mngmn

The only thing that has come out from immigration are these guidelines. ImmigratioNotice4-English_PDF.pdf

Assume printing them out and referring to them just likely to get you deported.

Sorry, I'm roughly a 14/14 guy and I've not had a problem but my mate - who I posted about in this thread on Friday - most certainly did. He has less visits per year than me and he stays less days than me.

He had just flown in from HK after 19 days in the UK (and a couple in HK). He said he'd been flagged as an in/out visa runner, which he simply isn't, was taken out to a back room where he was advised that next time he came he must have a visa or he'd be denied entry.

He was also told about the 6 visa exempts per annum.

I agree with you there is no such law. I agree that this crackdown is focused on visa runners BUT this example, which I've discussed with him further since I posted, causes me some concern. He's a well off business man with no activity in Thailand. He's absent for long periods and has never done a visa run in his life. It's weird ...

The incident occurred to your friend is regrettable but does not indicate a rule or a generalized policy, as your own experience indicate.

There are even posts of people that was extorted money at BKK airport to be allowed entry. These are relatively rare but do happen, there are rogue officers and if one runs in one of them they can cause grief for no valid reason.

This happened to me last night at Don Muang. I was told the limit is 6 entries. Any advice on what to do? Especially if I encountered a rogue officer. Is there an avenue of appeal or does one need to talk to Prayut directly?

Try to keep my sense of humour but in reality I was quite shocked at being told I cannot come back again unless I get a visa.

Any more info? How long were you outside thailand? Any 1-3 day trips that might look like Visa Runs? Anything?

On the appeal thing, the IM officer and their boss have a fair bit of power and I'm not sure that being right would actually help you much

Posted the details here http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/774944-new-rule-limiting-the-number-of-30-day-visa-exemption-entries-to-six-only/ to a fair chorus of incredularity (and some abuse).

This really happened! Am beginning to feel not much help is available on this forum. Will just need to accept their decision and work around it aye?

Sorry, I'm roughly a 14/14 guy and I've not had a problem but my mate - who I posted about in this thread on Friday - most certainly did. He has less visits per year than me and he stays less days than me.

He had just flown in from HK after 19 days in the UK (and a couple in HK). He said he'd been flagged as an in/out visa runner, which he simply isn't, was taken out to a back room where he was advised that next time he came he must have a visa or he'd be denied entry.

He was also told about the 6 visa exempts per annum.

I agree with you there is no such law. I agree that this crackdown is focused on visa runners BUT this example, which I've discussed with him further since I posted, causes me some concern. He's a well off business man with no activity in Thailand. He's absent for long periods and has never done a visa run in his life. It's weird ...

The incident occurred to your friend is regrettable but does not indicate a rule or a generalized policy, as your own experience indicate.

There are even posts of people that was extorted money at BKK airport to be allowed entry. These are relatively rare but do happen, there are rogue officers and if one runs in one of them they can cause grief for no valid reason.

This happened to me last night at Don Muang. I was told the limit is 6 entries. Any advice on what to do? Especially if I encountered a rogue officer. Is there an avenue of appeal or does one need to talk to Prayut directly?

Try to keep my sense of humour but in reality I was quite shocked at being told I cannot come back again unless I get a visa.

In 2014 alone I have entered Thailand with 30 day visa on arrival more than 20 times, I speak Thai well and have never been told what the OP was told. My last entry was 6 Nov......nothing said!

Until last night my experience was identical to yours. So this has left me somewhat stunned. Was your most recent entry through Don Muang?

No, I entered through Swampy

I had no problems when I entered on the 25th October through Swampy!

Since the initial consensus seems to be either that of disbelief or that this has never happened before. Does anyone have constructive advice on what I should do.

Ignore the conversation and attempt to enter again as a visa exemption?

Contact immigration for clarification?

Suck it up and get a tourist visa?

In 2014 alone I have entered Thailand with 30 day visa on arrival more than 20 times, I speak Thai well and have never been told what the OP was told. My last entry was 6 Nov......nothing said!

Until last night my experience was identical to yours. So this has left me somewhat stunned. Was your most recent entry through Don Muang?

Did they mark anything in your passport to the effect that you can no longer enter on a visa exempt?

I find that truly remarkable, especially for a person in your situation (rotation?) working for O&G where it would be difficult to get a visa for each of your off-periods.

Hope they have got it very wrong, especially for yourself and the many others that are in your situation.

They marked nothing in my passport but said it would be in the system. I was left with the feeling that there may have been some sort of update to their system that has given them new capabilities.

I used your argument with them that I would not have time to apply for a tourist visa sitting my trips away but the senior officer was insistent that this was the only way I could enter Thailand again.

Since November last year I have really entered a lot since my stays here can be quite short and my trips away also quite short. Maybe that triggered the different treatment.

What I mean to be precise is that you joined this forum 1 hour ago and nothing like this ever happened. If such a policy was being enforced Thaivisa would be full of posts concerning it from members.

I myself arrived at BKK on Thursday for 5th time

in 2014 alone on visa exemption, nothing was said.

<removed>

Yes I joined the forum one hour ago because of exactly what you say, I am interested to see if this has happened to anyone else.

What form of proof do you require that this really happened? More that happy to provide whatever you want.

As far as I know no such rule exists.

It would be absurd to say it was for for the life of the passport. It would have to be over a fixed period of time.

My understanding also which is why I questioned them closely about when the rule was introduced I was told last month. I also questioned closely about how long I would have to wait before I could enter on a thirty day exemption and they said you cannot enter again.

Rubbish

Do you mean I am talking rubbish or that I was told rubbish?

Flew in to Don Muang last night from KL and was told by immigration officers that a new rule was introduced last month, restricting the number of entries on a 30 day visa exemption to six only. Was told that this is for the life of the passport which I find hard to believe.

I have many visa exemption stamps in my passport with actual stays ranging from one day to the full 30 days. Flew into Swampy on 25th October and got a visa exemption with no problems them flew out again to Malaysia on 29th October.

The immigration officer at the desk spoke no English at all so the conversation was conducted in Thai which I speak well enough to understand what I was being told. The officer called her supervisor who confirmed everything above. It looked to me like something on the computer screen prompted her, as she was about to stamp my passport when she read something and frowned.

At the end of the discussion I was told that I should consider myself lucky that I was being granted entry this time. I must get a visa for my next visit and I can *never* enter Thailand again on a 30 day visa exemption. At least for the life of my current passport.

I am pretty well behaved visitor who works off shore and spends my down time in Thailand. Have solutions to the problem but just wanted to share and warn people.