Stopped at Don Muang

[SabaiUK]

I think they’ve lost the plot. I am only posting this because Thai Visa helped me in this instance.

 

I’ve just returned from Bali where I paid for my second Tourist Visa of 2018 and returned to Bangkok. Immigration was a mess and I was there for 3 hours.

Then the cherry on top - I was taken to one side and was grilled about ‘why I was in Thailand so long’. Now, it’s rare but I am a genuine tourist and I explained that I have savings and I’m currently using Thailand as my base to travel. They said next time I should stay out of the country for longer and put a ‘note’ on my account.

 

Is this normal!?

[tonray]

And away we go again.......

 

While perhaps not normal, if an IO suspects due to age or other personal characteristics that a traveler is perhaps not staying here as a tourist but working, he may question the reasons for using serial tourist visas. IN Thailand's view if you have the means to stay long term, if over 50 use retirement5 channels, if under use the Thailand Elite system.

 

One does not automatically have the right in any country to use it as a base for travel indefinitely without taking advantage of options designed for long term basing.

[tonray]

34 minutes ago, SabaiUK said:

I’ve just returned from Bali where I paid for my second Tourist Visa of 2018

It's only February 2nd and you already have applied for and received 2 tourist visas for Thailand ?

[JackThompson]

29 minutes ago, SabaiUK said:

They said next time I should stay out of the country for longer ...

It would be nice if they had been specific about "exactly how long" you are required to spend your money somewhere else, instead of supporting Thai businesses and families.  

 

29 minutes ago, SabaiUK said:

and put a ‘note’ on my account.

Don't worry about this.  IOs have claimed to make all sorts of "threat" entries in one's "records" - even insisting they leave before the stamped "permitted stay" date they, themselves, put in the person's passport.  This batch of IOs are known, serial liars.

 

29 minutes ago, SabaiUK said:

Is this normal!?

Only at airports and one land border (Poipet / Aranya).  At all other land-border crossings (and possibly the Chang Mai airport), the specified legal criteria for denial-of-entry are followed.  Unlike many nations, IOs in Thailand can only reject entry for specific reasons.

 

At "problem" entry points, a collection of IOs, with a record of saying outright lies about non-existent tourist-visa restrictions, and generally-horrible things to travelers*, seems to have taken control. There appears to be no oversight from higher-ups, to stop them from abusing their authority, and twisting or ignoring the laws they are sworn to uphold.

If you have 20K baht worth of cash, so they cannot block-entry on that technicality (they don't let you visit an ATM, so it's just a scam), but they may claim you came from your 1st World nation, to work a low-paying under-the-table job, then reject based on that unlikely-suspicion.  And yet, ironically, immigration hands out bucket-loads of "L" work-visas to poor people from neighboring countries, which directly undermine Thai's employment opportunities and wages. 

 

Blocking tourists from supporting Thai business (at airports, Poipet, and some corrupt offices) fits the pattern of a "clique" of anti-Western IOs, actively working against the interests of the Thai people on some misguided 'ethnic-cleansing' mission (*see below), and/or in-cahoots with the "Elite Visa" pushers, who seem to capitalize on these events, in threads like this.

 

The only way to avoid the possibility of denial-of-entry, is to use one of the Sane land-border entry points, then catch a domestic flight to where you need to go.  When I was using Tourist Visas, one good plan was to fly to Penang, cross at Pedang Besar by Train (with 20K Baht worth of cash to show), then fly on from Hat Yai airport, domestic.

 

* - horrible things such as... "If you have Thai GF and you love her, take her to your home country and stay there, you are not wanted here." - from some 'elderly' (likely higher-raking) female officer, who is part of the anti-farang racist hate-brigade that "welcomes" foreigners, to Thailand. 
https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/978329-denied-entry-tr-at-suvarnabhumi-no-stamp-options/

[anon789561]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

And away we go again.......

 

While perhaps not normal, if an IO suspects due to age or other personal characteristics that a traveler is perhaps not staying here as a tourist but working, he may question the reasons for using serial tourist visas. IN Thailand's view if you have the means to stay long term, if over 50 use retirement5 channels, if under use the Thailand Elite system.

 

One does not automatically have the right in any country to use it as a base for travel indefinitely without taking advantage of options designed for long term basing.

really. i'm under 50 and i don't use an elite visa. should i leave and come back at retirement age or get an elite visa. you seem to be very anti anyone who isn't retirement age?

[anon789561]

yes, it's pretty normal nowadays. although i get your grievance. when i first came to thailand as a teenager i travelled around SE Asia and used Thailand as a base. was constantly in and out like any other backpacker. back then it was fine. nowadays you may need to play their system a bit. as JT said, i wouldn't worry about that particular IO or his threat to make a 'note'

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, tonray said:

It's only February 2nd and you already have applied for and received 2 tourist visas for Thailand ?

Possibly, based on advice not to use visa exempt entries, he wisely decided to use a tourist visa for a short visit. That would be wise. On the other hand, he may visit frequently on visa exempt entries calling them (as many do) "tourist visas". That would explain the extra scrutiny.

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

At "problem" entry points, a collection of IOs, with a record of saying outright lies about non-existent tourist-visa restrictions, and generally-horrible things to travelers*, seems to have taken control. There appears to be no oversight from higher-ups, to stop them from abusing their authority, and twisting or ignoring the laws they are sworn to uphold.

My personal impression is that, at the airports at least, it is a minority of officials that have that attitude. The trouble is that you never know when you are going to hit one.

[Suradit69]

6 hours ago, SabaiUK said:

I’ve just returned from Bali where I paid for my second Tourist Visa of 2018

Two tourist visas offer the possibility of staying in Thailand 2 x 60 = 120 days or with extensions 2 x 90 = 180 days, although if you are traveling in and out of the country you'd need a re-entry permit to keep those days.

 

Getting two tourist visas in barely one month into 2018 seems excessive ... but I understand that those new to Thailand may not understand the best way to use visas and immigrations ...  actually some people have been here for many years and remain clueless.

 

And your point reference to 2018 leaves one to wonder about events in 2017 and before.

[Pattaya46]

Why do people who have grievances about Immigration at the airport never give precise information about their situation ? 

How difficult is it to say :

• how many times you entered Thailand in last year(s)
• which visa or exemptions you used
• how many days/weeks/month you stayed in Thailand in last year (or years)

...

It's nearly impossible to understand/explain/help without all information 

 

[Suradit69]

1 minute ago, Pattaya46 said:

Why do people who have grievances about Immigration at the airport never give precise information about their situation ?

If they want to get the righteous indignation crowd on their side they often shape their information to suit that purpose.

[Benmart]

5 hours ago, Happy enough said:

yes, it's pretty normal nowadays. although i get your grievance. when i first came to thailand as a teenager i travelled around SE Asia and used Thailand as a base. was constantly in and out like any other backpacker. back then it was fine. nowadays you may need to play their system a bit. as JT said, i wouldn't worry about that particular IO or his threat to make a 'note'

A solid and thoughtful reply. It is indeed refreshing to read a supportive suggestion, instead of a hatefilled bash at any and all.

[midas]

6 hours ago, tonray said:

And away we go again.......

 

While perhaps not normal, if an IO suspects due to age or other personal characteristics that a traveler is perhaps not staying here as a tourist but working, he may question the reasons for using serial tourist visas. IN Thailand's view if you have the means to stay long term, if over 50 use retirement5 channels, if under use the Thailand Elite system.

 

One does not automatically have the right in any country to use it as a base for travel indefinitely without taking advantage of options designed for long term basing.

 

Hang on a minute? But isn't using a country as a base for travel what tourists usually do?

And since when is there a time limit to being a tourist?

This is getting crazier and crazier

 

[Emster23]

Agree with Happy Enough. So much for being a "hub" of tourism.... they used to promote that Bangkok was the place to come and then hop about neighboring countries (at least when I started coming here in the '80's). Right hand doesn't know what left hand is doing, but what else is new?

[natway09]

Better reread the new entry rules.

They are not to know that you are not using Thailand as a base to work from.

It is up to you to prove to them that you are not. How many "tourist"entries in the last 12 months

[glasswort]

5 hours ago, Happy enough said:

yes, it's pretty normal nowadays. although i get your grievance. when i first came to thailand as a teenager i travelled around SE Asia and used Thailand as a base. was constantly in and out like any other backpacker. back then it was fine. nowadays you may need to play their system a bit. as JT said, i wouldn't worry about that particular IO or his threat to make a 'note'

What happened to full stops at the end and capital letters the beginning of sentences? Not to mention capital Is.

The modern day curse brought on my the introduction of the s.m.s.

[whaleboneman]

7 hours ago, tonray said:

And away we go again.......

 

While perhaps not normal, if an IO suspects due to age or other personal characteristics that a traveler is perhaps not staying here as a tourist but working, he may question the reasons for using serial tourist visas. IN Thailand's view if you have the means to stay long term, if over 50 use retirement5 channels, if under use the Thailand Elite system.

 

One does not automatically have the right in any country to use it as a base for travel indefinitely without taking advantage of options designed for long term basing.

If that's their intent, perhaps they should stop issuing multiple tourist visas. My passport is full of them.

[sco77y]

I had the same problem on the 28th i have been here 60 days went to PP fpr 2 days came back and got told i need a Visa based on marriage as a i am married to a Thai but i only stay here 100(Dec till 1st Week in March) days a year and maybe 10 days in Aug as i work in Europe 8 months a year so i have never had overstay or repeat border bounces but the IO went off on my like a banshee i had money on me i only need 34 more days as i go back to work the IO in question was giving to everyone in my line the other lunes must have emptied 3 times till it was my turn... the IO then passed my documents to a supervisor i presume she took me to a single desk asked me a couple if questions which she let me answer un like the previous one... stamped my passport said thank you and i was in my way.

i just dont get how it was so different 

[stevenl]

5 minutes ago, sco77y said:

I had the same problem on the 28th i have been here 60 days went to PP fpr 2 days came back and got told i need a Visa based on marriage as a i am married to a Thai but i only stay here 100(Dec till 1st Week in March) days a year and maybe 10 days in Aug as i work in Europe 8 months a year so i have never had overstay or repeat border bounces but the IO went off on my like a banshee i had money on me i only need 34 more days as i go back to work the IO in question was giving to everyone in my line the other lunes must have emptied 3 times till it was my turn... the IO then passed my documents to a supervisor i presume she took me to a single desk asked me a couple if questions which she let me answer un like the previous one... stamped my passport said thank you and i was in my way.

i just dont get how it was so different 

You're married to a Thai living here, so the presumption is you're living here in Thailand as well. That means you need a visa that indicated living, so non-immigrant, as opposed to being a tourist, so tourist visa.

[sco77y]

But i dont live here i live on a ship i come here on holiday to see my wife 

[Bangkok Barry]

7 hours ago, Happy enough said:

really. i'm under 50 and i don't use an elite visa. should i leave and come back at retirement age or get an elite visa. you seem to be very anti anyone who isn't retirement age?

Is there something you haven't told us, like a reason you base yourself in Thailand? Why not use another country as your base, one that is more welcoming. Why choose a country that doesn't welcome you?

[yogavnture]

everything is computerized and what do you call it something rythms........the rythem of the computer put a flag..........2 tourist visas and its only feb 2. it caught the computer.........technically he wouldn't have needed any visas at all for this situation and he got two. 

[yogavnture]

ive been using bkk for home base for 18 years and have never had an issue. once they bitched that im a regular customer and i should have filled in my visa number on the white form .  its all computerized. something in this blokes history created a flag he is not reporting here. which im starting to think is normal here. people  ask for help but only report half the story

[stevenl]

16 minutes ago, sco77y said:

But i dont live here i live on a ship i come here on holiday to see my wife 

You might have to convince immigration of that next time. Bring income statements and anything else that proves you don't live and work here.

[Odin Norway]

6 minutes ago, stevenl said:

You might have to convince immigration of that next time. Bring income statements and anything else that proves you don't live and work here.

All you need is a couple of the last moths payslips.I have never needed mine but I do have them with me.110 visa exemps now and counting.Questioned one time.If you are out of the country more then inside its not any issue.

[anon789561]

27 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Is there something you haven't told us, like a reason you base yourself in Thailand? Why not use another country as your base, one that is more welcoming. Why choose a country that doesn't welcome you?

married for 18 years and never felt unwelcome. used either marriage visas or work visas. is that hard to understand?

[anon789561]

1 hour ago, glasswort said:

What happened to full stops at the end and capital letters the beginning of sentences? Not to mention capital Is.

The modern day curse brought on my the introduction of the s.m.s.

you do realize that sentence hardly even made sense. and no, we are not all english teachers trying to find mistakes in other peoples comments

[chainarong]

7 hours ago, Happy enough said:

yes, it's pretty normal nowadays. although i get your grievance. when i first came to thailand as a teenager i travelled around SE Asia and used Thailand as a base. was constantly in and out like any other backpacker. back then it was fine. nowadays you may need to play their system a bit. as JT said, i wouldn't worry about that particular IO or his threat to make a 'note'

2 B honest you've only to look at some touristy areas to see where the immigration is coming from

[anon789561]

2 minutes ago, chainarong said:

2 B honest you've only to look at some touristy areas to see where the immigration is coming from

yes. probably. i rarely go to the main tourist areas but i can understand when i do that immo might want some of them out

[Russell17au]

1 hour ago, sco77y said:

But i dont live here i live on a ship i come here on holiday to see my wife 

But you, yourself said that you are here for 100 days and that exceeds any tourist visa which is a maximum of 90 days that is 60 days for the visa plus a 30 day extension, so you need a 90 day non-imm "O" visa with a 1 year extension on the basis of marriage if you want to stay longer.