Brad103

I moved to Japan two months ago. Everything seems completely normal here, and it’s a very strange feeling seeing the rest of the world closed off while no one seems to have a care in the world here. Not sure if things will change after the state of emergency is announced. We’ve been lucky here for some reason, hope that continues. 

If you go to Yangon and get the visa, then fly to Tachileik like you mentioned, you’re absolutely going to get in. Don’t worry man. I had tons of entries on exempt and tourist visa and the IO was very nice and smiling yesterday. Luckily this is my last visa before I move though.

Just did the crossing 20 minutes ago with tourist visa from Yangon. No problem. The officer smiled and was nice. Been here 3 years so we probably have similar history. You won’t have a problem at Mae sai.

You could also fly from Yangon to Tachileik and cross right into Mae sai. Tickets are about 5000 baht but it could be worth the peace of mind. 

If not then I’d fly to Chiang Mai and make sure it’s direct.

1 hour ago, michael888 said:

So, at the border it's cash and at the consulate it's Bank statements? Bank statement will do you no good at a border? 

Just want to be clear on the financial proof part of things.  Thanks. 

That’s correct

I got almost denied in the fast lane using a VIP service but I was coming in on another exempt after having been here almost 3 years on tourists visas/exempt stamps. The fast lane worked very well the first 2 times when I used it in 2018. Guess my entries added up since.

The third time the officer almost denied me and the vip guy by my side smiled awkwardly like he’d seen it before, shrugged, and said there’s nothing he can do. Then he stepped away until the officer finally let me in.

I think with a tourist visa, especially metv, I may have avoided the grilling. 

But I think if you’re flying from the UK to Chiang Mai you’d clear immigration in Bangkok before getting on the Chiang Mai flight. I could be wrong though.

1 hour ago, SpanishExpat said:

Well so in your case you had no valid S/METV then and just entered with the normal 30 days stamp right? That topic is just giving me headache, as I still need 2 entries in 2019. 1 can be done by land-border at Padang Besar, but the 2nd is already fixed, as I am booked with my girlfriend on a Singapore Airlines F/C-Ticket from Japan. 

Right, I entered with no visa 

When I made a thread about being denied a tourist visa at Vientiane last month I booked a VIP service at suvarnabhumi where a guy walked me from the gate through the fast track lane, and although the officer let me in, I had to beg her for about five minutes. 

I’m not sure if it helped in my case - although I did use the same service last year when coming back from the USA and China, and it was very fast with absolutely no questions asked by the male officer. I think I’d have had problems using the regular lanes for sure back then - probably been denied. But this time I guess my entries had added up, so VIP didn’t even help too much. Overall I think it could certainly help depending on the extent of your history here ( and I recommend trying to get a male IO, not sure if that really helps but the one who almost denied me was female) .

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Thanks. One other question: did you ever have the "travels frequently to Thailand on tourist visas" warning "red" stamp from Vientiane? I am wondering if they keep a list.

No, luckily I never did have that on my old passport. Never had any red stamps

from anywhere.

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I don't think that's the main message in the OP.

I might be wrong but I think Vientiane had a limit of 3 setv from their consulate. If the OP account is correct then thats a change.

Right, i had always heard of people getting 3-5 from Vientiane despite exempt stamps before getting a red warning stamp. 

1 minute ago, CelticTam said:

_{The OP does not state the order of hs 3 x visa exempts and 1 x Tourist visa, this might have a bearing on the decision. However, look at from the IO's point of view - the applicant has been in Thailand for almost a  total of six months and wants another couple of months - suggests he is not a tourist.}

Yes, these were back to back.

visa exempt in late October 2018

TV from Vientiane in dec 2018.

Then 2 more border runs across nong khai and back same day.

so I’m thinking they must be looking at the whole history in the passport.

@lkv wow, that really is an odd coincidence, what with the same name and Japanese girlfriend haha.

2 minutes ago, lkv said:

@Brad103

 

You posted on Thai visa Advice yesterday, the day you applied, before the rejection, right?

Nope I didn’t post on there yesterday, but I’m a member of the group and have commented before. 

4 minutes ago, Zikomat said:

My guess (and hope) is those stamps are to be blamed. But there should be no discussion: Thai authorities keep making life more and more difficult for those who wish to stay in Thailand for a longer period. Xenophobia is my only explanation for these actions.

I’m thinking this too about the visa exempt stamps. 1 tourist visa per year sounds too far fetched. But according to the guy’s girlfriend that’s what they told her. Who knows. Seemed more likely to me that they either didn’t like the 3 visa exempt stamps along with the tourist visa or they somehow have access to computer immigration and saw all my history. 

Just got a chance to read through the thread as I’m on the airport rail link now. I wish I was making this up like some people think. But, i do understand being skeptical of course. I think we will be seeing more of these posts soon. Last week on Bangkok expats fb group I saw one from a girl with a similar story. 

I guess this could suffice as some kind proof that I applied for a tourist visa and got stamped in exempt. 

This was my second tourist visa in Vientiane on this passport. First was December 2018. Before that I had an exempt stamp in October. After the tourist visa I got 2 visa exempt stamps. 

So, it seems that vientiane is only allowing 1 tourist visa per year. Either that or they’re counting exempt stamps or have records of you in the computer like thai immigration does. 

My girlfriend is Japanese but works in Bangkok with a work permit. I guess we could get married and I could get a dependent visa. 

Anyway, to update further: I booked a VIP fast track service at bkk airport. I had used them in the past. This time the woman at the desk BARELY let me in. She was staring at the screen shaking her head. The VIP guy said there’s nothing he can do. I kept wai-ing to her and begging her. Finally after five or ten minutes she let me in after saying “promise ten days you leave?” I said ok, I just need to get my laptop and belongings. 

Im considering moving to Vietnam if my girlfriend can find work with a Japanese company there. Either that or move to japan if we marry. 

8 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Two different flights. You will clear immigration in Krabi. Make sure there is enough time for the international to domestic connection.

EDIT: OK, you have over three hours, plenty of time.

Thank you Tim! 

4 minutes ago, BritTim said:

What is the flight number?

The flight from KL to Krabi is AK860

The flight from Krabi to BKK is WE248

Thanks again!

Hi everyone. Tomorrow I'm doing a same day return trip to Malaysia and back. Flying to KL in the morning and then back to BKK at night, but my flight from KL stops at Krabi and then connects to BKK. Will I go through immigration at Krabi or BKK?

Thanks!