Shroud

I'm on my 5th metv and never been questioned. I stay 8-9 months per year since 2015. I normally take 3 months break before I get back in again. I have had a maximum 3 METVs on my visa before I decided to make a new passport. Last year the IO looked through my passport and only asked how long I'll stay this time, but nothing agressive.

55 minutes ago, reenatinnakor said:

I'm not married, not that stupid, but have a gf for 10 years so am practically married! The last time I had a problem was about 4 years ago now and I did the same thing, called the gf and put her on the phone to convince them I don't work here. Not sure why that helps but it does.

I left Los to London 2 months ago and only applied the tourist visa last week in Kensington. The Thai guy at svb behind the screen asked me if I had my old passport, scared that I would be searched anyway I didn't want to lie, and no point to lie if all the history of the old passport was already on his screen! He asked why did I get a new passport I said there's only 7 pages left and I travel often but don't go back to uk often so used the opportunity to get a new one.

When I was sat down with the big boss to one side, she said I had too many visa exempts before and that I should get this tourist visa... So I said you mean like the one I have now?! So yeah.. I don't really understand why with a tourist visa they pulled me up. Maybe a power trip by the guy behind the screen or they have a new directive from above. Now that I'm in I will try to stay 7 months with 2 border crossings, hopefully. I guess next time I need to leave it 5 or 6 months before coming back.

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Ok, Yeah, He did in fact look at the entries and since you've had many visa exempts before, he had to transfer you to the other team in order investigate the reason for that. Try to get a multiple-entry visa in your home country as it could add an entry every 3 months in stead of 1 month without one. The immigration is a division of the police authority so they're not linked to the Embassy and therefore when looked at your name in the database they're only limited to see your previous entries and not visas. Hence, you should be fine now with your new visa. It could be that he was new and got curious about your previous visits. If they thought you were working then you'd have to show up 20,000 baht so I don't think that was the case - at least that's what most people say.

No need to stay more than 1-3 months before getting a new visa. The embassies can't deny you if all the requirements are met, so they leave that to the immigration office.

Cheers!

I don't think he was looking at your current and previous visas, but mainly the history of entries you've had. It created a pattern of you going in and out many times which ultimately made him raise eyebrows and ask questions. The old passport is obviously linked to your new, so nothing new here. I can guess that your previous passport was without doubt also filled with visa exempts plus extensions and single entries from neighbouring countries. The goal is to avoid as many entires possible. In and Outs are usually the caveat in those situations. I find it strange though that he brought it up when you flew from your homeland, did you perhaps apply for a visa right after a visit from Los?

7 hours ago, Chou Anou said:

I don't think you read Ubon Joe's post (#9 in this thread).  Any convertible currency will be accepted.  It does not have to be baht.

I have seen it, but I honestly wouldn't even risk that these days. Jeez, they won't even look at your bank account or have the officer go to the ATM machine with you to withdraw cash. Now the former is questionable, but for the safest bet I would rather bring with me 20k baht. 

6 hours ago, perthperson said:

 

Very bad advice ---- A better rate of exchange can be obtained in Thailand and any convertible currency is acceptable to immigration.

It's actually the best advice you can provide nowadays, and once immigration stops you with no cash-baht in your pockets because there won't be any ATM that will withdraw and convert your foreign reserves past immigration. I understood the question as if he was concerned about the issue of parading 20k on the assumption that immigration throws the towel on him.

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

1. Why

    Any exchangeable currency equivalent to 20k baht will be accepted,

2. Tourist visa is best, No need to get an extension and it is best not build up a record of visa exempt entries.

3. But for a visa exempt entry he would one out of the country within 30 days.

He won't be able to convert foreign cash into baht before he enters immigration. That's why he asked for brining 20,000 baht in the first place. Of course the rate is better received in Thailand (at some places), but his question was more leaned toward up fronting 20k should immigration ask for it. 

3. More or less depending on if he stays near the border instead of spending 1900. 

On 7/19/2017 at 11:48 AM, Peterg59 said:

1) would I be best having the 20000 with me on arrival

2) Does it make a difference if I have a 60 day Visa as I was planning on getting one as I want to stay 6 weeks or so

3) Would I be better staying just the 30 days instead of the 60 day visa

Thanks in advance for all information

1) Yes, exchange the money before you enter Thailand. 

2) No. You can enter Thailand and receive 30 days upon arrival with the ability to extend for another 30 - this gives your 60 days. 

3) If you are staying for 6 weeks or 42 days, then it doesn't really matter. You'll still need a return ticket either way depending on the country of reside. 

2 hours ago, kmw said:

Hi all, just wanted to give an update, I was successful with my third metv back to back, you might remember on my seccond metv I got a bit grilled at suvarnabhumi, this time I decided to fly onto Chiang mai so immigration was at the transit area at suvarnabhumi, the officer didn't even blink an eye and I stamped in, I had the 20k thb with me as well, just in case

 

Will try again for a 4metv back to back in 9 months time, I really think I might be pushing my luck though 

Do you have 3 METVs inside your passport or did you make a new one upon arrival in Sidney?

Great to hear that you successfully entered immigration without any haywire!

@Kohphanganlover

Perhaps you could answer the following questions below in order for me to get a clear view of the situation your are in. 

1) For how long have you been in Thailand?

2) How many Tourist Visas do you have in your passport, plus types of visas e.g. Multiple Entry, Single Entry etc.

3) When was the last time you visited your home country?

4) Have you ever applied for a tourist visa in your home country?

5) Do you have any overstays in your passport?

6) Is your Passport valid for more than six months?

7) Have you had trouble with entering Thailand before?

8) Do you have any criminal background?

Looking forward to your response. 

24 minutes ago, BritTim said:

I will just say that I disagree with this advice, as far as immigration on entry is concerned. (Getting a new passport might be helpful in avoiding problems getting visas at some consulates, however.) On entry, normally, the immigration official sees on his screen a complete list of all your entries, at least since early 2015 (I think longer). When you enter with a new passport, the system attempts to link your new passport with the passport(s) you previously used to enter the country. If the linkage is successfully established, the official will, again, be able to see your old entries.

What was my advise concerning entries? I'm not sure what advice you are referring to, because entries are normally not a problem even if you have a history of +50 entries to Thailand. I'm only referring to the visas and stamps on his passport and that's what the officer will eventually look at. He surely scans your passport to register your entry and the same when you depart (remember the stamp on your passport is a form of receipt), but officers' screen will not show any form of visas whether they are METV or SETV. Hence, suggesting he makes a new passport. 

I strongly suggest you make a new passport to clear off all previous travel stamps and visas. Airports don't have access to your previous visas, but they do keep a record of your entries if they dig deep. The reason why you have been denied is because you have applied for too many single entries in combination of visa-runs on top of no money in hand. Immigration staff will look at your passport and judge your entry by all the visas and stamps inside your passport. Ultimately, this means that even a tourist visa will not guarantee your entry since immigration has the last word. 

Solution: You should head home to USA and stay there for about 3 months and during that period of time apply for a new passport. Go to your nearest Thai embassy and request a new tourist visa. This time, you might want to look at the MET-VISA which will certainly enable your stay much longer without haywire and hassle - make sure you have all the requirements. Airport staff will also value your METV a hundred times more than a SETV.

Take out 20-30,000 baht in advance before flying to Thailand, and you should be able to get through without any questions. You'll feel secured if you can show up some cash should they ask you for it. 

Good luck!

6 hours ago, Xaos said:

 

You could use ATM and take more cash

Thats what I did once. And no prob.

 

Get a tourist visa in US simple as that.

 

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WRONG!

There's no way to take out Thai Bath before immigration, this is by standard. There are also only a few ATMs in which you can ONLY withdraw USD, Pound and Euros or Yen. The only way to exchange to Baht is to travel to another country - this is the importance of keeping sufficient thai baht with you all the time.

On 4/26/2017 at 0:43 PM, Rudyv said:

Last week I received my 3th METV, and I'm back in Thailand again. I think one of the first, or the first in this topic, at least when I read back.

Just to let you guys know.

 

This time I will try to stay 8 months, so 2 months extra on the last 'enter before' date. Still a little bit scared that it will not work, and so I don't dare to buy a flight ticket back before that time.

 

Extra info: Till that time I do a Bangkok - Kuala Lumpur 1 day trip. So fly and 3/4 hours later I fly back, and this every 60 days. Till so far I never had problems doing this.

Congrats to your 3rd METV!

Quick question, how many days or months did you wait until you applied for a new METV from the day you departed Thailand? 

They are doing a great job and should increase incentivized measures to kick the garbage out.