GeraldB22

3 minutes ago, gimo said:

 

            To judge whether Samui Bodoh's case is normal or not , it's important to know where , and by what means you entered the country . Big difference between by air at Swampy and by land at Poi Pet for example . Where did you enter please , Samui ?

It isn't whether it is normal or not, it is that his case is not really relevant. The current issue people are having is entering Thailand with Tourist visas, or VOA - whilst having a history of prior of entries

9 hours ago, yogavnture said:

i have never been asked to show 20k baht in cash before .  nobody carrys that on their person.  if i were ever asked how could i prove it . should i bring a copy of my foreign bank acct balance?

Whenever I go through any immigration into Thailand I always make sure I have at least 20,000 baht cash. They do not accept print outs of bank statements, or even let you go to an ATM. You either have 20,000 baht in cash or in equivalent foreign currency on you, or you run the increased risk of being refused entry for insufficient means to support yourself.

14 minutes ago, aldriglikvid said:

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. May I ask how many entries you had in recent times? I'm glad it worked out for you in the end. 

I had around 4 Tourist Visas back to back. My first questioning was on returning with the 4th TV, flying into BKK. I am 100% sure I was going to be refused entry on this one, however by some miracle all of us in the interrogation seating area where all taken and stamped through due to some kind of situation in the airport. 

 I then left Thailand for 3 months. Returned with my current TV and got my second questioning. This one was 50/50 I think, the flight ticket home seemed to help and the IO seemed like he could not be bothered to reject to me. 

Also, if it helps, the thing some people mention about changing passports, it is a myth: It maybe helps when getting visas, but it definitely is useless when going through immigration. I had a new passport yet on the print out they brought to the desk it had my entries going back into my previous passport

10 hours ago, aldriglikvid said:

I was scrutinized the last time coming through BKK with a SETV (my second in a row). I was asked if I was working and then asked if I had a GF there. I replied no the two questions. 

The Girlfriend question, should i've replied yes or no? 

I did have a 4 month rental contract in BKK in my bag, but I never brought it up. I figured it would work to my disadvantage having a rental contract since it doesn't really imply travelling. Any thoughts on this? 

 

 

I would agree with answering "No".

Having myself been in the "interrogation" area twice now when entering through BKK, it does seem that the questions are all around trying to demonstrate that you are not just a visiting tourist, and getting you to say something which indicates that, such as a girlfriend, ability to speak thai, or any form of long term connection. They do not listen to anything you say unless it helps them prove this, so I would suggest saying as little as possible, as they seem to have made up their mind before you sit. Just keep it simple and keep explaining your on holiday and show youre flight ticket home.

On the second time I think I only got through because I kept on repeating "No", that I was on holiday only,  and also that they were much more interested in the gentlemen seated next to me who was also being questioned who was telling them he speaks Thai and that as he has 20,000 baht they must let him in.

Even then it did seem 50/50. Just before I was let through , I heard one officer say to his colleague that he would let me in, to which his colleague looked at the printout of my entries and said to him "You can't!", to which he shrugged as if he couldn't really be bothered to reject me or something. So I think you can help yourself by "being a tourist", but a lot must also come down to the luck of which IO you get

13 minutes ago, EricTh said:

https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/new-visa-rules.php

 

Land border runs is now limited to 2 times per year.

 

If you have a long history  of back-to-back visa, they might not let you in.

I've never entered Thailand without a tourist visa previously

I am currently on a SETV. in around 1 months time I plan to fly to Malaysia for a visit, followed by a flight to Laos. I am a UK citizen.

After arriving in Laos I plan to stay there for a week, and then I would like to enter Thailand for 6 weeks via land. Am I correct that I do not need to apply for a Tourist Visa for this, and can enter Thailand and receive 30 days entry at Nong Khai, which I can then extend for a further 30 days? ( I previously thought it 15 days via land entry)

If this is the case, do I need to provide any documentation at the border such as hotel bookings, flights out of the country bookings?

This would cover my 6 weeks stay in Thailand without the need for applying for another SETV, as given I have previous history of SETV's back to back there is a high chance I will not receive one.

Thank you 

20 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Assuming you actually have a 30 day visa exemption. You can extend that for a further 30 days at immigration - 1,900 Baht.

 

Then, assuming you've not got any land entries this year, you can do a border hop to Cambodia and get another 30 days visa exemption (you are limited to two land entries per year on exemptions). This can also be extended by a further 30 days.

 

Should get you somewhere near what you need plus a bit.

If I am currently on a single entry TV, If I leave the country when this expires, how do i reenter with a 30 day visa exemption? Are these only available if I fly into the country?

2 hours ago, Lipoman said:

My recent experience is the opposite of the OP's experience.  

 

I arrived at Suvarnabhumi yesterday, 15 Oct at approximately 14:30. 

 

Entered the Immigration entry point wearing long pants (trousers), plain collared shirt, and clean shoes (sneakers). 

 

At the Immigration Officer's desk, I walked towards him, said Hello, and handed my US passport to him; then waited for him to direct me to place my right and left fingers on the scanner; to stand and face the camera for a photo; afterward he handed my passport with my 30-Day Visa in it.  

 

Total time for the I.O. to do his job and process me: 60 ~ 90 seconds. 

 

I was previously here about 6 or 7 weeks ago; visiting friends, staying in a hotel in Pattaya, and shopping...all touristy stuff.  No hassle to enter the Kingdom. 

 

I've been coming here for 22 years, 90% of my time is spent in Pattaya. 

 

I do not understand how or why some Thai Visa Forum users are being denied entry into Thailand?  

 

What are you doing wrong?

 

 

It isn't as simple as this. You were not rejected because you have not been spending long in the country, and are not using a TV.

Many people including myself like to go on extended breaks in Thailand for 3-4 months each year. Globally a tourist visa is the visa to use for this. The IO's do not seem to understand that some people have income which allows them to do this. They believe anyone who is here for long durations must be working illegally, and so their current strategy is to attempt to refuse entry to anyone they suspect, regardless of how much funds they show.  

I have now been questioned two times, and on both I have been lucky, one of which was exceptionally so. They seem to have made up their minds to refuse you before you sit down. How you are dressed and what you say does not seem to matter. They do not really listen to what you say. They ask questions which attempt to lead you into admitting in some way that you are not a tourist, to give them an excuse to refuse. The conversation goes around in a loop with them telling you that you are not on holiday, and you telling them that you are on holiday. With them trying to get you to fall into the trap of demonstrating with your answers that you are living in Thailand, such as asking if you have an apartment, a wife, speak Thai. They have made up their mind already. 

If there is anything that does seem to help, it is that your inbound flight was a return ticket back to your home country. On one occasion when I was almost refused I believe I edged it because I was able to get out my full printed flight ticket showing I had paid for a return flight London to BKK, with my date of return being 10 weeks later. Upon seeing this the IO seemed to switch out of the robotic repetition of "You are not on holiday", and consulted their colleague and they let me in. 

23 minutes ago, mirtl said:

Can anyone confirm that it the downloaded form from TV has to be double-side and not 2 separate pages?

Thanks

It needs to be a single sheet of paper, with both sides printed on. Not 2 separate pages. I tried once previously and had to copy the details onto a single sheet when I tried to submit it at the desk. 

17 hours ago, kevinmartyn said:

I getting Pi--ed on how foreigners who i assume have a basic education can be so utterly "STUPID" TM30, TM47, TM7 and TM8 forms can all be completed by logging on with Internet Explorer! It's not "Rocket Science" The only thongs you have to have your documentation and passport photographs

I don't believe that a TM-7 can be submitted online. Even if it were I would not be willing to trust the online application with my credit card details. 

I think you will encounter similar problems at BKK airport using a tourist visa. The best thing I thing I think to do is just avoid entry by airports. It seems that if you have a tourist visa, most land entries will let you in 

23 minutes ago, thaichina said:

There are some photocopy and picture shop downstair, they have it and you can pay 30 baths so they fill it during the time they make copy and take your picture. In and out = 10 mns max. I m not sure it is available in every shop.

Thanks

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

What the! There is several internet cafes everywhere. Download any form you want. Fill it in. You can obtain photos everywhere bkk or anywhere. When arrive CW walk straight past the dills obtaining forms. Inside at que desk obtain your #. The clerk will wish to see your filled in tm7

As I mentioned, I am aware you can print it. I am asking about the alternatives within CW

I have a question regarding extending a tourist visa which in the coming weeks I will have to do. I understand I can try print a TM7 myself if it is on one piece of paper but I was curious about other ways of getting the form at Chaeng Wattana. Previously when I did the extension I arrived early with my photos and passport and got in the long queue. Once I got inside the doors, i left the queue and went to the desk to ask for the form, filled it in, and then went to the back of the queue - and so despite arriving early I was still on quite a high queue number. 

In order to do this faster I wondered, other than printing the form beforehand, is it possible to get a copy of the form before the doors open anywhere in the building? Failing that, once the doors open, would it be acceptable to bypass the queue the first time around just to go in and ask for the form?

15 hours ago, farangzy said:

Hi,

 

After reading here about recent denied entries, even on METV, i decided to extend my flight into BKK to BKK-Vientiane and try to enter over land instead of BKK Suvarnabuhmi airport later this month.

- I have been on 2 METV's so far in the last 2,5 years, always with extentions, but with some months back in my home country every time in between apllied now for my 3th METV in my home country..

- End 2016 i came in on some Visa exempts, even overstayed for some days, little did i know back then..

 

My question: since i have an international transfer at BKK-Vientiane, will I be clear from immigration at the airport? Will i have no problem to enter via land border with my METV?

Thanks for your replies!

Regards!

This is what I plan to do next time.  I don't think you will have any problems given you are only transferring.

On 9/10/2019 at 7:51 AM, pantsonfire said:

 

Hi

 

I am doing the exact same as you, however i've been in Thai on Back to back SETV since Dec 2018  and one land crossing and only just left in Aug.  Each visa had a Re-Entry as i left to HK/UK in each visa.  Prior to that i have about 4-5 VE stamps from 2015-2017 on my British passport.  I will be out of Thailand for almost 2 months and plan to return end of Sept.  Currently in the USA applying for an SETV before returning to UK for a few days and travelling to Thailand.  Any tips ?  why did you say it was 50/50

One of the officers didn't want to let me in, the other had more of a "whatever" attitude and agreed to allow it.

If you go in via airport with your history it is all down to luck depending on which officer you get at the desk. The best thing it seems to do is make the best possible case for being a real tourist. This was my 2nd time being questioned. The ones in the interrogation queue that get the hardest time seem to be the ones who begin talking in Thai, showing apartment contracts in Thailand or telling the officer they can phone their wife to chat with them if they like. Doing that seems to just give them an excuse to tell you that you should not be on a tourist visa because it is not for living in Thailand. 

I think you should be okay if you have a return ticket to your home country and also an itinerary of where you are going, hotel bookings and such.  

An update to this:

I was allowed entry however it did seem 50/50. 

I think that is the last time I come to Thailand through an airport.

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

Couldn't you have obtained a METV in the UK?

No, I didn't qualify

Hi

I was in Thailand for around 1 year and left in June of this year, returning to the UK where I have been for the last 3 months. 

I have since gotten a new passport whilst in the UK, and also a new tourist visa from the embassy in the UK. I plan to travel to Thailand using this visa early next month.

Assuming I enter Thailand okay with my Tourist Visa: this will last me until December if I extend it 30 days ( 60 + 30). I would like to stay in Thailand until March, when I will return to the UK. I had planned to apply for a 2nd Tourist Visa in december for the final 3 months.

However I have heard that there are now issues getting tourist visas from neighboring countries if you have already have one in your passport. I wondered whether it was worth attempting to get a 2nd tourist visa, or look at other options? 

To summarize my previous history:

1 year in Thailand: approx March 2018 -> June 2019 (All tourist visas, never on exempt stamps. all extended. 2 from London, 2 from Vientienne, 1 from Savannah)

I then got a new passport due to losing my old one.

Aug 2019 - 1x tourist visa from London

Thank you

If in September I am denied entry on arrival, does the unused Tourist Visa remain valid? For me to return and enter through a land crossing?

2 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

There you go - what prompted the extra attention was the passport full of visas/stamps, not the computer. And female IO. Was this at DMK too? or BKK?

 

That's just misinformation. From experience - a passport full of stamps = extra attention and questions. A new passport is not a minus - people get new passports all the time for valid reasons (expiry, passport damaged or lost, etc).

 

There is no such rule. Maybe they made it up in DMK, but I haven't heard of it being used in BKK or anywhere else. Just avoid DMK and you'll likely be OK unless your history is really bad i.e. back-to-back with almost no time out of the country.

 

I think that's the main things that draw their attention: passport full of Thailand stamps, and back-to-back with no time outside Thailand - which means you are more likely to work than someone who spends weeks or months at a time out.

I can confirm this is the case. As i mentioned in my original post, I was previously stopped at the airport. 

I was only at the IO booth about 10 seconds before the IO mentioned all my previous entries, asking me why I had so many for one year, the IO then called over someone to escort me to the questioning area. On the flight I was on there were at least 3 others pulled aside. I had a tourist visa also. They didn't seem to listen to anything anyone was saying and seemed just repeated that this is not what a tourist visa is for. When you sit down they have a printout of your prior entry history ready
 

8 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

A new passport will help, not hurt you. Both for getting a new tourist visa and for entering the country. That has been my experience. Just because your previous entries are in the computer doesn't mean the IO wants to take the time and go through them - they'll probably just look at your last entry and see that you've been out for 3 months and won't look beyond that. I do highly recommend you get a proper tourist visa and not try to get in exempt though. Overall your chances are good and I wouldn't bother with a land entry - just have cash on you, onward ticket, hotel booking, and avoid DMK and female IOs.

Yes that is what I will be hoping.  It is my understanding that when they scan the passport upon it being handed to them, they see the previous entry and arrival data of the person regardless of whether the passport is new or not.