raz0r21

OP until you get your things in order, there are many "safe entry" services available at all the big airports in Thailand - for a fee of course. A quick search in this forum will give you the results you need.

They seem to be much more harsh towards people who qualify for the retirement visa but still try to stay long term as a tourist. I have seen this type of thread a few times already. Not saying OP did anything wrong, but this area seems to be very sensitive for the IOs.

This is the first I have heard about IO:s pushing people to get a DTV. I guess it was just a matter of time. But soon they will be cracking down on the DTV:s too when they realize people are in fact not cooking krapow every day for 8 hours.

I suggest to get the DTV now since I am pretty sure they will make the requirements tougher sooner rather than later. Someone staying in Thailand 5 years doing "cooking classes"... yeah right.

Thats a crazy amount of money to pay. But I guess if you dont have the 500k atleast you can get it with 100k. I wonder how they do the showing of required funds.

What I have read so far, they dont question DTV holders. But time will tell in a few years or so. I will also be applying for DTV next trip, I have had it with these guessing games while using tourist visas.

You dont have to supply hotel bookings for the whole trip, just for a few days. I usually book 5 days, and it has never been a problem. Document indicating current location I just take a photo of my drivers license, always works. Photo you can take yourself with your phone against a white background.

Dont worry everyone, you will soon be filling them out electronically with the ETA.

The mistake OP did is to fly out and do a visa exempt run by air by himself/herself. Never ever do that if you are at the slightest concerned about questions at entry. There are many visa run services running daily in Thailand for this exact reason. This is Thailand, and these are the unwritten rules. Best to get with the program, or face the consequences.

It´s normal to have that feeling. I always feel very anxious about flying here. Everything would be so much easier if there were some clear rules.

lets summarize this then: There should be no problem entering visa exempt for OP after being out of Thailand for 4 months. Having a Tourist Visa would improve odds considerably. A new passport will probably not have any effect (but it could, since the IO would not have to scroll through several pages of stamps and start to get concerned). To guarantee entry, there are several services available (for a price). With any questions on arrival it's a good idea to have clear itinerary, accommodation, 20k baht cash etc. Airline at departure may/will require proof of onward flight. If denied entry, there is a chance that you could be sent to a neighboring country (if you are guaranteed entry in said country). In other cases, you will be sent home to your home country at your own expense.

From what I have read, you could be given the chance to fly to a nearby country rather than sent back to Finland. But to be honest OP, you have been out of Thailand for several months. I would not worry about that. Mostly denials happen when people live here back to back and never exit the country. Just prepare yourself to answer questions, 20k baht or equivalent in cash, flight out of Thailand during 60 days, and some hotel booking. Before you get denied you will most probably get a warning first, to switch to another type of visa. I have been coming and going to Thailand since 2015 (excluding covid years), and so far I have only been questioned why I am here so often during 2019, a time that was quite notorious for that. And that was with a visa exempt flying in. Best to have a tourist visa when you fly to Bangkok, it is much better than just an exempt.

But if you want to ease your mind OP, contact one of the visa companies in Bangkok. Next time I am entering with DTV, hopefully that will stop all the questioning. But who knows....

Nah, they can see all your passports. They even asked me to confirm my picture from one of my old passports from their monitor. But I have changed passports like every 2 years, since I travel a lot. That answer was sufficient.

OP, I have basically the same history of stays as you, and i got through without presenting any outbound ticket, hotel reservation or 20k baht in cash. I did bring it all with me though, just in case. However I was questioned. They asked who I came with, how long I am staying, and why I had changed my passport so often.