KCM

On 2/17/2020 at 4:12 PM, Russell17au said:

Where is your passport? Remember that you are a "Denied Entry". The FACTS are that when you are denied entry your passport is held by immigration until you are escorted to the departing aircraft and it is handed to the flight crew.

When I was denied entry at BKK on a Thai Air flight from Japan my passport was held by Thai Air once Immigration processed my denial. Thai Air staff kept my passport until it was time to board my next flight, which was not back to Japan.

On 2/17/2020 at 4:12 PM, Russell17au said:

and you are being held in a holding cell until it is time to be escorted to the aircraft to return to your departure point which is the last stamp in your passport before your denied entry stamp and that is the only place you are allowed to go to.

I never saw a holding cell and didn't return to the country of the last stamp in my passport. I was briefly in an Immigration office where my denial was processed. As soon as the denial was processed, I was escorted to a Thai Air office by Thai Air staff. From the moment I left the Immigration office I didn't have contact again with anyone from Thai Immigration.

While at the Thai Air office I booked a ticket online to Phnom Penh. I was then free to go anywhere within the airport until it was time for my flight. When it was time for my flight to Phnom Penh I met the Thai Air staff at the gate and was given my passport before boarding.

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

So your saying if I fly from Osaka to bkk (AirAsia) and denied entry then I can choose to fly to Saigon (AirAsia)? I have multi visa to Vietnam.

Good luck with that. I suggest you were very lucky.

Yes, you should be able to fly to Saigon on AirAsia. It's possible the first AirAsia agent might say you need to fly back to Osaka, but a supervisor should be able to clear it up. My flight was from Osaka and the first Thai Air agent thought that's where I needed to return to, but they quickly checked with other staff and agreed it didn't matter where I would go.

On 12/8/2019 at 8:25 PM, G950 said:

I think in 95% of cases no choice was given but i do remember a few cases where they were given a choice.

 

The 1 case i remember was about a year ago posted on this forum. A guy in his 30's semi retired was pinged for living in thailand for about 7 years from memory. He and his buddy were denied and given a document to sign. Having lived so long there he was fluent in Thai and read the whole document and then refused to sign it. He stated by not signing it they couldn't charge him the few hundred baht per day temp accom fee. I think in the end they agree that he could buy a ticket to wherever. In Thailand anything is possible I guess. 

The airline that you arrive on is responsible for taking you away from Thailand. Immigration doesn't care where you go. I was once denied entry when arriving on a Thai Air flight from Japan. After immigration processed my denial, they handed me over to Thai Air. The Thai Air staff at first said I had to buy a ticket to Japan or the U.S. (home country). I didn't want to go to either, so they allowed me to book a ticket to anywhere they fly. At first they were hesitant to let me do this, but without much resistance they agreed. I then booked a ticket online to Phnom Penh.

The Thai Air staff kept my passport and told me the time and place to meet them before boarding my flight so I could get my passport and boarding pass. I then went to the lounge and stayed until time for boarding. I was given my passport back just before boarding the flight.

If you can arrive on Thai Air you will have more options of where you can go if denied. If you arrive on an airline that only flies to Bangkok from one destination, you will be stuck without options.

31 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

For a OA visa at the consulate in LA they state on their website it has to be a criminal records check from a state or the FBI.

The sheriff's office should be able to provide a criminal records check from the state. That is what I used last year at the L.A. consulate.

10 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

All the respect to you because I know you're a wealth of knowledge but all that sounds like way too much running around. I found the same website and stopped when they talked about fingerprints, and being a Nev resident adds another layer to the whole thing since different forms are required. But thanks again.

 

How long ago was this??

It was last September.

When I got my visa from the L.A. consulate, I used a background check that I got from a sheriff's office in another state. I think it cost $5-$10 and only took about five minutes. I would suggest calling the sheriff's office ahead of time that you will near to see if they provide the same service. There was no finger printing or anything else involved.

21 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

You said that, not me, I have not claimed to have any particular knowledge of the Immigration Act but I do know that IOs are authorized by virtue of their job to decide who enters and who doesn't.

Why do you think they stamp their official reason for denial of entry as being not having sufficient funds? There are limited reasons that they are "authorized" to use for denial of entry.

47 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

So they could not have stamped your passport 'denied entry'?  if they had how could anyone get you a new visa?

The stamp is in Thai so I can't read what it says, but the Thai Air staff told me it says that I wasn't allowed to enter because not carrying sufficient cash. When I got my tourist visa in Cambodia and my OA visa in L.A. I showed proof of sufficient money, so that's how I could get a new visa.

The IO who denied my entry told me to get a visa before coming back. There was no intention of permanent denial. They just wanted me to have a visa.

5 hours ago, hapy2rtire said:

Hey KCM,

Great advice!1 I opened CS accounts about 6 months ago. Thank you

For your U.S. phone number take a look at using the Google Fi service. In Thailand, you will use a Thai SIM card, but for travel to other countries, the Thai service is very expensive. Google Fi provides service in most countries at reasonable rates, and the charge for data is the same worldwide as it is in the U.S. Also, you are only charged for data used, so you will get a credit back on your next statement if you don't use all. Another advantage of Google Fi is your phone number will work for making and receiving calls anywhere that you have wifi even if there is no cellular signal.

Google Fi only works with certain phones, but there is a good selection of phones to choose from now.

I recommend opening a Charles Schwab Bank account in the U.S. before you leave for Thailand. There's no monthly fee and all ATM fees are reimbursed.

5 minutes ago, inThailand said:

So what are the possible options if you can't or won't meet these amended deposit requirements? 

 

1. Pack up and move to a new country.  

2. Become an overstayer. 

3. Switch to tourist visas.

 

Since they here by choice  known of the three options are good, and at best will be short term options, because they will find overstayers and they will make getting a multiple tourist visas more difficult to get. And maybe harsher penalties coming for overstayers as well. 

 

The only real option, is to pony up the 400K or 800k, if you want to live here. 

 

 

 

 

Or get an OA visa in your home country every two years.

Earlier this year when entering Thailand by air for the sixth time in less than 12 months I was pulled aside at Immigration and told I would need a visa on my next arrival since they now only allow six entries in a 12 month period with the 30 day exemption. When entering for the sixth time, a message automatically popped up on the Immigration officer's screen saying that it was my sixth entry, so it does look like they are enforcing this rule. I have entered Thailand twice more since that time, both with tourist visas without any problems.

Even though there is a rule requiring an onward flight out of Thailand, it is rarely enforced. I've entered Thailand countless times over the last 10 years and the only time I had to show proof of an onward ticket before boarding was soon after the Erawan Shrine bombing. Around that time some friends also had to show proof, but that didn't seem to last very long.

My 6th entry within a year triggered a memo to come up on the immigration officer's screen. At this point I was taken to the immigration office where another official told me I would have to get a visa to enter next time. This officer also told me that the system automatically shows a message on the screen letting the official know this is the 6th entry. Two of my trips away from Thailand during this time were for more than one month plus another for more than two weeks, and some of my stays in Thailand were for two weeks or less, so I don't believe this is only being enforced for people who are maxing out the 30 day stays and returning quickly. I'm back in Thailand now on a tourist visa since I had another trip away from Thailand about 10 days after my 6th entry within a year.

If like the current TR visa, entries are extendable that could mean up to 10 months (6 months + 30 days+ 60 days + 30 days).

No doubt there will be loads of strings attached...

I do not understand your calculation. The last entry must be made before the end of the 6 months. Excluding special cases such as extension to visit wife, I would expect one 30-day extension plus (if desired) a final 7-day extension to leave the country.

I do not expect major surprises in the basic regulation. The best question so far is whether back-to-back multiple entry tourist visas will be permitted in principle. What is going to be difficult to figure out is what individual embassies will decide in terms of conditions. Will some require you to specify your entire 6-month itinerary (including all entries/exits from Thailand and hotel bookings) or will they acknowledge that the main users of such visas probably want to stay flexible?

oops yes sorry,so that 9 months.

I have not seen any basic regulation, each consulate acts pretty much as they please, but 2 trends are consistent: The longer you stay the more strings attached and every immigration change of the last 3 years makes foreigners life harder, not easier.

A flight ticket can be flexible anyway,so I doubt consulates will refrain from asking itinerary for that.

The recent change of allowing a 30 day extension instead of only seven days to the 30 day stamp you get at the airport has made my life easier. This new multiple entry tourist visa also seems like a positive move.

I tried doing this once, and it seemed like it was going to work but the driver was taking a long time. I ended up just going to the departure level and easily got a taxi there. If you go up to the departure level make sure to get a driver who you see dropping someone off. Some of the ones waiting there are part of the airport taxi mafia and they won't use the meter.

There are gates at the departure level intended to keep people from getting a taxi there, but it's very easy to walk through them. Also the guard may tell you that you can't go through, but I just tell him it's ok and go through anyway. I've never had a problem with this.

Even though it's still easy to get a taxi at the departure level, I usually just book Uber to avoid dealing with taxis at all. If you book Uber, they will meet you near the regular airport taxi area. Go out the same door on the arrivals level where the taxis are and continue straight to the next area where passenger cars can go. Every time I've used Uber they are there about 5 minutes after I book them. If I have a checked bag I use the Uber app right after I get my bag, and the driver usually arrives a minute or two after I'm out the door.

tried to find a cap to airport around 3 am from a major hotel on sukhumvit. not even the doorman could get one to agree on the meter.

finally found one who agreed on a low set price, still no meter though.

Try the Grab Taxi app next time. Today a friend was going to the airport from Glow Hotel near Chong Nonsi BTS and no taxi would use the meter. Even the hotel staff were in on the scam by trying to get my friend to pay 500 baht to use a taxi that was waiting near the hotel. When we couldn't find a taxi that would use the meter we used the Grab Taxi app and we had a taxi in about 5 minutes who used the meter. With Grab Taxi you pay the meter plus 25 baht booking fee.

I thought it was disgraceful that the hotel staff were contributing to the scam. My friend enjoyed the hotel, but based on this he said he will not be staying there again in the future.

Uber Black is 1,000 baht plus tolls.

Uber X is 500 baht plus tolls.

Uber Black will usually be a new Camry with leather seats, although I did get a Mercedes once. Uber X could be a variety of different cars. Not quite as nice, but still much nicer than a taxi.

The gates are still there, but they are very easy to walk through. They also have a guard sitting at the gate but they never try to stop you. Now I usually use Uber from the airport, but I recently went up to the 4th floor departures level and got a taxi that had just dropped someone off. He was very happy to have a fare back to the city.

By the way, if there are taxis waiting, don't use them. Only use a taxi that you see drop someone off. Some of the ones waiting are also part of the airport taxi mafia. That is why they are allowed to wait there.

if you have been living in bangkok for at least a year or less, you should know by then that you can get a metered taxi on the 'Departure Area.'

There are lots of taxis in there who sent their passengers to leave thailand or to pick-up friends/relatives and those drivers are very much happy to get another passenger wherever you go on a meter.

Pattaya is another story I guess.

Yeah, we always go up to the 4th floor to get a return taxi into town. NEVER had a problem. Drivers are happy to get the return fare. these 2 trips pay for his car rent for the shift.

The last time I went up to the 4th floor (December 2014), there were one-way gates that prevented access to the taxis. No taxis there waiting, either. The only way to get to an arriving taxi would be to climb over the gate with your luggage. Are those gates gone now?

Try Uber next time you are in Bangkok. I don't use Bangkok taxis anymore since Uber started here. It's so nice not to deal with the kinds of issues in this post anymore.

There are rotten apples in every case. Most of the taxi drivers are polite and friendly. Especially those who are authorised by the port authority.

Thailand is one of the safest countries in the world for tourist yet I always warn my friends to watch their bags/wallets because there will always be somewhere a drunk punk or a pick pocket.

I've gotten three taxis from the official taxi stand at the airport that had turbo meters. After the third time I decided never to use the taxi stand again. That was well before Uber arrived, so at that time I would get taxis at the departure level who were dropping someone off and were happy to have a fare back to the city. Since Uber started, I've not had to use a taxi from the airport at all.

If you book a Uber or Grab Taxi, where would you arrange to get picked up at S'bhum airport?

Interesting question. I was at Swampy on Thursday night and they were pulling aside empty taxis as they tried to enter the departure area. They had about 6 of them pulled aside when we got there.

Our taxi, with passengers, was waved right through the checkpoint. They had a moving gate that allowed them to stop each taxi to see if it had passengers. First time I have seen this- or maybe just the first time I noticed it.

Our (then empty) taxi picked up a couple of ladies at the departure area, and that didn't seem to be causing any issues. But they didn't seem to be letting any empty taxis pass.

There is an area on the arrivals level just beyond the taxi stand that's for regular cars to pickup arriving passengers. That's where the Uber cars pick you up. There isn't an issue for a normal car to drive there.

Another example of why I have stopped using taxis and only use Uber.

I arrived back to Bangkok last week after midnight and had a very pleasant ride home in a comfortable Uber car with a very friendly professional driver.

If you book a Uber or Grab Taxi, where would you arrange to get picked up at S'bhum airport?

When you walk out of the baggage claim exit you cross the area with the taxis and there is an island there where you can wait for non-taxis to pick you up. Uber cars are standing by very near the airport so when I get my bag at baggage claim I request Uber. Usually by the time I walk out and get to the pickup area, the driver is approaching. I've done this several times and it has worked perfectly.