Taopoon

In 2023 I went to HCMC to obtain non-O visa multiple entries based on marriage and got only single entry instead (very hostile attitude from the embassy stuff). I've provided Thai bank statement + bank book with significantly more than 400k. However, a guy working at the embassy that day, asked for more documents: 1) 12 months of transfers more than 40k monthly from abroad; 2) official letter from my company that should verify my yearly income. For years I've been using tourist visas to live in Thailand and been told here and there to switch to appropriate "long" visa and everything will be okay. I did it. So what? Not really much better, rules and requirements still changing all the time (now some embassies require 400k even for single entry non-O while you can get DTV for 5 years with 500k).

So here's funny thing how I know that this is all sounds truthful. I've got my departure stamp cancelled at the same border checkpoint in Nong Khai last time when I tried to exit Thailand and enter Laos. I have some record/note on my profile in the immigration database so every time I exit or enter Thailand, I have to go through supervisor (and supervisor officer put new departure stamp right next to cancelled one). Every time, land border or airport. And not just entry but departure as well. I don't use Tourist Visas anymore so they let me in without additional questions. But it's annoying and I have a feeling that if I ever have to use visa exemption stamp or Tourist Visa again, I will be denied entry. My profile/record in the database got flagged due to extensive history of using Tourist Visas and COVID visa extensions (almost 10 years).

They usually do this when they want to deny entry based on previous history in Thailand... there's no such reason in the Immigration Law as "visited Thailand too often" so they can ask about cash, return ticket, work or anything else like boarding passes to decide whether they should let you in or not. One funny claim airport immigration can say is that land border entries in previous history are somehow "illegal" and shady, treat you like a very suspicious person if you used land borders in the past (while land borders are just normal immigration checkpoints with a more relaxed policy on frequent travelers). Definitely you can try "Thakhek - Nakhon Phanom" or "Savannakhet - Mukdahan" friendship bridges if you're okay with traveling on intercity bus in Laos. The issue is I don't think there are flights from Savannakhet if you will be denied again. Travelling in Malaysia is super easy and even much easier than Thailand. There are BTS-like quality trains between KL and Penang and Penang to Padang Besar. Right, you're still on your previous entry stamp into Laos (30 days). I bet there's no record of Nong Khai in Thai immigration database so this is all looks like you never actually tried to cross border there, lol. BUT there are cancelled exit and entry stamps in your passport and until you get a new passport, immigration officers could see it and ask about these stamps and treat you like a suspicious person. Not sure what you can tell them to explain. Maybe like buick suggested here, you need to arrange some help from someone to cross land border. It should be multiple times less expensive than arranging help from someone in Phuket or Bangkok airports.

I read siwiek's latest posts and can explain what happened and how it all works. The real clue is what visa agent told... there is a note in the profile (immigration database). You've been refused entry in Phuket because you had too many tourist visa entries overall or in a short timespan. How many is too many... depends on the mood of IO. This is not related to boarding pass stuff in any way (maybe you misunderstood the situation). Seems like you were not denied entry in Nong Khai, they just cancelled your exit stamp from Lao side, right? Every immigration checkpoint as every Thai embassy overseas is different in their policies so you might get lucky when you try another entry point, nothing stops you from that, you're not blacklisted. Get tourist visa in Vientiane, fly to Kuala Lumpur then fly local to Alor Setar, take Grab taxi to KTM station then it's 40 minutes to Padang Besar border checkpoint. They will take you to supervisor, tell them a better story about Phuket airport immigration asking to show 20,000 THB in cash and you didn't have that, also you didn't book return ticket at that time. Now you have all that and can show bank account statement, also they can ask where do you work and why do you visit Thailand so often. Prepare your answers beforehand. If they send you back, go try Sadao border nearby. In general, it's better to switch to long-term visa ASAP.