Don Mueang Report

[AlQaholic]

8 minutes ago, pearciderman said:

 

Are you sure that not having proof of onward travel is a valid reason for refusal of entry ?

 

I have never heard of anyone being refused for that reason and can't remember it being in Sect 12, (the bit they quote about reasons for denial of entry), whereas lack of funds is.

I am not sure, but I have always thought that the IO had all the authority in the world to refuse anyone to enter regardless of anything, I think this is pretty much worldwide.

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, pearciderman said:

Are you sure that not having proof of onward travel is a valid reason for refusal of entry ?

 

I have never heard of anyone being refused for that reason and can't remember it being in Sect 12, (the bit they quote about reasons for denial of entry), whereas lack of funds is.

For Visa-Exempt, it is a requirement, and why many/most airlines require this before allowing boarding for those without a Visa or re-entry permit. 

 

Though not officially required for those entering with a Tourist Visa (though some consulates require it to obtain one), there was a recent case where an Airport-IO thought this "should" be a rule, and imposed it on a person who had both a Tourist Visa + the required 20K Baht; he was forced to buy an outgoing ticket on the spot, to gain permission to enter.

 

1 hour ago, AlQaholic said:

I am not sure, but I have always thought that the IO had all the authority in the world to refuse anyone to enter regardless of anything, I think this is pretty much worldwide.

In many countries, this is the case.  But in Thailand, a person can be refused entry only for specific reasons.  The most often case is not having the 20K Baht (with a visa or 10K for exempt), and when that fails, claiming they are coming to work illegally.  Both of these are cited specifically as reasons for refusal of entry in the governing statute. 

 

But, at airports, many of those refused entry report being told they were being refused-entry for non-legal reasons, with the IOs placing a different "legal" reason in their passports later, regardless of applicability.  Therefore, in practice / practical-reality, one may be refused entry, even when that refusal is in violation of Thai law, by IOs who believe they "know better" than those who have the authority to create/modify the law.  How long this insubordination (or perhaps sanctioned by some in the upper eschelon?) will be tolerated/permitted - or whether the "unofficial rules" being enforced periodically at airports will become legal/official policy at some point - is anyone's guess.

[pearciderman]

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

For Visa-Exempt, it is a requirement, and why many/most airlines require this before allowing boarding for those without a Visa or re-entry permit. 

 

Deleted my post due to the following answer :-)

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, pearciderman said:

Not mentioned at all in Section 12 of Immigration Act, B.E. 2522 ?

It is a requirement in the ministerial order for visa exempt entries done many years ago.

[London Fog]

Travelled back through Don Muang earlier this week around 9.30pm and no line control. No one checking TM 6 forms were correct and complete and no organization of the lines. 

Not that many in front of me but nearly everyone had a problem with TM 6 and were communicating with immigration officer via Google translate on their phones. Each one took 5 - 7 minutes at the desk which meant a 55 minute wait.

[gilo]

37 minutes ago, London Fog said:

Travelled back through Don Muang earlier this week around 9.30pm and no line control. No one checking TM 6 forms were correct and complete and no organization of the lines. 

Not that many in front of me but nearly everyone had a problem with TM 6 and were communicating with immigration officer via Google translate on their phones. Each one took 5 - 7 minutes at the desk which meant a 55 minute wait.

What date was that? I travelled in on 11/09 and the screening and snake system were in use. Perhaps immigration had had enough of having to use Google translate. It is now more efficient as I can hardly imagine them dismantling the pathways having set them up. Although TIT!

[elgenon]

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

October 1st is the planned date.

Similar to this one but the one I have seen recently posted in the news has the same questions on the backside of the arrival part instead of being blank.

 

Thanks UJ

[blackcab]

On 12/09/2017 at 11:34 AM, thairookie said:

Is it the law that "every tourist" must carry 20,000 baht in order to enter Thailand?

 

What the law says is an immigration officer can refuse you entry to the country if you do not have sufficient funds.

 

Up to you if you choose to carry the minimum requirement or not.

[thairookie]

@ Swampy, tourists from Singapore can use the automated system.  That should reduce the queue for foreigners by a substantial amount.  Donmeung has yet to catch up with this new policy, and I expect them to do so soon which, I am sure, will shorten the ordinary queue for foreigners.

 

I think the biggest problem is the hordes of Chinese tour groups.  Everywhere they go, the slow things down from delay to pandemonium.  And as someone pointed out, they don't fill up TM6 beforehand.  I have experienced this at Utapao time and again.  And when they did eventually, they would surely forget to fill up the address section indicating the name of the hotel.  On one instance, the Chinese tourist was sent back to the queue.