hawker9000

On ‎7‎/‎18‎/‎2017 at 9:07 PM, BritTim said:

Their system certainly does record inbound and outbound flight information. I think their screen shows origin/destination city. However, they might not be able to tell that you visited your home country in all cases, especially if part of the trip was by land.

So if your flight itinerary to/from home country includes a stopover in  Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul ... , as nearly all from the states do, then they don't even know you've been "home".

9 hours ago, pritch84 said:

Thanks, does anybody actually know the answer though? Seems lots of people guessing when it's to do with Thailand Visa info cause they make it so confusing! If you don't have it, do they let you goto an atm to withdraw at least?

There's little point in even asking since whatever the "truth" is today could famously change tomorrow.  And then there's the inconsistency and caprice which are pretty much synonymous with the "discretion" we've all come to know and love in the first place...  

'Might as well just get yourself a special little "immo" wallet, put the cash in there and leave it - it doesn't have to be Thai baht - and then just always carry it with you travelling.   Some day the amount involved is bound to go up...

On ‎7‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 11:25 PM, Happy enough said:

I was speaking to a fella recently who thought that if someone had returned back to his/her home country then it would suggest that person probably wasn't 'wanted' for anything back home to serious also. I thought he was talking <deleted> but that was his take on it

How do they know?  The U.S. stamps its citizens neither in nor out.  A Thai Immigration Officer can see when you entered and departed Thailand, but at least if an American, he can't actually tell that you were in your "home country".   Or do the computer records they have on the screen in front of them include actual flight data ICW your arrivals and departures?

11 hours ago, Happy enough said:

that's basically what I said. that where I come from young people used to offer their seats to older people but in Thailand from what I see they prioritise children. I would say in London over the years more people expect you to let their kids sit down when they are perfectly capable of standing.

" but in Thailand from what I see they prioritise children"

What in the world are you talking about?

20 hours ago, DaddyWarbucks said:

The elderly and the disabled.

That's the obvious answer to this simple minded question.

I would add the pregnant, and in Thailand, monks.   But give up my seat for kids?   No way!

If on a baht bus, and someone getting on raises any flags with me, I'll likely just get up and go stand on the running board on the back...   (Not out of courtesy; out of caution.)

5 hours ago, joeyg said:

Hope you're enjoying reading it.

Perversely, I sometimes do.  'The my-case-is-different-because  pseudo-drama.   Far more informative than CNN or MSNBC and occasionally almost as inventive.

On ‎7‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 11:06 AM, Thongkorn said:

this topic has been done to death , NO

Which puts it in the same category with about 50 others...   TVF could probably fit its entire forum history on a single outdated cellphone if it weren't for such golden oldies.

As if any further evidence was needed of 3 things:

1. Obtaining a tourist visa is NOT a guarantee of permission to enter when you reach the Immigration Desk.
2. Immigration Officers DO have and DO exercise discretion  in letting you enter or not.   They don't need to "prove" anything, and needn't even give YOU a chance to prove anything.  Yes, there's an appeal path, but I'll bet it's seldom enough used that officers are fairly secure in their use of the aforementioned "discretion".
3. Tourist Visas are NOT a good plan for remaining in Thailand indefinitely, no matter your source of income, ability to produce an onward ticket, etc.   I'm sure IOs know that abusers know all the tricks.

If the OP is indeed an "innocent", and just caught in the fishing net, it only additionally  illustrates the degree to which abusers have now made life more difficult for those playing by the rules.

9 hours ago, jeab1980 said:

When it comes right down to it what i do or who i give money to is sweet shag all to do with anybody else. 

If you want to belive all the beggers on the street are scammers thats your choice and you obviously dont give money.

I just feel it must be a sad world you inhabit in your mind.

Oh the power of social media eh.

"I just feel it must be a sad world you inhabit in your mind."

Oh get off your high horse already.   Nobody's saying you can't give - to whomever whenever howevermuch you want - or believe whatever you want about it.   And FYI - it's certainly possible to reject the idea of dropping cash on street beggars in the belief that you're only subsidizing some out-of-sight mafia scam that exploits people.  '... and yet be extraordinarily generous in giving to legitimate charities, not to mention contribute your time and effort to countless worthy causes.  For those with brains, it's a question of where you really want your donated resources to go, and how much you want people to actually be helped.  Everyone's entitled to comment, whether you approve of their POV or not.  No need to preach at everybody else with your oh-what-a-good-boy-am-I attitude.

11 hours ago, timkeen08 said:

Thai vendors throw a price and my wife throws right back at them that she is Thai, don't give me that farang price. And the haggling goes on while I continue looking around or walk away to visit another vendor in seemingly indifference. She is a powerful negotiator and usually gets her way or walks away. No way is she paying farang prices. If we go to another vendor and she has to pay the same price she always walks past the 1st vendor, raises the bag, and gives a big sarcastic smile. Nothing wrong with saving face.

For those that do not think that there is sometimes a Thai price and a farang price are way out of the loop or in denial. Many Thai vendors take advantage of farangs but not all. It all depends but it does happen.

Our other strategy is for me to automatically point at the cheapest of anything and she looks at the better more expensive item while I shake my head no and walk away. She usually gets the item we initially wanted at a reduced price after I give her a smile and ok for the money she saved. She always gets a Good Girl before we leave.

I am very lucky to have a very frugal Thai wife. I don't go shopping without her because I don't want to be taken advantage of and shopping with her is still so much fun.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk
 

I do this even without a "Thai wife" to do the negotiating for me.  I simply refuse the "farang price" and move on to another vendor, usually close by who's seen what happened with his predecessor and wants to make a sale.  If I look back at the first vendor, they usually avoid any eye contact. 

1 hour ago, Beats56 said:

I don't understand people not keeping track of the days to report to IO. There are apps that will count down the days for you. And have no money...well maybe you go back home to earn a few bucks. Not trying to be harsh here just use some common sense.

 

I don't think his problem was "not keeping track".  OP specifically mentioned it was a money thing, which he says he's now "resolved".  I don't know; I don't care; as long as he doesn't get stopped somewhere before the airport in BKK, he pays his fine, leaves, and then gets a visa to come back or whatever.  If he's trying to reside in Thailand on tourist visas, he's got issues ahead.  Otherwise, just let it go.

4 hours ago, chickenrunCM said:

the police not decides what is illegal, a court decides. all the rumors and wrong posts here, get a life

LOL.  Right.  'Hope your second 10 mins in Thailand goes as well as your first...   Get a clue.

If some Thai for whatever reason decides to drop a dime on you and the police show up at your door saying it's illegal, it's about as "illegal" as it needs to be.  (Then again, so would cooking your own breakfast...)    So stay on good terms with your neighbors, etc., and you've got nothing to worry about.

10 hours ago, HooHaa said:

i have been flying in and out of Thailand for years and currently do it once monthly, while i usually have a few thousand bucks with me in cash when i travel anywhere i have never been asked to show either funds or outbound ticket.

 

the rules are obviously selectively  enforced.

Selectively.  Randomly.  Capriciously.  With discretion.  On a whim.  Take your pick.   It's all the same.

They most definitely CAN see entries from previous passports and no one should presume otherwise.  Whether they choose to take note of all of them or not if they have an agenda is another matter.

13 hours ago, sghanchey said:

I believe that all new U.S. passports have 52 pages, no longer short, 28 pagers. You can actually get a second passport, but you need a letter from your employer stating why a 2nd one is required, and issuance is not guaranteed. 

As of the most recent information I could find, you can still choose between a 28-page or a 52-page US passport.  There is no difference in cost, and if I had to guess I'd think almost everyone gets the 52-page except maybe a few who are planning what they expect to be the one & only foreign trip of their lives.  It's not longer possible to get additional pages added to an existing passport.

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

Wouldn't you be happier in Singapore?  :)
But seriously, I must admit, am close to that age, and also don't like the sleeveless-shirts.

I have also noted - purely anecdotally - that the people at the "overstay" desk at Jomtien Immigration tend to be the most "rough-dressed" people in the office.  Maybe that isn't a coincidence. I always "dress up," as I may have a long relationship with those people.

The trouble with the air-con - is getting there - unless you are driving your air-conditioned car from your air-conditioned home.  If walking, even a short way, you will be a soaking-mess if dressed "properly" - though silk-shirts help a lot.

Total exaggeration in support of a lame excuse for not dressing decently.  If even a short walk leaves you a "soaking-mess", you should probably see a doctor or get a bit more exercise.

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

Well... sure, if there is evidence that the person attempting entry is a criminal, broke (might be a drain on state-resources), or is violating published rules of entry.  Otherwise, they would certainly be admitted - logically speaking, of course - which may not apply.

Not really true.  The "evidence" need be nothing more than a suspicion in the IO's mind, arrived at by viewing your passport AND with your full record of entries & exits in front of him on the computer screen.  Things like answers to his questions, cash in your pocket, onward ticketing, etc., CAN make things better or worse (if he even asks...); it's all a matter of his discretion.  We're talking about those trying to remain indefinitely on tourist visas or using visa-exempt entries, not the criminal or the broke.

The consequences of trying to remain in Thailand indefinitely on TVs rears its head yet once again.   You can argue all day long about just how many back-to-back or closely spaced tourist visas and/or visa exempt entries it really takes to get a denied entry, or the fairness or consistency of the enforcement here vs there vs over yonder, but sooner or later you will get bit.

PS   Successfully obtaining a visa is NOT a guarantee of entry!  For the 10,000th time, the consulate issuing you the visa and the IO when you enter represent two different branches of the govt.  (One is the Foreign Ministry, the other the police.)  The IO can deny you entry, even with a valid visa, if he thinks he has the grounds to do so (e.g., suspects you're working illegally, or trying to live in Thailand permanently, etc.). 

19 hours ago, SiamBeast said:

Look at this from Thailand's point of view:

 

1) Many visa-exempt entries

2) A whole year of tourist visas, with more visa-exempt entries

3) No onward flight, no financial proof

4) You mentioned "finding a job", which means that you are unemployed, or not running an online business

 

Based on all the above, you are not a tourist, but tried to enter the country as a tourist.

 

I'd suggest that you lay low for a while - work in the US, pile up some money, and in a year, try requesting a tourist visa from your local consulate and come again. Once you're here, you'll be able to switch to a ED, marriage, or any other non-O visa to allow your long term stay.

 

Back in the old days, people could just fly in and get 15 visa exempt stamps in a row, but there were several reforms over the past years to stop this - mainly for tourists who were working here illegally, and also in an effort to preserve the country's culture and avoid having an unnecessarly high number of foreigners here.

 

So my suggestion, lay low for a year - after that, get a tourist visa. Upon expiration, enroll in a class to get a ED visa, and study something (Thai, muay thai, etc.) for a few months while you look for a Thai gf. If she has no previous boyfriend, then you might want to consider marriage, which will get you a non-O marraige visa and remove most obstacles. That's what most guys are doing. If you don't want a Thai gf, then you might want to start a business here and get a biz visa. If you're just lazy like I am, there's the Thailand Elite option which grants you hassle-free access for 5 years for 500,000 baht.

It doesn't sound  like his problem in THIS case was living in Thailand on tourist visas, although that's what he's been doing and could  raise a red flag with another IO at any time.  If he's successful in getting a tourist visa stateside and entering Thailand with it, and then can use his fluency to actually obtain a job and a work permit and then convert his visa based on that, that's probably a workable plan...    The word's been out for ages now:  trying to live in the country indefinitely on any combination of tourist visas and visa exempt entries is just simply a game for slow learners.

I'm pretty sure that if you go the "proof of income route", no involvement by a Thai bank is needed. It used to be that for US citizens, only the embassy declaration was needed, and getting that was just a matter of signing a statement. Now I believe the immigration authorities want pension documentation as well, though like everything else this reqt undoubtedly varies from one place to another.

What in the world is the purpose of this thread?