always wanted to look in my luggage and that was invariably travelling on business wearing a suit and staying only for 2/3 days. They always asked me purpose of visit and how long staying. Never had any problems and always very polite, looked through passport and thnaked me and sent me on my way. Seemed to happen to more people when I was flying in from BKK than say HKG or SIN which I often did as well.

Now if they refuse entry, the airline will be forced to take you back to where you came from, i.e in this case BKK. Then of course its up to BKK immigration if they then let that person back in. Reminds me of that Tom Hanks movie where he was stuck at a US airport and nobody would let him in or fly him home.

[sua yai]

The Tom Hanks scenario can happen in real life. A Swedish chap flew to, I think Taiwan, a few years ago. He was refused entry and sent back to Thailand. Also refused entry at Don Muang. He had no money, except to make a call down here.

Fortunately, some Brits were going back home for a holiday and found him in the departure lounge and lent him some money. He's already been there for a week. Eventually, money came through from Sweden and he made his way home. A week in the departure lounge at Don Muang? Not a good idea.

On a more serious note, I hope the OP's problem gets solved quickly.

[MP5]

Have you telephoned the British embassy and informed them of this dillema?

[Butterfly]

Reminds me of that Tom Hanks movie where he was stuck at a US airport and nobody would let him in or fly him home.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The movie is based on a real story. The guy is Iranian and stuck at CDG in Paris. He has been interviewed a thousand times by CNN and others in the last 5 years. Tom Hanks went there to meet the guy so he could get a better "feel" for his role.

I see the guy everytime I am in CDG, you can't miss him. It's quite sad. However, after the movie, they run another story on the guy, and somehow, strangely, his case got solved by the French immigration. Go figure. After 10 years hanging around in the airport, his case is solved just like that. No idea where he went.

[babyg]

Sorry i a little incoherent. Its been a stressful few days. He was not in the departure area, he was being held in the detention centre. He was not allowed a phone call, thai mobile would not work so he was using my british phone. Immigration told him nothing. I called immigration to try to find out what was happening but they were not able to help. I had to then contact the airline on which he flew. they were helpful and gave me a number i can phone to speak to him. We were not able to see him but were able to pass tickets and money via the airline.

The airline would only release him with a non-stopover ticket to take him back to his home country. As far as i am aware the rule is to return passenger to origin, in this case BKK.

Because he was refused entry into Japan, thai immigration also refused him entry. He has lived here for over a year previous to this.

The Tom Hanks story is a bit different. He came from a country that was no longer recognised so his passport was invalid, leaving him unable to fly anywhere or leave the airport.

If we were not expecting a phone call from him, he would still be there.

[babyg]

My Thai friend was also returned to thailand but was released as it was her home country

[Rinrada]

I see the guy everytime I am in CDG, you can't miss him. It's quite sad. However, after the movie, they run another story on the guy, and somehow, strangely, his case got solved by the French immigration. Go figure. After 10 years hanging around in the airport, his case is solved just like that. No idea where he went.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Seem to remember that he ended up in the UK

[camerata]

My Thai friend was also returned to thailand but was released as it was her home country

It's quite likely that for some reason the suspicious Japanese immigration people thought your Thai friend was intending to work there illegally and the farang guy was her "escort." A friend who knows about these things told me farang are usually hired to act as an escort for illegal Thai workers.

[lopburi3]

My Thai friend was also returned to thailand but was released as it was her home country

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's quite likely that for some reason the suspicious Japanese immigration people thought your Thai friend was intending to work there illegally and the farang guy was her "escort." A friend who knows about these things told me farang are usually hired to act as an escort for illegal Thai workers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No hotel, with an unknown girl, no logical reason for being in Tokyo, and no money? Think most would be a bit suspicious.

[MP5]

I'll ask the question again!

Have you telephoned the British embassy and informed them of this dillema?

Edited September 26, 2005 by MP5

[camerata]

Entry into Japan is pretty tight, however saying that they must have had their reasons why he has not been let in.  Its the only country I have travelled to where customs everytime I went there (must be more than 20 times) always wanted to look in my luggage and that was invariably travelling on business wearing a suit and staying only for 2/3 days.

Exactly. If you are a single farang guy travelling from Thailand, 9 times out of 10 they will search your luggage, frisk you or even x-ray your suitcase. Normally they are polite.

I had the misfortune to arrive at Kansai late one night on New Year's Eve (apparently a much-favoured time for amphetamine smugglers). An official trailed me into immigration loudly tapping a pencil on a notepad and staring at me. Customs searched my bag and found a large unopened box of condoms (I was hoping to get lucky) - which apparently is standard kit for smugglers - and took me into a private room for a third-degree.

They were suspicious because I had a new passport yet I said I had been to Japan before. They were also suspicious because my bag and other items like shampoo were new. After pulling my stuff apart, having me strip searched, testing some antibiotic capsules I had and reading through all my documents, they then decided to x-ray my stomach.

This was a bit of comic relief because I had to pull my pants down for the x-ray and then the medic popped his head round the door and barked: "STOP BREATHING!"

Once they saw the x-ray was clear, the bull-necked, crew-cut boss disappeared and one of the other officers whispered to me, "I knew you didn't have anything!" He and another guy then escorted me all the way to the rail platform so I wouldn't miss the last train to Kyoto...

[meadish_sweetball]

...and Happy New Yearu!

Great story, Camerata.

[babyg]

It was not Tokyo, it was Nagoya. To go to the expo. Went to the embassy to obtain visa, no problem. No mention of confirmed hotel booking by the embassy. No hotel booking needed for visa. I should have gone but was unable to so now i'd be on the way to the uk too?

[babyg]

In reply to MP5, No, managed to speak to the airline and they were adament that he had to return to the uk. Immigration were useless and told me and him nothing.

[lopburi3]

It was not Tokyo, it was Nagoya.  To go to the expo.  Went to the embassy to obtain visa, no problem.  No mention of confirmed hotel booking by the embassy.  No hotel booking needed for visa.  I should have gone but was unable to so now i'd be on the way to the uk too?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry but did not know that everyone knew what "the expo" is/was and that it would be Nagoya but do not understand your fixation on Embassy not telling you that you would be expected to pay for lodgings. You now also say "i'd be one the way to the uk too" but in first post you seem to say he went in your place so he would have been fine here in Thailand and only you would have been involved.

As said it is also strange you did not take this up with your Embassy if you feel detention was unjust. You have not addressed how he was going to live with no hotel or funds so it is rather hard to believe we have the full story.

[babyg]

Sorry if the post is confusing. I meant that if i went, i would have been in detention and returned to the uk, and yes, he would still be here.

I really didn't think about contacting the embassy until now and also didn't think to phone the airport directly rather than phoning my british mobile. I'm dreading the phone bill.

He had japanese money with him and credit cards and hotel information, no confirmed paid for booking.

[lopburi3]

Sorry if the post is confusing.  I meant that if i went, i would have been in detention and returned to the uk, and yes, he would still be here.

I really didn't think about contacting the embassy until now and also didn't think to phone the airport directly rather than phoning my british mobile.  I'm dreading the phone bill.

He had japanese money with him and credit cards and hotel information, no confirmed paid for booking.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In that case why did you have to provide him airline tickets and money here in Don Muang? The pieces are just not fitting together.

[Firefan]

Hmmm... when one arrives in any country one has to fill in the card with "address during stay". Your friend probably did not do so (as no hotel booked yet) and the situation somehow escalated?

When I have been in similar situation I simply put in a hotel in the AREA where I am planning to stay - and if questioned (which has never happened) I would say that it was my PLANNED hotel and I would go there for booking on arrival.

By leaving the field blank you just invite questions. It IS their job to ensure that the arrival cards are filled in according to the law.

Cheers!

[Nordlys]

I think that is no longer necessary. I haven't seen flight attendants on Japan-bound flight distributing dis/embarkation card in the flight anymore. Or do non-Japanese citizens still need to fill that out? Only health check questionnaire, I believe (as far as arriving passenger from Thailand is concerned).

[BkkPundit]

"He went to Japan with a friend of mine (Thai) who i went with to the japan embassy in bkk to get a visa. I am british too so don't need a visa. We were going to look at the expo (which finishes today). I couldn't go so he went in my place."

When your went with your Thai friend to apply for the visa, was any mention made of you travelling with her because normally the Japanese Embassy does not give visas to Thais to travel to Japan alone (particularly Thai girls without a Japanese sponsor)? If this is the case, did you inform the Embassy that you were no longer travelling with the person and someone was going in your place? Otherwise, if the Japanese immigration authorities checked their records, it would appear that there was a deliberate deception on your part.

As your Thai friend was intending to visit the Expo, I assume she didn't pay for the Expo visa. Given, travel commenced on the last day of the Expo, this would suspicious as it will seem that the purpose of the trip was not to vist the Expo, but to get free entry into Japan.

I am sure Japanese Immigration felt your British partner was acting as an escort for your Thai friend (who I assume is a female). Now, I am sure you will dispute this, based on the information you have provided it does seem Japanese Immigration had legitimate basis for refusing entry.

Now, based on what you said, you will need to work all the arrangements out with the airline that he was flying on when he departed Bangkok and NOT Thai immigration. I assume he will be held in the privately operated Detention Centre at the airport and there is a daily fee which he will have to pay as well. The airline should be able to provide details on the costs. If it is any comfort, the facilities there are quite good in comparision with IDC at Suan Pluu.

As he has been refused entry into Thailand in these circumstance, this will normally mean he will have to be deported to his country of origin, the UK. Otherwise, if the airline was to allow him to fly somewhere else and he was to be refused entry to that country (a good possibility now that he has been refused entry to 2 countries) the airline could face financial problems as many countries fine airlines if they carry a passenger who is refused entry to that country.

So, basically he needs a ticket back to the UK unless for some reason the airline decides otherwise.

[Digger]

I guess he is not on a long term visa either in Thailand, which means the immigration authorities are hardly going to roll out the red carpet for him either.

Sounds like some real funny business going on there as I cannot see a person with a correct non-immigrant visa (o or being declined entry back into Thailand.

[Nordlys]

My Thai friend was also returned to thailand but was released as it was her home country

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's quite likely that for some reason the suspicious Japanese immigration people thought your Thai friend was intending to work there illegally and the farang guy was her "escort." A friend who knows about these things told me farang are usually hired to act as an escort for illegal Thai workers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Most likely right. Thais used to be among the largest number of illegal aliens in Japan about ten years ago (over 55,000 12 years ago, which is more than the entire Japanese population in Thailand today) and still ranks today as the 4th largest at 12,787, among which 90% landed on short-term visa (according to Jap. immigration website). Aside from that, they just amended a law tackling human trafficking which was enacted just this July, until which they could not deny entry to a person suspected of being a human trafficker at the port of entry.

[babyg]

Sorry I have not replied since. It appears the main reason he was detained in Bangkok is that the Immigration boss was visiting the airport at the weekend. Everything was being done by the book. In detention also were 2 other westerners that had overstayed their visas ( one only by about 30 days ) , they paid the fine and were being sent to prison. One had money to reduce the sentence but still faced thai jail. not sure for how long now.

DO NOT OVERSTAY YOUR VISA!!! Too risky!

[qwertyuiop]

  In detention also were 2 other westerners that had overstayed their visas ( one only by about 30 days )

DO NOT OVERSTAY YOUR VISA!!!  Too risky!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So by how many days is it OK to overstay your visa?

It is not risky it is illegal

[dr_Pat_Pong]

  In detention also were 2 other westerners that had overstayed their visas ( one only by about 30 days )

DO NOT OVERSTAY YOUR VISA!!!   Too risky!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So by how many days is it OK to overstay your visa?

It is not risky it is illegal

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ANY overstay is illegal

[qwertyuiop]

  In detention also were 2 other westerners that had overstayed their visas ( one only by about 30 days )

DO NOT OVERSTAY YOUR VISA!!!   Too risky!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So by how many days is it OK to overstay your visa?

It is not risky it is illegal

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ANY overstay is illegal

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was my point